MEP 2016 Plus - Appearance Of Thumbnail Link?

CarpentersMate wrote on 7/15/2022, 12:10 AM

Hi Gang

Does anyone know what dictates whether or not a link will show/illustrate a 'Thumbnail' (as part of the URL)? I'm assuming this is determined by the server or web host? For example on Face Book, anytime you see a You Tube Link, its always accompanied by a tiny 'Thumbnail' image which obviously helps identify the link. I ask as I'm wondering if a small image displayed for a few seconds at the beginning of the MEP timeline would make a difference? Probably not ... However when it comes to HTML (creating a web page), if I place a photo at the very top of a page, (and after upload to Face Book), that photo will always appear as an identifier. But again we're probably talking about two very different issues ...

Thank You

Comments

johnebaker wrote on 7/15/2022, 3:10 AM

@CarpentersMate

The thumbnail image on Youtube can be created in 2 ways:

Use one of the options YT offers, note these thumbnails offered do not appear until all the processing is done - see image below

If you want a specific image, manually upload a jpg image, again in the same dialog shown below

In MEP there is the option to embed a thumbnail image in the video clip, I have never got this to work correctly.

Adding a thumbnail image on a website is different when you are not linking to a video on Youtube. If the video is uploaded to the website host, the method used depends on the program you are using to create the web site.

HTH

John EB

CubeAce wrote on 7/15/2022, 7:40 AM

@CarpentersMate @johnebaker

Hi Mike.

My personal preference for YouTube (when I can be bothered) is to pick a frame from the video and export from MEP as a jpg or png for inserting on YouTube. For viewing within Windows explorer I do use MEP to create the visible thumbnail but as John has suggested it can be a bit hit and miss as to which frame can be selected.

Ray.

CarpentersMate wrote on 7/15/2022, 3:54 PM

"when I can be bothered" 😆

Thanks John & Ray I'm working on this ...

Mike

Former user wrote on 7/15/2022, 5:09 PM

@CarpentersMate Hi, I create my own 1280x720 thumbnails for my YT vids, quite often a captured frame from the video then edited with text etc. in GIMP saved as a png/jpg, but as mentioned there's the option to pick one of a couple of random pics from the timeline in YT, (I assume random), Is there a particular site you'll be posting this link where you'd like control the thumbnail image? or is it just a query about URL's relation to thumbnail in general?

CarpentersMate wrote on 7/15/2022, 8:57 PM

Hi Gid, John & Ray

I just realized I actually did use You Tube's options to create a link (with a thumbnail) and it worked out fine when posted to Face Book. However on another note, YT employs undesirable compression settings which degrade the video and audio, (for another discussion).

I use 'File Zila' (an open source file transfer) to upload most of my archival clips. It does not apply any compression. However these URL's all appear generic; there are no special options with File Zila for creating thumbnails. Perhaps if I used a 'different' file transfer protocol, it might have the ability to provide thumbnails?

(or)

"In MEP there is the option to embed a thumbnail image in the video clip" I'd have to check that out and see where the option is in MEP 2016?

Thank You

Mike

CubeAce wrote on 7/16/2022, 1:00 AM

@CarpentersMate

Hi Mike.

I think you have that a bit wrong.

The action of uploading a video file to a website in itself should not compress a video file further. That is up to the protocols put in place at the hosting website.

Which image from a video gets used as a thumbnail within the video file within Windows explorer is down to the header written into the file when rendering the final video in an editor, or in the case of YouTube the site itself can generate three different images from the file to be used or for a separate image to be uploaded and ignores the one that is embedded.

Ray.

johnebaker wrote on 7/16/2022, 2:38 AM

@CarpentersMate

. . . . there are no special options with File Zila for creating thumbnails. Perhaps if I used a 'different' file transfer protocol, it might have the ability to provide thumbnails? . . . .

Afraid not. Filezilla has one purpose only - to communicate with web servers, transfer files to/from the web server from/to your PC and manage the files on the web server.

Where are you hosting your website and which software are you using to create the website?

. . . . YT employs undesirable compression settings which degrade the video and audio . . . .

Yes and no. The original upload will be re-encoded if it does not match the parameters required for the resolution of the upload eg if you upload a 720p with an average bitrate of 18000 kbs it will be re-encoded.as that bitrate is excessive for that resolution.

Which export preset are you using for YT?

Additionally YT creates various resolutions, starting with the original resolution uploaded, down to as low as 144p for streaming, this is to give viewers who are on slower Internet connections a better viewing experience.

Added:

. . . . In MEP there is the option to embed a thumbnail image in the video clip . . . .

It is in the project setting as shown below - however i have never got it to work reliably.

John EB

CarpentersMate wrote on 7/16/2022, 1:30 PM

Thanks John

In the example screen shot, you are naturally using a later version of MEP. Could you kindly direct me to where to find that in 2016?

As for my comments regarding 'compression,' my point; (an accurate observation), there is an absolute difference in superior quality from a straight up MP4 uploaded via File Zila vs. using You Tube's parameters. And BTW, my web hosting service (from which I launch all my archival files & web site) is 'HostGator'. Why this degradation occurs may be for different reasons other than compression, (as you pointed out).

johnebaker wrote on 7/16/2022, 2:16 PM

@CarpentersMate

Hi Mike

It is exactly the same in MEP 2016, in the Project settings, Project settings tab, however I have never got it to work consistently.

. . . . my web hosting service (from which I launch all my archival files) . . . .

Are you setting the Streamable option in the export dialog on?

If not I would advise you to do so, otherwise the viewer will have to download the whole file before they can watch it.

John EB

CarpentersMate wrote on 7/16/2022, 4:37 PM

Hi John

Thanks for the info ...

Yes I'm familiar with the 'Streamable' option, (just simply forgot to use it). However, (unless ALL my players are set for 'auto-play'), believe it or not, (for whatever reason), most or all the archival clips I upload to Face Book, (or) send as a link thru an email 'automatically play' for all if not most users ...

Song-No-MEP-Thumbnail - No 'Streamable' setting - HostGator Upload

Song-With-MEP-Thumbnail - 'Streamable' setting - HostGator Upload

And yes I understand YT applies 'their own' parameters creating some degradation from the original 720X480 clip, as compared to the uploads above. Unless adjustable, I'm not sure if (all) YT clips play by choosing 'Player Button' by 'Default'

And BTW, the song clip (although originally 1080 on a DVD), was extracted in a lower resolution, thus the lower quality ...

Thank You

Mike

johnebaker wrote on 7/17/2022, 4:09 AM

@CarpentersMate

Hi Mike

. . . . the archival clips I upload to Face Book . . . . send as a link thru an email 'automatically play' . . . .

Anything uploaded to Facebook, YT, Vimeo etc will be made streamable and the viewer is using the appropriate sites player if one is supplied or the default player for the browser.

I cannot see the difference in the streamable/non streamable clips above because they have fully downloaded within about one second - I am on a fast broadband connection.

John EB

CarpentersMate wrote on 7/17/2022, 5:14 PM

Thanks John!

One more thing regarding Face Book:

I created a clip using the MEP Thumnail option but when viewed on Face Book, there's only a blank space? There is a 'De-Bugging' tool which I've used before, but it appears to be designed for 'NON-Business' use on Face Book. There are tutorials on YT for linking videos to an image but the caveat is 'For FB Business Pages Only.' Outside of MEP, this issue may 'not' be fixable regarding FB and Videos? The only exception seems to be linking an image to a web page URL, (I've successfully done this many times).

Here's a screen shot of the faulty Thumnbnail

Here's the clip its linked to

(Uploaded directly to my web space via 'FileZilla')

Thanks Again

Mike

AAProds wrote on 7/18/2022, 12:03 AM

@CarpentersMate

Mike, re Facebook, insert your video into your post, then wave your mouse over it and an Edit button will show. Click it and you'll get options for setting the thumbnail.

johnebaker wrote on 7/18/2022, 12:35 AM

@CarpentersMate

Hi Mike

. . . . I created a clip using the MEP Thumnail option but when viewed on Face Book, there's only a blank space . . . .

As i said previously above I have never got this feature in MEP to work reliably.

If you do not use this option in MEP, YT, Vimeo and Facebook, should pick a random frame from the video to use as a thumbnail.

On Facebook you can edit this to use an image or select a frame from the video, as the MEP method does.

On YT (and Vimeo?) you can change the thumbnail to a still image, however you cannot select a specific frame in the video.

HTH

John EB

CarpentersMate wrote on 7/19/2022, 8:24 PM

"As i said previously above I have never got this feature in MEP to work reliably"

Yes John (thank you), I understand

And thanks Alwyn, Ray, John and Gid

Despite confusing online tutorials, (as per Alwyn), Face Book does have 'player' adjustments, (when you actually upload to 'their' FTP). However avoiding complicated screen shots, FB Player default settings and adjustments do not work as well as YT's. And I seriously doubt most FB viewers even know how to use them. In the end, (for my purposes), I get better visual results using my own FTP web space, (sacrificing a thumbnail). The archival clips visually appear more controlled (in their native resolution) avoiding FB's player. Or perhaps using superior control with YT?

Thanks again for all your help!

Mike