Introducing LayerType: Free YouTube Thumbnails with the Text-Behind Effect
A free, browser-based thumbnail maker that puts pro-level design tools in everyone's hands—including support for Tibetan fonts.
Thupten Chakrishar LayerType - Free YouTube Thumbnail Maker with Text-Behind Effect
If you’ve spent any time on YouTube, you’ve probably noticed the “text behind subject” effect on thumbnails. It’s that professional look where bold text appears layered behind a person or object, creating depth and visual punch. The kind of design that makes you want to click.
The problem? Most tools that do this cost $15-30 per month. For individual creators, small channels, and especially for those in communities like ours who are just trying to share their culture and stories, that’s a barrier that shouldn’t exist.
So we built LayerType.
What It Does
LayerType is a completely free, browser-based thumbnail maker. You upload your image, and AI automatically separates the subject from the background. Then you can add text layers that appear behind your subject, creating that professional depth effect without touching Photoshop or paying for subscriptions.
Everything runs locally in your browser—your images never leave your device. No sign-up required. No watermarks. No limits.
Why This Matters
Beyond being free, LayerType includes something I haven’t seen in other tools: Tibetan fonts. As our community creates more content on YouTube—teaching language, sharing music, preserving stories—we need tools that work with our script, not against it. LayerType includes fonts that support Tibetan text, so creators can design thumbnails that authentically represent our content.
Key Features
- AI-powered subject extraction – Automatically separates foreground from background
- Text behind subject effect – The signature look that makes thumbnails pop
- 20+ fonts including Tibetan support – Design in your language
- Stickers, shapes, and additional images – All with the layering effect
- Background effects – Dim, blur, and tint for better contrast
- Standard YouTube export – 1280×720 PNG, ready to upload
Open Source
LayerType is open source and available on GitHub. If you’re a developer who wants to contribute, adapt it for your community, or learn from the code, it’s all there.
This is the kind of tool I wish existed when I started making content. Now it does, and it’s free for everyone.
Try It Now
Disclaimer: The insights and narratives shared here are purely personal contemplations and imaginings. They do not reflect the strategies, opinions, or beliefs of any entities I am associated with professionally. These musings are crafted from my individual perspective and experience.