Cartoon YouTube Thumbnail Design

I’m preparing a new YouTube upload and want a thumbnail that instantly signals “fun-to-watch.” The look I’m after is bright and cartoonish, with the thick, energetic outlines you’d normally see around a game character.

Here’s the mix of elements that must stand out: a custom character illustration, my game asset framed by a clean outline, and an appealing text title that pops off the screen. Layer styles, shadows, and color choices should work together so the image still reads clearly at the standard 1280 × 720 preview size.

Because I’ll be swapping assets for future videos, I need the final file delivered as an editable PSD (layered, properly named groups) plus a ready-to-upload PNG/JPEG. Keep every main component on its own layer so I can tweak colors or replace the text without disturbing the outline effects.

Acceptance criteria:
• Bold, polished cartoon aesthetic
• Character, game asset, and title all clearly legible at a glance
• PSD organised by layers; no merged artwork
• Thumbnail exports at 1280 × 720, under 2 MB

If anything you need isn’t clear, let me know—I’m happy to share reference screenshots of the character and the in-game item.