Channel Art
The banner image at the top of a YouTube channel's homepage.
What is channel art in YouTube?
Channel art in YouTube refers to the banner or header image that appears at the top of your YouTube channel's homepage. It is a key part of your channel's branding and identity, as it is one of the first things viewers see when they visit your channel. The channel art can include things like your channel's name, a tagline, or visuals related to the type of content you create.
The channel art is customizable, allowing creators to upload their own images or graphics. It's important to note that the channel art may appear differently on desktop, mobile, and TV displays, so YouTube provides a recommended size and safe area for text and logos to ensure they are not cut off on different devices. Overall, effective channel art can help attract and retain viewers, as well as convey the personality and content of the channel.
How do I change my YouTube channel art?
To change your YouTube channel art, you first need to sign in to your YouTube account. Once you're signed in, click on your profile picture located at the top right corner of the screen and select "Your Channel" from the dropdown menu. This will take you to your channel's homepage.
On your channel's homepage, hover over the existing channel art until you see the edit (pencil) icon in the top right corner of the channel art, and click on it. Select "Edit channel art" from the dropdown menu. You can then upload a new image from your computer or choose from your existing photos on Google. After uploading, you can adjust the cropping of your image and preview how it will look across different devices. Once you're satisfied with your selection, click "Select" to set your new channel art.
What is the ideal size for YouTube channel art?
The ideal size for YouTube channel art is 2560 pixels wide by 1440 pixels tall. This size is according to YouTube's official recommendation and is designed to fit all types of screens, from small mobile devices to large television screens. However, it's important to note that the "safe area" where text and logos are guaranteed not to be cut off is much smaller, at 1546 pixels by 423 pixels in the center of the image.
When designing your channel art, you should focus your main content within this safe area to ensure it's visible on all devices. The rest of the image should be more of a background or border that complements the main content but still looks good when it's the only part of the image displayed on smaller screens. It's also recommended to use a PNG or JPEG file that's under 6MB and to check how it looks on different devices before finalizing it.
How can I create custom YouTube channel art?
Creating custom YouTube channel art can be done through various graphic design platforms, but for the sake of simplicity, we'll use YouTube's built-in tools. First, sign in to your YouTube account and click on your profile picture at the top right corner. From the drop-down menu, select "Your Channel". Once you're on your channel's page, hover over the banner area and click on the camera icon that appears, then select "Change".
You'll then be prompted to upload an image from your computer. The recommended dimensions for YouTube channel art are 2560 x 1440 pixels, with a maximum file size of 6MB. You can create an image of these dimensions using any graphic design software such as Adobe Photoshop, Canva, or even Paint. Make sure your design represents your channel's brand and content. Once you've created and saved your design, upload it by clicking on "Select a photo from your computer" in the YouTube prompt. After uploading, you can adjust the cropping of your image and preview how it will look on various devices. Once you're satisfied with how it looks, click "Select" to finalize your new channel art.
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