![](https://d1vof77qrk4l5q.cloudfront.net/img/f0993bc1d4f307e93e5f5e3393dc7bef300bd26f.png)

<sub>**Oh yeah, in three weeks we have increased the prize from 18 to 32 STEEM thanks to our dear sponsors (more about this below).**</sub>

# The thumbnail is an essential element of a great post.

Hey guys, this is the third week of **Steem's best thumbnails of the week showcase + design tips**.

### This time we have **32 STEEM in prizes:**

- The 18 STEEM I give out from my wallet every week
- @whatsup's indirect donation of 10 STEEM (she sent me 10 STEEM for posting the comment with most replies on her [Epic Introduction Post](https://steempeak.com/@whatsup/5846em-introduce-yourself-in-the-comments-meet-others-and-compare-interests) and I decided to use it for this week's prizes) 
- and [@preparedwombat](https://steemit.com/@preparedwombat)'s  donation of 4 STEEM for this week's winners.

# Prize distribution
Prizes in liquid steem will be given to the **first three places**:
- 1st place wins 9 STEEM
- 2nd place wins 6 STEEM and
- 3rd place wins 3 STEEM

This week we have **14 additional STEEM** to give away: 
- 4 extra STEEM for the first three places 
- 1 STEEM for [@null](https://steemit.com/@null) to burn, and
- 1 STEEM for next week's prize pool.

# The reason for this pseudo-contest / showcase / giveaway / design tips post

I've identified a painful point here on our Steem blockchain: the lack of graphic design skills on most post's thumbnails.

Therefore, this series of posts aims to showcase those authors who have done a great job with their thumbnails, and to point out what I think is great about them. **You will be able to spot those details and have them in mind when creating your next thumbnail designs.**

## So, in order to foster good and simple practices of graphic design, every week on Wednesdays:

- The best 6 thumbnails of the past 7 days, will be selected.
- I'll dissect each thumbnail and explain the reasons why I think it's great design. **This will serve as tips that you can apply on your thumbnails to better your designs and possibly win on the next week.**

# The criteria to be selected:

- Thumbnails must be from individual authors. No thumbnails from projects or companies will be selected.
- Thumbnails must include text.

### _Bonus points_

- Thumbnails must look good across all Steem front ends. Specially [@Partiko](https://steemit.com/@Partiko), because this dapp has a weird way to crop thumbnails. For example, if you place text too close to the borders, it will be cropped out. If your thumbnail's aspect ratio is not 16:9, you need to make sure your text is dead center vertically and inside an imaginary rectangle of 16:9 ratio, and with some bleed from the side borders in order to avoid text cropping (see this post's thumbnail for a good example on how to set text that will display properly on all Steem front ends).

# This week's best thumbnails are:

## 1st place winner 9+4 STEEM: [@ctdots](https://steemit.com/@ctdots) and [Getting to Glenfinnan Viaduct to See the Harry Potter Train](https://steemit.com/@ctdots/glenfinnan-viaduct-harry-potter-train)


![](https://d1vof77qrk4l5q.cloudfront.net/img/d2f8f0bf2a13a2950603e2f9f1fdf39a3ccf704d.jpg)

Tips to note from this thumbnail:

- the text blocks were placed to the lower left, to minimize obstructing the background image.
- there's enough bleed around the text blocks in order for them to "breathe" space in the thumbnail
- the main text is perfectly readable on very small applications
- this one is special and won the first prize because the thumbnail design is sober/clean, and the author includes a logo of his username (strong branding).

![](https://d1vof77qrk4l5q.cloudfront.net/img/97a2881f596b5b89f1955ad5645bd8bd6017451c.png)



## 2nd place winner 6+4 STEEM: [@xr-hammergaming](https://steemit.com/@xr-hammergaming) with [🎮 Dragon Quest Builders | Pixel Art - Asbel 🎮](https://steemit.com/@xr-hammergaming/yo80kzspr17)

![](https://d1vof77qrk4l5q.cloudfront.net/img/e713a747c90c0577d4ac89833053ad39a9c93ae7.png)

Tips to note from this thumbnail:

- the text / logos are placed in its own space on the left giving images its own space on the right, thus creating a balance

![](https://d1vof77qrk4l5q.cloudfront.net/img/e2ca6b619c073f78c0dbc526a8b6fac8043fc8a1.png)


## 3rd place 3+4 STEEM: [@riverflows](https://steemit.com/@riverflows) with [I'm Not 'Too' Sensitive - Are You?](https://steemit.com/@riverflows/i-m-not-too-sensitive-are-you)

![](https://d1vof77qrk4l5q.cloudfront.net/img/a349882e9e02aaf53424c211cc3fef533cff6f93.png)

Tips to note from this thumbnail:

- the text is perfectly readable because it has been placed over a semi transparent white background, ensuring the words don't get confused against the background which is a nice collage of other unreadable words and the photo of a woman
- *special kudos because @riverflows noticed my first top thumbnails post and thanks to it she has worked to up her thumbnail game*

![](https://d1vof77qrk4l5q.cloudfront.net/img/d7a6d2afd0f5a26a5c82f95119f0861b06bb4025.png)


## 4th place: [@waybeyondpadthai](https://steemit.com/@waybeyondpadthai) with [I tried Stingless Bees' SOUR HONEY in Malacca](https://steemit.com/@waybeyondpadthai/c29pbphqd5v)


![](https://d1vof77qrk4l5q.cloudfront.net/img/658813fd2b31c26cd4abee6de5969210e4f436fd.jpg)

Tips to note from this thumbnail:

- she includes her face on the thumbnail, this is a strong branding practice. *Remember: your face is your brand*.
- the text's color scheme resonates perfectly with the background image's colours
- the text doesn't overlap much of her face or other important parts of the image
- she used a beehive icon to emphasize the theme of the post

## 5th place: [@moraru.bogdan](https://steemit.com/@moraru.bogdan) with [Space Surfer. New work :))))))))](https://steemit.com/@moraru.bogdan/space-surfer-new-work)

![](https://d1vof77qrk4l5q.cloudfront.net/img/ffa86a250fa26b68aaf98e089ec871af80cb929a.jpg)

Tips to note from this thumbnail:

- this is less of a design and more of an artwork, but its form follows function therefore it works as a great thumbnail.

## 6th place: [@shogo](https://steemit.com/@shogo) with [SMTs and Beneficiaries](https://steemit.com/@shogo/smts-and-beneficiaries)


![](https://d1vof77qrk4l5q.cloudfront.net/img/b0207cd34b924cb169e97f41e6f035bb21c0aed7.png)


Tips to note from this thumbnail:

- simple but effectively executed: the author has chosen a great minimalistic background photo and chose to simply include the word "STEEM" (since that's what the post is about) and his username in a size that is readable 

---

# I am looking for judges and sponsors!

In order to make this contest more appealing, **I am looking for judges and sponsors for the upcoming weeks.**

_If any of this week's winners would like to judge the following weeks they are more than welcome. However, you can't win on the weeks you are judging, sorry!_

**If you would like to sponsor some Steem for our weekly prizes, please feel free to contact me on Discord "greencross#2884"**

## Once again, thanks to @whatsup and  [@preparedwombat](https://steemit.com/@preparedwombat) who donated 14 STEEM for this week's prize pool!. 

_I have burnt 1 STEEM by sending it to [@null](https://steemit.com/@null) with a link to this post so it will hopefully be noticed by [@smartsteem](https://steemit.com/@smartsteem) while, at the same time, executing my STEEM burning duty._

# Did I miss any great thumbnail design?

### Maybe I overlooked a great thumbnail design?. 

If you think I did, feel free to drop a link on the comments and I'll keep an eye on the author for the next weeks.

Thanks a lot!
[@greencross](https://steemit.com/@greencross)

Posted using [Partiko Android](https://partiko.app/referral/greencross)