Branding Thumbnails vs Too Many Look Alikes Between Series

[WeiseGamer]

EDIT: I updated the "lets play" style thumbnail, bottom of this original post. You can see what I started with here though, then scroll to bottom of this post to get an idea for the latest version, let me know what you think.

Hey all,

Hopefully get a fast answer that people can agree on here.

This is my current thumbnail for indie game reviews, a series I do. Obviously swap out the game title and background image. I've gotten a LOT of compliments on the layout, it has a very slight blue overlay on top of the background image to break up the colors and make it more neutral/cooling, more on brand too (blue is my thing on my channel, lol).

I just started doing Let's Plays again and here is the thumbnail I came up with:

On the gameplay, there is no real color overlay (maybe a small 10% or something compared to 40% ish on the first). Gaussian blurred a bit to make it more neutral. Otherwise, its the same thing.

Now my fear is that these look TOO alike and people can't distinguish between the two series. Is that an issue? I want all Gameplays to be a series, all reviews to be a series. Is this too similar? Should I worry? They all look like my work which is great for branding, but are they not different enough? Same same, but different (kudos if you know the reference).

 

[Brinkbabe91]

Personally I say do away with the blue overlay over the image. Like you pointed out you want people to easily tell the different games apart. I recently started a new way of doing my thumbnails and I have been trying to find a way to make each game series not look the same as the others because of the same style thumbnail. Might take some messing with for mine as well to keep them looking nice, but not have all the video thumnails look like the same game series.

 

[WeiseGamer]

Personally I say do away with the blue overlay over the image. Like you pointed out you want people to easily tell the different games apart. I recently started a new way of doing my thumbnails and I have been trying to find a way to make each game series not look the same as the others because of the same style thumbnail. Might take some messing with for mine as well to keep them looking nice, but not have all the video thumnails look like the same game series.

The very subtle blue overlay is something I've gotten a LOT of compliments about as it kind of neutralizes all the crazy colors that can distract when putting a video game's screenshot in. Same reason people do a blur like I did on the 2nd one.

I just am concerned they look TOO alike with all the text in same spots and just changing the words basically.

 

[Conso1727]

I am personally ok with the current design you are using, but in case, that might be silly, but maybe swapping channel picture and serie text for one of them may help?
So for the playthroughs for instance you'd have the channel picture to the right and the text to the left.
It's stupid, but who knows it might be useful.
Besides, I'm going through a brainstorming for a new channel graphics design, so I hope you don't mind if i "borrow" something from the general design of your thumbs. I only hope they won't end up beign a complete ripoff of yours.

 

[WeiseGamer]

I am personally ok with the current design you are using, but in case, that might be silly, but maybe swapping channel picture and serie text for one of them may help?
So for the playthroughs for instance you'd have the channel picture to the right and the text to the left.
It's stupid, but who knows it might be useful.
Besides, I'm going through a brainstorming for a new channel graphics design, so I hope you don't mind if i "borrow" something from the general design of your thumbs. I only hope they won't end up beign a complete ripoff of yours.

Yeah I thought of that too. I had the game title bottom right and series top left before but timestamps and youtube's "add to watch later" icons kind cover stuff up so I moved it a bit. I may just flip it though like you said at the top.

Don't mind borrowinig, but yeah, no COMPLETE ripoff if you can help it =P

 

[Furry Gurus]

You could use different colors in the text, or in the overlay. I know blue is your thing, but if you gave your let's plays a red or green overlay it would instantly look different from the reviews. And easy for your viewers to pick out.

 

[WeiseGamer]

You could use different colors in the text, or in the overlay. I know blue is your thing, but if you gave your let's plays a red or green overlay it would instantly look different from the reviews. And easy for your viewers to pick out.

I might play with that some. I liked the blue's cooling effect (as opposed to a warm color overlay) but maybe another color WOULD work well

 

[William Mize]

This is pretty difficult, and is always based on an individual's tastes.
When I go to your channel I see this:

The text placement is uniform, which is GOOD.
But the overwhelming color is BLUE, which makes it difficult to figure out what game you're talking about.
I think that the text placement allows us to scan and look for an interesting game, but the colors need to be mixed up, make them pop and brighter.
My .02, of course

- Bill

Looks like my IMGUR link isn't working.

 

[VoidTranceYT]

I would definitely switch up the Indie Plays thumbnails, maybe mess around with the text and change the layout, with my thumbnails I try and distinguish each individual series with a different thumbnail but I do see where your viewers may get confused so definitely switch up the indie plays one

 

[WeiseGamer]

This is pretty difficult, and is always based on an individual's tastes.
When I go to your channel I see this:

The text placement is uniform, which is GOOD.
But the overwhelming color is BLUE, which makes it difficult to figure out what game you're talking about.
I think that the text placement allows us to scan and look for an interesting game, but the colors need to be mixed up, make them pop and brighter.
My .02, of course

- Bill

Looks like my IMGUR link isn't working.

Seems that in post image didn't come through, but I know what you mean. I've backed the blue color down SO much on the recent videos, just some old ones still show up of course. I could go back and change them all but I said screw it.

I would definitely switch up the Indie Plays thumbnails, maybe mess around with the text and change the layout, with my thumbnails I try and distinguish each individual series with a different thumbnail but I do see where your viewers may get confused so definitely switch up the indie plays one

Yeah, now to find a new layout I like -_-