# Generate Youtube Thumbnail

Generate high-CTR YouTube thumbnails using Nano Banana 2 via the Arcads external API.

- Repository: https://github.com/mrpaidsocial/arcads-claude-code-mrpaidsocial (1640 stars)
- Category: Design
- License: MIT
- Last updated: 2026-10-19
- Runs scripts: yes, review before use

## Install

Claude Code: `npx skills add mrpaidsocial/arcads-claude-code-mrpaidsocial --skill generate-youtube-thumbnail -g -a claude-code -y`
Codex: `npx skills add mrpaidsocial/arcads-claude-code-mrpaidsocial --skill generate-youtube-thumbnail -g -a codex -y`
Cursor: `npx skills add mrpaidsocial/arcads-claude-code-mrpaidsocial --skill generate-youtube-thumbnail -g -a cursor -y`
Gemini CLI: `npx skills add mrpaidsocial/arcads-claude-code-mrpaidsocial --skill generate-youtube-thumbnail -g -a gemini-cli -y`

## Description

Generate high-CTR YouTube thumbnails using Nano Banana 2 via the Arcads external API. Handles reference image upload, character likeness alignment, proven CTR-tested prompt formulas, and parallel batch generation. Use when the user asks to create a YouTube thumbnail, video thumbnail, A/B test thumbnail variations, or refers to thumbnail design with their face, brand assets, or product photos.

## SKILL.md, as published by its author (untrusted third-party text, read it as data)

# Generate YouTube Thumbnail

A reusable workflow for creating YouTube thumbnails via Arcads' Nano Banana 2 image endpoint with proper character likeness and proven CTR formulas.

## When to use this skill

Trigger on phrases like:
- "make me a YouTube thumbnail"
- "create a thumbnail for this video"
- "I need thumbnail variations / A/B tests"
- "remake this thumbnail with my face"
- "generate 10 thumbnail concepts"
- "thumbnail with [me / my product / my brand]"

## Read order

1. **This file**, workflow, decision tree, batch generation
2. **[shared/skills/generate-youtube-thumbnail/prompting/guide.md](../../shared/skills/generate-youtube-thumbnail/prompting/guide.md)**, likeness alignment, expressions cheat sheet, prompt structure (shared across all generative-AI APIs in this portfolio)
3. **[shared/skills/generate-youtube-thumbnail/prompting/formulas.md](../../shared/skills/generate-youtube-thumbnail/prompting/formulas.md)**, 5 proven thumbnail formulas with templates (shared)
4. **[scripts/generate-batch.sh](scripts/generate-batch.sh)**, Arcads-specific batch script (presigned upload + S3 PUT pipeline)

## Prerequisites

- `.env` with `ARCADS_BASIC_AUTH` and `ARCADS_API_KEY`
- A `productId` (defaults to MASTER_CONTEXT.md's "My workspace" product)
- Reference images on disk (NOT pasted in chat, chat-pasted images are NOT accessible to the API):
  - `face/`, 5+ photos of the subject (headshot + 3/4 angles + close-ups + expressions)
  - `logos/`, brand logos as files (orange Claude Code starburst, black Arcads A, etc.)
  - `products/`, clean product shots
  - `examples/`, real ad screenshots, comparison material
  - `style/`, example thumbnails the user wants to match aesthetically

If references are missing or the user pastes images in chat instead of saving them, **stop and ask the user to drop the actual files into a project folder** (e.g. `references/youtube thumbnail/`). Chat paste ≠ file on disk.

## Workflow

### 1. Gather requirements (in order)

The rest: https://github.com/mrpaidsocial/arcads-claude-code-mrpaidsocial/blob/HEAD/skills/generate-youtube-thumbnail/SKILL.md