YouTube thumbnails are everywhere in its respective platform. They provide a story for what the video will be about, whether through simple texts and images, to even a reaction of the content creator about something that might catch your attention more than once. However, with some new additions and adjustments to YouTube’s aesthetics, thumbnails have gotten a major upgrade as well, being bigger and better than before. Of course, the question does need to be asked:

Why are YouTube thumbnails so big now? The main reason why YouTube thumbnails are larger in scale, unlike before, is mostly due to the major redesigns and changes that YouTube has to offer to the website now. This allows for previous channels to be seen with the same level of provocation than before, but with some more finetuning and aesthetic redesigning. 

Understanding just why YouTube decided to make their thumbnails big is crucial to both the watcher as well as the channel owner. This can greatly help with performance as well as analytical reasons as it can help to project more of what your (or other) videos have to offer. 

Why Are YouTube Thumbnails Big?

Alongside the design upgrades that YouTube has to offer for their site now, one of the many upgrades they made is the adjustments of the YouTube thumbnails of various YouTube channels. Normally these changes are seen in the main menu for when you first open the site and log into your channel, seeing the various subscribed channels you watch having their thumbnails scaled to a larger degree as well as longer video descriptions beneath them.

New Layered Format

Thumbnails are bigger than before due to one of the updates that YouTubes established for their site thanks to the new layer formatting of their YouTube channels. What this new format does is that it creates certain layers for the website so that it’s much accessible for content to be reached and clicked on. 

Often we do this with applications on our phones, primarily iPhones with their shelving accessibility, and YouTube decides to opt for something similar as well. This is seen exclusively on the desktop formatting of YouTube, for mobile has its own different story.

With this new shelving layered format, it opts for not only bigger thumbnails, which is a given, but also opts for much longer video descriptions as well that can also catch the attention of viewers. This new layered format also removes the previous designs’ “shelves” formatting, which had its categories on the left side of the desktop screen, replacing it and moving them onto the main site itself as part of the layered format.

Mobile Gets Updated Too

The same redesign of YouTube is seen in the mobile app, opting for larger thumbnails as well, though these changes are slight. This time, the look and feel of the mobile app remain the same for its usual toolbar down at the bottom, but upon clicking the video of your choice, the design changes slightly, but in a way that expresses the various recommended content. 

Now instead of smaller thumbnails with the text to its side of what the video description, the new mobile updates amps the scale of new and much bigger scales of YouTube thumbnails that appear as if they are on the main website itself. 

The scrolling down is the same, except due to this new formatting, the comments section is removed entirely from the bottom of the screen and is now its own menu to tap on. 

To be honest, it is quite annoying to get used to it, but something that does catch a lot of attention, nonetheless for many people…especially for content creators.

Time For A Queue & Answer

YouTube thumbnails are bigger due to its accessibility to not only bring more eye-catching content to its viewers but to also add more functions to its site as a whole. With the “add to queue” button being more visible to the eye than before, this allows for more viewership and content to be distributed easily within a larger scale of audience, both domestically and worldwide. Alongside the queue button is also the “Watch Later” button, too, allowing double the amount of content distribution on the site.

Does Everyone Agree With New Thumbnail Changes?

Whether you are the viewer or you are the content creator that makes enough content that enables broader viewership, the reactions to these new updates, particularly with the bigger thumbnails is really a mixed bag. You have your side that opts for this change and allows for more easy access to content as well as allows for more reason to create better and more thought-provoking content, others consider this new change as something meaningless and lose the aesthetic of what YouTube is supposed to be. 

To easily understand these reactions, we have divided it into two general categories for an easier understanding of both perspectives and thoughts on the subject at hand. 

Of course, bear in mind that this is a generalization as there is a chance that both sides have the same reactions when it comes to this new formatted update.

The Viewer

From the perspective of the viewer that uses YouTube for viewership only doesn’t necessarily agree with the new changes. Sure, it allows for easier content distribution as mentioned beforehand and allows for new channels to grow due to the eye-catching opportunities of the bigger thumbnails, the viewer wants nothing to do with that. 

Instead, they are a bit frustrated on how these thumbnails are bigger and can cut content on some of their favorite YouTubers, which were accessible to click on and watch before the new major changes. They also don’t seem to enjoy the bigger thumbnails because of how the shelving optimization also implements both tending and other categories that the viewer doesn’t want to be bothered with. 

The Content Creator

For the content creator, it is a double-edged sword when it comes to its content and ability to distribute it. Although the larger thumbnails now opt for easier access for viewership and content distribution, it can also cut content for other content creators as well and possibly more of the previous videos that were once in the recommended list before the new update. 

Despite that double-edge sword, content creators will still utilize this new bigger thumbnail update to the fullest along with its new features and will enable them to provide better and much more eye-catching thumbnails unlike before. 

Remember What Thumbnails Are For…

In the end, both the viewers and the content creator needs to remember the purpose of what thumbnails are for, to which due to new changes that YouTube made, they seemed to have forgotten about it.

The idea behind the thumbnail is to enable the content creator to create eye-catching images that go along with their video description. Sometimes these thumbnails are merely for advertisement purposes, utilizing flashy color schemes and thought-provoking words and images that make the viewer want to click. As for whether or not you agree with new bigger thumbnail changes, that is again dependent on you and must understand that that is the new normal moving forward. 

Of course, the thumbnail formats themselves don’t have to change as their size still remains the usual 1280 pixels wide by 720 pixels tall, with a minimum width of 640 pixels, or a 16:9 ratio scale. The new changes to YouTube do not change their dimensions at all. 

Whether you’re simply a lover of YouTube and enjoy sifting through countless videos day in and day out or you’re planning on becoming a YouTuber yourself, one thing that may have caught your eye is the infamous YouTube thumbnail with an arrow on it. What do these arrows mean, though? Is there a reason for this pointer, or is it a scam?

Why do YouTube Thumbnails Have Arrows? Some people will place arrows strategically in YouTube video thumbnails to get more views. And while it may work temporarily, these arrows are often used for ‘clickbait’ and will do more harm than good in the long run.

Consider using a YouTube Thumbnail Maker to make eye-catching thumbnails without relying on arrows or clickbait.

If you have ever wondered why there are arrows plastered all over some people’s videos, you have come to the right place. There is a lot that goes into these arrows. Whether they are needed or warranted or not, well, that will come down to the creator. As the consumer, you will be able to understand the infamous arrow and perhaps why you should avoid it.

» MORE: How To Make a Custom YouTube Thumbnail [YouTube Tutorial]

What is a YouTube Thumbnail?

Well, before we can dip into the world of arrows, it is important to know what a thumbnail is first. Basically, when you finish uploading a video to YouTube, you will need to create a thumbnail of your video. This thumbnail is essentially what is going to make viewers want to click.

For instance, if you created a video about making cool Superman cupcakes, then your thumbnail might be a segment of your video that shows the end result and maybe you holding up the cupcake or some other cool things.

Now, there are a few ways to go about making your intriguing thumbnail. Some people will let YouTube decide when they are done creating their video, they will settle for the pre-selected thumbnail. Others will want to select which portion of their video to feature in the thumbnail.

On the other hand, some YouTubers will create an entirely new picture for their thumbnail. These will likely be strewn with lots of gimmicks, bright colors, words, and -you guessed it- arrows. These customized thumbnails are designed to draw the attention of the viewer to get more views on the video.

» MORE: How Long Does It Take YouTube To Change A Thumbnail?

Why do YouTube Thumbnails Have Arrows?

Now that you know what a thumbnail is and the different ways to create them, you are probably wondering why the arrow? What does that do for the viewer, and how does it benefit the YouTuber who created the video?

Well, let’s think about it this way: if you were going to the mall, and you were walking around and all of the sudden a store had a big display out front with arrows pointing to a 50% discount on all store items, you’re likely going to be drawn in. The same works for arrows on a YouTube thumbnail.

Arrows are placed on YouTube thumbnails to draw people’s attention. The arrows are likely going to be accompanied by some other attention-grabbing things, such as bright and flashy colors, some crazy and intriguing wording, and different types of emoticons and emojis that make people want to click.

The problem with arrows on YouTube thumbnails is that almost all the time, arrows are used for clickbait- and people hate clickbait.

» MORE: Blurry Thumbnails on YouTube Videos: What is the Deal?

Is an Arrow Clickbait?

Arrows on a YouTube thumbnail are almost always associated with clickbait, which is essentially just false advertising. Unfortunately, a lot of the time, people use a thumbnail that has nothing to do with their video.

For instance, someone trying to put together their Superman cupcake video might use something entirely different. Instead of being honest, they might use wording on their thumbnail like ‘Lady Gaga secretly loves these – here’s why.’ This will likely be surrounded by arrows, shocked faces, and maybe a little Superman cupcake in the corner, hidden away.

The problem with clickbait is that viewers are being lied to. They want to know what Lady Gaga secretly loves, but instead, they are watching you pour eggs, flour, and sugar into a bowl for 6 minutes. Did your views go up a lot? You bet. Did you maybe gain a few followers that love baking? Sure. Did you piss a lot of people off? Definitely.

» MORE: Are All YouTube Thumbnails Copyrighted?

Using Arrows for Good and Evil

While arrows are almost always associated with being a part of clickbait, it does not mean they have to be. After all, you have the option of using arrows in your videos in an honest manner. If you want to showcase your Superman cupcake and make it the main focus by surrounding it with arrows, then do it. You’re not lying- you are just trying to get more attention.

However, if you are using arrows as clickbait, it is definitely a short-term solution. The arrows will draw in a lot of attention right off the bat. Eventually, people will get mad and refuse to look at your other videos. That is the opposite of what you want to accomplish.

So, consider following these simple rules when using arrows in your thumbnail:

• Avoid using clickbait to get attention with arrows. Remember, you are going to do a lot more harm than good if you’re lying to your viewers just to get views and likes. You may end up with a lot more negative reviews than positive- is it really worth it?
• If you opt for clickbait, make it short-term. You want to gather some attention, but not enough so that you start being one of ‘those YouTubers’ who rely on gimmicks and scams to get more views for cash.
• Use arrows for good. A few arrows are alright- as long as you are not lying to the viewers. Be real and use your arrows for good. Don’t overdo it, either. This is unprofessional. And, even if you are legit, you might still look like you are another clickbait YouTuber.
• Rely on your content. Sure, arrows can be great when you are starting out. But the end goal is to bring views because people like your content. So it’s fine to have an eye-catching thumbnail, but don’t make it look like you’re trying to charm people into clicking.

Does YouTube Allow Clickbait?

Lying to viewers can feel like you are doing something wrong- and, well, you kind of are. But it is not ‘illegal’ or against the terms of use from YouTube. While they do not support clickbait, there are no penalties against doing it. The biggest thing to keep in mind is that using clickbait is going to disappoint, annoy, and anger viewers, so it’s best to avoid it.

The unfortunate truth, though, is that most YouTubers use clickbait in order to enhance their rank in the YouTube platform. That can make it easy to want to follow suit. But you, being the professional user with top-notch content, should know you do not have to rely on clickbait.

Instead, use arrows sparingly and do not settle for dishonesty when it comes to your thumbnail. Being catchy and fun in your thumbnail is one thing, but straight up lying is an entirely different thing- don’t be that person.

Conclusion

Arrows in a YouTube thumbnail are typically used with other types of clickbait. Sometimes, clickbait can be created as a downright lie to gather more views. However, you can use arrows as attention-grabbing tools in the YouTube lineup. The goal is to not lie with your arrows. Use them sparingly to maintain a professional appearance.

Rather than relying on clickbait, consider creating eye-catching, original, thumbnails using a graphic design tool like Placeit. You’ll be able to create custom mockups, unique designs, and then craft YouTube thumbnails from their plug-and-play YouTube Thumbnail Maker.

ps. Placeit also has free templates you can use anytime!

Creating genuinely awesome thumbnails will yield far better results, both in the short term and the long run.

If you are looking to make shirts or totes to represent your company or brand look no further, Placeit, a website, can help you with that. Creating visible and useable things to show off your name is one of the best ways to spread your brand at a low budget cost. It can be one of the best ways to advertise, and there are many competing companies, so what makes this one stands out?

Does Placeit have a free trial? Yes, Placeit has free templates you can download at no cost.

Creating a catchy logo and sharing your company name is one of the best ways for everyday people to remember you and your brand. This can help you attract customers and let them have reminders of your company throughout the day. It can be one of the best things you can do.

» MORE: Is Placeit Worth It? Everything You Need To Know

Why You Should Use Placeit Free Mode

Trying the free mode out will help you understand how the entire websites works you will be able to choose between making a video, selecting a design or a logo, picking a product, and you can even decide to brand a gaming platform. On Placeit, by using a free account you will still have unlimited downloads but you can only choose from a limited library of free templates. This will allow you to see how easy it is to use, and see if it’s worth it for you to upgrade to a paid plan and get access to their 60,000+ premium templates.

Learning how the program works through a free mode can help you decide if the professional design tools are something you will use in the future. If, after using the free templates, you decide it is not for you, there are no strings attached. Learning to create impressive items can leave impressions on the right customers, so it is definitely worth it to try the free version out before you buy a subscription.

» MORE: How to Use Placeit.net: Full Beginner Tutorial

What Is The Pricing For Placeit

Placeit has 4 different membership options:

• Free Account: Limited free library
• Single Download: From $2.99-$39.99 per download
• Monthly Unlimited: $14.95 per month
• Annual Unlimited: $89.69 per year

Pro Tip: Placeit offers an additional 15% off any paid plan with this coupon code.

The monthly payment plan and the annual payment plan come with unlimited access and downloads to everything they offer. This includes mockup images, mockup videos, design templates, logo templates, and more.

Both subscription plans can be canceled at any time, there are no contracts. Depending on how much you plan to design and create, it may be worth it to do a monthly plan, even if it’s just for 1 month.

Pro Tip: If the free plan is not enough for you, in most cases the monthly plan is the best option. You can get a full month of unlimited downloads for only $12.70 compared to a single download that may cost up to $39.99. Check the price of the single download, and see if it makes more sense to get 1 month of unlimited instead.

» MORE: How Much Does Placeit Cost? Is it Worth it?

What Can You Design on Placeit

By now, you may be curious as to what you can design on Placeit. There are so many items listed that you can design and create it’s hard to choose one thing. Here is a list of some of the items you can create that may be fun and useful for a branding image!

» MORE: Can Placeit Be Used for Commercial Use?

Mockups

A mockup is a real sized product that is used for demos and also used to create designs. Placeit’s mockups can help you understand the impression that the merchandise will leave on a customer. It can be one of the most beneficial things to do when creating a business. With Placeit, you will be able to see the full size of a product, design it, and download the prototype of the mockup. This will allow you to promote products through social media before you have it ready, gaining attention from potential clients.

• Apparel – Have a t-shirt design you want to sell? Placeit has the largest library of t-shirt mockups anywhere. Simply upload your t-shirt design, and create professional looking photographs of models wearing your design!

• Pillows – Not only are there various sizes to choose from, but you can also get an entire matching bedspread with your logo on it! You can choose the style and size.

• Tops – This is a broad category, there are many different styles of t-shirts you can choose from ranging in sizes useful for all sorts of customers. There are hoodies and tank tops, all of these can carry your brand or logo. You can design them as beautiful or grungy as you would like.

• Workout Gear – If you are a personal trainer or a health enthusiast, this is a perfect place for you to checkout. You can put your designs on yoga pants and leggings as well as sports bras and men’s shorts.

• Mugs – You can create accessories with your brand’s logo or image. On top of regular mugs in various styles, you can also choose between different travel mugs.

• Computer Accessories – You will be able to create laptop cases and designs. You can also choose to do phone covers and phone grips. Something every consumer uses on a daily basis.

• Business Accessories – Placeit has a wide variety of things you can use for your business or program. They have business cards, flyers, magazine covers, book covers, and much more. You can choose different designs for each and select the quantity you need.

» MORE: Make an Online T-shirt Mockup in Seconds Using Placeit.net

Designs

On top of all the mockups, Placeit has incredible designs to choose from.

• T-Shirt Design Maker – Placeit offers one of the largest libraries of t-shirt design templates. If you are in the print on-demand business, Placeit is going to be your secret weapon for making designs.

• Social Media Templates – Need eye catching designs for social media posts? Placeit has you covered with pre-made templates so you can swap out images with your own, and change the text to fit your needs. These range from Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, YouTube, Twitch, and more.

• YouTube & Twitch – Creating a YouTube end screen, a YouTube intro, or a Twitch overlay has never been easier. Choose from templates and customize them to fit your brand in minutes.

• Advertisements – Placeit even has a library of templates for creating online advertisements. These range from banner ads, sidebar ads, social media ads, and more.

» MORE: How To Make A Custom YouTube Thumbnail on Placeit [Video Tutorial]

Logos

Although Placeit became famous for it’s Mockups feature, it won’t be long until the word starts spreading about Placeit’s incredible logo maker.

• Logo Maker – The technology built into the logo maker seems to be years ahead of the other logo makers out there. Create truly professional, and original, logos in a few clicks (and for a fraction of the cost of hiring a professional graphic designer).

» MORE: How To Make A YouTube Logo With Placeit

Pros and Cons of Using Placeit

With every website, there are pros and cons; you should know what they are before choosing the business you go with.

Pros:

•    Largest template library anywhere, over 90,000+ templates.

•    Easy to use and easy to navigate.

•    Saves your progress and all previous downloads.

•    Quick downloading straight to your computer

•    Budget-friendly if you are doing a month-to-month option.

•    High-resolution image and video downloads.

•    Important: Full commercial usage rights on all downloads!

Cons:

•    You have to buy the merchandise separately. This website is only for creating the designs and does not print any physical products.

•    No ability to download a Photoshop Document version of your design.

•    Free library is limited compared to premium library.

» MORE: PlaceIt vs. SmartMockups: What Works Better?

Final Thoughts on Placeit

This is a great beginner program that is easy and convenient to use. It is one of the first design websites that have been created, and the site keeps updating to stay with all of the latest trends. Ps. They add roughly 600 new templates per week!

Spreading your logo around the community can help your business by promoting a specific brand image. It can be one of the best investments you make. Creating professional-looking designs is the first step to building a fantastic name for your company. Placeit can help you create, edit, and share it all in one place.

The world of copyrighting can be quite tricky to navigate, and if navigated, it can cost you plenty of money. Technology has made it incredibly easy to right click and save images, text, and videos without much thought. Unfortunately, this is also a way that many people find themselves in trouble for infringing copyright laws.

Can YouTube thumbnails be copyrighted? Yes, YouTube thumbnails can be copyrighted. Although the images are small, and often part of a larger image, they can be copyrighted.

Consider using a copyright-free YouTube thumbnail maker to ensure your thumbnails are 100% legal, and even give you the option to copyright protect them yourself.

Because of this reality, it is crucial to understand how to find and use an image for a YouTube thumbnail properly. In this article, you will find out how to effectively use a thumbnail image for your YouTube video without running into legal trouble.

» MORE: Can You Use Google Images for a YouTube Thumbnail?

Are All Thumbnails Copyrighted?

Thumbnails seem to be such an insignificant part of the YouTube process; however, they are a significant factor in the amount of traffic that arrives at your channel. If you are monetizing your YouTube channel and using a thumbnail created by someone else to drive traffic to your channel, you are likely breaking copyright law. However, in law, this has been a slightly gray area, and there may be some exceptions to this rule.

Adam Garson explains some of the legal ramifications of thumbnail images in the article Thumbnail Images – Infringement or Fair Use. There are many laws and rules when it comes to using images for monetary gain without proper permission. When thinking of large images, the laws are quite clear; however, thumbnail images need to have a series of questions answered to determine copyright issues. Garson explains:

“The more transformative (i.e., changed) the use of the thumbnails and the more distant the purpose of the thumbnails are from the original purpose of the images, the more likely the use will be construed as fair use.”

Therefore, when you use an image for a thumbnail, it is likely fair use, but you need to use caution, especially if you have monetized your YouTube channel.”

» MORE: Are All YouTube Thumbnails Copyrighted?

How Do I Safely Use a Thumbnail Image?

When using a thumbnail image to drive traffic to your YouTube channel, the safest thing you can do is use an image that you created. Brad Templeton, author of 10 Big Myths About Copyright Explained, shares that any image you create and upload yourself is automatically protected with copyright and does not need to be registered. 

Because an image is copyrighted to the owner upon upload, it is imperative that you know where the photo is coming from that you are using. If you are using an image that belongs to someone else, you must have explicit permission to use the image for monetization. Without this express permission, you can be held liable for copyright infringement.

With that said, using a commercially approved YouTube thumbnail maker will allow you to skip all the hassle and use any of their photos without worry of copyright infringement. You can even use these thumbnails on your monetized videos!

» MORE: Can You Use Logos in Your YouTube Thumbnails?

What Happens When You Use a Copyrighted Thumbnail?

If you choose to play the risk game and use a random image from a search engine or other source without proper permission or credit, you can be held liable for infringement. If the owner of the image discovers it is being used, they have the right to request that the image be removed. If you fail to comply with the request, you could face a lawsuit.

You Have Permission

Let’s say you have asked the owner for permission to use their image for your thumbnail. Legally you have permission to use the image, and the owner cannot file charges against you. However, if you are planning to monetize with the image you are using, this needs to be disclosed to the owner of the image.

When gaining permission from the owner, you need to have it in writing, and you need to have specific disclosures included. The Stanford University Library offers the article The Basics of Getting Permission, which walks you through the process of legally using a copyrighted image, in this case, for your thumbnail on YouTube. 

The process you need to follow involves these steps:

1. Find out if the item is copyrighted
2. Determine who the owner is
3. Understand the exact rights you need to use the image
4. Contact the owner not only to get permission but to see what monetary compensation they are requesting for the use of the image. Note: Not all owners will request financial reimbursement, but it is professional to follow this step and not assume the image is free to use.
5. Get permission in writing. If you are planning to monetize the channel using the thumbnail, you need to have this written into the permission as well, so there is evidence that it has been fully disclosed to the owner of the image.

Failing to follow these steps can result in legal action being taken by the owner of the image you are using.

How Do You Find the Owner?

Finding the owner of a photo can be a bit challenging, but it isn’t impossible to do. If you are looking at stock images, the individual likely sold the image to the specific company for use. Often, the owner’s name and contact information are present. 

If you are looking online and find an image that is not in a stock photo vault, the search may be a bit more challenging, but again, not impossible. If the photo is in a blog, the best starting point would be to reach out to the blog owner to determine where they got the photo and to find proper contact information.

Can You Use the Photo if You Can’t Identify the Owner?

Choosing to use a photo that does not belong to you and without proper permission for monetization is risky. While there aren’t filters like those in place for videos, it is easy enough for an individual to come across their photo and recognize it. If this happens, the best-case scenario would be a request to remove the photo. The worst-case scenario will be a legal case if monetization is involved. 

Ideally, you want to find the owner of the image before using it to benefit yourself. If you choose to ignore this recommendation, you need to be prepared for the consequences that may follow.

Use Your Own Photo

As you can see, many factors must be considered before using an image for a thumbnail. While the fair use policy may protect you, there is also a chance that it won’t. To avoid potential legal issues, it would be wise to use your own photo to drive traffic to your channel.

When you put a photo online, it is automatically copyrighted as your original work. You may wish to use the letter “c” inside a circle, but this is not always necessary. If you are searching online and find your image has been used by another individual, you have the right to request that it be removed. 

If you are in doubt of who the creator or owner is, don’t think it will just be okay to use the image. Find another image or create your own to save yourself a headache.

» MORE: How To Make A Custom YouTube Thumbnail [YouTube Tutorial]

Final Thoughts

While copyright laws can seem a bit overwhelming and challenging to follow, they are really in place to protect you. You must understand how they affect you and the decisions you make when posting thumbnails to your YouTube channel. Any time you use work that does not belong to you to benefit yourself, you must receive permission and often give credit. 

Don’t fall into the trap that providing credit is enough to allow the use of the image. Copyrighted images will not always be labeled as such. Therefore, you must do your due diligence to ensure you are following proper use guidelines.

We recommend using a commercially approved YouTube thumbnail maker to ensure you don’t get into a risky copyright infringement situation. The last thing you want is for your video to blow up and you get in trouble for the thumbnail!

Almost every graphic artist will tell you that you shouldn’t use drop shadows when designing a logo, but what you don’t get is a lot of explanation why. It’s a feature that was all the rage at one point but has quickly fallen out of grace. But why?

Do logos need shadows? No, using drop shadows makes your logo look dated, and it tends to make the logo come out blurry. If you want your logo to appear modern and not drive the viewer’s eyes to go batty, you should leave the shadows behind. You may think that it makes your logo stand out and look great, but the experts disagree.

Here are some explanations why you should stay away from drop shadows. Once you understand why they just don’t work, you can find some techniques that make it more obvious that you don’t need shadows in your logos.

» MORE: The Power Of Symmetry: 13 Lessons From Famous Logos

Drop Shadows Are Dated

The fact of the matter is that flat, minimalist design is in, and 3D effects are out. The flat look is so trendy that anything that is not flat looks like it was designed in a former era. Drop shadows come from a different era, and unless you are purposefully calling back to the era, you risk making your logo look old in a hokey way. But just how dated are they? Opinions vary on that one.

The 1970s Called; They Want Their Shaded Logos Back

Some people say that the use of drop shadow goes back to the Abstract Illusionism art movement of the 70s. Abstract Illusionism was a style of painting that was heavily influenced by expressionistic and hard-edged abstract paintings.

The style played with perspective, artificial light sources, and simulated cast shadows. This created the illusion of 3D space on a 2D surface. Unlike traditional paintings prior to the movement where pictorial space receded into the picture plane, the pictorial space of Abstract Illusionism seemed to project in front of, or away from, the canvas surface.

Many of these techniques were appropriated into the commercial world and became staples in graphic design, leading to the popularity of such things like drop shadows.

Smells Like an Outdated Logo

Other people feel that the use of drop shadows became popular with the rise of graphic design programs in the 1990s. With the release of Photoshop, everyone was given the tools to fool around with design. Kai Krause came up with a plugin called Kai’s Power Tools that allowed one to easily create drop shadows. Once this happened, the ability to create drop shadow became a sign that a designer knew how to work with design programs and made the technique trendy. But trends come and go, and this one has been waning for years.

Either way, drop shadow has been out of style for years. If you work it into your logo, you should have a very specific reason, or your logo is going to come off as out of date. Some serious anti-shadow design reasons are up next.

» MORE: A Guide to Choosing the Best Colors for Your Logo

Drop Shadow Tends To Look Blurry

Another reason why you don’t need shadow in your logo has to do with how the human eye sees it. Although drop shadow looks excellent on the web, it does not hold up in print. For whatever reason, drop shadow will never look as good as it does on your screen. Once they are resized or brought up on a different screen, they just don’t look as good.

Drop Shadow tends to amass a smear of gray behind the design. This actually muddies a clean and crisp logo. You want your logo to be clear from afar and drop shadow creates a 3D effect, that smear of gray, that makes a logo blurry from a distance, causing your eyes to strain to process what they are trying to look at.

If your goal is a legible logo, drop shadow is not going to help with that unless done right. Drop shadow will help separate text from the background but only when used subtlety and with the right color combinations.

» MORE: The Ultimate List of The Best Online Design Makers

Skip the Shadow: Other Ways to Add Depth to Your Logo

You don’t have to use drop shadow to create depth in your logo. There are several other techniques that you can use that create depth that are more modern and keep the logo looking crisp and clean. You can use:

• Lighting and shading: One of the best ways to show depth but avoid drop shadow is how you show light and shade. Light shows the viewer depth in how it acts over the surface of an object. How you shade your logo is going to communicate those actions and give a similar depth that shadow would.
• Overlapping objects: You can give your viewer a sense of depth by laying objects over each other. When one object blocks part of another, it sends a message to the eye that there must be depth. Objects that are near cover up objects that are further away. The key is making sure that the blocked object is seen as an incomplete object; otherwise, the viewer will just see two objects sitting next to each other. One way to accomplish this is to have more important information partially cover-up less important information.
• Size and scale: If you place different sized objects near one another, you send a message to your viewer. The difference in size comes from a difference in depth. If you vary the scale of similar objects as well, you can create a perspective of size and scale that demonstrates a deep composition.
• Linear Perspective: Closely parallel lines that converge in one place directly show three-dimensional space. The lines only need to be implied by the objects in the composition to cause this effect.
• Location: Objects higher on the picture plan seem to be further away, lower objects seem to be closer. Where you place your objects on the field or plane can add depth to your logo.
• Color: Warm, bright colors tend to move to the forefront, while cool, dark colors recede into the background. This may have something to do with the visual weights different colors have, but it really doesn’t matter why just know that the colors you use can give you the same depth that a drop shadow would have.

» MORE: 41 Hidden Messages In Famous Logos

When the Use of Shadow Is Okay

Even though you should avoid using shadow and try these other techniques to give your logo depth, there are some instances when using shadow may be needed or beneficial. It basically comes down to purpose. Here are a few instances when shadow is useful…

• Retro look: If you purposely want your logo to have a retro look, then drop shadow can help you accomplish this. But, you still need to be careful, the line between retro-chic and cheesy is a thin one.
• Contrast: If you have no choice in the colors you are using, and you need to separate words or objects from the background, you may have to use shadow. The key is to be as subtle as possible. The more obvious the shadow, the more dated your logo will look.
• Long shadow: There has been a recent trend in using long drop shadow. The shadow is a continuous block coming off the words. Although it is a drop shadow, it is more in line with the flat, minimal modern trends than with the old fashioned drop shadows.

Don’t fall victim to old fashioned styles. Drop shadow may be an easy solution for your logo’s depth issued, but you don’t have to use it. Be creative and purposeful, try some of these other techniques, and keep your logo as modern as possible with a logo template.

Placeit.net is a great way to create a mockup for your entire line of clothing. Placeit.net makes it simple to put together images of your entire clothing line in only a few clicks, making it possible to display your entire line without having to keep inventory.

How do you make an apparel mockup with your design on Placeit.net? Using your own design or by creating one with Placeit.net’s custom design generating program, you can create an apparel mockup in just a few short steps. Simply upload your image, customize the color and text, and download the finished result by choosing one of three inexpensive payment options.

The following steps will guide you through the simple steps you need to take to create a custom mockup. Although there are options for all types of clothing from t-shirts to leggings, for this example we will be using a T-shirt for our mockup. Let’s get started.

1. Getting Started

Before you commit to a subscription, placeit.net gives you the ability to create your mockup to give you an idea of how your design will turn out. When you go to Placeit.net, click on T-shirts in the upper right-hand corner. Scroll down the page to see the available templates for you to try. These templates vary from images involving the garment alone or on a model.

2. Uploading Your Design Image

After you’ve selected the template for your mockup, you need to upload your design image. In the upper left-hand corner, click on Upload Image.  This will open your image files allowing you to choose an image for upload. Select the desired image and click Open. 

Once your image uploads, it will pop up on your screen, giving you the option to resize or crop the image.  If you happen to make a mistake in the editing process, don’t worry. Simply click reset and start over. Once the editing has completed, the image will pop up on the t-shirt completely centered.

3. Adding Text to Your Image

If you decide you would like to add some sort of text to your design, click on Add Text in the upper left-hand corner. You can add up to 50 characters to your design. After entering the text, you can select what font you want the text to appear in by selecting from the drop-down menu found beneath your text. You can even choose the color of both the text and the background. In most cases, you’ll probably want to choose the checkered box option for text background – this removes the background completely.

Once completed, your text will appear on the image, allowing you to both resize the text and move it to the desired location on the t-shirt. While you move text around, you’ll notice a purple line that seems to appear and disappear. This line marks the center of the t-shirt to help you with the placement of your text.

4. Personalizing the Mockup

In the upper-right hand corner, you will find an option to change the color of the t-shirt itself. Simply click on the drop-down menu to choose from a rainbow of options. You can play around with it until you find the perfect color.

There is an option just below that to add a stock graphic to your design or the background. This will give you the option to add a stock image provided by placeit.net to either your design or logo if desired.

5. Choosing the Perfect Setting

Most of the templates already have a background, but that doesn’t mean you can’t change it. On the upper right-hand of the page, you are given the option to select a backdrop for your image. You can choose from a woodsy setting, bricks – virtually anything. You can always play with backgrounds until you find the perfect setting.

If you decide you would rather not add a backdrop, you can choose the color for the plain background itself. Have fun with it! That’s it! It’s that easy!

Making an Animated Mockup

If you want to get fancy, a video of your design on a model will show the movement of the garment in different settings. To try this out, select Video at the top of the page to get started. You can choose one of the many videos available to begin. You’ll follow the same process as mentioned above. The finished product will be in GIF animation style.

Different Types of Mockups

Not only is Placeit.net a great place to design mockups for clothing, but it also provides many other options as well. You can take your brand a step further by creating clothing labels, coffee cups, and other merchandise sporting your brand logo and more.

If you aren’t posting your brand on Facebook or Instagram, you are missing out on a lot of business. If designing adds on these platforms intimidates you, the Design tab offers options to create posts for both platforms. You can also create content for YouTube and Twitter as well.

Placeit.net can also help you create banner ads as well. On this single website, you can design and brand an entire business easily and affordably.

Downloading Your Mockup

Your mockup is available for download in a few different ways. If you only want to make a single mockup design, you can download your completed piece ala cart by paying a one-time fee. If you plan on making more, you may want to consider a subscription option.

BONUS: Placeit was kind enough to extend a 15% off discount to All Free Mockups readers. You can find the coupon here.

There are two separate options concerning subscriptions. Both allow the option to cancel at any time. The first option is to pay by the month, but if you’d rather pay a lump sum for an entire year, the price is a little lower per month. As mentioned, you aren’t locked into a long term commitment.

Learning Tools

By visiting the FAQ page, you can access more helpful material to aid you in your creations. There are answers to the top questions from users as well as a decent amount of video tutorials to give you a step-by-step visual guide in using the site to its fullest potential.

You’ll quickly learn that you can do so much more than just garment mockups with this site. There is a design option to help you build and design your brand logo. By following a few steps, the system will generate several images that go along with your business name and industry. From there, you can customize as much as you want. In addition to creating a brand label, there are also tutorials to help create business and sports team logos as well.

You’ll also find tutorials to make T-shirt designs, business cards, and Facebook ad images. At the very bottom of the page, you find out how to download your mockup, as well as a few more advanced projects you can do with the site.

Putting It All Together

After playing around with the different options offered on the site, it’s easy to see the value of subscribing. Instead of making expensive prototypes or using a drop shipping site where you have to pay a percentage of profit per sale, one flat rate offers a limitless amount of options.

In short, Placeit.net is your partner to great apparel design and mockups. If you have more questions or want more info on payment options, you can call the customer service hotline found on the site to speak to a live representative who can answer all of your questions.