3 Ways to Design YouTube Banners: AI, Template, & Stock Image

If you want your channel to stand out and grab attention, then you need a strong YouTube banner design. A well-designed banner sets the tone for your content and helps you attract viewers. In this guide, we’ll uncover 3 effective methods to create stunning YouTube banners that make a lasting impact.

How to make a YouTube banner with AI

Powered by cutting-edge AI, Dreamina makes creating YouTube banners effortless and fun. In just a few clicks, you can generate stunning, high-quality designs—no design expertise needed. Plus, the built-in customization tools, like AI inpainting and element remover, give you the freedom to fine-tune every detail. By extension, Dreamina image generator is the ideal solution for content creators seeking a professional look without the hassle of starting from scratch.



Guide to Dreamina AI banner maker

Learn how to use Dreamina's AI banner maker with this easy guide. Click the button below to sign in and get started:

Step
1. Write down the prompts
2. On Dreamina's homepage, click "Text/Image to image" under "Generate images." Next, write your YouTube banner design idea on the textbox. For example, you could type "Create a modern YouTube banner for a marketing channel. Use blue and purple gradients with orange accents. Feature a central growth symbol (rocket/arrow). Add abstract digital elements in the background."
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Step
4. Make banners
5. After writing the prompt, choose a model and adjust the "Quality" slider - a higher intensity gives better results. Next, choose an aspect ratio (for YouTube 16:9); for the size, you can type in YouTube's recommended 2560x1440. Finally, click on "Generate." Dreamina's AI will analyze your YouTube idea and generate 4 different YouTube banner designs you can use on your channel.
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Step
7. Refine & download
8. Click on the banner you like the most to edit it further. If you see something you don't want in your banner, you can easily use Dreamina's "Remove" tool to remove it from your design. To use it, click on the "Remove" tool. Next, use the brush to paint over the area you want taken off. In our example, we'll brush off the word "Yoibububie" from our design. Once you are done, click on "Generate."
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With the text removed, you can now type in your own preferred text. To add texts, click on "Edit on canvas." On the Canvas editor, click on the "Add text" tool. Next, write the text (e.g., Marketing: 101), choose your preferred font, size, and font color. If the fonts don't satisfy you, click "AI" to design your desired effect. When all is done, drag the text and place it where it compliments your design.



Once you are satisfied with your banner design, click on "Export" to reveal the export settings. Choose your preferred file type (JPEG or PNG), size, and export option. Finally, click on "Download."



Key features:

1. High-quality upscaler
2. Dreamina's powerful HD upscaler removes the noises and sharpens the image, making it look crisp and professional.
3. Picture blender
4. Dreamina AI blender allows users to merge two pictures by setting one as the foreground and the other as the background. You can also enter the prompts to create a specific blending effect onto the image.
5. Banner expander
6. With Dreamina's AI banner expander, you can easily extend the size of your YouTube banner while adding extra design elements based on your prompts.
7. One-click background remover
8. Dreamina’s one-click background remover can help you isolate key elements to make your banner look polished and free of distractions.
9. Text DIY tools
10. Dreamina's text tools give you full control over your banner’s typography. You can choose from a variety of fonts, adjust sizes, and customize colors to match your brand’s style.

How to create a YouTube banner with a template

BrandCrowd is an online design platform that simplifies banner creation by offering pre-made templates designed by professional creators. Unlike Dreamina, which is based on generating banners from text prompts, BrandCrowd focuses on providing users with a vast collection of templates that can be customized. It’s an ideal solution for users looking for a quick, template-based approach to designing custom YouTube banners.



Guide to BrandCrowd

Step
1. Visit BrandCrowd
2. On the homepage, type in your keyword to find pre-made banners. For example, if you run a marketing channel, you could type in "Marketing" as the keyword. After adding the keyword, click on "START NOW."
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4. Next, enter your business name (i.e., your channel name), related keywords, and click on "SEARCH."
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Step
6. Choose and customize a template
7. Now, browse through the generated options and select a YouTube banner template that best suits your brand.
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9. After choosing one, you can edit the text, change the fonts, adjust colors, and even upload your logo.
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Step
11. Finalize and download
12. Once you are done editing your YouTube banner and you are satisfied with the design, click "Download" to export your customized banner.
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Key features

• Template variety: BrandCrowd provides thousands of professionally designed templates, making it quick and easy to find a design that fits your brand’s aesthetic.
• Customizable text and colors: You can fully personalize the text, font, and colors on the templates, allowing for flexibility and brand alignment.
• Logo integration: Easily upload your logo and incorporate it into your YouTube banner for a cohesive brand identity.

How to design YouTube banners with a free stock image

Freepik offers a unique way to design YouTube banners using stock images. Unlike Dreamina’s AI-powered generation or BrandCrowd’s template-based approach, Freepik gives you access to thousands of free stock images and allows you to manually edit and combine them to create a custom YouTube banner. With a wide range of creative tools and design flexibility, Freepik is ideal for users who prefer working with pre-existing photos rather than starting from scratch or using AI prompts.



Guide to Freepik

Step
1. Select a stock image
2. Head to Freepik’s banner page and browse through its extensive library of stock images. Alternatively, you can just type in what you are looking for to find it quickly. For example, you could type in "YouTube Banners" if you want to create a banner design for a marketing channel. Next, choose one that fits your YouTube banner's theme.
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Step
4. Edit and customize
5. After selecting the image you like, use Freepik's editing tools to crop, replace people or objects, and even add filters. You can also add text or headings from the text tab. You can also add text or headings from the text tab. Change the font, size, and color of the text to match the vision in your mind.
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Step
7. Finalize and download
8. Once you’re happy with your design and ready to save it, click on "Download." Once you do that, your YouTube banner design will be downloaded and saved on your device.
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Key features

• Free stock image library: Access thousands of high-quality, free images to use on your YouTube banner designs.
• Drag-and-drop editor: Freepik’s intuitive editor allows you to easily place and customize elements within your banner.
• Resize and crop tools: Adjust your images to fit the required YouTube banner size by cropping or resizing your YouTube banner.
• Text customization: Add and style texts with Freepik’s typography tools. Customize the font, adjust the size, change the color, or add text effects to enhance your banner designs.

5 ideas for YouTube banner design (Illustrated by Dreamina)

1. Landscape-based banner

This type of banner features serene, natural environments, which makes them perfect for travel, lifestyle, or nature-based YouTube channels. Landscapes create a calming atmosphere and help viewers connect emotionally to your content.

Prompt example: Generate an image of a snow-capped mountain with a lake in the foreground. The mountain should be medium height and positioned at the left of the image. The picture only includes half of the hill. The lake should be crystal clear, with a small field behind it that is lightly dusted with snow.



2. Pixel-styled banner

Pixel art banners are ideal for gaming channels, retro-themed content, or anything with a nostalgic vibe. These designs mimic the aesthetic of 8-bit video games, combining bright, blocky visuals with a playful tone.

Prompt example: A vibrant pixel-style city skyline at dusk with glowing windows in the buildings, a setting sun, and a few scattered stars in the sky. The design should capture a retro 8-bit aesthetic with bold, blocky colors.



3. Montage banner

A montage banner is perfect for content creators who want to showcase the tools of their trade. This style blends elements from multiple sources to create a dynamic, multi-layered design that reflects your content’s diversity. It’s great for vloggers, content creators, or digital media professionals.

Prompt example: A collage of various content tools like a camera, microphone, editing software, and vibrant thumbnails, blended with social media icons and a bold “Subscribe” button, all in an energetic, colorful style.



4. Minimalistic banner

Minimalism is all about simplicity and elegance. This banner type focuses on a clean design with few elements, making it great for professional or personal channels that value aesthetics over clutter. It emphasizes quality over quantity, making the most of white space and typography.

Prompt example: A clean design featuring a few large, solid-colored geometric shapes (like circles or rectangles) on a white or pastel background, with your channel name in elegant, minimal typography.



5. Key moment banner

This banner type captures personal or channel highlights, such as key moments from a trip, an event, or a memorable experience. It’s ideal for lifestyle, family, or adventure channels looking to share their story through visuals.

Prompt example: Capture moments from a weekend outing like hiking, biking, or enjoying nature with family and friends, featuring a mix of outdoor scenes and smiles, set against a bright and lively background.



Conclusion

In this guide, we've explored 3 awesome ways to create eye-catching banners: using Dreamina, BrandCrowd, and Freepik. Each method has its perks, but Dreamina stands out for its ease of use and creative power. With AI's deep learning and understanding, it grasps your ideas and turns them into stunning visuals, without back-to-forth editing or adjustments. Ready to give your YouTube channel a boost? Try Dreamina's AI to create eye-catching YouTube banners in seconds.

FAQs

1. What's the normal size of a YouTube banner design?
2. The recommended size for a YouTube banner is 2560 x 1440 pixels. But keep in mind that certain areas of your banner may be cropped depending on the device. The safe zone where your essential elements should be placed is 1546 x 423 pixels. This ensures that your banner looks great on all devices, including desktops, tablets, and mobile phones.
3. To make the process easier, Dreamina comes with a preset YouTube banner size (i.e., 16:9 aspect ratio). Plus, with Dreamina's AI banner expander, you'll be able to expand the size and content without compromising on the quality. So what are you waiting for? Visit Dreamina today, create an account, and start designing captivating YouTube banners for your YouTube channels.
4. Where can I make a YouTube banner for free?
5. For free YouTube banner creation, choose Dreamina. It allows users to create YouTube banners for free with its daily 150 free credits. Each generation will produce 4 banners but only costs only 3 credits, meaning you can create up to 200 designs every day. Head over to Dreamina now and start designing your YouTube banners today!
6. What should I consider when I create a YouTube cover photo？
7. When creating a YouTube cover photo, you should consider several factors: make sure it aligns with your brand’s style, fits the recommended dimensions, and includes relevant visuals and text that reflect your content. The design should be eye-catching but not cluttered, and all essential elements should be placed in the safe zone to ensure they’re visible on all devices.
8. Creating a banner that incorporates all these elements can be challenging, but Dreamina makes it easier. Just type in the requirements and your expectations. With 30 seconds, Dreamina will bring you 4 banners exactly as your vision. Visit Dreamina today and create your very own unique YouTube banner with a few clicks.