How to Create a Twitch Banner with Canva
Last Updated on March 10, 2022 by Michael Brockbank
There are a lot of things you can do to customize your Twitch channel. One of the most basic is the channel profile banner. This is the default image that shows when someone visits while you’re not streaming. Today, I’ll show you how to make a Twitch banner using Canva.
It’s a free graphic tool that can help you create a wide scope of images for various social platforms.
And, it’s one of the easiest platforms to use for free. Though, I do recommend setting up a free account on Canva. There’s just more you can do than if you just use the non-account version.
How to Use Canva to Make a Twitch Banner
In this tutorial, we’re going to make the recommended size for a profile banner on Twitch, which is 1200×480. In the free version of Canva, you’re unable to change the size of the image when downloading.
This is fine, though, as the 1200×480 banner is what we want for the profile.
Later, I’ll show you how to customize the image size should you want something bigger or smaller.
Step 1. Open the Twitch Banner Template in Canva
Go to Canva and search for the “Twitch Banner” template. You can either hit enter on your keyboard or click the “Twitch Banner” option under suggested.
This will open a new page with 50 templates you can use. Or, you can create your own from a blank canvas.
Step 2: Choose a Banner Template
For the sake of this tutorial, we’re going to create from scratch. Click on the option for a blank banner.
The Canva editor will load giving you a blank canvas to start creating. Notice on the left-hand side, you’ll see the same list of Twitch templates that were on the previous page.
This lets you add one should you want to get an idea of what the image will look like.
Step 3: Choose a Background
On the left side of the screen, click the “Bkground” option.
Now, you can scroll through the available backgrounds in Canva. And there are a lot to choose from.
Once you find one that fits your design ideas, click the image to add it to the canvas.
Step 4: Add and Customize Your Text
On the left side, click the “Text” option.
Just like before, you have a variety of fonts and options you can choose. You can add headings, subheadings, and even a smaller font for the description in your Twitch banner regarding your channel.
Add as much as you like and explore the possibilities.
Once you add an element, you can grab and move it around the screen anywhere you wish or resize it by using the white dots at the corners.
You have access to a variety of fonts, colors, typography settings, effects, and more for each text element you add.
Step 5: Add Additional Elements (Optional)
On the left, click the “Elements” option.
This will bring up a vast list of additional images you can add to your Twitch banner. You can add shapes, frames, stickers, gradients, and a slew of vector images to your canvas.
However, this is completely optional. You don’t have to add any of these to make a beautiful channel banner. Some of them are quite fun, though. Especially if you search for “gaming.”
As with the background, just click the image element and it will be added to your canvas. Then, you can move and resize the image as you see fit.
Be aware that you’ll need a premium account for Canva to use some of the images. These are identified by a small crown in the corner of the graphic.
Step 6: Upload Your Own Image
What if you have a logo or a special background you want to use? Click on the “Uploads” option on the top left.
If you have a free account with Canva, you’ll see your previously uploaded images here.
Since I have a logo, I want to upload it to my library. Click on the “Upload media” button.
Canva supports various image import integrations. You can upload images from Facebook, Google Drive, Instagram, Dropbox, and your personal device. In this case, I am uploading an image from my computer.
Click the “Device” option.
This will bring up your computer’s explorer window where you can add the image from your computer.
Once your image is added to your Canva library, click it to add the graphic to the canvas.
Then, like before, you can move and resize the image to fit your Twitch banner.
From here, you can manage all kinds of custom options using the Canva toolset. The free version of the app is quite extensive, and you can come up with some incredible designs.
I suggest spending some time within the app and getting to know what you can do. This tutorial barely scratches the surface of the power behind Canva.
Step 8: Download Your Image
Once you are done with your edits and are happy with your Twitch banner, click the “Share” button on the top right.
Click the “Download” option from the drop-down window.
Canva supports PNG, JPG, PDF, MP4 and GIF formats in the free version.
Since this is a Twitch banner, you’d want to keep it as PNG or JPG. For this example, I’m downloading a PNG file.
NOTE: If you used any premium elements, backgrounds, or images, you’ll need to pay before you can download the banner. Each premium element and image costs one dollar unless you pay for the monthly premium access.
Click the “Download” button after selecting the file type (if you changed it).
After Canva prepares the file, your computer will open its explorer window where you choose where to save the file. Unless your browser is set up to automatically save the file without you selecting a location.
At which point, your image should be located in your computer’s download directory.
How to Upload the Twitch Banner to Your Channel
Now that your banner is ready, it’s time to add it to Twitch.
Step 1: Access Your Channel’s Custom Settings
Go to your Twitch channel and click the “Customize channel” button.
This will bring up your channel preferences, such as the stream key, enabling clips, and other settings.
Step 2: Click on the Brand Tab
From the Creator Dashboard, click the “Brand” tab along the top.
Step 3: Upload Your Canva File
Scroll down to the “Profile Banner” section in the settings window. Click the “Upload” button under the Custom Image option.
Click the “Upload a Photo” box to add your Twitch banner.
Step 4: Select Custom Image and Save
Once your image is uploaded, click the bulleted option for “Custom Image.”
Click the “Save” button on the bottom right.
Your Twitch banner is now live for all to see.
What About Custom Twitch Banner Sizes in Canva?
You don’t have to start with the templates in Canva. You can start by choosing to create a design yourself.
From the Canva dashboard on the top right, click “Create a Design” and select, “Custom dimensions.”
From here, you can put in the 1200×480 recommendation from Twitch and start the design process all over again.
What Else Can You Do with Canva and Twitch?
Creating a Twitch banner is only the beginning. You can also create a variety of graphics for your channel using the free version of Canva. This includes emotes and panel headers.
If you pay for the premium version of Canva, you can also create your own overlays for OBS or XSplit Broadcaster. This is because Canva can save as a PNG with a transparent background.
It’s the “transparent background” in the premium version that makes overlays possible.
Creating Twitch Panels in Canva
You can also make panels for your Twitch channel in Canva. It works in much the same way as above in Canva, only that you search for “twitch panel” instead of the banner.
At which point, you design as you would anything else in the system. There are quite a few things you can do in the free version, especially if you have a bit of imagination and play around with the font settings a bit.
While they may not look as nice as something you’d see in the Prime version of Streamlabs, you can get creative and put out something unique.
Promote Your Channel By Sharing
Create some images from screenshots and share them on social media to promote your channel. This can help you get a bit more exposure and possible viewers.
Canva supports a variety of social sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or even LinkedIn. Though, I’m not sure if LinkedIn is a good match to market your Twitch channel.
I guess it’s better than trying to push an OnlyFans page on LinkedIn.
You can also create an Instagram post that is perfectly sized. Though, you’ll need a platform to upload the graphic to Instagram directly…luckily, there are plenty to choose from.
Blogging Graphics
If you have a gaming blog to accompany your channel, you can use Canva to set up its imagery. Blog post headers, thumbnails, and more are easy to create. All you really need is the custom dimensions of the image you want to design and a bit of imagination.
This means you can take Canva much further than just creating a Twitch banner to promote your channel.
A Custom Twitch Banner Sets You Apart
The more customized your channel, the better off you’ll be. It adds a bit more of your personality to the stream while showing others that you’re serious about maintaining the channel.
If you don’t have the money to get an editor such as Illustrator or Photoshop, then Canva is the perfect solution for creating a Twitch banner. There is very little this visual tool cannot do, and has a great deal of potential for a plethora of situations.
Take your channel further and add a bit of personal flair for your audience.
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