如果您正在考虑创建自己的YouTube 频道(YouTube channel)，很容易迷失在内容创意中，或者沉迷于建立完美的预算工作室(budget studio)。有这么多计划，很容易忽略您的YouTube 频道(YouTube channel)艺术。
YouTube 频道(YouTube channel)的视觉风格几乎与其创建的内容一样重要。从 YouTube 页面上的横幅到每次上传的缩略图，一切都会影响人们是否决定观看您的视频。
本文将向您展示如何决定和制作完美的YouTube 频道(YouTube channel)作品。
YouTube 频道艺术解释
在深入了解实际创建YouTube 频道艺术(YouTube channel art)的技术细节之前，有必要了解您需要制作的内容。任何YouTube 频道(YouTube channel)的主要视觉点都可以分为三个部分：
- 个人资料图片(A profile picture)- 将其视为您频道的徽标
- 频道横幅(A channel banner)- 代表您的频道功能的较大图像
- 个人视频缩略图(Individual video thumbnails)——类似(Similar)主题但独立的图像，旨在吸引观众。
OnlineTechTips YouTube 频道(OnlineTechTips YouTube channel)对所有三个元素都使用了类似的艺术风格和调色板(art style and color palette)。个人资料图片以频道名称为特色。横幅告诉你它是关于技术的，每个缩略图都具体显示了这一集中将要讨论的内容。
但这不仅仅是技术(way tech)渠道的方式。各种YouTube频道都使用这个制胜法宝(winning formula)，原因很容易理解。个人资料图片和横幅插图(picture and banner artwork)清楚地表明了频道的内容，每个单独的缩略图都可以很好地了解视频中的人物以及内容。
从其他YouTube 频道(YouTube Channels)获得灵感
为您的频道艺术作品获取创意的一个好方法是从他人那里获得灵感。5 Minute Crafts是(5 Minute Crafts)YouTube 上(YouTube)最受欢迎的频道之一。他们的艺术与其他渠道略有不同，主要依靠强烈的色彩和图像而不是文字。
决定为自己创建什么的一个好方法是考虑您将创建什么样的视频内容。(video content)你(Are)会经常出现在镜头前吗？如果是这样，那么在艺术品中拥有自己的图像（或绘画）是有意义的。您的频道是否更多地基于谈话和讨论而不是视觉效果？那么使用文本可能是一个好主意！
虽然您最终希望为您的频道创建一些独特的东西，但花时间(spending time)查看其他频道如何展示自己可能是获得灵感的好方法。
使用 Adobe Spark 创建图稿
一旦您决定了您希望频道的外观，就该选择工具来创建您的YouTube 频道(YouTube channel)图片了。
Adobe Spark是用于创建简单图形和网页的在线编辑器。它是YouTube 艺术作品(YouTube artwork)最简单的选项之一，因为它有大量用于横幅、缩略图和徽标的模板。
凭借易于使用的界面和许多选项来调整您喜欢的图像，很容易看出为什么这么多人使用Spark来制作他们所有的社交媒体作品。Adobe Spark提供两个月的免费试用，之后您将每月支付 11.59 美元的服务费。
创建YouTube 频道艺术的免费选项(YouTube Channel Art)
如果您正在寻找一种易于使用的工具来在预算内创作艺术品，Canva可能适合您。这是一项免费使用的图形设计服务(free to use service for designing graphics)，包括YouTube横幅和缩略图。
作为一个免费选项，您应该比使用 Adobe Spark(Adobe Spark)之类的付费产品做更多的工作，但正如GCFLearnFree.org的上述视频所示，它仍然是创造伟大艺术的简单快捷的选择。
DIY选项
让您的作品看起来完美的最佳方法是使用Adobe Photoshop等图像编辑软件。您将拥有比上述任何免费或付费选择更多的编辑和过滤选项。更重要的是，您可以完全控制成品的文件大小和尺寸。(file size and dimensions)
如果您无法访问Photoshop，可以使用大量功能强大且免费的图像编辑器。学习GIMP 图像(GIMP image)编辑器的基础知识将为您提供为您的YouTube 频道(YouTube channel)创建美丽、独特的艺术品所需的所有技能。
走这条路意味着您需要获取自己的图像和图形，但是有这么多很棒的免费图片(stock photo)网站，您有很多选择！
数字中的 YouTube 频道艺术
无论您决定以哪种方式制作艺术品，都需要符合以下条件：
- 图片必须至少为 2048 像素宽 x 1152 像素高（尽管YouTube建议使用 2560 x 1440 像素(x 1440px)）
- 图像的文件大小(s file size)必须小于 6 兆字节 (MB)
另一个需要考虑的重要事项是您的频道横幅(channel banner)的哪些部分将可见。创建 YouTube 横幅(Google guide to creating YouTube banners)的Google 指南显示了图像的哪些区域在计算机、智能设备和电视上可见。
您频道的个人资料图片与您的Google 帐户(Google account)相关联，并且必须至少为 180 x 180 像素。如果它更大，请不要担心，Google会为您调整大小。
缩略图应为 1280x720 像素且小于 2 MB。请记住，这些图像将在各种设备上看到。即使是较小的智能手机，任何文本都应该易于阅读。
通过YouTube 艺术作品(YouTube Artwork)获得创意
开设YouTube 频道(YouTube channel)是创造性地挑战自己的好方法。除了您的艺术作品的平面设计元素，您还将学习其他有价值的技能，如视频编辑(video editing)和公开演讲。
How To Make YouTube Channel Art
If you’re thinking of ѕtarting yoυr own YouTube channel, it’s easy to get lost in ideas for content, or obsessed with building the perfect budget studio. With so much to plan, it’s easy to neglect your YouTube channel art.
A YouTube channel’s visual style is almost as important as the content it creates. Everything from the banner on your YouTube page to each upload’s thumbnail will affect whether people decide to watch your videos.
This article will show you how to decide on and make the perfect YouTube channel artwork.
YouTube Channel Art Explained
Before going into the technical details of actually creating your YouTube channel art, it’s worth learning what you’ll need to make. The main visual points of any YouTube channel can be divided into three parts:
- A profile picture – think of this as your channel’s logo
- A channel banner – a larger image representing what your channel does
- Individual video thumbnails – Similar themed but self-contained images designed to be enticing for viewers.
The OnlineTechTips YouTube channel uses a similar art style and color palette for all three elements. The profile picture features the name of the channel. The banner tells you it’s about technology, and each thumbnail shows specifically what’ll be talked about in the episode.
This isn’t just the way tech channels do it though. All kinds of YouTube channels use this winning formula, and it’s easy to see why. The profile picture and banner artwork make it clear what the channel is about, and each individual thumbnail gives a good idea of who will be in the video, and what it will be about.
Getting Inspiration From Other YouTube Channels
A good way to get ideas for your channel’s artwork is to take inspiration from others. 5 Minute Crafts is one of the most popular channels on YouTube. Their art is slightly different from other channels, relying mostly on strong colors and imagery rather than text.
A good way to decide what to create for yourself is to think about what kind of video content you will create. Are you going to be on camera a lot? If so, then it makes sense to have an image (or drawing) of yourself in the artwork. Is your channel based more around talking and discussion rather than visuals? Then using text is probably a good idea!
While you will want to ultimately create something unique to your channel, spending time looking at how other channels present themselves can be a good way to get inspired.
Create Artwork Using Adobe Spark
Once you’ve decided on what you want your channel to look like, it’s time to choose the tools to create your YouTube channel art.
Adobe Spark is an online editor for creating simple graphics and web pages. It is one of the easiest options for YouTube artwork, as it has a vast array of templates for banners, thumbnails, and logos.
With an easy to use interface and many options for tweaking images to your liking, it’s easy to see why so many people use Spark for all their social media artwork. Adobe Spark offers a two-month free trial, after which you’ll be paying $11.59 per month for the service.
Free Options For Creating YouTube Channel Art
If you are looking for an easy to use tool for creating artwork on a budget, Canva might be for you. It’s a free to use service for designing graphics, including YouTube banners and thumbnails.
As a free option, you are expected to do a little more of the work than with a paid product like Adobe Spark, but as the above video from GCFLearnFree.org shows, it’s still a simple and quick option for creating great art.
The DIY Option
The best way to get your artwork looking perfect is to use image-editing software like Adobe Photoshop. You’ll have many more editing and filtering options than in any of the free or paid choices above. More importantly, you’ll have complete control over the file size and dimensions of the finished product.
If you don’t have access to Photoshop, plenty of powerful and free image editors are available. Learning the GIMP image editor’s basics will give you all the skills you need to create beautiful, unique artwork for your YouTube channel.
Going this route will mean you’ll need to source out your own images and graphics, but with so many awesome and free stock photo sites out there, you’ve got plenty to choose from!
YouTube Channel Art In Numbers
Whichever way you decide to make your artwork, it will need to comply with the following conditions:
- The image must be at least 2048 pixels wide by 1152 pixels tall (though YouTube recommends 2560 x 1440px)
- The image’s file size must be under 6 megabytes (MB)
Another important thing to consider is what section of your channel banner will be visible. The Google guide to creating YouTube banners shows which areas of the image are visible on computers, smart devices, and televisions.
Your channel’s profile picture is linked to your Google account and must be a minimum of 180 x 180 pixels. Don’t worry if it’s bigger, Google will resize it for you.
Thumbnails should be 1280x720px and smaller than 2 MB in size. Remember that these images will be seen across a variety of devices. Any text should be easy to read on even a smaller smartphone.
Getting Creative With YouTube Artwork
Starting a YouTube channel is a great way to challenge yourself creatively. Alongside your artwork’s graphic design elements, you’ll be learning other valuable skills like video editing and public speaking.
