Easy Thumbnail Maker for Google Slides™ helps you design eye catching YouTube™ thumbnails quickly without advanced design skills.

This add on is built for creators who want fast thumbnail creation, multiple design options, and strong visual impact directly inside Google Slides™.

Collects NO DATA! No PII. Generates and lives within your own Google Slides™/Google Drive™. 

Create professional looking thumbnails, using AI, in minutes.

What this add on helps you do.

• Create YouTube™ thumbnails fast.
• Generate multiple thumbnail variations automatically.
• Design thumbnails without Photoshop or external tools.
• Improve click through rates with bold text layouts.
• Keep branding consistent across videos.
• Work entirely inside Google Slides™.

🎬 Paste Your YouTube™ Link
Paste a link to any YouTube video into the sidebar prompt. The video thumbnail will appear in the sidebar. Video title is automatically imported. 

👍 Choose Thumbnail Style
From the dropdown choose which style you want. Text boxes will be editable. 

🤖 Thumbnail or AI Background
By default the current thumbnail will be the backgroud. Check the checkbox to indicate you want to generate an AI background using Google Gemini™. 
**Note: Some thumbnail styles are AI styles and they will not use the thumbnail. 

🌠 Incorporate Your Images
On a blank slide, add images and logos you want to include on your YouTube™ thumbnail. Use the dropdown to choose the images from the active slide. These images will be automatically copied to each of the 5 suggested thumbnails that are created. 
**Tip: IF you have AI features in your Google Slides™ use the remove background tool for best results, if desired. 

🟥 Upload Thumbnails to YouTube™
You will need to MANUALLY add the thumbnail image to your YouTube video. Use the File menu to download the image of your choice as a PNG. Upload this to the thumbnail option in your YouTube™ video. 

✅ What this add on does.

• Generates five thumbnail variations automatically.
• Uses your YouTube™ video preview image or optional AI generated backgrounds.
• Applies high contrast text styles for better readability.
• Supports arrows and visual emphasis elements.
• Supports badges such as NEW, LIVE, TOP 10, EPISODE, or custom text.
• Can use photos already placed on the active slide in Google Slides™.
• Inserts all generated thumbnails after your current slide.
• Adds speaker notes with design details for easy iteration.

Designed for YouTube™ thumbnails.

This add on is built specifically for YouTube™ thumbnail best practices including strong visual hierarchy, large readable fonts, and layouts that perform well on mobile devices.

Available layout styles include.

• Split headline layouts.
• Bottom bar emphasis layouts.
• Outline hero text layouts.
• Two line emphasis layouts.
• Minimal clean layouts.
• Illustrated and comic style AI backgrounds.

For educators.

Easy Thumbnail Maker for Google Slides™ is ideal for teachers and instructional designers who create video lessons, flipped classroom content, or recorded presentations.

• Create clear thumbnails for lesson videos.
• Improve student engagement with visually consistent designs.
• Quickly generate multiple options for different classes or grade levels.
• Keep all planning and design inside Google Slides™.

Optional AI backgrounds.

When enabled, the add on can generate AI backgrounds that match the selected style. AI features are only used when you choose to enable them.

Privacy and data usage.

Easy Thumbnail Maker works only with the current Google Slides™ presentation. It runs only when you click a button. The add on does not automatically scan files. No data is sold or shared.

Who this is for.

• YouTube™ creators.
• Educators and trainers.
• Course creators.
• Marketing teams.
• Anyone who wants better thumbnails faster.

🟨 Why Google Slides™.
Google Slides™ are FREE and you own them. Other thumbnail generators hold the designs on their platforms, limiting your access if you discontinue the service. Additionally, other platforms may have access to your desgigns or data. Using Google Slides™ ensures you have full ownership and control. 

Many creators and educators already plan content in Google Slides™. This add on turns Google Slides™ into a fast thumbnail design workspace without the need for external design tools.

This Add-on is created by educator, Google Certified Innovator, and Google Developer Expert Alice Keeler. Check out all AliceKeeler Add-ons at https://alicekeeler.com/codedbyalice