Personalized Thumbnails — Your Face in Every Thumbnail, Generated by API

ThumbAPI lets you generate thumbnails that include a real person's face or profile photo. Send a title, upload a photo as base64, set imageStyle: "with-image", and get back a custom thumbnail with that person composited into the design.

No Photoshop. No templates. No manual work. One API call per thumbnail, each one unique to the title and the person.

How It Works

The with-image style takes an additional personImage parameter — a base64-encoded photo of a person. The AI composites this person into a thumbnail design that matches the title and format.

1. Encode your photo — read a JPEG or PNG file and convert to base64
2. Send the API request — include the base64 image in personImage
3. Get a personalized thumbnail — the person appears in a design matched to the title

API Parameters

Who Uses Personalized Thumbnails

• YouTube creators — your face builds brand recognition. Viewers scroll faster when they recognize you.
• Podcasters — generate episode thumbnails featuring the guest's photo and episode title.
• Course creators — each lesson gets a thumbnail with the instructor's face and topic.
• Agencies — manage multiple creator accounts, each with their own face in every thumbnail.

Why Faces in Thumbnails Work

The human brain processes faces faster than any other visual element. The fusiform face area activates within 170ms — before conscious thought. A face in a thumbnail creates instant recognition, emotional connection, and trust. Channels that use consistent face-based thumbnails build stronger viewer loyalty over time.

Personalized vs Faceless vs Branded