A good YouTube channel requires professional design. It is especially important to have a beautifully designed header, since when visiting a channel, it is the main showcase that says what your channel is about, sets the right mood and contributes to the memorability of your video blog. In this post I’ll tell you how to make a header for a YouTube channel.
The design of the channel header on YouTube should be given due attention, since the first thing a new user who enters the page looks at is the header. A YouTube video blog header is a showcase of your channel. It should evoke the emotions that match your content. In this post I will tell you, how to make a header for a YouTube channel.
Cross-platform channel header
Your channel page can be viewed from different devices. In this regard, one large image is used as a header, with the expectation that a certain area of this image will be shown on all devices. So, here are the display sizes of the YouTube channel header on different types of devices.
- On TV - 2560×1440 px;
- On a desktop PC - 2560×423 px;
- On tablets - 1855×423 px;
- On smartphones - 1546×423 px.
When creating a header, the main visual should be placed exactly in the last 1546x423 px, since this area will be shown on all devices. At the same time, YouTube does not allow you to arbitrarily select this area in the main image. It is located strictly in the center of the main image. It is only allowed to change the scale relative to the main image, and along with it all other areas change proportionally.
Making a header for the channel
First we need a background image. It should be designed to display your channel on TV, that is, it should be large and have dimensions of 2560x1440px. It is best to use a background image for the channel header, not a photo, since on mobile devices the header will not include the entire image, but its central part, as shown in the figure above.
Where can I get background images of 2560x1440px?
We go to the Yandex search engine page and click on the “Pictures” link above the input field.
On the page that opens, enter some query that corresponds to what we want to see in the background. For example, “blue background” or “white snowflakes”. Click "Find". On the page with the query results, click on the link on the right “Show filters”.
In the filter menu that opens, click on the first tab “Size” and manually enter the dimensions of the image we need, that is, 2560x1440px. Click the "Ok" button and a large collection of pictures with the specified request will open in front of us.
We select an image that suits us from the options presented and download it to our computer. Next we need a text editor that can work with layers. For example, Adobe Photoshop. Now we need to draw the header on this background, but only in the area that will be available on all devices. To do this, download a mask with area markings to understand exactly where this or that area will be located. Just save the markup image in PNG format to your computer, which is located below.
Next, we just have to show our creativity and, in an area that is viewable on all devices, create the visual image that we want to see in the channel header. I won’t make a beautiful hat because I don’t know how and I think that this is the job of a designer. I'll just show you what the result will look like on different devices. Before you save the final image, be sure to remove the mask you placed over the background for precise markings.
Please note that the moon and stars are outside the markings, the area visible on smartphones. The moon will also not be visible on tablets. Everything drawn will be visible only on PC.
Having spent No number of hours, you will be able to write something worthy and you will know exactly which area of your header will be available on a particular device.
Hello, friends. Vasily Blinov is in touch and we continue to set up our YouTube channel. Today we’ll talk about how to make a channel header. Let's consider how you can draw it yourself or order it from a designer. Also in this article you will find a marked up blank template for a YouTube header in psd format, an archive with ready-made templates, backgrounds and a selection of clip-arts.
In addition to technical aspects, I want to tell you why a header (banner, background) of a YouTube channel is needed, what can be depicted on it, what semantic component it carries and how it affects promotion.
Yes, it, like any other element, helps make it better and significantly influences new viewers. This is probably the most important and, of course, the largest graphic element that improves the entire appearance. Without it, any channel will look unfinished, as if the author does not care; you must admit, this reduces trust at first glance.
The background should complement the channel with information about it and visually convey the theme of your videos.
If it's a personal channel where you upload live videos, vlogs, etc., then your header photo will work best. This will immediately show users who the author of the channel is and they will remember you. Remember that your face is your brand.
If the project’s channel does not have a specific author, then in this case they usually beautifully outline a logo or name that is understandable and memorable to the target audience. Some values, project goals, etc. are used.
It’s a normal thing for hats on YouTube to change, update and improve from time to time. Now our task is to make the first background, then you will find new ideas and edit it. When the channel starts making money, contact the designer and order a new, more professional one.
How to make a header for YouTube?
What size do you need? We recently tested it and noticed that if you make the non-recommended size of 2560 x 1440, then when scaling by YouTube, the image quality is slightly lost. Therefore, it is better to take a 2560 x 1440 pixel image or a template that I will give you and customize the image according to it.
The specifications also say that the file should weigh no more than 4 MB. But a 10 MB banner loaded smoothly for me.
This is what a template template for a YouTube header looks like, opened in Photoshop.
Blue stripes are a special marking so that you can understand which part is displayed on different monitor resolutions from a TV to a mobile phone screen. This markup can be disabled or enabled using the keyboard shortcut ctrl + H.
- DOWNLOAD TEMPLATE FOR YOUTUBE HAT
- Download the archive with ready-made templates for YouTube (we are still preparing)
- Download the archive with backgrounds and a selection of clip-arts
Where can I get pictures for the header?
Here either Google and Yandex, or special photo stocks will help you.
Here is a small list of photo stocks:
- rgbstock.com
- bigfoto.com
- freemediagoo.com
- foter.com
- everystockphoto.com
- stockphotos.io
- wylio.com
- canweimage.com
- littlevisuals.co
- unsplash.com
- picjumbo.com
- gratisography.com
- imcreator.com
- morguefile.com
When you search for images in the search, set the parameters so that the search does not show small images.
Otherwise, when stretched to fit the template, their quality will deteriorate.
Can't do it beautifully?
If you are not a Photoshop master and you don’t like the result, then contact the designers. You can find them yourself at. Making a banner will cost from 500 to 3,000 rubles, depending on what you want.
Now that you have a background image for your channel, all that's left to do is set it.
How to set a background on a YouTube channel?
Step 1. Let's go to our channel. Place the cursor over the place where the background image will be and click on the pencil that appears in the upper right corner. Choose “Change channel design”.
Step 2. Drag the finished banner into the window that appears or select it on your computer.
Step 3. If you did everything according to the template, then you don’t need to crop anything. When cropping, as I already said, the quality may deteriorate.
Step 4. Click "Choose" and the background will load.
You can watch an example on the channel “ Remote School" We made an absolutely simple hat. Write in the comments what do you think?
We've sorted out this setup step, let's move on... And don't forget to subscribe to our newsletter.
If you want to learn how to make a header for a Youtube channel then this article is for you. We'll tell you in detail and provide cool hat templates.
The header on a YouTube channel is the first thing a person sees when he enters the channel. Therefore, a bright and memorable hat is simply necessary. But how to make a really cool hat. Here are a couple of useful tips.
How to make a header for a Youtube channel?
First you need to choose what should be depicted on the header. Usually they post something there that somehow shows the theme of the channel. For example, if the channel is a gaming channel, then some kind of gaming motif or a collage of frames of different games would be perfect. If the channel is culinary, then you can place products or ready-made dishes on the header. In general, the idea is clear, I think.
Once we have decided what to depict there, we either select ready-made pieces of images on the Internet and any available sources, or we draw everything ourselves. This is a creative process and anyone can use the software they like. The most popular graphics editor is Photoshop. But you can do without it.
What size is the header for a YouTube channel?
It is very important to make the image the right size so that it displays beautifully. The main area where the information is placed should be clearly in the middle of the entire design. The maximum size of the entire image is 2560 * 1440 pixels. However, the part of the design that will be visible on PCs or mobile devices is only 2560 * 423 pixels. This zone should be located exactly in the middle.
The rest of the image can be decorated with a single color fill in the color of the main image. Or you can extend the main part of the header, but you need to keep in mind that this will only be visible on TVs.
In this case, the image should be no more than 4 MB.
Several examples of headers for a YouTube channel
Before you make a hat for, it’s worth getting acquainted with the basic design methods.
The owner of a profile on a popular service can do all the work independently - find a ready-made version on the Internet or edit a suitable image using a graphics editor or a special service.
If you can’t solve the problem on your own, you can turn to professional designers and illustrators.
Editing a Layout
To create your own image that will become the channel header, you can use professional editors like (although most of them are paid).
Although, if there is no need to work with layers, ordinary programs are also suitable, with less functionality, but with a more understandable interface.
The process of creating a header for a channel consists of approximately the following steps:
- Finding a suitable background.
- Crop the image to fit the header.
- Adding information is usually textual, although it is possible to add other images and photos, and even create collages.
You can select a suitable background using search engines or, as well as special resources.
The main requirement for pictures is that they must be at least 2560x1440 pixels in size.
This format is standard for YouTube headers - and reducing an image without losing quality is much easier than enlarging it.
Search for a ready-made hat
The second option involves downloading a ready-made header - cropped and practically prepared for installation on YouTube.
All the user needs is to replace the caption on the image with the name of their channel. The advantage of this method is that it saves time - you can select a suitable picture on the desired topic and change the text within a few minutes.
The disadvantage of downloading ready-made templates is considered to be the low uniqueness of the resulting header.
The same picture has most likely already been installed on their channels by dozens or hundreds of other users.
In addition, an already cropped image is more difficult to edit than a larger blank (for example, such a header cannot be cropped differently).
To work with such a resource, you will also first have to register.
After this, you can place requests, indicating the requirements for the header and the amount offered for the work.
You can estimate the cost of an image by viewing similar offers on the same exchange.
Installing a header on a channel
Installing a picture is unlikely to take the user more than 15-20 minutes - even if he has to crop and edit the image.
In order for the downloaded, created or purchased image to appear in the channel header perform the following actions:
- Choose to open the file on your computer and open the image.
will see the header set by the owner of this profile.
It is possible that the first time the picture will not turn out exactly as the owner expected to see it.
Especially if he made it himself and has never designed a channel before. However, it is not difficult to correct the situation - changing the image will help.
Summarizing
Creating a header for your channel is not a difficult task and, one might even say, interesting.
In the process of searching and editing images, the user can gain several useful skills that will be useful not only for creating a profile.
If you don’t have the time or experience to do such work, you can entrust it to other people - although you will have to pay for such a service.
The design of the channel header is one of the important aspects of attracting new viewers. Using such a banner, you can notify about the video release schedule and entice them to subscribe. You don't need to be a designer or have any special talent to design a hat beautifully. One installed program and minimal computer skills are enough to make a beautiful channel header.
Of course, you can use any other graphic editor, and the process itself will not differ much from that shown in this article. For a visual example, we will use the popular program Photoshop. The creation process can be divided into several points, following which you will be able to create a beautiful header for your channel.
Step 1: Selecting an image and creating blanks
First of all, you need to choose an image that will serve as a header. You can order it from a designer, draw it yourself, or simply download it from the Internet. Please note, in order to weed out low-quality images, when making a request, indicate in the line that you are looking for HD images. Now let’s prepare the program for work and make certain preparations:
Now you can start loading and processing the main image.
Step 2: Working with the main image, processing
First we need to remove the sheet in the cage, since we will no longer need it. To do this, select its layer with the right mouse button and click "Delete".
Move the main image onto the canvas and edit its size along the borders.
To avoid sharp transitions from the image to the background, take a soft brush and reduce the opacity by 10-15 percent.
Process the image along the contours with the color with which the background is painted and which is the main color of your picture. This is necessary so that when watching your channel on TV there is no sharp transition, but a smooth transition to the background is displayed.
Step 3: Adding Text
Now you need to add captions to your header. This could be a video release schedule, a title, or a request for a subscription. Do it at your discretion. You can add text as follows:
You can edit the placement of a font by simply holding it with the left mouse button and moving it to the desired location.
Step 4: Save and Add a YouTube Header
Don’t forget to check how the finished result will look on a computer and mobile devices so that there are no mistakes later.
Now you have a channel banner that can display the theme of your videos, attract new viewers and subscribers, and will also notify you about the release schedule of new videos if you indicate this in the image.
Loading...
