Are you planning to start a YouTube channel and need to create some channel art? Or perhaps you already have a channel but haven't updated your YouTube banner image in a while?
One of the most important things to get right is your YouTube banner size.
Your banner art will be the first thing people see when they arrive at your channel, so it's important to make sure it's eye-catching and represents your brand well. This gives you the best chance to build an audience and share your content with the world.
In this blog post, we'll give you all the information you need to create a perfect YouTube channel banner that doesn't look blurry, weird, or outdated.
So read on for tips and advice on how to create some awesome channel art!
What are the YouTube banner size dimensions?
The YouTube banner dimensions are normally sized at 2560 x 1440 pixels (aspect ratio 16:9), and different parts of this canvas are viewable on different mobile devices, mac/pc or tablets.
As you can see above for the YouTube banner size, the art will only be visible in the YouTube banner safe area depending on which device you view it on.
The absolute easiest way to design your banner image is to download the YouTube banner template and use it as a transparent guideline in your favorite photo editing software.
How to create YouTube channel art with different tools
There are many ways to create an eye-catching YouTube banner, each with its own benefits and limitations. Below are some of the most common tools, both paid and free to create your channel art!
How to create YouTube banner art in Photoshop
Photoshop is one of the most popular paid tools for creating channel art. It offers a number of advanced features and if you have any experience with it, it's going to be your favorite option by far to customize YouTube banners.
However it's also a bit complicated to use if it's your first time and comes with a steep learning curve, but we got you covered with step-by-step videos below!
Design tips for creating an effective YouTube banner
Designing your own channel art can be a fun and rewarding experience, but it's important to understand the basics before you get started.
In this section, we'll give you some tips on how to create a YouTube channel banner that looks great and represents your brand well!
1. Use high-quality graphics
One of the easiest ways to ensure that your YouTube banner looks great on all devices is to use high-quality graphics.
Not only does this look more professional, but it also makes it easier to align all parts of your banner and avoid blurry or pixelated edges. Use images that are in PNG or JPEG format, with a resolution of at least 1920x1080 pixels.
You should always focus on creating an awesome YouTube channel banner that attracts and inspires viewers.
Remember that first impressions matter, so make sure it's easy for people to see which type of content you upload, who you are, what it's about, etc. when they land on your channel!
2. Keep banner art clean and simple
A YouTube banner with too many elements will be difficult to view on all devices because it won't fit. Because of this, it's best to keep things simple when designing YouTube channel art.
The layout we recommend is to use a full-width YouTube banner size with plenty of negative space and then add your logo as an overlay.
This focuses the viewer's attention on your YouTube channel art, without overcrowding it!
Using custom shapes? Make them transparent!
When using shapes in your YouTube banner, always set the opacity level to at least 70% so that the header image doesn't get overcrowded.
This means people will still be able to see what's behind your YouTube banner design, but it won't overpower the rest of the design, allowing eyeballs to focus on the core message.
3. Include a simple call-to-action in your YouTube banner
A great way to encourage viewers to subscribe or watch your videos is by adding a clear CTA, or call-to-action, within the banner dimensions — in the same way that you'll always want to add a CTA to your videos themselves. (Which, by the way, you can easily do in our online video editor!)
Make sure your CTAs are big and colorful enough for people to notice them when your channel loads up. Don't worry if you can't use text; there are plenty of other ways of including a CTA.
For example, you could include arrows pointing at your logo in the actual channel art. But remember, don't try to cram too much information into your banner - less is more!
Try to stick to a single main message or idea within the YouTube banner size template, and use clean, easy-to-read text.
Using an interesting background can be a good way to add some visual interest, but try to avoid overwhelming the eye with too many competing shapes and colors.
4. Use the grid system in the recommended YouTube banner size template
Using a grid system is a great way to improve your design workflow and produce more consistent results since the channel's banner size will look different depending on the device, computer, phone, tablet.
When using the grid system with the banner template, each element of the design has its own place on the banner, which makes it easier to create uniform spacing between elements in your channel art.
It also helps you create YouTube banners that don't look stretched out or blurry when they're resized for different platforms. Here's how this looks:
5. Use color schemes to brand your channel
Using a dedicated custom color scheme for your official YouTube channel artwork can make your banner more recognizable (especially if you already have some subscribers).
This will help new viewers find your channel faster because they'll already know what colors to look for — making them more likely to subscribe and help grow your audience.
A great example of this is Brian Dean’s YouTube channel, and he also has a great video describing this in Strategy #8 (starts at the 8:54 mark) below.
Examples of great YouTube channel art
There is plenty of YouTube channel art out there that we love and think do a great job at representing different channels, so we've included them below for you to take inspiration from.
Notice the YouTube banner size, the background images, the graphics, and how they position the core message:
FAQ
How to change your YouTube banner?
You can change your YouTube banner by hovering over your profile image on YouTube, then scroll down and click "Upload Banner Image."
You can also upload a new banner image from customize channel in the YouTube settings.
What's the best software for creating art for your YouTube channel?
The best software to create YouTube channel art with is any program that you're comfortable with (such as Adobe Photoshop CC ) and allows you to work in very large sizes.
How can I make sure my YouTube banner doesn't look blurry or pixelated when it's sized down?
If you've created your YouTube banner at a high resolution so it looks its best at full size, but then upload it to YouTube and find that when the file is uploaded it looks really pixelated or blurry then there are three possible reasons why this may have happened:
- The wrong YouTube banner size dimensions were used.
- The image was saved in the wrong file format.
So, if you're seeing problems with the quality of your YouTube banner when it's uploaded to your account then make sure you work in a high enough resolution, save the files as PNGs or JPGs rather than another type of file format, and check the recommended YouTube banner size is at least 2560 x 1440 pixels big.
What's the best size for my YouTube icon?
A standard-sized YouTube icon will be 512 x 512 pixels.
What should I put in my YouTube banner?
There isn't really a trick to creating your own YouTube banner, you'll just have to experiment with different shapes and colors while keeping an eye on what's trending online.
Try out some new things and consider hiring a designer if you're still struggling with your design after all of that experimentation.
What are the best colors for my YouTube banner?
The color scheme you choose for your channel art is entirely up to you, but generally, it's a good idea to pick two or three main colors that contrast well with one another.
For example, black and white contrast nicely so these are commonly used together. You can also use complementary colors, which are colors that are opposite each other on the color wheel, such as blue and orange.
Brian Dean mentions using BOGPY colors in order to stand out from the native standard YouTube colors.
BOGPY = Blue, Orange, Green, Purple, and Yellow colors really pop.
Do I have to pay anything to include images in my YouTube banner?
Absolutely not, mostly the channel art has figures and decor in conjunction with an image of you or what the brand represents.
In tools like Canva, you have all of the free graphics included that you can use. There are also free stock images that you can utilize from sites like Unsplash.com.
If I make my own YouTube banner will it increase my audience?
While an impressive-looking design of your channel art won't automatically attract viewers, it can help set the tone and mood for your videos and make your brand more recognizable and stand out.
If your banner looks professional and well designed then people are likely to think that's how your content quality is as well, and vice versa.
A little extra effort can go a long way in helping you stand out from other YouTubers.
Wrap up
And there you have it. Hopefully, we covered everything you need to create some epic channel art!
Some parting advice is to make sure your YouTube banner is eye-catching, represents your brand well and has the correct YouTube banner dimensions before you upload. This will give you the best chance of attracting an audience and sharing content with the world.
Use the design tips we went through to create a channel art that matches your unique personality or take inspiration from some of the awesome YouTube banners examples in order to produce an epic piece of artwork!
Of course, creating YouTube banners is just the first step in building a successful channel — the video content is a key part of it, too.
WeVideo is a simple and easy way to edit your YouTube videos, all from the comfort of your web browser (or mobile app!). Forget complicated video editing software and expensive computers, and try our online video editor today for free.
Learn even more about everything related to video:
Chris is an engineer turned synthesizer, combining tech expertise with content marketing. Chris writes and carefully curates the best tools for new technical trends, content creation, and marketing.