Brainstorm Mode
Brainstorm mode generates 4 unique concept sketches for your video thumbnail. You review the options, pick the one that fits your vision, and render it into a polished, full-resolution image.
What Brainstorm Mode Does
When you enter a video title and click Generate 4 Concepts, the AI:
- Analyzes your video title and topic to understand the content.
- Considers your channel's thumbnail style settings (if configured).
- Selects a mix of thumbnail formats and compositions that suit your video.
- Creates 4 distinct concept sketches, each with a different visual approach.
The result is 4 rough sketches showing different layouts, text placements, and visual ideas. This gives you creative options to choose from rather than committing to a single direction upfront.
How Concepts Are Generated
The AI draws on several signals to create relevant concepts:
- Video title -- The primary input. A clear, specific title produces better concepts.
- Video topic -- Optional but recommended. A sentence or two about what the video covers helps the AI tailor its ideas.
- Channel style -- If your channel has a linked YouTube account with analyzed thumbnails, the AI may incorporate your channel's dominant thumbnail formats into some of the 4 concepts. This means some sketches will match your existing channel aesthetic, while others explore new directions.
- Thumbnail style instructions -- If you have set style preferences in your channel's thumbnail settings, those instructions guide the overall look and feel.
Write Descriptive Titles
The video title is the single biggest input for concept quality. "How I Made $10K in 30 Days" gives the AI much more to work with than "My Business Update." Be specific about the hook, topic, and angle.
Understanding Concept Sketches
Concept sketches are rough pencil-style wireframes, not finished thumbnails. They show:
- Composition -- Where elements are placed (text, faces, objects, backgrounds).
- Layout structure -- Whether it uses a split layout, centered focus, before/after, etc.
- Text placement -- Where overlay text appears and how much space it takes.
- Visual hierarchy -- What the viewer's eye is drawn to first.
Do not judge sketches by their visual polish. Focus on the layout and composition. The final render will be a fully styled, high-quality image based on the sketch's structure.
Selecting a Concept
After the 4 sketches load, click the one you like. This opens the detail panel where you can:
- See the concept description explaining the creative direction.
- Review the sketch at a larger size.
- Generate the full-quality thumbnail.
If none of the 4 concepts are quite right, you can edit the video title or topic and generate a new batch. Each batch uses one generation from your quota.
Switching Concepts After Selection
Changed your mind? You can switch to a different concept from the same batch. In the detail panel, click on any of the other concept sketches to apply it. The sketch reference updates so your next render uses the newly selected layout.
Generating the Final Thumbnail
Once you have selected a concept:
- Click Generate Thumbnail in the detail panel.
- The AI renders a full-quality image based on the sketch's composition and layout.
- The sketch is used as a structural guide only -- the final render has proper colors, textures, typography, and visual polish.
Each final render uses one generation from your quota. You can generate multiple renders from the same concept if you want to see variations.
Adding Reference Images
You can attach reference images to influence the final render. Reference images can be:
- Style references -- Show the visual style you want (color palette, mood, texture).
- Face/person photos -- Include your face or a specific person to appear in the thumbnail.
- Product images -- Feature a product, logo, or specific object.
- Layout references -- Guide the overall arrangement of elements.
Add references in the detail panel before generating. Each reference can have a usage label and optional description to tell the AI how to use it.
Use Your Channel Assets
Configure default assets in your channel settings (like your face photo or logo) so they are automatically available when generating thumbnails. This saves time and ensures brand consistency.
How Channel Thumbnail Settings Influence Results
If your channel has thumbnail settings configured, they affect brainstorm results in two ways:
- Style instructions -- Your thumbnail style preferences (set in channel settings) are passed to the AI during both concept generation and final rendering.
- Channel formats -- If your linked YouTube channel has analyzed dominant thumbnail formats, the AI uses those formats for some of the 4 concepts. This ensures at least some options match your existing channel look.
To get the most consistent results, take a few minutes to set up your thumbnail settings before generating.
Next Steps
- Learn about improving thumbnails to refine your results with feedback and iteration.
- Try Clone / Remix mode when you want to replicate an existing thumbnail's style.