I've searched all over the internet and I can't find a solution that works. Basically after I finish editing my movie in iMovie and save the file, the program automatically picks an image from the video to display as a thumbnail and it looks terrible. How can I change which thumbnail iMovie decides to use? Thank you.
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How to change file thumbnail in iMovie
- Thread starter Miltz
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You are talking about what are called poster frames? You can pick poster frames with QT pro, iTunes, or MPEG stream clip I think.
Also can be done on share/export in some versions of iMovie see this:
Later versions don't work, but for youtube you could do something like this:
Also can be done on share/export in some versions of iMovie see this:
Later versions don't work, but for youtube you could do something like this:
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I saw both of the videos already. The first video works with only old versions of iMovie and in the second video I don't share these videos on Youtube so it doesn't help.
HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
If your goal is to have something that looks better on an 
TV screen, I suggest using MetaZ, Subler or a variety of other such tools and basically make your own poster. I usually shoot a few good photographs of anything I video and then use the photos to build an attractive poster. MetaZ, Subler or similar also lets me tag each video with description, dates, etc too.
I'm not sure that that is your objective here but if so, that's the way I'd do it if I was you.
TV screen, I suggest using MetaZ, Subler or a variety of other such tools and basically make your own poster. I usually shoot a few good photographs of anything I video and then use the photos to build an attractive poster. MetaZ, Subler or similar also lets me tag each video with description, dates, etc too.I'm not sure that that is your objective here but if so, that's the way I'd do it if I was you.
Yeah, artwork can be added to the meta data by Stubler. iTunes uses that as the poster, dunno what other apps do with artwork in the metadata.
I called Apple, They literally have no idea... I'm shocked.
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OMG thank you for this. Now I can give my client the finished video.If your goal is to have something that looks better on an
I'm not sure that that is your objective here but if so, that's the way I'd do it if I was you.
The poster frame feature was dropped even from FCP. Plenty of complaining. But subler works very well for this kind of things. I've been using it for years to tag videos with a number of things.
Miltz, I’m wondering if you ever found a way of creating a poster frame for an mp4 you’ve created? I have been searching all over the place and can only find a way of doing so via iTunes and Subler, which is good but doesn’t address my problem.
I’m looking for a way of creating a poster frame for an mp4 file that will display in tvOS (the Apple TV 4K operating system). The Subler solution only works when the icons are viewed in iTunes.
What I’ve got is generally a group of blank icons, but there are a few exceptions where the file name (somehow) allows tvOS to locate a publicly available graphic for a movie and tvOS displays that. Screenshot attached.
If anyone could help that would be great.
Thanks.
Attachments
Then it's a VLC issue. Artworks in mp4 inserted with Subler works fine in Apple software. Report a bug to VLC or ask them for help.
VLC right now is probably getting the data directly from TheMovieDB or similar.
VLC right now is probably getting the data directly from TheMovieDB or similar.
Finally a answer that makes sense, doesn't use a 3rd party software, and works a treat, thank goodness for woodmantech. Just put your curser on the timeline in iMovie where you want the thumbnail and share it again, simplicity at its best.
I wish this still worked in iMovie 10.4.3 Mac Tahoe. I don't understand why they continue to get rid of every option that makes it easy to do this.
I create videos in Movie and add them to a shared Photos library for my daughter. She needs to share those videos with an iCloud link and needs them not to show up as 4-5 black videos when the receiver clicks the link. If I set a poster frame on my Mac, that shows on my devices and when I create an iCloud link, the poster frames are there. But my daughter needs the iCloud link to show her name, not her parents name. But the poster frames do not sync over to iCloud so what she sees in the shared library is just the black frame. She doesn't have a Mac herself to set the poster frame, and she is a day's drive away in physical location, so can't use my Mac. And you can't set the poster frame from an iOS device. Super frustrating.
Edit: right after I typed this, I went and added a poster frame to a video. Eventually it ended up syncing to iCloud and my daughter saw it as well in the shared library. This hasn't worked for well over a year for me. Seems that complaining about it, kicked it into gear. 🤷
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