User blog:MP999/How to Make a Thumbnail

Or at least, how to make them the way I do, using Microsoft Powerpoint 2007. I also make my tournament brackets, character select screens, and other images with powerpoint, along a similar fashion.

STEP ONE: Save the template below; aside from the logo and the bar, it’s transparent. Insert it into a blank powerpoint slide, and set it so the dimensions are 14.29cm x 25.4 cm. Make sure to line up the top left corner with the top left corner of the slide; this will make aligning everything much easier, as images tend to snap into place in the corner.





STEP TWO: Find images for your characters. For this example, I’ll make a tn for a hypothetical matchup between Juri Han and Mileena. To find the most badass pictures, add things like “art” or "wallpaper" to your search (ex. Mileena art), but try not to use fanart where the artist explicitly states for others not to use it. Some times, the official art is enough.



STEP THREE: Once you find an image, copypaste it onto your slide, and change the height to 14.29 cm. The length should change proportionately. Double-click the image, and click “send to back” to put it behind the template. The template’s transparent background means you’ll still be able to see the image.



Make sure move the image up, down, left, or right, to center the character, and use the cropping tool to cut it down to size. Look at the TN for the official Martian Manhunter vs Piccolo; see how Manhunter isn’t centered and part of his head is behind the logo? It triggers me more than it should.



STEP FOUR: Repeat with the next character.



STEP FIVE: Hit Ctrl + A to select all three images (the template and the two characters), and while they’re all highlighted, right-click and go to the “group” tab; select “group all” to join them all as one image. To test that you got everything, click and delete the new image; if anything is left over, you forgot to group it in. If the slide is now blank, it’s all one picture. Use Ctrl-Z to undo the delete. Right-click and use “Save picture as” to save your new TN!



Try playing around with what images you choose; try pictures that are predominantly the same colour.



Or pictures with contrasting colours.



Get creative.



And keep practicing.