Coding Hub RBX

Full Walkthrough & Tutorial: How To Create Quality Roblox Thumbnails

Today, we’ll be doing a full walkthrough and tutorial on how to create quality Roblox thumbnails.

Step 1: Download Required Software

There are three things you’ll need to download. They’re all free, and I’ll also show you how to set up a folder to keep everything organized.

  1. Roblox Starter Rigs
    • This is how we’ll import your Roblox avatar into Blender.
    • We’ll be using Blender 4.0 or newer.
    • When downloading, feel free to put in 0 for the “fair price” (or donate to the creator, Softy, if you want).
    • Enter your email, download the file, and save it.
  2. Blender 4.0
    • Click the Blender link in the description.
    • Download and install it onto your device.
  3. Photopea (free Photoshop alternative)
    • Works just like Photoshop, but free.
    • You can use it in your browser or install it on your device.

Step 2: Folder Setup

  • Right-click your desktop → New Folder → name it something like Roblox Blender.
  • Inside, create these subfolders:
    • Roblox Avatar → stores textures, hats, clothing, etc.
    • Render → saves all your finished renders.
    • Extras → for other people’s avatars (e.g. “Joe’s Avatar”).
    • Rigs → put your downloaded Roblox starter rigs here.

Your folder should look organized, with subfolders for your assets, renders, and rigs.

Step 3: Export Your Roblox Avatar from Roblox Studio

  1. Open Roblox Studio, start a baseplate, and delete the spawn plate.
  2. Go to Plugins → Load Character (free plugin by AlreadyPro).
  3. Type in your Roblox username, check Spawn at Origin, and set it to R6.
  4. Your avatar spawns (you might need to drag it up so it’s above ground).

Now export:

  • Accessories (hats, hair, etc.):
    • Select them all, right-click → Export Selection → save as hats.obj inside Roblox Avatar.
  • Clothing/Body:
    • Select the rest, export selection → save as clothing.obj (or texture).

Delete them in Studio once exported.

Step 4: Import Rig into Blender

  1. Open the Roblox Starter Rigs → choose a rig (Blocky, Man, Woman, etc.).
  2. Import it into Blender.
  3. Learn basic Blender navigation:
    • Scroll wheel = look around
    • Shift + Scroll wheel = pan
    • Scroll = zoom

Step 5: Add Your Avatar Textures

  1. Select a body part (chest, head, etc.), go to the Shading tab.
  2. Remove the default material → click Open → load your avatar’s texture file from Roblox Avatar.
  3. Switch to Viewport Shading (top right, sphere icon) to see textures applied.

Step 6: Import Hats & Accessories

  1. Go to File → Import → Wavefront (.obj).
  2. Select hats.obj (make sure Split by Object and Split by Group are checked).
  3. Adjust position using the move tool until lined up.
  4. To delete the head (for headless avatars): select head → press X → Delete.

Attach accessories:

  • Switch to Pose Mode, select all accessories, then the neck bone → press Ctrl + P → Bone.
  • Now hats move with the head.

Step 7: Add Camera & Lighting

  1. Add a Camera (Shift + A → Camera).
    • Go to View → Cameras → Active Camera.
    • Use View → Navigation → Walk Navigation (WASD to move, Shift to speed up).
    • Set resolution to 2000×2000 (or smaller if PC is slow).
  2. Add Lighting:
    • Add Area Lights on both sides.
    • Change shape to Ellipse, power to 200–800 watts depending on distance.
    • Switch to Rendered View (4th shading sphere) to preview lighting.

Step 8: Save a Base Rig

  • Go to File → Save As → save as YourAvatarRig.blend.
  • Don’t overwrite this file after posing—keep it as your “clean rig” starting point.

Step 9: Pose Your Avatar

  1. Switch to Pose Mode.
  2. Select arms, legs, torso, and rotate/move them into your desired pose.
  3. Use your thumbnail sketch (from Photopea) as a reference.
  4. Position the camera for your shot.

Step 10: Render Your Avatar

  1. Go to Render Settings → set background to Transparent.
  2. Render → Render Image.
  3. Save as PNG inside Render folder (e.g. render1.png).

Step 11: Thumbnail Editing in Photopea

  1. Open Photopea → New Project → 1920×1080, 300 DPI, Transparent background.
  2. Import your render.png → resize and position it.
  3. Add effects (e.g., mouse cursor, dotted outlines, arrows).
    • Search Google for “transparent PNG effects” like arrows, highlights, or glows.
  4. Add a Roblox screenshot background (blurred with Gaussian Blur ~7px).
  5. Use Brightness/Contrast, Vibrance, Shadows/Highlights to enhance colors.
  6. Add Stroke + Inner Shadow (white outline) for pop.
  7. Optionally add overlays like vignettes, glowing eyes, etc.
  8. Final adjustments: Burn tool for pants/hands color, Sharpen filter for hair/details.

Step 12: Save Your Thumbnail

  • File → Export As → PNG → Save.
  • Upload to YouTube.