Create a YouTube Thumbnail and Animate It – Photoshop + After Effects

In this video, I’ll walk you through my full creative process of designing a custom YouTube thumbnail using Photoshop (PTS) and then bringing it to life with subtle, eye-catching animation in After Effects (AE).

We’ll start by planning the thumbnail layout, choosing a strong background, cutting out the subject using the Pen Tool, and adding eye-catching text with clean outlines, shadows, and bold colors. I’ll share tips on creating thumbnails that stand out in YouTube’s small preview size, including proper spacing, font choice, and how to guide the viewer’s eye with composition.

Then, we’ll take the PSD file into After Effects, where I’ll show you how to animate each layer with basic motion effects like zoom, slide, bounce, and opacity fades. You’ll learn how to use keyframes and easing to make transitions smooth and natural, while still keeping the overall design clean and on-brand.

Whether you’re a beginner looking to improve your content, or a creator who wants to add a creative edge to your visuals, this tutorial will help you build thumbnails that not only grab attention but also elevate the visual identity of your channel.

🎬 Tools used: Adobe Photoshop, Adobe After Effects
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