Create Eye-Catching YouTube Thumbnails
Transform ordinary photos into click-worthy thumbnails without Photoshop skills.
Type 'replace background with bold gradient from purple to orange' or 'enhance colors to make the subject pop dramatically' and EditThisPic's AI transforms your photo into a professional thumbnail in 15-30 seconds. No selection tools, no layers, no design experience needed. Just describe the look you want. Free to try, no account required.
How it works
Upload your photo
Drop your thumbnail photo into EditThisPic. Works with JPG, PNG, and WebP up to 7MB. Use a clear shot of your face or subject - smartphone photos work great.
Describe the thumbnail look you want
Type your instruction: 'replace background with bold red gradient' or 'make the colors more vibrant and saturated for a thumbnail.' Be specific about colors and style. No selection or masking needed - the AI understands what 'background' and 'subject' mean.
Copy one of these to get started:
replace background with bold gradient from hot pink to electric blue, keep the subject sharp and vibrant
enhance colors to be extremely vibrant and saturated, boost contrast to make the subject pop dramatically
replace background with clean white studio backdrop with soft shadows
replace background with dark dramatic gradient from deep purple to black, add subtle rim lighting effect on the subject
3 more prompts
replace background with solid bright yellow, enhance subject colors to be more vivid
enhance the lighting on the face to be brighter and more dramatic, increase color saturation
remove the distracting background and replace with solid bold red
Generate and review
Check the result at thumbnail size - that's how viewers will see it. Make sure your subject stands out and the colors grab attention. If the background is distracting or colors are off, regenerate with adjusted wording.
Refine with markers if needed
If the AI missed part of the background or enhanced the wrong area, tap markers on those specific spots and regenerate. This is optional - most thumbnail edits work perfectly on the first try.
"Went from spending 2 hours in Photoshop to 2 minutes. My CTR jumped 40% with these thumbnails." @GamingWithMike
See it in action
Gaming thumbnail with gradient background
Replaced a messy room background with a bold purple-to-blue gradient that makes the creator pop.
replace background with bold gradient from electric purple to bright blue, make the subject colors more vibrant
Tutorial thumbnail with clean white background
Transformed a kitchen backdrop into a professional studio look perfect for how-to content.
replace background with clean pure white studio backdrop, enhance the subject to look crisp and professional
Reaction video with high-contrast colors
Boosted colors and contrast to create that scroll-stopping reaction thumbnail look.
enhance all colors to be extremely vibrant and saturated, boost contrast dramatically, make the subject pop against the background
If something looks off
Background replacement left parts of the old background
Why: Complex hair or accessories can confuse the AI about where you end and the background begins.
Tap markers on the areas where old background is still visible, then regenerate with the same prompt
💡 For complex hair, add 'keep hair edges clean' to your prompt.
Colors look too artificial or oversaturated
Why: The AI pushed saturation too far based on 'vibrant' or 'pop' in your prompt.
enhance colors to be slightly more vibrant while keeping skin tones natural
💡 Use 'naturally vibrant' instead of 'extremely saturated' for a balanced look.
Subject looks blurry after enhancement
Why: Starting with a low-resolution or compressed image limits what AI can enhance.
Start with a higher resolution source image - at least 1280x720 for thumbnails
💡 Use the original photo from your camera roll, not a screenshot or compressed version.
AI changed the wrong area or something I didn't want changed
Why: The AI couldn't determine exactly which area you meant from description alone. This happens with ambiguous requests.
Tap a marker on the specific area you want to change, then regenerate with the same prompt
💡 Markers tell the AI 'I mean THIS one specifically.' Use them when description alone is ambiguous.
Gradient colors don't match what I imagined
Why: Color descriptions can be interpreted differently. 'Blue' means many things.
replace background with gradient from hex #FF6B6B coral pink to hex #4ECDC4 teal
💡 Use specific color names like 'electric blue' or hex codes for exact colors.
Quick answers
Do I need to select or mark the background before replacing it?
No! Just describe what you want: 'replace background with bold red gradient.' The AI understands what 'background' means. Only use markers when you need precision - like cleaning up edges after your first attempt.
What size should my thumbnail photo be?
YouTube recommends 1280x720 pixels. EditThisPic works with any size, but starting with at least this resolution gives the best results. Your final thumbnail should be clear at small sizes since that's how viewers see it.
Can I add text to my thumbnail?
EditThisPic focuses on photo editing - background replacement, color enhancement, and making subjects pop. For adding text, we recommend using Canva or a similar tool after exporting your enhanced photo.
What makes a thumbnail get more clicks?
High-contrast colors, clear facial expressions, and simple backgrounds work best. Remove clutter, boost saturation, and make your subject the obvious focal point. Red, yellow, and orange backgrounds typically outperform muted colors.
Will my edited thumbnail have a watermark?
No watermarks, ever. Your downloaded thumbnail is completely clean and ready to upload directly to YouTube Studio.
Ready to create thumbnails that get clicks?
Free to try. No signup required.