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YouTube Thursdays - Revisiting Thumbnails

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Industry Observer with Nature As Neighbors
Custom_Thumbnails.png

YouTube Thursdays - June 17, 2021  Revisiting Thumbnails 

 

                                      

 

Last year, we wrote a two-part series about video thumbnails, and why it's better to upload a custom thumbnail rather than use one of the default options offered by YouTube. 

 

If you missed the series, here are links to those YouTube Thursdays posts.

YouTube Thursdays October 15, 2020 - Thumbnails! 


YouTube Thursdays - October 22, 2020 - More Thumbnails

 

In the "More Thumbnails" post, we mention using Canva to create custom thumbnails for our YouTube videos. 

 

Therefore, this week, Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist sent us an email asking for help in trying to resolve a custom thumbnail upload issue on her YouTube channel, we recommended using Canva. 

 

It seems her custom thumbnail photo, even though it was sized properly at 1280 x 720 pixels, was too large. Ironically, while on the phone she mentioned that Canva suggested downloading the thumbnail as a PNG. Instead, she decided to download it as a JPG. It seemed fine to me (Debb), - it wasn't.  The same thumbnail as a JPG exceeded the limit, which is under 2MB. 

 

After some experimentation on her part, Kathleen discovered the PNG file compressed the photo of her thumbnail to a size accepted by YouTube, while the same thumbnail as a JPG was still too large.  

 

We are sharing her story this week to help those of you who might run into similar issues. 

 

You can also use other online resources too, such as this YouTube Video Thumbnail Resizer. We found it while doing some online research about the topic. 

 

 

Posted by


Debb Janes  Bernie Stea
Brokers/REALTORS®
Call or Text 360-608-4900

We help buyers and sellers in Camas, Washougal, Brush Prairie/Hockinson, Salmon Creek, Felida, and other Vancouver, Washington Areas. 

We bring our passion for nature and beautiful environments to Real Estate. Multigenerational and family estates, country land and homes, and small farmsteads are our speciality.


We agree with our clients, "The true luxury of rural living is having elbowroom for the soul.

 

Comments(30)

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Craig Daniels
Tech Training for You! - Staten Island, NY
Technology Instructor/Project Consultant

Jumping into a techie discussion here. This result has me scratching my head. A 1280x720 JPG should be way under the 2 MB cap. I did a couple tests and was getting the 200KB to 300KB range. I also tested in Canva. Downloaded a composition in JPG and PNG and the PNG was way bigger (over the 2MB size in fact). That makes sense, JPG is a lossy format whereas PNG is not. That's why JPGs should be smaller. hmmmm, inquiring minds want to know :)
PS - tinyjpg.com is my favorite goto site whenever I need a downsized web image. fast, free, works great, and super simple!

Jun 17, 2021 11:51 AM
Debb Janes

Craig Daniels You notice, I didn't try to explain it away. I am baffled too. SO glad you weighed in, as I had no logical reason to give Kathleen. I'm still scratching my head over it too. Totally at a loss. 

Jun 17, 2021 12:10 PM
Debb Janes
Nature As Neighbors - Camas, WA
Put My Love of Nature At Work for You

Craig Daniels I am baffled too. SO glad you weighed in, as I had no logical reason to give Kathleen. I'm still scratching my head over it too. Totally at a loss. I always thought lossy and lossless had to do with the quality when compressing..?  I also experimented and found one of my 1280 x 720 photos wouldn't upload into YouTube as a custom thumbnail - it exceeded the file size. I didn't try it in Canva though...

Jun 17, 2021 12:20 PM
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Hi Debb:

Thank for the tip, and for all the follow-up discussion. I have done very little with custom thumbnails but should do more. good stuff to know in case there are isssues. And thanks for Craig Daniels for weighing in.

Jeff

Jun 17, 2021 04:45 PM
Dr. Paula McDonald
Beam & Branch Realty - Granbury, TX
Granbury, TX 936-203-0279

Great post explaining this tip for those of us who are non-techie. Thank you.

Jun 17, 2021 05:17 PM
Debb Janes

I'm not really a techie either Paula, and why this was an issue still confuses me. 

Jun 18, 2021 06:37 AM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Hi Debb and Bernie- this shows you what can happen when heads are put together to solve a problem!!!  I've never done anything with thumbnails but I may try just to see if I can do it!!! And yes, thank you Craig Daniels for weighing in!!!!!

Jun 17, 2021 05:42 PM
Laura Cerrano
Feng Shui Manhattan Long Island - Locust Valley, NY
Certified Feng Shui Expert, Speaker & Researcher

I haven't really thought this much about the nails in a while but it's a very interesting take it it's kind of kept my attention in the right way ;

Jun 17, 2021 10:32 PM
Brian England
Ambrose Realty Management LLC - Gilbert, AZ
MBA, GRI, REALTOR® Real Estate in East Valley AZ

Hmm, I think that I would always go with a custom thumbnail because I didn't like the ones that were suggested, haha.  Your reasons are way better than mine!

Jun 18, 2021 05:06 AM
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

Thank you very much for sharing your experience and your advice.

Jun 18, 2021 08:43 AM
Andrew Mooers | 207.532.6573
MOOERS REALTY - Houlton, ME
Northern Maine Real Estate-Aroostook County Broker

That thumbnail is the first and only chance to make the best first impression. Great information Debb Janes EcoBroker and Bernie Stea JD 

Jun 18, 2021 10:28 AM
Debb Janes

Thanks Andy!

Jun 19, 2021 06:26 AM
Jeffrey DiMuria 321.223.6253 Waves Realty
Waves Realty - Melbourne, FL
Florida Space Coast Homes

This is really good stuff here guys. Thank you for doing the work to bring us up to speed.

Jun 18, 2021 11:11 AM
Kat Palmiotti
eXp Commercial, Referral Divison - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root

Good tip about potential sizing issues and how to resolve them. After your thumbnail posts last year, I started using Canva for thumbnails and it works great. Thank you!

Jun 18, 2021 11:20 AM
Ed Silva, 203-206-0754
Mapleridge Realty, CT 203-206-0754 - Waterbury, CT
Central CT Real Estate Broker Serving all equally

This is very useful information.  I do the majority f my work in jpg but have to consider using png for some purposes, especially if it gives a better quality photo

Jun 18, 2021 11:47 AM
Sheri Sperry - MCNE®
Coldwell Banker Realty - Sedona, AZ
(928) 274-7355 ~ YOUR Solutions REALTOR®

Hi Debb Janes EcoBroker and Bernie Stea JD - It is always good to revisit a post when it seems that there is some confusion over it. Happy Friday!

Jun 18, 2021 02:22 PM
Debb Janes

Yes, and this is still a bit confusing as Craig Daniels mentioned...

Jun 19, 2021 06:26 AM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Jun 19, 2021 06:58 PM
Paul S. Henderson, REALTOR®, CRS
Fathom Realty Washington LLC - Tacoma, WA
South Puget Sound Washington Agent/Broker!

This post is a true inspiration you guys. Thank you for sharing for sharing this again Debb Janes EcoBroker and Bernie Stea JD 

Jun 19, 2021 10:11 PM
Endre Barath, Jr.
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties - Beverly Hills, CA
Realtor - Los Angeles Home Sales 310.486.1002

You guys are the Utube Gurus I should start doing them.... well we shall see... I have been saying it for years, Endre

Jun 19, 2021 11:00 PM
Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Chicago, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

Good morning Debb and Bernie. Can't say it any better than Endre Barath, Jr.. Enjoy your day. 

Jun 20, 2021 05:05 AM
Carol Williams
Although I'm retired, I love sharing my knowledge and learning from other real estate industry professionals. - Wenatchee, WA
Retired Agent / Broker / Prop. Mgr, Wenatchee, WA

Hi Debb,
I've been hesitant to get into video for two reasons:
1) I don't like being on camera and one of the main reasons is I don't like the way my voice sounds. I wonder if others cringe like I do when I hear my voice.  LOL
2) I don't have a clue what I'm doing and tech glitches like this have me even more apprehensive. 

That said, maybe I need to schedule a tech tip trip to see you.  Just what you need, something else to do, right? 

Jun 20, 2021 07:49 AM
Debb Janes

Anytime my friend. D

Jun 24, 2021 07:20 AM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

I'm bookmarking this one.  One of these days I'm determined to get something started on YouTube and this will be a must learn.

Jun 20, 2021 09:56 AM
Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
Real Estate Broker Retired

Never had any problems at all with thumbnails. When I do market reports in Power Point, I believe it resizes them for me. ????

Jun 22, 2021 06:17 AM
Debb Janes

Handy, right?

Jun 24, 2021 07:20 AM
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Debb Janes and Bernie Stea have been a real estate team for over a decade in Clark County, WA, where they specialize in ViewHomes™, family estates, multi-generational living, and homes with large lots or acreage.

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