When talking about Twitch graphics, we get so caught up with getting our offline banners and avatars right that we forget about info panels. And let me tell you something – getting the Twitch panel size and design right is just as important as anything else, if not more.
If you’re new to Twitch – panels are customizable sections that go under the About section on your Twitch channel. They let you share important information about yourself, direct followers to your social media accounts, and even promote your own (or sponsor) products.
But when it comes to designing panel images, some streamers just don’t care.
Since you’re here, you’re obviously not one of them. To help you design stunning Twitch panels, in this article, I’ll share:
- The recommended Twitch panel size (plus a quick size guide for Twitch images)
- How to create Twitch panel images (without using Photoshop)
- The popular usages of Twitch panels
- Some examples of profiles with awesome panels
Let’s jump right in.
Table of Contents
So…What’s the Ideal Twitch Panel Size?
The recommended size for Twitch panel images is 320 x 160 pixels, which is an aspect ratio of 3:1. Keep in mind that the width (320 pixels) is fixed, however you can increase the height of your panel images.
Furthermore, your panel images should either be in the JPG or PNG formats. And the maximum file size limit for these graphics is 2.9MB.
A Complete Size Guide for Twitch Graphics
The maximum size limits and recommended dimensions for Twitch graphics vary.
To avoid mixing those numbers up, here’s a quick size guide that you can refer to anytime you like:
- Avatar – this is basically your profile picture. The recommended Twitch profile picture size is 800 x 800 pixels (aspect ratio of 1:1).
- Twitch Offline Banner/Offline Screen – this is what your followers see when you’re not streaming/online. The recommended Twitch offline banner size is 1920 x 1080 pixels.
- Cover Image/Twitch Banner – the ideal Twitch profile banner size is 1920 x 480 pixels.
- Twitch Thumbnail – the perfect Twitch VOD thumbnail size is 1280 x 720 pixels.
- Video Player Banner – for these, aim for a size of 1920 x 1080 pixels.
- Webcam Overlays/Twitch Overlays – these are the same as video player banners i.e., 1920 x 1080 pixels.
- Sub Badges – recommended dimensions are 72 x 72 pixels.
How to Create an Attention-Grabbing Twitch Panel Image? [Under 10 Minutes]
Designing Twitch panel images can be tricky, especially considering there’s so little room to work around.
Luckily, with all of the online graphic design tools at our disposal, you don’t need a heavyweight program such as Photoshop to craft visuals.
One of such online tools is Pixelied – a user-friendly and affordable solution for individuals and small business owners – giving the likes of Canva and Snappa a run for their money.
With its exciting selection of free twitch panels and highly intuitive features, you can create something in less than 10 minutes.
Here’s how to get started:
Step 1: Open Pixelied’s Free Editor
Open Pixelied’s free Twitch panel editor to get started and you’ll see the following window:
In the left sidebar of the editor, you can go through all the Twitch panel templates that are ready to use.
Step 2: Choose a Template That Catches Your Eye
To find a specific template, use the search functionality in the left sidebar.
Once a template has been clicked on, it’ll load on to the canvas and you can customize it using stock photos, icons, illustrations, BG remover, mockups and much more.
Select any template that you like to start customizing it.
Step 3: Customize Away
At this point, you have two options – either to download the template as it is and use it on your profile (if you’re not that serious about personal branding) or customize the template to match the rest of your channel.
I’d highly recommend going for the latter.
With Pixelied’s powerful editor, it’ll be a piece of cake.
Here is a quick overview of what it looks like (with a sample template loaded up):
Let’s see the entire list of features being offered by Pixelied:
- Vast Selection of Templates – Pixelied offers a huge library of free-to-use templates for various social media platforms, email, and blogs. On the editor, you can switch between (the same format) of templates conveniently.
- Direct Access to Stock Photos – with Pixelied, you won’t have to switch back-and-forth between tabs and folders, as you’ll get direct/native access to Unsplash from where you can choose from millions of royalty-free images for your designs.
- 900+ Font Options – unlike other popular graphic designing websites, Pixelied does not limit you to a handful of fonts. Instead, it provides access to over 900 Google fonts that you can use on the editor right away (no need to download and install them separately).
- Exciting Icons and Design Elements – who wants plain and boring panel images, am I right? You can add, position, and resize popular icons (social and more) and visually-pleasing design elements to your graphics.
- Files Management – if you have a certain PNG file or a vector that you’d like to use in your graphics, you can simply upload them via the “My Files” feature. You can even change the color of vector/SVG files.
Furthermore, Pixelied offers the ability to add borders, text manipulation (letter spacing and line height), remove backgrounds with AI, and much more.
What Can I Use my Twitch Panels for?
You can use Twitch panels to share a lot more than just your personal information.
Streamers utilize them to share basic introductions to links to external pages where their visitors can buy their products.
Twitch doesn’t care about how you use your panels, as long as you abide by their community guidelines.
To give you some ideas, here are the popular types/usages of Twitch info panels:
Your “About Me” Section
This is the first option that comes to mind.
Get as creative as you can. You can use a portrait image of yourself (or better yet, a custom illustration).
Don’t write up your bio on the image. Instead, share that as normal text (more on that shortly).
Your Streaming Schedule
Another popular usage of Twitch panels is to share the schedule of your live streams.
Let your followers know when you usually get online to stream content so they can catch you at the right time.
Donation Panel
Apart from streaming and business partnerships, streamers can also earn money through donations (or support a cause they believe in).
If you’re interested in taking that route, you can create a panel for donations.
Social Media Panel
Don’t be shy – invite your fans to follow you on other social accounts.
This is a great way to promote your content across different platforms, become more popular, and open doors to new business/sponsorship opportunities in the process.
Sponsor Panel
If you consistently create awesome content, rack up a decent amount of followers, and create a positive brand image for yourself, you’ll start getting approached by different brands for business inquiries.
Once you do, you can create separate panels that you can use to promote their products on your channel.
Merchandise Panel
Over the years, Twitch evolved from a fun community of gaming streamers to becoming a massive platform that both brands and individuals alike can capitalize on.
If you ever decide to launch your own line of products (or are already selling items), you can start promoting them on your Twitch channel through a panel.
Add a picture of what you’re selling, along with some enticing copy and a CTA (think of it as a standard ad).
Twitch Streamers with Dope Panels [And What to Learn from Them]
Knowing the perfect Twitch panel size and what you can do with them is just one part of the equation.
If you want your channel to stand out (and actually get people to engage with your panels), you need to invest some time and effort into designing them properly.
At times, a little inspiration can go a long way in helping you design stunning visual content.
To that end, I’ve listed down three streamers whose panels caught my eye (and what you can learn from them).
1. Bugha
Main Takeaway: The right contrast, suitable typography, and consistency can help you win the race.
Bugha (Kyle Giersdorf) is a renowned streamer and a professional eSports player (Fortnite) who plays for the sentinels.
After winning the Fortnite World Cup Final in 2019, he has racked up 3 million followers on Twitch.
The first thing that we notice when we look at his Twitch panels is how they’re consistent and properly branded.
While not all of us are popular Fortnite celebrities, we can, however, take a leaf from Bugha’s book and aim for that consistent contrast, design, and theme.
2. Dyrus
Main Takeaway: Customization (in this case, illustrations) can help with branding.
Dyrus (Marcus Hill) is a former professional eSports player who’s known quite well by the League of Legends fans.
Apart from the consistency (if you don’t count the sponsor panels), what I love most about his panels are the adorable custom illustrations that he has uploaded throughout his channel.
If you have the budget for it, I’d suggest looking for a professional illustrator on Upwork or any other freelancing website.
It’s a small investment, but can definitely go a long way in making your channel look more professional and stylish.
3. Shroud
Main Takeaway: Sometimes, simple is better.
Shroud (Michael Grzesiek) is one of the few Twitch streamers that need no formal introductions.
With a follower count of 7.8M (and growing), this Canadian streamer is one of the most well-recognized names on Twitch.
But despite being so popular, Shroud’s channel looks quite simple – in a good way.
No fancy typography. No complicated panels. Just simple, clean and consistent-looking blocks that are arranged in a clean manner.
Wrapping it All Up
Info panels are the final piece of puzzle that can help you make the most out of your Twitch profile.
And to make sure that you do, you need to put in a little effort when it comes to naming your Twitch username.
Even if you’re not a professional streamer or a gamer, spend some time creating proper brand guidelines and stick to them throughout your channel (Twitch panels included).
