video-thumbnail-generator

# Video Thumbnail Generator Turn video frames into usable thumbnail candidates. ## Problem it solves A strong preview image often determines whether a video gets clicked, watched, or even noticed. But teams usually grab random frames manually. This skill helps extract and evaluate better thumbnail candidates from the video itself. ## Use when - A social or product video needs a better cover image - A team wants several frame options instead of one random grab - A storefront, gallery, ad, or internal review asset needs a clearer preview - The user wants a simple thumbnail workflow without full design work ## Do not use when - The user needs full graphic design for a polished thumbnail - The source video is too low quality to produce usable stills - The better answer is a custom static image, not a frame grab ## Inputs - Source video file - Target platform or use case - Preferred frame qualities: face, product, motion-free, readable text, bright frame, etc. - Optional desired count of thumbnail candidates ## Workflow 1. Identify what makes a useful thumbnail for the target platform. 2. Extract candidate frames from visually strong moments. 3. Prefer frames with clarity, focus, and clean composition. 4. Avoid blur-heavy, transition, or awkward-expression frames. 5. Return a shortlist of thumbnail candidates with rationale. ## Output Return: 1. Candidate thumbnail frames 2. Why each is viable 3. Best recommended option 4. Risks if the video is weak for frame-based thumbnails ## Quality bar - Avoid motion blur, half-blinks, and awkward facial expressions - Prefer clear product visibility or recognizable subject framing - Match the thumbnail style to the platform use case - Don’t oversell mediocre candidates as strong ## Resource See `references/output-template.md`.