Enter the world...

YouTube allows you to upload, play and comment on videos free of charge. Each user can create their own playlists or channels. The platform does not require registration to watch videos, only if you want to post your own content, create playlists and use additional functionalities. Here you can subscribe to channels, interact by commenting, liking or sharing content on social networks. On mobile devices, YouTube is most convenient to use a dedicated app. The service also provides a premium version that requires a paid subscription. With it, you can watch ad-free videos throughout the site, download videos and play them offline, play videos in the background, and enjoy better image quality in 1080p resolution on mobile devices. When creating your own content to share on the platform, it's a good idea to read the guidelines for both its format and compliance with the rules so that it won't be removed.

With the development of YouTube, the creators of the service began to be interested in various types of new functionalities, and one of the most interesting areas are digital collectibles, thanks to which the experience of creators and fans would be enhanced.

Graphics on...

In the case of YouTube, several types of graphics are used. These are: cover photos, channel icons (avatar, profile picture) and watermark. When creating them, you should, of course, remember about the principles of legibility and aesthetics, but also about the issue of responsiveness, i.e. adapting the YT website to the width of the screens of various types of devices: smartphones, tablets, computers and TVs. Creating graphics is possible thanks to free and paid tools such as Canva, or you can entrust them to professionals. Companies that conduct their marketing activities through the platform should pay particular attention to the quality of these elements. A good graphic portal, such as Art Lounge Plus, which has positive reviews,  will also give good tips.

Recommendations and lists

In order for the graphics posted on the YouTube channel to be adapted to different devices, it is worth preparing such graphic files that contain the logo or the main elements of the image in the so-called safe area. They will then be displayed to all users of mobile devices and laptops.

The minimum cover photo size is 2048 × 1152 px (guidelines from YouTube Studio) or 2560 x 1440 px (guidelines from YouTube Support). The background aspect ratio should be 16:9, while the areas of the safe area of the YT background graphics are 1235 × 338 px. In addition, it should be remembered that the size of the graphic file should not exceed 6 MB. For images larger than the image box, the user will see an editor that allows you to select the display area. On the preview, you can see how the selected graphics will look on each device.

The recommended size of the avatar thumbnail is 800 x 800 px. The file should be in .jpg, .bmp, .png, .gif format. Animated .gif files are not accepted. In this case, the size should be 4 MB or less. The channel icon displayed will be approximately 98 x 98 px. Additionally, make sure your profile picture meets YouTube's Community Guidelines.

A watermark is a graphic element that appears on videos that users watch. It is used for visual identification and to familiarize the audience with the brand. The minimum watermark size is: 150 x 150 px. The image should be square in shape and the file should not exceed 1 MB. The recommended format is .jpg, .bmp, .png, .gif. Animated .gif files are not accepted. Watermarks are not available in videos marked as kids. Normally, they are displayed on both desktop devices and smartphones, but in the latter case they are not clickable.

You can also create custom thumbnails to make your YouTube video stand out. Their dimensions should be 1280 x 720 px, with the minimum width being 640 px. The aspect ratio of the graphics is 16:9, the file format is .jpg, .png, .gif. The file size must not exceed 2 MB for videos and 10 MB for podcasts. For podcast playlists, YouTube recommends uploading custom thumbnails with a 1:1 aspect ratio instead of 16:9, and the recommended dimensions for this image are 1280 × 1280 px. In addition, the YouTube Help Center is a good idea to review other formal requirements and restrictions for thumbnails. There is some content that cannot be presented on them.

YouTube is primarily associated with various types of shorter and longer forms of video. In order to comprehensively take care of your profile, you should also prepare a well-thought-out cover photo, profile photo, watermarks and thumbnails. What counts here is not only creativity, but above all attention to the right dimensions and formats of graphics so that they look aesthetically pleasing and clear regardless of the type of device. This allows you to present your channel in a professional way and encourage people to stay on it for longer.