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Start from a YouTube video and your own images

Paste a YouTube link: its thumbnail becomes the source. Add your logos and photos as references, placed precisely in the prompt.

Mike Codeur•October 2, 2026•2 min•
Start from a YouTube video and your own images

Start from a YouTube video and your own images

Often the right base already exists: a thumbnail that performed, yours or one from a video that inspires you. Instead of describing it, start from it. Then add your own elements.

A YouTube video as the source

Click the composer's Source thumbnail. In the "Import an image" window, stay on the YouTube tab and paste the video link. YouThumb fetches the thumbnail, the title and the channel. Click Import: the thumbnail becomes your source.

Your reference images

Click + in the composer bar and pick your images: logos, screenshots, photos. Each one becomes an @image1, @image2… chip, and the token is inserted in the prompt. Then you say exactly where each image goes:
Reuse this thumbnail: same pose, same VillaSlot mockup. Put @image1 in the background and add @image2 next to the Airbnb logo.

Generate

Pick the number of variations and click Generate. In the video, the imported VillaSlot thumbnail is the base. A villa photo becomes the background, the Timely logo joins the Airbnb one, and two variations come out.
Up to six references per generation, sketch included. Name each image in the prompt by its token: that is what puts it in the right place.
Paste the link of your best video into YouThumb and start from its thumbnail.
MC

Written by

Mike Codeur

Content creator and YouTube thumbnail expert helping creators grow their channels with engaging visuals.

YouTube ExpertAI Thumbnails

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