Designs a thumbnail that wins the click — psychology, layout, text and color decisions — then outputs the generation prompt.
Design a YouTube thumbnail for my video: "{VIDEO TITLE}" — content: {ONE-SENTENCE SUMMARY}.
Channel style: {DESCRIBE or "clean and modern"}.
Step 1 — The psychology: which click-trigger fits this video best — curiosity gap, transformation (before/after), shock/scale, authority, or drama? Pick ONE and explain in one line.
Step 2 — The layout spec:- FOCAL POINT: what fills 40%+ of the frame (a face with THIS expression / an object / a split comparison)
- TEXT: max 4 words that do NOT repeat the title — they complete it. Give 3 options.
- COLOR: dominant color + one contrast accent, chosen against YouTube's white/dark UI
- The ONE detail that creates intrigue (arrow, circle, glitch, impossible element)
Step 3 — The generation prompt: one paste-ready DALL·E prompt for the background/scene (no text — text gets added in Canva), specifying composition with empty space where the text goes.
Step 4 — The 3-foot test: describe how this thumbnail reads at phone size from 3 feet away. If the message isn't instant, revise.