A thumbnail that matches the video
Cutflare writes a thumbnail brief from the script: the strongest subject, a headline of a few words and a color direction. The image is generated at the same aspect ratio as the video, 9:16 for Shorts and Reels or 16:9 for regular YouTube videos.
Built on what makes people click
Good thumbnails follow a few simple rules, and the generator follows them by default:
- One clear subject, large in the frame
- Three to four words of text, never a sentence
- High contrast between subject, text and background
- A question or tension the video answers
Use your own faces and products
Add photos to a brand kit and the thumbnail can feature them, so your channel's covers look like they belong together.
Instagram covers that actually show
Instagram can ignore a separately uploaded cover when a Reel is posted through an API. We add the thumbnail as the first frame of the Reel, so the cover in your grid is the one you chose.
Frequently asked questions
What size are the thumbnails?
They match the video: 9:16 for Shorts and Reels, 16:9 for landscape YouTube videos.
Can I regenerate a thumbnail?
Yes. Make a new version at any time; the credit cost is shown before you click.
Do Shorts need thumbnails?
Shorts are mostly watched in the feed, but the thumbnail shows on your channel page, in search and when a Short is shared, so a good one still helps.