How to Create Custom Thumbnails for Workshop Items (for beginners)

This is a guide on how to create custom thumbnails for workshop items in depth. Yes, I am aware that batteries has already made a guide on this topic (which I recommend you check out), however, I'm going to explain it in broader detail on how I create my thumbnails.

Creating a Vehicle and Giving it a Name

To create a custom thumbnail, you first must have a vehicle.
The vehicle I will use for this Guide is my R-5 Dingo IFV

Once you have selected your desired vehicle, give it a name (in this instance I have used 'Tutorial' as the name). To change the name of your vehicle click 'save as new file' and name your creation.

Selecting a Base Image

Before you crete your thumbnail, you need a place to start. Take your vehicle out of the garage and position it over a backdrop.

Once you are ready, press F on your keyboard to enter freecam, (Fn if on laptop +) F9 to disable HUD then, (Fn if on laptop +) F12 to take a screenshot of your vehicle.

Photoshop

Lets get started!
Create a new file that is 1920x1080 pixles


Now you need to insert the screenshot of your vehicle. Follow this directory:


Now just drag your screenshot into the photoshop

The next step is to crop the picture to a 1:1 ratio (square). You can see my settings in the top ribbon (click on photo undreneath)


Now its time for you to add text or images to your thumbnail, you should eventually come out with something like this:


The next step Is very important:

file Compression

You need to compress files within photoshop to allow images to load in-game and be able to upload files to the workshop. The way I do this is to click 'Image' (on top ribbon) then 'Image size' (shortcut is ALT + CTRL + I). This brings you to this screen:


Once here, resize the image to about these settings (get it down to about 1.5MB):


After this step, Press 'File', 'Save as', you want to save your image as a .png (this is what the default Brick Rigs thumbnails are) and make sure it has the exact same name as your vehicle (every letter) and make sure you can find it again! When you press OK, a box will appear, select smallest file, slowest saving.


The original image was 1.6MB, now after this step it is 737KB, a very nice size for Brick Rigs.

Microsoft Paint

I'm going to show you how to create a custom thumbnail using MS paint, although not being nearly as good as photshop, it can still get the job done.
Create a new empty paint file


Now you need to insert the screenshot of your vehicle. Follow this directory:


Now just drag your screenshot into the paint file, it will automatically resize to 1920x1080


Next, move the picture to the left of the paint document as shown:


You need to resize the image now, press CTRL + E, then a window appears, enter the value 1000 pixels for each box



This is when you can start to edit the image to create a custom thumbnail


Here is where the important bit comes in to play:

file compression

Images need to be small to load in brick rigs and upload to the workshop, you can do this in paint by pressing CTRL + W, doing this presents a message:



Enter a value of about 700 pixels to each box, DO NOT ENTER 700%! Then press OK



The last step for this part, saving the file. Press 'file', 'save as', name it exactly what your vehicle is called (every letter) and make sure you save it as a .png (this is what the default Brick Rigs thumbnalis are saved as). Make sure to save it in a place you can find later on.


The origianl file was 1.67MB, now it is 806KB, this is a good size for Brick Rigs

Thumbnail Replacement and Workshop Upload

Finally, we are near the end!
Now all we have to do is replace the thumbnail within the Brick Rigs thumbnails folder. The easiest way of doing this is to type %appdata% into the search bar. It will take you to a directory that looks like this:


Once here go up one tab (click AppData) then 'Local', 'BrickRigs', 'Saved', 'Thumbnails'. Your directory should now look like this:


Now what you want to do is look for the default thumbnail, my vehicle is named 'Tutorial'



Now, drag the edited image into the thumbnails folder. You should be presented with this message:


Press 'Replace the file in the destination'

Now, start Brick Rigs and enter a garage, you should now see that your thumbnail appears in the editor:


Finally, you can upload your item to the workshop, it will retain the custom image that you made, as long as you followed these steps, nothing should go wrong

Updating Old Workshop Thumbnails

Something that you may wish to do is replace an old workshop thumbnail with one you made. To do this it is simple.

Follow through the previous steps as seen until you reach the upload stage. To update an item,open the updated version in the editor and press 'upload to steam workshop'. Once you are here, simply click on the existing workshop item. The box in the bottom right should say 'update existing' instead of 'upload item'. Press it to update your vehicle (you will have to restart the game because steam's default settings only update items 'when not in game')

Problems Uploading Workshop Items

If there is a problem whilst uploading a workshop item, it is more than likley the file size of the thumbnail, from my experience, anything above 1MB will not work, I tend to consider 800KB to be the largest file you should upload. If this is the case with you, lower the resolution or size of the picture, this should solve the issue.

[RandomStuffToppedOffWithMemesYT]

Well now, you can use the Insert button to take a thumbnail screenshot for your build.

[Nuclear]

☪️☪️☪️☪️☪️☪️☪️☪️ this is the purple guy
☪️☪️☪️☪️☪️☪️☪️☪️copy and paste him in every guide comment
☪️⬜⬛☪️☪️⬜⬛☪️so he can take over the workshop and finally
☪️☪️☪️☪️☪️☪️☪️☪️stop being depressed and murdering 5 children
⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛
☪️⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛☪️
☪️⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛☪️
☪️☪️⬛⬛⬛⬛☪️☪️ yes
☪️☪️☪️☪️☪️☪️☪️☪️ fnaf

[Nuclear]

☪️☪️☪️☪️☪️☪️☪️☪️ this is the purple guy
☪️☪️☪️☪️☪️☪️☪️☪️copy and paste him in every guide comment
☪️⬜⬛☪️☪️⬜⬛☪️so he can take over the workshop and finally
☪️☪️☪️☪️☪️☪️☪️☪️stop being depressed and murdering 5 children
⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛
☪️⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛☪️
☪️⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛☪️
☪️☪️⬛⬛⬛⬛☪️☪️ yes
☪️☪️☪️☪️☪️☪️☪️☪️ fnaf

[Baby Chugger]

nice

[okbaseball94]

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▂▄▅████████▅▄▃▂ COPY AND PASTE TANK TO JOIN WAR!
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[J9Josh]

@Hawley.griffin you can use any png or just take a screenshot in brick rigs (I think it's print screen or insert key)

[Gaper-Bingzoid]

well CAN you make a way just to make a thumbnaill WITHOUT custom stuffs

[Dotrailwayboy]

STOP POSTING ABOUT FIGHTING BOB AND POSTS WITH TANKS! AM TIRED OF SEEING THEM ALL! Eugh. Rage aside this is a really in depth tutorial!

[AtomicCollapse222]

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███████ ]▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▃ I am fighting on all fronts against Doge
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I███████████████████].
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[Demon Cat Summoner Summon Lv4]

░░███████ ]▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄ - - - FIGHT AGAINST BOB AND DOGE AND SAVE STEAM!
▂▄▅████████▅▄▃▂ COPY AND PASTE TANK TO JOIN WAR!
I███████████████████]
◥⊙▲⊙▲⊙▲⊙▲⊙▲⊙▲⊙◤ stop doge bich tank are better