Thumbnail Concept
A video topic → several high-CTR thumbnail concepts with image-gen prompts.
Purpose
The thumbnail decides whether good content gets watched. This skill produces a
few distinct, honest, high-contrast thumbnail concepts — each with a layout, a
short text overlay, a color logic, and a ready image-generation prompt — so the
creator can pick and generate quickly.
When it fires
- Keyword triggers:
thumbnail, cover art, thumbnail ideas, ctr,
video cover
- File triggers:
thumbnails/**
- Command triggers:
/thumbnail-concept
Inputs
| Input |
Required |
Notes |
topic |
yes |
Video subject + the promise. |
subject |
no |
Hero image/asset (e.g. a nebula, a rocket). |
count |
no |
Number of concepts, default 3. |
Workflow
- Find the visual hook — the single image idea that conveys the promise. ✅ Check: readable at small size.
- Per concept: layout (subject placement, rule-of-thirds), overlay text
(≤4 words, high contrast), color/contrast logic, and emotional read.
- Honesty check — the thumbnail must match the actual content (no bait).
- Image-gen prompt — a concrete prompt to produce the background/subject;
if using NASA imagery, note the rights step.
Output contract
{
"concepts": [{
"layout": "string",
"overlay_text": "string — ≤4 words",
"color_logic": "string",
"emotional_read": "string",
"image_prompt": "string"
}]
}
Tools & MCP
- Tools:
Read. MCP: optional image-gen MCP.
Quality bar
Example
Input: "Why Webb sees what Hubble can't" → 3 concepts, each with a 2–3 word
overlay, contrast logic, and an image prompt.
Built on SIP — Starlight Intelligence Protocol
Substrate: starlightintelligence.org/protocol v1.1.0
Layers used: [file-contract, attestation, sovereignty]
Vertical: starlight-agent-skills · portable capability layer
1---2name: thumbnail-concept3description: Generate high-CTR thumbnail concepts for a video — layout, focal subject, text overlay (≤4 words), color/contrast, and an image-gen prompt. Use when designing a YouTube/short thumbnail, asked for 'thumbnail ideas', or planning cover art for a video.4---56# Thumbnail Concept78> A video topic → several high-CTR thumbnail concepts with image-gen prompts.910## Purpose1112The thumbnail decides whether good content gets watched. This skill produces a13few distinct, honest, high-contrast thumbnail concepts — each with a layout, a14short text overlay, a color logic, and a ready image-generation prompt — so the15creator can pick and generate quickly.1617## When it fires1819- Keyword triggers: `thumbnail`, `cover art`, `thumbnail ideas`, `ctr`,20 `video cover`21- File triggers: `thumbnails/**`22- Command triggers: `/thumbnail-concept`2324## Inputs2526| Input | Required | Notes |27|-------|----------|-------|28| `topic` | yes | Video subject + the promise. |29| `subject` | no | Hero image/asset (e.g. a nebula, a rocket). |30| `count` | no | Number of concepts, default `3`. |3132## Workflow33341. **Find the visual hook** — the single image idea that conveys the promise. ✅ Check: readable at small size.352. **Per concept:** layout (subject placement, rule-of-thirds), overlay text36 (≤4 words, high contrast), color/contrast logic, and emotional read.373. **Honesty check** — the thumbnail must match the actual content (no bait).384. **Image-gen prompt** — a concrete prompt to produce the background/subject;39 if using NASA imagery, note the rights step.4041## Output contract4243```json44{45 "concepts": [{46 "layout": "string",47 "overlay_text": "string — ≤4 words",48 "color_logic": "string",49 "emotional_read": "string",50 "image_prompt": "string"51 }]52}53```5455## Tools & MCP5657- Tools: `Read`. MCP: optional image-gen MCP.5859## Quality bar6061- [ ] Overlay text ≤4 words and legible at thumbnail size.62- [ ] Concept matches the real content (no clickbait).63- [ ] High contrast / clear focal point.64- [ ] Rights noted if real agency imagery is used.6566## Example6768Input: "Why Webb sees what Hubble can't" → 3 concepts, each with a 2–3 word69overlay, contrast logic, and an image prompt.7071---7273Built on SIP — Starlight Intelligence Protocol74Substrate: starlightintelligence.org/protocol v1.1.075Layers used: [file-contract, attestation, sovereignty]76Vertical: starlight-agent-skills · portable capability layer
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