# Auto Video Thumbnail Generator (`parseforge/auto-video-thumbnail-generator`) Actor

Generates thumbnail images from a video file or a text topic using Gemini AI. Returns each thumbnail as an image file in the chosen aspect ratio.

- **URL**: https://apify.com/parseforge/auto-video-thumbnail-generator.md
- **Developed by:** [ParseForge](https://apify.com/parseforge) (community)
- **Categories:** AI, Automation
- **Stats:** 76 total users, 0 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, 3 bookmarks
- **User rating**: 5.00 out of 5 stars

## Pricing

from $30.00 / 1,000 results

This Actor is paid per event. You are not charged for the Apify platform usage, but only a fixed price for specific events.
Since this Actor supports Apify Store discounts, the price gets lower the higher subscription plan you have.

Learn more: https://docs.apify.com/actors/running/actors-in-store.md#pay-per-event

## What's an Apify Actor?

Actors are web data automations that power AI and operations. They run on the Apify platform to scrape websites, process data, connect APIs, and automate workflows.
In Batch mode, an Actor accepts a well-defined JSON input, performs an action which can take anything from a few seconds to a few hours,
and optionally produces a well-defined JSON output, datasets with results, or files in key-value store.
In Standby mode, an Actor provides a web server which can be used as a website, API, or an MCP server.
Actors are written with capital "A".

## How to integrate an Actor?

If asked about integration, you help developers integrate Actors into their projects.
You adapt to their stack and deliver integrations that are safe, well-documented, and production-ready.
The best way to integrate Actors is as follows.

- **AI agents and MCP clients** — the [Apify MCP server](https://docs.apify.com/integrations/mcp.md) at `https://mcp.apify.com` (remote, streamable HTTP, OAuth on first use).
- **Agentic workflows and local Actor development** — [Agent Skills](https://apify.com/.well-known/agent-skills/index.json) with the [Apify CLI](https://docs.apify.com/cli/docs.md): `npm install -g apify-cli`, then `apify login`.
- **JavaScript/TypeScript projects** — the official [JS/TS client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs.md): `npm install apify-client`.
- **Python projects** — the official [Python client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs.md): `pip install apify-client`.
- **Any other language** — the [REST API](https://docs.apify.com/api/v2.md).

For usage examples, see the [API](#api) section below.

For more details, see Apify documentation as [Markdown index](https://docs.apify.com/llms.txt) and [Markdown full-text](https://docs.apify.com/llms-full.txt).

# README

[![ParseForge](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ParseForge/apify-assets/main/banner.jpg)](https://apify.com/parseforge?fpr=vmoqkp)

### Auto Video Thumbnail Generator

**Generate YouTube thumbnails from any video file or topic with Gemini AI.** Upload an MP4, MOV, or AVI, or type a topic, and get up to 10 unique thumbnails in 16:9, 9:16, 1:1, and more. No design skills needed. Export as image files.

Making a click-worthy thumbnail for every video is slow, and hiring a designer for each upload gets expensive. This Actor reads your video file or a topic you type, analyzes it with Gemini AI, and returns ready-to-use thumbnails in the aspect ratio you need. Upload a reference image to match your brand style, or add custom instructions like 'make it colorful and energetic'.

| Who uses it | What they scrape Auto Video Thumbnail Generator for |
|---|---|
| YouTube creators | Generate a batch of thumbnail options for each new video without opening Photoshop. |
| Social media managers | Produce platform-sized thumbnails for Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube Shorts from one source. |
| Video editors | Hand off a video file and get back styled thumbnails that match the client's brand reference. |
| Marketing teams | Create on-brand thumbnails for product demos and webinar recordings at scale. |

### What it does

This Actor generates thumbnail images from a video file or a text topic, and returns each thumbnail as an image file.

- 🎬 **Video file input:** upload MP4, MOV, AVI, or other common formats and let Gemini analyze the content.
- 📝 **Topic-only mode:** type a main topic like 'Gaming Tutorial' and get thumbnails without any video file.
- 🖼️ **Reference image:** upload one image to steer colors, composition, and mood toward your brand.
- ✍️ **Custom instructions:** add a prompt like 'Focus on the product' or 'Professional business look'.
- 📐 **Seven aspect ratios:** 16:9 for YouTube, 9:16 for TikTok and Shorts, 1:1 for Instagram, plus 4:3, 3:4, 3:2, and 2:3.
- 🔢 **1 to 10 variations:** generate multiple thumbnail options in a single run.

Results export to CSV, JSON, Excel, or XML, or straight from the API.

### What you can do with Auto Video Thumbnail Generator data

**🎬 Batch thumbnails for a YouTube channel.**

A creator uploads a video file and gets 5 thumbnail options in 16:9, then picks the one with the highest expected click-through.

**📱 Repurpose one video for multiple platforms.**

A social media manager runs the same video with aspect ratios 16:9, 9:16, and 1:1 to cover YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram in one run.

**🎨 Match a client's brand style.**

A video editor uploads a reference image from the brand kit and adds custom instructions to generate on-brand thumbnails for a product demo.

**📝 Generate thumbnails before the video exists.**

A marketer types a topic like 'Tech Review' and gets thumbnail concepts to test audience interest before producing the video.

### Why choose this scraper

|  | What you get |
|---|---|
| **No design skills needed** | Gemini AI analyzes the video or topic and creates thumbnails that fit the content. |
| **Batch generation** | Get up to 10 unique thumbnail variations per run to A/B test. |
| **Brand consistency** | Upload a reference image to keep colors and style aligned across all thumbnails. |
| **Platform-ready sizes** | Choose from 7 aspect ratios for YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and more. |

### How it compares

No other Store actor targets Auto Video Thumbnail Generator the same way, so the honest comparison is with the alternatives teams actually weigh.

| | Auto Video Thumbnail Generator | Build it in-house | By hand |
|---|---|---|---|
| Setup | Run it now, zero config | Days of engineering | None, but hours per pull |
| When Auto Video Thumbnail Generator changes | Maintained for you | You fix it | You re-learn the page |
| Proxies, retries, anti-bot | Built in | Your problem | Browser only |
| Output | Fixed JSON schema, CSV/Excel export | Whatever you build | Copy-paste |
| Cost | Pay per result | Engineering time | Analyst hours |

### Configure the run

Drive the Actor with a video file URL or a main topic, optionally add a reference image and custom instructions, and set the number of thumbnails and aspect ratio. The Input tab lists every parameter.

A first run with the defaults:

```json
{
  "videoFileUrl": [],
  "referenceImage": [],
  "mainTopic": "Tech Tutorial: How to Build AI Applications",
  "numberOfImages": 2,
  "customPrompt": "Create an eye-catching thumbnail with vibrant colors",
  "aspectRatio": "16:9"
}
```

### Pricing

Pay-per-result: **$0.045 per result** collected. You pay only for the results written to your dataset.

| Results collected | Approximate cost |
|---|---|
| 100 results | $4.50 |
| 1,000 results | $45.00 |
| 10,000 results | $450.00 |

New Apify accounts start with $5 in free credit.

### Free users

Free-plan runs return up to 10 results as a preview. [Upgrade your Apify plan](https://console.apify.com/sign-up?fpr=vmoqkp) to collect up to 1,000,000 results per run.

### Run it

1. [Create a free Apify account with $5 in credit](https://console.apify.com/sign-up?fpr=vmoqkp).
2. Open the [Auto Video Thumbnail Generator](https://apify.com/parseforge/auto-video-thumbnail-generator?fpr=vmoqkp).
3. Set your inputs and any filters, then click **Start**.
4. Export the results as CSV, Excel, JSON, or XML from the **Dataset** tab.

Run it programmatically through the [Apify API](https://docs.apify.com/api/v2) (`run-sync-get-dataset-items`) or the [ApifyClient](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js) for JavaScript and Python.

### Use with AI agents (MCP)

Give an AI agent live access to Auto Video Thumbnail Generator through the Model Context Protocol. Add the Actor to Claude, Cursor, or any MCP client:

```bash
claude mcp add --transport http apify "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=parseforge/auto-video-thumbnail-generator"
```

Then prompt it in plain language to run the scraper and read back the results.

### Troubleshooting

**Why am I getting an error about missing input?**

You must provide either a video file URL or a main topic. If both are empty, the Actor cannot generate thumbnails. Add one of them and try again.

**The generated thumbnails don't match my brand colors.**

Upload a reference image that represents your brand style. The AI will adapt colors, composition, and mood to match that reference.

**I asked for 10 thumbnails but got fewer.**

Check the numberOfImages input. It must be between 1 and 10. If you set it to 10, the Actor will generate 10 unique variations, but generation may take longer.

**The thumbnail looks blurry or low quality.**

Use a higher quality reference image and ensure your video file is not heavily compressed. The AI generates thumbnails at a standard resolution, but input quality affects output.

**Can I use a YouTube URL instead of uploading a file?**

No, this Actor requires a direct video file upload or a main topic. To get thumbnails from a YouTube URL, use the YouTube Scraper Actor to download the video first, then pass the file to this Actor.

### FAQ

| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Do I need to upload a video file? | No. You can either upload a video file or provide a main topic. At least one of the two is required. If you upload a video, the topic field is optional and can guide the focus. |
| What video formats are supported? | The Actor accepts MP4, MOV, AVI, and other common video formats. The file is analyzed by Gemini AI to generate relevant thumbnails. |
| How many thumbnails can I generate in one run? | You can generate between 1 and 10 unique thumbnail variations per run using the numberOfImages input. |
| Can I control the style of the thumbnails? | Yes. Upload a reference image to influence colors, composition, and mood, or add custom instructions like 'Make it colorful and energetic'. |
| What aspect ratios are available? | You can choose from 16:9, 9:16, 1:1, 4:3, 3:4, 3:2, and 2:3. 16:9 is best for YouTube, 1:1 for Instagram, and 9:16 for TikTok and Shorts. |
| Is there a cost per thumbnail? | The Actor runs on Apify's standard usage-based pricing. You pay for the compute resources used, not per thumbnail. |
| Can I use this for commercial projects? | Yes, the generated thumbnails can be used for commercial purposes. Check the license of any reference image you upload. |
| What if I don't like the generated thumbnails? | You can adjust the custom instructions, change the reference image, or increase the number of variations to get more options. |
| Does it work with videos longer than a few minutes? | Yes, the Actor can process videos of typical length. Very large files may take longer to upload and analyze. |
| Can I automate thumbnail generation in a workflow? | Yes, you can integrate this Actor with other Apify Actors or schedule it to run automatically using Apify's platform features. |

### Related actors

Browse the full [ParseForge collection](https://apify.com/parseforge?fpr=vmoqkp) for more scrapers.

🆘 **Need help?** Email parseforge@protonmail.com with your run ID, your input, and what you expected.

⚠️ **Disclaimer.** This Actor is unofficial and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Apify. It collects only publicly available data. You are responsible for using the collected data in compliance with the source's terms of service and applicable data-protection laws, including GDPR, CCPA, and PIPL. Do not use it to collect personal data unlawfully.

# Actor input Schema

## `videoFileUrl` (type: `array`):

Upload your video file here. You can upload MP4, MOV, AVI, or other common video formats. The file will be analyzed by Gemini AI to generate relevant thumbnails. NOTE: Either provide a video file OR a main topic (at least one is required).

## `referenceImage` (type: `array`):

Upload a single reference image to influence the overall style of the generated thumbnails. The AI will adapt colors, composition, and mood to match this reference. Works best with high-quality images. Leave empty to let the AI create the style from scratch.

## `mainTopic` (type: `string`):

Specify the main topic or theme for your thumbnails. This will guide the AI to generate thumbnails focused on this topic. For example: 'Gaming Tutorial', 'Cooking Recipe', 'Tech Review', 'Travel Vlog', etc. REQUIRED if you don't upload a video file. If you upload a video, this field is optional and will guide the focus of the thumbnails.

## `numberOfImages` (type: `integer`):

How many different thumbnail variations do you want to generate? You can create between 1 and 10 unique thumbnails.

## `customPrompt` (type: `string`):

Add specific instructions for thumbnail generation. For example: 'Make it colorful and energetic' or 'Focus on the product' or 'Create a professional business look'. Leave empty to let AI decide the best approach.

## `aspectRatio` (type: `string`):

Choose the aspect ratio for your thumbnails. 16:9 is best for YouTube, 1:1 for Instagram, 9:16 for TikTok/Shorts.

## Actor input object example

```json
{
  "videoFileUrl": [],
  "referenceImage": [],
  "mainTopic": "Tech Tutorial: How to Build AI Applications",
  "numberOfImages": 2,
  "customPrompt": "Create an eye-catching thumbnail with vibrant colors",
  "aspectRatio": "16:9"
}
```

# Actor output Schema

## `thumbnails` (type: `string`):

Complete dataset with all generated thumbnail images

## `overview` (type: `string`):

Overview view of thumbnails with preview images and key metadata

# API

You can run this Actor programmatically using our API. Below are code examples in JavaScript, Python, and CLI, as well as the OpenAPI specification and MCP server setup.

## JavaScript example

```javascript
import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client';

// Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
// Replace the '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token
const client = new ApifyClient({
    token: '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>',
});

// Prepare Actor input
const input = {
    "videoFileUrl": [],
    "referenceImage": [],
    "mainTopic": "Tech Tutorial: How to Build AI Applications",
    "numberOfImages": 2,
    "customPrompt": "Create an eye-catching thumbnail with vibrant colors",
    "aspectRatio": "16:9"
};

// Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
const run = await client.actor("parseforge/auto-video-thumbnail-generator").call(input);

// Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if any)
console.log('Results from dataset');
console.log(`💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/${run.defaultDatasetId}`);
const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems();
items.forEach((item) => {
    console.dir(item);
});

// 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs

```

## Python example

```python
from apify_client import ApifyClient

# Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
# Replace '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token.
client = ApifyClient("<YOUR_API_TOKEN>")

# Prepare the Actor input
run_input = {
    "videoFileUrl": [],
    "referenceImage": [],
    "mainTopic": "Tech Tutorial: How to Build AI Applications",
    "numberOfImages": 2,
    "customPrompt": "Create an eye-catching thumbnail with vibrant colors",
    "aspectRatio": "16:9",
}

# Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
run = client.actor("parseforge/auto-video-thumbnail-generator").call(run_input=run_input)

# Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if there are any)
print(f"💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/{run.default_dataset_id}")
for item in client.dataset(run.default_dataset_id).iterate_items():
    print(item)

# 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs/quick-start

```

## CLI example

```bash
echo '{
  "videoFileUrl": [],
  "referenceImage": [],
  "mainTopic": "Tech Tutorial: How to Build AI Applications",
  "numberOfImages": 2,
  "customPrompt": "Create an eye-catching thumbnail with vibrant colors",
  "aspectRatio": "16:9"
}' |
apify call parseforge/auto-video-thumbnail-generator --silent --output-dataset

```

## MCP server setup

```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "apify": {
            "type": "http",
            "url": "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=fetch-actor-details,parseforge/auto-video-thumbnail-generator"
        }
    }
}

```

The hosted server signs you in with OAuth on first connect, so no API token belongs in this config. Clients without OAuth support can send an `Authorization: Bearer <APIFY_API_TOKEN>` header instead, using a token from API & Integrations in Apify Console (https://console.apify.com/settings/integrations).

## OpenAPI specification

Download the OpenAPI definition: https://api.apify.com/v2/actors/fPBUsPaYr0VI2yb5v/builds/FVkq24kcFUcggaleH/openapi.json