thumb-pack

# Thumb Pack

The click happens in the feed, not in the video. Thumbnail and title split the work — one raises a question, the other answers it — so you never crop a leftover frame and call it a package. Spec it before you film.

Inspired by SkillMedev creator-studio thumbnail-concept (MIT). Original Grok remake. Complements hook-3s (first 3s spoken+frame+overlay of the VIDEO itself), beat-script (long-form retention script), shot-to-cut (assemble/render), motion-craft (motion polish). Real video packaging, not a GIF converter.

Read `references/click-rails.md` before you write. Fill the three templates under `templates/`.

## When to use

- YouTube thumbnail, weak CTR, "thumbnail and title," or a click package before filming
- Need three distinct concepts, not one mock
- Face-forward + object/result + text-minimal as a set
- Overlay and paired titles as one two-part message

## When NOT to use

- First 3 seconds of the video itself (spoken + frame-one + muted overlay) → use hook-3s
- Long-form retention script / first 30s spoken → use beat-script
- Assemble / render / export → use shot-to-cut
- Motion-graphics polish on a cut → use motion-craft
- GIF / still-to-video converters
- Phishing, malware pitches, fake medical cures, guaranteed-return finance, CSAM, sexual content involving minors

## Inputs

- One-sentence payoff the video can cash in the first 30s
- On-camera yes/no (will they shoot dedicated faces, not leftover stills)
- Brand fit vs pattern-break — name which
- Any real visual they already have (result, prop, screenshot). If none, propose and label it a suggestion
- Numbers that need `[VERIFY]`

## Procedure

1. Read `references/click-rails.md`. Refuse phishing, malware, fake cures, guaranteed-return finance, CSAM, and sexual content involving minors. Mark unverified numbers `[VERIFY]`.
2. Lock the promise on `templates/promise.md`: one-sentence payoff, on-camera yes/no, brand-fit vs pattern-break, `[VERIFY]` gaps. If the video cannot pay it in the first 30s, rewrite the promise — don't spec a bait thumb.
3. Treat thumbnail + title as a two-part click package. Image and title must not say the same thing.
4. Build every concept on the CTR triangle: (1) one clear focal point, (2) 2–5 word overlay that ADDS info the image doesn't carry (target 3, hard max 5), (3) color contrast that survives YouTube light AND dark UI.
5. Spec three DISTINCT concepts on `templates/concepts.md`: face-forward, object/result, text-heavy minimal. Never one concept. Never three flavors of the same face.
6. Faces get shootable directions (mouth open, eyes wide, lean in) — not adjectives ("surprised"). Ban posed smiles and stock-photo faces.
7. Overlay: sentence case; all-caps for ONE emphasis word only. Keep it out of the bottom-right duration-badge zone. If it dies at 120px mobile, shorten it.
8. Two titles per concept: curiosity-gap + direct-benefit. High-emotion faces run with curiosity titles; result images run with benefit titles. Name which pairing ships.
9. Fill `templates/pick.md`: winner, why the others lose, 120px legibility, badge-zone check.
10. Hand the first-30s spoken payoff to beat-script. Hand the video's first 3s to hook-3s. Hand assembly to shot-to-cut. Hand motion polish to motion-craft.

## Output format

- Promise card (payoff, on-camera, brand vs break, `[VERIFY]`)
- Concept sheet (three: face / object / text-minimal — focal, expression, bg, overlay+placement, contrast, two titles, which title it runs with)
- Pick card (winner + why others lose; 120px; badge zone)
- One line: YouTube click package; not a 3-second hook or a full script

## Safety

- Follow `references/click-rails.md` with no exceptions.
- No phishing, malware pitches, fake medical cures, or guaranteed-return finance.
- No CSAM or sexual content involving minors.
- Do not invent statistics; mark `[VERIFY]` when a number is unconfirmed.

## Stop conditions

- Three templates delivered, or refused for scam / wrong format (hook-3s, beat-script, shot-to-cut, motion-craft, GIF converter) / bait the video cannot cash