AI Social Media Graphics: Thumbnails, Posts & Marketing Visuals

Social media graphics need to stop the scroll. This guide covers the psychology of viral visuals, platform-specific dimensions, and proven prompt templates for every major social platform.

In This Guide

Platform Dimensions
YouTube Thumbnails
Instagram Posts & Stories
LinkedIn Content
Quote Graphics
Event & Promotional Posters

Platform Dimensions Reference

Getting dimensions right is critical - wrong aspect ratios get cropped poorly.

Platform / Type	Aspect Ratio	Recommended Size
YouTube Thumbnail	16:9	1280×720px
Instagram Post (Square)	1:1	1080×1080px
Instagram Post (Portrait)	4:5	1080×1350px
Instagram Story / Reel	9:16	1080×1920px
LinkedIn Post	1.91:1	1200×627px
LinkedIn Carousel	4:5 or 1:1	1080×1350px
Twitter/X Post	16:9	1200×675px
Facebook Post	1.91:1	1200×630px
Pinterest Pin	2:3	1000×1500px
TikTok Cover	9:16	1080×1920px
OG Image (Link Preview)	1.91:1	1200×630px

Pro Tip: Always specify aspect ratio

Start every social media prompt with the exact aspect ratio: "16:9 aspect ratio YouTube thumbnail..." This ensures proper composition for the platform.

YouTube Thumbnails

Thumbnails are the single biggest factor in click-through rate. These prompts create scroll-stopping visuals.

The Viral Thumbnail Formula

High-performing thumbnails share these characteristics:

Face with emotion - Exaggerated expressions grab attention
Bold text - 3-5 words maximum, large enough to read on mobile
High contrast - Stands out in a sea of content
Visual curiosity gap - Makes viewers want to know more

Thumbnail Templates by Video Type

Reaction / Shock Thumbnail

16:9 YouTube thumbnail. Person with exaggerated shocked expression - eyes wide, mouth open, hands on cheeks. Bold yellow text with thick black outline reading "I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS" in upper portion. Bright red background gradient. Face takes up 40% of frame, high saturation, punchy colours. Professional YouTuber thumbnail style that compels clicks.

Before/After Transformation

16:9 YouTube thumbnail. Split composition - left side shows "before" state (messy, dull), right side shows "after" transformation (clean, impressive). Large red arrow pointing from before to after. Bold white text "30 DAYS LATER" across top. High contrast, dramatic transformation visible at small sizes.

Tutorial / How-To

16:9 YouTube thumbnail. Person pointing at or gesturing toward the main subject/topic. Friendly, approachable expression. Bold text "HOW TO [TOPIC]" with arrow or highlight pointing to key element. Clean background that doesn't compete with subject. Educational but eye-catching.

Listicle / Ranking

16:9 YouTube thumbnail. Large number "10" or "TOP 5" as main visual element in bold 3D style. Related images arranged around the number. Gradient background (blue to purple). Text "YOU NEED TO KNOW" at bottom. Dynamic composition suggesting multiple topics covered.

Challenge / Experiment

16:9 YouTube thumbnail. Person mid-action or in challenging situation. Worried or determined expression. Bold text "I TRIED [CHALLENGE] FOR 7 DAYS" with calendar or timer element. Before/after preview visible. Energetic, high-stakes feeling.

Text Placement Tips

Do

3-5 words maximum
Bold sans-serif fonts
Thick outline or drop shadow
Leave space for face
Readable at 100px height

Don't

Full sentences
Thin or fancy fonts
Text over face
Low contrast text
Video title repeated

Instagram Posts & Stories

Feed Posts (Square & Portrait)

Product Showcase

Square (1:1) Instagram post. [Product] elegantly displayed on minimalist surface. Clean, bright aesthetic with plenty of white space. Soft natural lighting, subtle shadows. Small brand logo in corner. Modern lifestyle brand photography style, Instagram-ready.

Carousel First Slide

Portrait (4:5) Instagram carousel cover. Bold headline text "5 Things You Need to Know About [Topic]" in clean white sans-serif font. Dark gradient background (#1a1a2e to #0f0f23). Subtle geometric shapes as decoration. "Swipe →" indicator in bottom right. Clean, professional, intriguing.

Lifestyle / Aesthetic

Square (1:1) Instagram lifestyle shot. [Subject/scene] with cohesive colour palette matching brand aesthetic. Soft, warm tones. Natural or golden hour lighting. Authentic moment, not overly posed. Shot on mirrorless camera with shallow depth of field. Instagram influencer aesthetic.

Instagram Stories

// Story announcement

Vertical (9:16) Instagram Story. Bold announcement: "NEW DROP" in large white text with animated-style starburst behind it. Product preview image below. Gradient background matching brand colours. Space at top and bottom for platform UI elements. "Tap to shop" call-to-action at bottom. Energetic, exciting.

// Story poll/question

Vertical (9:16) Instagram Story with space for poll sticker. Question "Which do you prefer?" with two product options shown side by side. Clean layout with visual separation. Space in middle for Instagram's poll UI. Engaging, interactive design.

LinkedIn Content

LinkedIn graphics need to balance professionalism with scroll-stopping visuals.

LinkedIn Post Images

// Thought leadership post

LinkedIn post image (1.91:1 ratio). Professional design with headline "The 3 Mistakes Every Leader Makes" in bold navy (#1E3A5F) sans-serif text. Clean white background with subtle geometric accent shapes in brand blue. Small professional headshot in corner. Corporate but engaging. Optimised for business audience.

LinkedIn Carousel Slides

Carousels drive high engagement. Create a consistent template across slides:

// Carousel Cover (Slide 1)

LinkedIn carousel slide (4:5 ratio). Cover slide with bold headline "7 Habits of Highly Effective Leaders" in white text on dark navy (#1E3A8A) background. Subtle geometric pattern. Author name and credentials at bottom. "Swipe to read →" indicator. Professional, authoritative design.

// Carousel Content Slide

LinkedIn carousel slide (4:5 ratio). Large number "3" in bold accent gold (#D4AF37). Header: "They Listen More Than They Speak". Supporting text below in smaller navy font: "Great leaders know every conversation is a learning opportunity." Clean white background. Slide 3/7 indicator at bottom. Consistent with carousel template.

// Carousel CTA (Final Slide)

LinkedIn carousel slide (4:5 ratio). Final slide with "Want more insights?" headline. "Follow for daily leadership tips" as main CTA. Profile picture and name. Navy background matching slide 1. Professional call-to-action design.

Quote Graphics

Quote posts perform well across all platforms when designed correctly.

Minimalist Quote

Square (1:1) quote graphic. Quote text "The only way to do great work is to love what you do." in elegant white serif font, centred. Attribution "- Steve Jobs" in smaller sans-serif below. Dark gradient background from deep navy (#0A1628) to charcoal (#1C2833). Subtle decorative quotation marks as design element. Minimal, sophisticated, shareable.

Bold Statement Quote

Square (1:1) quote graphic. Bold statement "PROGRESS NOT PERFECTION" in large impactful white sans-serif, stacked vertically for emphasis. Vibrant gradient background (coral to orange). Modern motivational poster aesthetic. Instagram-ready, highly shareable.

Photo + Quote Overlay

Square (1:1) inspirational graphic. Background: atmospheric landscape photo (mountains at sunrise, muted). Semi-transparent dark overlay. Quote "Every morning brings new potential" in clean white text with subtle shadow for readability. Nature meets motivation aesthetic.

Event & Promotional Posters

Event Announcement

Event poster (4:5 ratio). Title "FUTURE FORWARD 2025" in bold geometric sans-serif at top. Subtitle "Where Innovation Meets Opportunity" below. Date "March 15-17, 2025" and location "Dubai World Trade Centre" clearly displayed. Abstract futuristic background with gradient mesh in electric blue and purple. Flowing data streams and node patterns suggesting technology. QR code placeholder in corner. All text perfectly legible against background. Conference marketing style.

Webinar Promotion

Webinar promotional graphic (16:9). "FREE WEBINAR" badge in top corner. Title "Master AI Image Generation in 60 Minutes" in bold white text. Date/time "December 15, 2025 • 2PM GMT" below. Host photos with names displayed. "Register Now" CTA button graphic. Professional corporate design with brand colours. Clean, trustworthy, informative.

Sale / Promotion

Sale promotional graphic (1:1 square). Bold "50% OFF" in large 3D text with dynamic shadow. "BLACK FRIDAY SALE" headline above. "Limited Time Only" urgency text below. Energetic background with abstract shapes in red and black. Product images arranged around discount text. Retail promotional poster style, eye-catching, drives urgency.

Quick Reference: Social Graphics Checklist

For every social media graphic:

Aspect ratio: Specify exactly (16:9, 1:1, 4:5, 9:16)
Platform: Name the platform for appropriate style
Text: Include exact text in quotes with font style
Colours: Use hex codes for brand consistency
Style: Professional, playful, minimal, energetic, etc.
Mobile: "Readable at mobile size" or "thumb-stopping"
Safe zones: Leave space for platform UI elements

Best Models for Social Graphics

Graphic Type	Recommended Model	Why
Text-heavy graphics	Nano Banana Pro	Best text rendering
Quick thumbnails	Gemini 2.5 Flash	Fast iteration
Lifestyle photos	Imagen 3	Photorealism
Artistic/creative	DALL-E 3	Creative interpretation
Complex compositions	Nano Banana Pro	Multi-element handling

Create social graphics

Generate scroll-stopping visuals for every platform with AI.

Start Creating