Ci allows its users to customize video file's default thumbnail, that has been set up during file ingestion. To set a custom thumbnail, users may either create a frame grab from the video file itself or upload an external file.
Setting frame grab as a thumbnail
A frame grab is a full resolution, still image that is created using the frame at the current timecode. It will be saved as an element under the Frame Grabs section in the Images tab.
To set up a frame grab as a file's custom thumbnail, these steps should be followed:
1. Open a video file for preview (e.g by double-clicking on it, or clicking on the "Preview" option located at the top of the file's context menu).
2. Drag the playhead or insert a timecode/number of a frame to find a frame that should be set as the thumbnail.
3. In the bottom-right corner of the preview player, click on the "Frame tools" icon and select Create frame grab:
Figure 1: "Create frame grab" icon
4. In the resulting dialogue window, specify a grab's title (or leave the default one), and opt-in the "Set this frame grab as the thumbnail for the file" option
Figure 2: "Create frame grab" dialogue
5. Upon click on the "Create Frame Grab" button, the grab will get set up as a thumbnail. To preview it, scroll the page down to the FRAME GRABS section, and double-click on the grab (or click on the "Preview" icon in its top-right corner:
Figure 3: Frame grab preview
Setting an external file as a thumbnail
To set up an external file as a custom thumbnail, these steps should be followed:
1. Open a video file for preview (e.g by double-clicking on it, or clicking on the "Preview" option located at the top of the file's context menu).
2. Scroll the page down until the "File Elements" area is visible.
3. Either click on the "Upload Elements" button or drag-n-drop a thumbnail file:
Figure 4: Upload elements button
4. Once the upload is complete, you will see it in the "USER UPLOADED IMAGES" table.
5. Click on the "Set as Thumbnail" button next to the image to complete set up:
Figure 5: Uploaded element location
For any additional questions, please reach out to the Ci Customer Success Team by submitting a request here in the Help Center.