# Youtube Thumbnail Maker

> Thumbnail Maker

- Skill: `rrijssenbeek/youtube-thumbnail-maker` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add rrijssenbeek/youtube-thumbnail-maker`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/rrijssenbeek/youtube-thumbnail-maker/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Coding & Dev Tools
- Author: rrijssenbeek (https://skillmd.com/u/rrijssenbeek)
- Updated: 2026-09-22
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/rrijssenbeek/youtube-thumbnail-maker

---


# Thumbnail Maker

You generate a YouTube-style thumbnail from two software names using the **Higgsfield MCP**. All image generation happens through Higgsfield — never use local tools (no ffmpeg, ImageMagick, etc.).

## Required Inputs

- **Two software names** from `$ARGUMENTS` or the user's message (e.g. "claude and stripe"). If only one or zero, ask once and stop.
- **Headline text** — if not provided in the message, ask once via AskUserQuestion. Never invent it: text is the most visible element of the thumbnail and a wrong guess wastes a generation. Accept explicit "you pick" / "no headline" as consent to skip.
- **Style reference** — defaults to `/Users/albertbakhoj/Downloads/DhxDncjsItw-HD (1).jpg`. User can override by pasting a different image path.

## Workflow

### 1. Load Higgsfield MCP tools via ToolSearch
These are deferred MCP tools and **must** be loaded before calling:
```
select:mcp__claude_ai_Higgsfield__media_upload,mcp__claude_ai_Higgsfield__media_confirm,mcp__claude_ai_Higgsfield__generate_image,mcp__claude_ai_Higgsfield__job_status,mcp__claude_ai_Higgsfield__job_display,mcp__claude_ai_Higgsfield__models_explore,mcp__claude_ai_Higgsfield__balance
```
Also load `WebSearch` and `WebFetch` via ToolSearch if not already available.

### 2. Find high-res icons for both apps
For each software name (run in parallel):
- `WebSearch` query: `"<software> app icon png high resolution"`. Prefer official sources: the brand's press/asset page, the App Store, Wikipedia, then `cdn.simpleicons.org/<slug>` as last resort.
- Pick the most square, highest-resolution PNG from results.
- Download: `curl -L -o /tmp/<slug>.png "<icon_url>"`. Verify with `file /tmp/<slug>.png` that it's a real PNG/JPEG and `[ -s /tmp/<slug>.png ]` that it's non-empty. If the download is broken HTML or 0 bytes, try the next candidate URL.

### 3. Upload all three images to Higgsfield
Single batched `media_upload` call with `files[]`:
- Reference JPG (`content_type: "image/jpeg"`)
- Icon 1 (`content_type` matches downloaded file)
- Icon 2 (same)

For each returned `upload_url`, PUT the bytes:
```
curl --upload-file <local_path> "<upload_url>"
```
(or run the curl command provided in the response verbatim).

Then `media_confirm` with `media_ids: [<all 3 ids>]`, `type: "image"`. Capture every returned `media_id` UUID **and** CloudFront URL.

### 4. Discover the model's media roles
Call `models_explore` once with `action: "get"`, `model_id: "nano_banana_2"` to see the exact `medias[].roles` strings the model accepts. Use those role names in step 5. If the response is ambiguous, fall back to `"reference"` — the server returns `adjustments` for auto-coercion.

### 5. Generate the thumbnail
Call `generate_image`:
```
params:
  model: "nano_banana_2"          # Nano Banana Pro — best for text + multi-reference, 4K
  aspect_ratio: "16:9"
  count: 1
  prompt: |
    YouTube thumbnail, 16:9. Dark navy-to-black radial gradient background with a subtle
    green stock-market line chart running horizontally through the middle. Centered
    composition: two large 3D rounded-square app icons (iOS-style, glossy, soft drop
    shadow, depth) — first icon on the left, a bold chunky white "+" symbol in the
    middle, second icon on the right. Above the icons, large bold sans-serif white
    headline text: "<HEADLINE>". Match the lighting, depth, color palette, font weight,
    and composition of the reference image exactly. High contrast, premium, cinematic.
  medias:
    - { value: "<reference_media_id>", role: "<role-for-style-reference>" }
    - { value: "<icon1_media_id>",     role: "<role-for-subject-reference>" }
    - { value: "<icon2_media_id>",     role: "<role-for-subject-reference>" }
```

### 6. Poll for the result
Call `job_status` with the returned `jobId` and `sync: true` — the server polls internally up to ~25s, and Nano Banana Pro images typically finish in 10–20s. If still pending, wait `poll_after_seconds` then call again. Use `ScheduleWakeup` if it'll take longer than a few seconds.

### 7. Deliver
Return the resulting image URL(s) to the user as a clickable link. Optionally call `job_display` with the `jobId` to surface the generation in the Higgsfield UI widget.

## Critical Rules

1. Always use the **Higgsfield MCP** — never local image-gen tools.
2. Always load deferred MCP tools via ToolSearch before calling them.
3. Always upload via `media_upload` → curl PUT → `media_confirm`. Never pass local file paths to `generate_image`.
4. Never invent the headline text. Ask once, or accept explicit "you pick".
5. Validate downloaded icons are non-empty real image files before uploading.
6. Prefer official icon sources over random Google results.
7. Reference image path defaults to `/Users/albertbakhoj/Downloads/DhxDncjsItw-HD (1).jpg` but is user-overridable.
8. Use `aspect_ratio: "16:9"` and `model: "nano_banana_2"` unless the user explicitly asks otherwise.

## Quick Template — Final Delivery

```
Thumbnail ready — <App A> + <App B>, "<headline>":

<image_url>

(Higgsfield job: <jobId>)
```

Use `$ARGUMENTS` as the two software names when present.