# Set a course cover: upload, Unsplash, or design one

> The thumbnail is the first thing a buyer sees. You can upload your own, pull a free photo from Unsplash, or design one right here — and regenerate a polished branded cover in a click. Recommended size 1280×720.

Last updated 2026-06-01 · Source: https://prolaud.com/help/course-cover-thumbnail

In the editor's Basics tab, the Thumbnail field hints: 'Upload, search Unsplash, or design one. Recommended 1280×720.' Open it to get three tabs.

## Upload

Drag-and-drop or click to select an image (PNG / JPG / WebP), or paste an image URL. Use this when you already have artwork.

## Unsplash

Search free stock photos ('coding', 'classroom', 'design'…) and pick one. You can optionally overlay your course title + subtitle on the photo, with a live preview, so it reads as a branded cover rather than generic stock.

## Design

Build a cover on a 1280×720 canvas: type a title + optional subtitle and pick from a set of background gradients (Indigo, Forest, Sunset, Ocean, and more). No design tool needed.

## Regenerate designed cover

The 'Regenerate designed cover' link spins up a fresh designed cover for the course automatically (it shows 'Regenerating…' while it works). Handy after you rename the course or want a different look without opening the designer.

> **Note:** Stick to 1280×720 (16:9). It's the size the catalog card, the landing page, and the share preview all expect, so your cover never looks cropped or stretched.

## Related

- [The editor, tab by tab](https://prolaud.com/help/course-edit-overview)
- [The social share image](https://prolaud.com/help/course-edit-seo)
- [Discovery fields](https://prolaud.com/help/course-discovery-fields)