Creating A/B Test Variations

The best-performing YouTube thumbnails are rarely the first version. Creating multiple variations lets you compare different approaches and pick the one most likely to earn clicks.

How Variations Work

When you generate thumbnails, you can request multiple variations at once. Each variation uses the same prompt but explores different:

• Compositions — different layouts and element placement
• Color palettes — warm vs. cool, high contrast vs. subtle
• Expressions — different emotional hooks on faces
• Text treatments — different sizing, positioning, and styles

Generating Variations

From the Generator

1. Go to Utilities > Variation Generator
2. Upload your base thumbnail or provide a YouTube URL
3. Set the number of variations (2-10)
4. Click Generate
5. Compare the results side by side

From the Editor

1. Open any thumbnail in the editor
2. Use the AI edit prompt to describe changes
3. Generate multiple versions by adjusting settings
4. Compare and keep the best one

Choosing the Right Variation

When comparing variations, consider:

• Readability at small size — YouTube shows thumbnails as small as 120px wide. Squint test your options.
• Emotional impact — Which one makes you want to click? Trust your gut.
• Text clarity — Can you read the text in under 2 seconds?
• Face visibility — If there's a face, is the expression clear and engaging?
• Color contrast — Does it stand out against YouTube's white/dark backgrounds?

Tips

• Always generate at least 3 variations — even if you like the first one
• Show variations to a friend or colleague for a second opinion
• Use style references to keep variations consistent with your channel brand
• Save your best variations to a collection for easy comparison later
• Give feedback on each variation to help the AI learn what works for your channel