Copy, adapt, generate
20 Nano Banana 2 Prompts for YouTube Thumbnails
Two worked 16:9 thumbnail prompts with inputs, variables and a review step, plus eighteen more for tutorials, reviews, gaming, finance, food, travel and the rest — all leaving room for the title you set yourself.
How to use these prompts
The problem
A thumbnail is judged at roughly 210 by 118 pixels beside a dozen competitors, not at full size. Detail that reads beautifully in the preview disappears in the feed, and a duration badge covers the bottom-right corner of every one.
The method
Generate the picture, never the words. Ask for one subject, one high-contrast idea, and deliberate empty space on one side for the title you will set in an editor, then judge the result shrunk to feed size rather than at full resolution.
Prompts to copy and adapt
Face-led reaction thumbnail
Create a 16:9 YouTube thumbnail for a video about [topic]. Feature [subject] at chest-up scale on the [subject side], with a clear [expression] that reads at small size. Place [supporting element] on the opposite side against a [background treatment] that separates cleanly from the subject. Keep the bottom-right corner uncluttered for the duration badge and leave the [title side] low-detail for overlaid text. High contrast, strong rim light, no generated words, letters, numbers, logos, or interface elements.
- Model and input
- Nano Banana 2. Attach a photo of the presenter or character so the face stays recognizable across the channel.
- Suggested aspect ratio
- 16:9
- Replace these variables
- [topic], [subject], [subject side], [expression], [supporting element], [background treatment], [title side]
- Best for
- YouTube
- Check the result
- Shrink the result to about 210 pixels wide and check that the face, the expression, and the single idea still read at that size.
Object or before-and-after concept
Design a 16:9 YouTube thumbnail that contrasts [state A] with [state B] for a video about [topic]. Split the frame [split direction], render each side in its own [palette per side], and keep one shared [anchor object] positioned so the comparison is obvious without a caption. Add a strong directional light and a shallow depth of field. Keep the bottom-right corner clear for the duration badge. No generated text, arrows with lettering, watermarks, or brand marks.
- Model and input
- Nano Banana 2. Attach the real product, screenshot, or scene for whichever side must stay factually accurate.
- Suggested aspect ratio
- 16:9
- Replace these variables
- [state A], [state B], [topic], [split direction], [palette per side], [anchor object]
- Best for
- YouTube
- Check the result
- Check at feed size that the two states are distinguishable in under a second and that neither half is visually louder than intended.
More prompts for this job
The same method applied to more situations. These are shorter on purpose — the two templates above explain what to attach and what to check, and that guidance carries over.
Tutorial or how-to
Create a 16:9 YouTube thumbnail for a tutorial about [skill]. Show [tool or interface] large and centred with one hand entering frame to interact with it. Blur a workspace behind in [palette]. Keep the left third clean for a title and the bottom-right corner clear. Bright, even light. No text, numbers, logos, or UI chrome.
Use in Imgo with Nano Banana 2 →Product review
Create a 16:9 thumbnail for a review of [product]. Place the product large on the right at a three-quarter angle with a crisp studio rim light, and leave the left half a clean gradient in [palette] for the verdict text. Keep the bottom-right corner clear. Photographic, high contrast, no words, badges, star ratings, or brand marks.
Use in Imgo with Nano Banana 2 →Unboxing
Create a 16:9 thumbnail of hands lifting [product] out of an opened box, shot from just above. Spill packaging material naturally around the frame edges. Warm practical light, [palette] accents, shallow depth of field. Keep the upper-left low-detail for a title and the bottom-right corner clear. No text, logos, or price tags.
Use in Imgo with Nano Banana 2 →Gaming highlight
Create a 16:9 gaming thumbnail for [game]. Put [character or vehicle] mid-action on the [subject side] with motion blur trailing behind, against a high-contrast [palette] background with a dramatic light burst. Leave the opposite third clean for a title. Keep the bottom-right corner clear. Saturated and punchy, no text, HUD, kill counters, or logos.
Use in Imgo with Nano Banana 2 →Finance or business
Create a 16:9 thumbnail about [money topic]. Use one strong physical symbol — [symbol object] — centred and lit like a product shot against a deep [palette] background with a subtle upward-trending abstract shape behind it. Leave the left third clean. Keep the bottom-right corner clear. No text, numbers, currency symbols, charts with axis labels, or logos.
Use in Imgo with Nano Banana 2 →Fitness or transformation
Create a 16:9 thumbnail for a fitness video about [goal]. Split the frame vertically and contrast [state A] on the left with [state B] on the right, same lighting and camera position on both sides so the comparison is honest. Neutral gym setting, [palette] accents. Keep the bottom-right corner clear. No text, arrows with lettering, numbers, or logos.
Use in Imgo with Nano Banana 2 →Recipe or food
Create a 16:9 food thumbnail for [dish]. Shoot it overhead on [surface] with steam or a fresh-cut cross-section showing texture. Warm directional window light, rich [palette], props kept minimal and out toward the edges. Leave the right third calm for a title. Keep the bottom-right corner clear. No text, recipe cards, or logos.
Use in Imgo with Nano Banana 2 →Tech explainer
Create a 16:9 thumbnail explaining [technology]. Render one clean, slightly abstract 3D object representing it, floating centre-right on a dark [palette] gradient with a single strong key light and soft reflections. Leave the left third clean for a title. Keep the bottom-right corner clear. No text, circuit-board clichés, brand marks, or UI screenshots.
Use in Imgo with Nano Banana 2 →Listicle or top-N
Create a 16:9 thumbnail for a list video about [topic]. Arrange [item count] instances of [item type] in a loose overlapping fan across the lower two-thirds, each clearly distinguishable, lit evenly against a flat [palette] background. Leave the top band clean for a title. Keep the bottom-right corner clear. No text, numbers, ranking badges, or logos.
Use in Imgo with Nano Banana 2 →Podcast or interview
Create a 16:9 podcast thumbnail featuring [guest description] at chest-up scale on the [subject side], lit with a warm key and a coloured rim in [palette]. Suggest a studio behind with a microphone just in frame and everything else falling into soft darkness. Leave the opposite half low-detail for a title. Keep the bottom-right corner clear. No text, waveform graphics, or logos.
Use in Imgo with Nano Banana 2 →Travel or destination
Create a 16:9 travel thumbnail for [destination]. Frame [landmark or landscape] as the hero in golden-hour light, with one small human figure for scale placed in the lower [subject side]. Deep, saturated [palette]. Leave the upper opposite corner as open sky for a title. Keep the bottom-right corner clear. No text, location pins, flags, or logos.
Use in Imgo with Nano Banana 2 →DIY or build
Create a 16:9 thumbnail for a build video about [project]. Show the finished [project] on the right in natural light and a raw material or tool on the left, both on [surface], so the transformation is readable without a caption. [palette] accents. Keep the bottom-right corner clear. No text, arrows with lettering, or logos.
Use in Imgo with Nano Banana 2 →Reaction or commentary
Create a 16:9 thumbnail of [subject] at close range with a strong [expression], positioned on the [subject side] against a blurred [setting]. Add a single coloured rim light in [palette] to separate them from the background. Leave the opposite half clean for a title. Keep the bottom-right corner clear. No text, emoji, speech bubbles, arrows, or logos.
Use in Imgo with Nano Banana 2 →News or analysis
Create a 16:9 thumbnail about [event]. Use one restrained symbolic object representing [event] centred on a muted [palette] background with hard directional light and a long shadow. Serious, editorial tone — no sensationalism. Leave the left third clean for a title. Keep the bottom-right corner clear. No text, headlines, maps with labels, flags, or logos.
Use in Imgo with Nano Banana 2 →Coding or developer
Create a 16:9 thumbnail for a programming video about [concept]. Show an abstract structure suggesting [concept] — nodes, layers or branching paths — glowing softly on a dark [palette] background, with a laptop edge just entering the lower frame. Leave the upper-left clean for a title. Keep the bottom-right corner clear. No text, code, syntax highlighting, language logos, or IDE windows.
Use in Imgo with Nano Banana 2 →Beauty or skincare
Create a 16:9 beauty thumbnail for [routine or product]. Frame a face at close range on the [subject side] with soft, flattering light and visible natural skin texture, and place [product] in soft focus on the opposite side. Clean [palette]. Leave space beside the face for a title. Keep the bottom-right corner clear. No text, before-after labels, percentages, or brand marks.
Use in Imgo with Nano Banana 2 →Family or kids
Create a 16:9 thumbnail for a family video about [activity]. Capture a candid mid-[activity] moment with [subject] genuinely engaged, bright natural light, cheerful [palette], and an uncluttered background. Leave the upper third calm for a title. Keep the bottom-right corner clear. Warm and unposed. No text, stickers, emoji, cartoon overlays, or logos.
Use in Imgo with Nano Banana 2 →Course or educational series
Create a 16:9 thumbnail for lesson [lesson number] of a series on [subject]. Show one clear visual metaphor for [subject] centred on a calm [palette] background with soft studio light and generous negative space. Consistent, restrained styling that will still look like a set when repeated across episodes. Keep the bottom-right corner clear. No text, numbers, chapter markers, or logos.
Use in Imgo with Nano Banana 2 →Generated results from the Prompt Library
Only results attributed to Nano Banana 2 in the library are shown. They are examples, not a guarantee that the editable templates above produce the same output.
No Nano Banana 2 result is currently attributed to this topic in the library. Try a template above to create your own.