How To Make Viral AI YouTube Thumbnails with Free AI Tool

Are your YouTube videos not getting the clicks they deserve? Thumbnails are crucial, and a great one can make all the difference. Today, I’m going to show you how to create eye-catching, clickable AI YouTube thumbnails to boost your views. Whether you’re new to thumbnail design or looking to improve, stick around for some awesome tips and tools. We’ll cover everything from brainstorming unique ideas to generating stunning images with AI.

Introduction to Thumbnails

Thumbnails are the first thing viewers see when browsing through YouTube. A striking thumbnail can grab attention and encourage clicks, leading to more views and increased channel growth. Case in point: look at channels that use AI-generated thumbnails. These thumbnails attract millions of views on every video, grabbing attention and drawing viewers in.

Finding a Killer Idea

Research Niche

Start by researching your niche. Look at the top videos in your category and analyze their thumbnails. Pay attention to colors, text, and images. Make a list of elements that catch your eye.

Emotional Triggers

Thumbnails that evoke curiosity, surprise, or excitement tend to get more clicks. Think about emotional triggers. For example, if your video is about amazing life hacks, use a thumbnail that shows a mind-blowing hack in action.

Sketch Ideas

Sketch a few ideas. You don’t have to be an artist; just get your concepts down on paper. This will help you visualize and refine your ideas.

Using AI for Thumbnail Ideas

AI Tools

Use AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, or Google Gemini to get ideas for your thumbnails. My preference is Gemini because it provides trending ideas.

Gemini Prompt Example

Write a prompt like: Based on trendy viral AI thumbnails, give me five killer YouTube viral thumbnail image generating ideas for the video titled [Your Video Title]. Include elements such as color, text, human face expressions, and other key elements.

This will give you up-to-date suggestions for creating eye-catching AI YouTube thumbnails that can help your video go viral.

Refining Gemini Ideas

After getting your ideas, ask Gemini to write precise image generation prompts for the ideas you prefer. Here are some tips for writing effective prompts:

1. Be Specific: Mention the main subject, setting, and any particular details. e.g., A surprised person holding a glowing gadget with a futuristic city in the background.
2. Include Emotions: If you want an emotional reaction, include that in your prompt. e.g., A shocked face of a person who just discovered a hidden treasure.
3. Add Style Preferences: Mention if you want a specific style like cartoonish or realistic. e.g., Realistic style, vibrant colors.
4. Consistent Branding: Follow a color, text, and font pattern to create a consistent brand identity.

Generating Thumbnails with AI

Free Tools

There are several free tools available for creating thumbnails:

• Microsoft Co-pilot
• Adobe Express
• Leonardo
• Pixlr
• Canva

Paid Tools

If you’re looking for more advanced options, consider these paid tools:

• MidJourney
• DALL-E
• Ideogram

Using Ideogram

Ideogram is an AI-powered image generator that creates amazing visuals based on text prompts. Here’s how to use it:

1. Sign Up: You’ll receive 25 tokens each day for free, allowing you to generate up to 100 images daily.
   
2. Generate Images: Paste your prompt into the prompt box, select the aspect ratio (16:9), and choose the style you want. For instance, here’s a prompt for a video titled “Top 10 Unbelievable Facts About Space”: A person in awe looking at a colorful swirling galaxy with planets and stars, realistic style, bright colors.
   
3. Tweak Prompts: Play around with the prompts until you get the desired result. Download the best images you like.
   

Finalizing Thumbnails

Basic Tools

Use basic tools like Canva and Adobe Express to finalize your thumbnails. These tools are user-friendly and offer tons of features.

Adding Elements and Text

Add the necessary elements and text to your thumbnail. Make sure to follow your brand’s color and font guidelines for consistency.

Removing Unwanted Parts

Use these tools to remove any unwanted parts of the image. Polishing your thumbnail ensures it looks clean and professional.

Best Thumbnail Fonts and Color Combinations

Finding the right fonts and color combinations can make your thumbnail stand out. Here are some tips:

Fonts: Use bold, easy-to-read fonts. Avoid overly decorative fonts that can be hard to read.

Here’s re’s the best fonts:

• 1. Bebas Neue
• 2. Montserrat
• 3. Open Sans
• 4. Poppins
• 5. Roboto
• 6. Calibri (sans-serif)
• 7. Arial (sans-serif)
• 8. Helvetica (sans-serif)
• 9. Georgia (sans-serif)

Colors: Use high-contrast colors. Bright colors tend to attract more attention.

The best  color combinations

• 1. Electric Blue and Neon Yellow (#007bff & #ffff00)
• 2. Royal Purple and Turquoise (#6f42c1 & #1abc9c)
• 3. Black and Lime Green (#000000 & #00ff00)
• 4. Hot Pink and Sky Blue (#ff0080 & #007bff)
• 5. Cherry Red and Cream (#ff0000 & #fff)
• 6. Teal (#38A3A5) and Coral (#FF7F50)
• 7. Mustard Yellow (#FFDB54) and Dark Purple (#9C27B0)
• 8. Sky Blue (#007BFF) and Light Pink (#FFC0CB)
• 9. Black (#000000) and Neon Green (#00FF00)
• 10. White (#FFFFFF) and Burgundy (#800000)
• 11. Teal (#0070C0) and Coral (#FF7F50)
• 12. Mustard Yellow (#FFDB54) and Purple (#7E38BF)
• 13. Sky Blue (#00BFFF) and Orange (#FFA500)
• 14. Hot Pink (#FF00FF) and Lime Green (#00FF00)
• 15. Black (#000000) and White (#FFFFFF)

Example Walkthrough

Let’s walk through the process of creating a thumbnail for a video titled “Top 10 Unbelievable Space Facts”:

1. Brainstorm Ideas: Look at popular space-related thumbnails and note the elements that catch your eye.
   
2. Sketch Ideas: Draw a few rough sketches of what you envision for your thumbnail.
   
3. Generate Thumbnails: Use Ideogram to create images based on a prompt like: A person in awe looking at a colorful swirling galaxy with planets and stars, realistic style, bright colors.
   
4. Finalize: Use Canva or Adobe Express to add text and any other elements. Remove any parts that don’t fit your vision.
   

Tips and Tricks

• Play Around with Prompts: Experiment with different prompts to see what works best for your style.
• Consistent Branding: Keep your brand’s look consistent across all thumbnails.
• Use AI Tools: Utilize AI tools to speed up the process and generate high-quality thumbnails.

Benefits of AI Thumbnails

Using AI for thumbnails can save you time and provide eye-catching visuals that increase click rates. AI-generated thumbnails can make your video content more appealing and professional.

If you found this guide helpful, give it a thumbs up and don’t forget to sharee for more tips and tricks. Also, check out my guides on the top AI websites for every creator!

By following these steps, you’ll be able to create stunning, clickable AI YouTube thumbnails that can significantly boost your views. Happy creating!