How to use PhotoVim

Make a YouTube thumbnail (1280 × 720)

Updated 2026-09-11

Thumbnails are seen small, so text must not blend into the photo. A stroke and a shadow keep it readable over any background.

Steps

  1. Pick the YouTube Thumbnail preset in New — it creates a 1280 × 720 canvas.
  2. Drop your photo in and size it.
  3. Press T and enter a short headline. To style only a few characters, select them while editing, then change the font or color. Check that the rest of the text stays unchanged.
  4. Turn on Stroke and Drop Shadow in layer style to separate it from the photo.
  5. Export as JPEG and inspect the downloaded image at a small size. Keep a project copy so you can change the headline later.
Worth knowing

Check contrast at the size viewers will see, not only while zoomed in. Avoid placing important text in the bottom-right corner, where a duration badge can cover it.

Try it in the editor

Questions

The text disappears into the background.

Turn on Stroke and Drop Shadow in Layer Style. A slight bend with Warp Text makes it stand out more.

Is there a file size limit?

Check the current upload requirements in YouTube Studio. If the exported file is too large, lower JPEG quality and inspect readability again.