Preset

Auto-Generate Video Thumbnails Without Code

Generate video thumbnails automatically with ffpipe and n8n. No coding required. Extract frames at any timestamp in seconds.

What It Does

Automatically extracts a high-quality thumbnail image from any video at a specified timestamp. This workflow is perfect for creating preview images for video libraries, content management systems, and media players. Works with any video format and outputs a JPEG image optimized for web.

How It Works with n8n

This preset integrates seamlessly with n8n automation workflows. Simply add the ffpipe HTTP node to your workflow, configure the preset and input URL, and the video processing happens automatically in the background. Results are returned via webhook or polling, allowing you to continue your workflow immediately.

The workflow handles all the heavy lifting: file validation, encoding, output optimization, and error handling. No need to manage servers or monitor processing status — ffpipe takes care of everything.

API Request Example

Make a request directly to the ffpipe API using your API key:

curl

curl -X POST https://api.ffpipe.net/v1/presets/run \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "preset": "thumbnail_jpg",
    "input_url": "https://storage.example.com/video.mp4",
    "at_seconds": 5.0,
    "quality": 5
  }'

Response: You'll receive a job ID, status, and estimated completion time. Poll the job status endpoint or use webhooks to get notified when processing completes.

Frequently Asked Questions

At what point in the video is the thumbnail extracted?

By default, the thumbnail is extracted at 1 second. You can customize this by passing the "at_seconds" parameter in the API request to extract at any timestamp.

Can I generate multiple thumbnails from one video?

Yes, make multiple API calls to the same video with different "at_seconds" values. Each call generates a separate thumbnail image.

What image format and size will I get?

Thumbnails are returned as optimized JPEG images. The quality parameter controls compression (1-10, lower = better quality). Dimensions match the original video resolution.

How much does thumbnail generation cost?

Thumbnail generation is included in your API quota. The free tier provides 100 minutes of processing per month. Each thumbnail takes only a few seconds to generate.

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For full API reference and advanced options, see the API documentation.