Getting Started with Thumbnails
Create your first AI-generated thumbnails in Outlier
The Thumbnail Generator creates professional YouTube thumbnails without design skills. Start by creating a project and uploading reference images.
Thumbnail Projects#
Each project represents a consistent visual style—usually one per channel or content series.
Why Projects?#
Projects let you:
- Maintain visual consistency across videos
- Build a Style DNA from your references
- Save default settings
- Organize generations by channel
Creating a Project#
- Go to Thumbnails in your dashboard
- Click New Project
- Name your project (e.g., "Main Channel" or "Tutorial Series")
- Start uploading reference images
Reference Images#
Reference images teach the AI your visual style. Upload 5-15 examples of thumbnails you like.
What Makes Good References#
Include:
- Your own past thumbnails (if you like them)
- Competitor thumbnails you admire
- Examples with similar composition to what you want
- Mix of different layouts and approaches
Avoid:
- Low-quality or blurry images
- Thumbnails from completely different niches
- Inconsistent styles (unless you want variety)
How Many to Upload#
| Count | Result |
|---|---|
| 5 | Minimum viable Style DNA |
| 10 | Solid style understanding |
| 15 | Maximum recommended (best results) |
More references help the AI understand patterns, but quality matters more than quantity.
Where to Find References#
- Your own channel
- Competitor channels
- Pinterest boards
- Screenshot high-performing thumbnails
Save images at the highest resolution available.
Project Settings#
Configure defaults for your project:
Preferred Resolution#
| Resolution | Size | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| 1K | 1280×720 | Standard YouTube |
| 2K | 1920×1080 | Higher quality |
| 4K | 2560×1440 | Maximum quality (Pro+) |
Higher resolution = better quality but larger files.
Default Model#
Choose your generation model:
- Gemini 3 Pro: Highest quality, $0.15/image
- Gemini 2.5 Flash: Good quality, faster, $0.03/image
Creator+ plans can choose; Free tier uses Flash.
Face Reference#
If you appear in your thumbnails:
- Enable face reference
- Upload a clear headshot
- AI preserves your appearance in generations
Your First Generation#
After setup:
- Click Generate Thumbnail
- Enter your video title and description
- Add a headline (text that appears on thumbnail)
- Click Generate
- Review 4 variants
- Rate, refine, or download your favorite
Plan Limits#
| Plan | Generations/Month | Storage |
|---|---|---|
| Free | 0 | — |
| Creator | 100 | 1 GB |
| Pro | 500 | 10 GB |
| Team | Unlimited | 100 GB |
Free users can use the Thumbnail Analyzer (free tool) but need Creator+ for generation.
Related Articles