Previewing Shorts and Reels Covers Before Posting

Vertical covers are cropped differently in a feed, on a profile grid and behind the app’s own buttons. Thumbnail Preview shows a 9:16 cover in those contexts before you post.

If you want to try it while reading, start with Thumbnail Preview Shorts cover preview. The notes below cover what the tool does, how to use it, and where its limits are.

Safe areas and crops

The preview places your cover in a vertical shelf with UI overlay zones and shows 4:5 and 1:1 profile-grid crops, so you can keep faces and text clear of the areas that get covered or cut.

Key features

• Title truncation meter across layouts
• A/B Tester with a 5-round blind test showing pick rate and reaction time
• Shorts and Reels cover preview at 9:16, 4:5 and 1:1
• Runs in the browser; images are never uploaded; no sign-up
• Feed Preview for 1 to 4 thumbnails with per-thumbnail titles
• Simulated desktop feed, mobile feed, search results, sidebar (168×94) and TV view

How to use it

1. Drop in 2 to 4 thumbnail versions.
2. Start the blind test; each version is hidden among filler cards in a shuffled feed.
3. Click the first thumbnail you notice in each round.
4. After 5 rounds, compare pick rate and average reaction time.
5. Export a side-by-side PNG to share with your team.

Who it is for

• Creators choosing between thumbnail concepts
• Editors who want a quick first-glance check
• Teams that need a comparison image for a client

FAQ

Are images uploaded?

No. Everything runs in your browser.

Are previews identical to real platforms?

No. They are simulated approximations for visual reference.

Will this raise my CTR?

No. It is an inspection and layout tool and does not influence algorithms or rankings.

Honest limits

A blind test with a few people is a quick signal, not a statistically rigorous experiment. Use it to catch weak concepts early, then check the winner for legibility at small sizes.