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Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Use MediaConvert’s FRAME_CAPTURE output to create numbered JPEG stills for a poster candidate or image sequence. For thumbnails that viewers use to seek through HLS or other supported streaming output, enable image-based trick-play instead. These are different outputs: MediaConvert documents frame extraction and streaming preview imagery, not a separate one-off “poster frame” feature.
Choose the right MediaConvert output
| Decision | Standalone FRAME_CAPTURE |
Image-based trick play |
|---|---|---|
| Use it for | A JPEG still for a poster candidate, or a sequence of frame captures | Preview thumbnails for seeking during streaming playback |
| What it produces | Numbered JPEG files | Tiled thumbnails and, in supported modes, full-frame images |
| Cadence | Set by a numerator and denominator; the interval is denominator ÷ numerator seconds | Can follow IDR frames, use a custom interval, or follow segment boundaries, depending on output support |
| How it is used | Select a resulting JPEG in the surrounding publishing workflow | MediaConvert associates generated images with supported streaming manifests |
| Key checks | Capture count, JPEG quality, timeline, and whether a capture lands near the desired moment | Player and manifest compatibility, tile layout, and GOP/segment cadence |
A frame capture is useful when you need an image file independent of a streaming package. Trick-play imagery is for a compatible player’s seek-preview experience. It should not be treated as a substitute for a standalone poster JPEG.
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Create numbered JPEGs with FRAME_CAPTURE
In the MediaConvert job’s output settings, add or edit an output and choose the video codec FRAME_CAPTURE. Configure FrameCaptureSettings for the desired capture interval, maximum number of captures, and JPEG quality. The API reference describes capture cadence as FramerateDenominator / FramerateNumerator seconds. The first frame is captured first, followed by captures at the configured interval. For example, numerator 1 and denominator 3 captures the first frame and then one every three seconds. Files use a zero-based numbered sequence. See the MediaConvert JobTemplates API reference for the setting definitions and current constraints.
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- Choose numerator and denominator to produce an interval suited to the video and the moment you need. A shorter interval creates more candidate stills.
- Set
maxCapturesto bound how many JPEGs the job creates. - Set
qualityfor JPEG output. Check the current API constraints for allowed values rather than assuming an example value suits every workflow.
For a poster at a particular point, use a cadence fine enough to include a nearby frame, then identify the corresponding JPEG in the numbered output. This setting describes regular capture cadence; it is not a dedicated arbitrary-timestamp picker. Verify the result against the job’s timeline, input and output frame rates, and any clipping or frame-rate conversion.
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Illustrative settings shape
This JSON-shaped example shows the setting names and values for a three-second interval and a bounded sequence. It is illustrative, not an AWS recommendation; validate it against the current API model and the needs of the job before use.
{
"VideoDescription": {
"CodecSettings": {
"Codec": "FRAME_CAPTURE",
"FrameCaptureSettings": {
"FramerateNumerator": 1,
"FramerateDenominator": 3,
"MaxCaptures": 100,
"Quality": 80
}
}
}
}Generate streaming thumbnails for trick play
For seeking previews, enable the image-based trick-play option supported by the relevant output group. MediaConvert offers modes for thumbnails, thumbnails plus full frames, and advanced configuration; available values differ by output type and API surface. Consult the current MediaConvert create-job CLI reference and the applicable API settings for the specific output group rather than reusing constraints from another streaming format.
Choose how thumbnail entries are timed
FOLLOW_IFRAMEfollows IDR-frame cadence, so the preview cadence depends on the output GOP structure.FOLLOW_CUSTOMuses a requested interval. If the interval does not align with the output frame rate, MediaConvert rounds it to a compatible frame boundary. AWS gives the example that at 29.97 fps, a five-second interval is represented by 150 frames.FOLLOW_SEGMENTATIONaligns entries with segment boundaries and requires 1×1 tiling.
Advanced settings can specify thumbnail interval and tile dimensions. Width, height, and divisibility rules vary by format and configuration; verify them in the API reference for the selected output rather than assuming HLS, DASH, and CMAF share identical limits.
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Check manifest and player support
For HLS, MediaConvert creates a child manifest for each image set and adds corresponding entries to the parent manifest. AWS documentation describes Roku trick mode as one common application. Confirm that your target player understands the generated manifest references and image layout before relying on the thumbnails in a production workflow. See the AWS guidance on recommended encoding settings and the applicable output-group documentation for details.
Account for timecodes, frame rate, GOP, and segments
A requested time in seconds is not always the same thing as an exact frame address. MediaConvert assembles output using input and output timelines, and frame-accurate video timecodes use HH:MM:SS:FF; drop-frame timecode uses a semicolon before the frame number. The selected timecode source, clipping, and frame-rate conversion can affect which visual frame corresponds to a requested moment. Review AWS’s timecode setup documentation when a precise frame matters.
For streaming thumbnails that follow IDRs, the output GOP structure determines the cadence. AWS describes a typical GOP duration as 1–2 seconds and recommends that streaming segment lengths be multiples of GOP size. Those values are encoding guidance, not a guaranteed thumbnail interval. If seeking cadence matters, use a custom interval or coordinate GOP and segment settings, then inspect the generated assets and playback behavior.
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Validate the generated images before publishing
- Open representative JPEGs and confirm the intended scene appears, especially near a requested poster moment.
- Check resolution, crop, aspect ratio, and color characteristics against the destination’s requirements. There is no universal poster-image specification established here.
- For trick-play outputs, verify manifest references, tile layout, and seeking behavior in the actual target player.
- Recheck current MediaConvert console labels and API constraints for the chosen output group and AWS region before building production job settings.
Common problems and fixes
No JPEG captures, or fewer than expected
Check that the output uses FRAME_CAPTURE, that the capture limit is high enough for the input duration and interval, and that the job timeline includes the portion you expected. Confirm the job completed successfully and inspect the configured numerator and denominator.
The selected still is not the exact requested moment
Regular capture cadence may not land on the desired frame. Use a finer interval to create nearer candidates, then identify the corresponding numbered JPEG. If exact frame selection is essential, account for timecode source, frame rate, clipping, and conversion; do not assume a cadence setting is an arbitrary timestamp selector.
Trick-play images appear at an unexpected cadence
If the mode follows IDRs, check the output GOP. For a custom cadence, confirm the interval against the output frame rate and account for frame-boundary rounding. If following segment boundaries, confirm the required 1×1 tiling configuration.
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Thumbnails are generated but the player does not show them
Check that the player supports the manifest references and image layout generated for that output format. Test with the actual packaged output and target player; image generation alone does not guarantee player compatibility.
Settings are rejected by the job
Review the current API reference for the selected output group’s accepted mode, dimensions, divisibility requirements, and quality bounds. These constraints can vary by format and API surface, so do not copy dimensions or values from a different output type.
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