What should a Minecraft SMP thumbnail show?

The players involved and the conflict between them. Use real skins (type each player's username to load it), pose them reacting to each other, and add a short title or season badge.

Can I put several players' skins in one thumbnail?

Yes. Add a player layer for each person and type their Java or Bedrock username; MCRender loads each skin onto its own posable 3D character.

Templates coming soon

Minecraft SMP thumbnails

SMP videos run on people and drama: who betrayed who, who built what, which war starts next. The thumbnail has to show the relationship in one frame — two or three recognisable skins, a clear conflict between them, and the server's name or season number so regular viewers know which series it is.

Make your own

What makes a good Minecraft smp thumbnail

1
Faces over landscapes
Viewers follow SMP creators, not maps. Put two or three skins large and close to the camera, each with a pose that tells you how they feel about the others.
2
Brand the season
Keep the server logo or a season badge in the same corner every episode. It's how returning viewers pick your upload out of the subscription feed.
3
One conflict per thumbnail
A sword pointed at a rival, a stolen item held up, a base on fire. Pick the single moment the episode builds to.

How to make a Minecraft smp thumbnail

Step 1
Pick a template
Choose one of the Minecraft smp thumbnail templates on this page. Templates marked Free work with a free account.
Step 2
Put your skin on it
Type your Java or Bedrock username next to each player. Your skin loads onto the 3D character in the same pose.
Step 3
Change the text and download
Edit the title, then download a 1280×720 PNG ready for YouTube. Creator opens the full Thumbnail Editor for anything else.