bobcat

thumbnail url vs media url — when to set both

for video and audio, the media url plays the content. the thumbnail url is the still image visitors see before they tap play. setting a custom thumbnail makes a video card stop looking like a black rectangle.

3 steps~2 min
  1. 1

    youtube + vimeo auto-pull a thumbnail

    for these, leave the thumbnail field blank and bobcat uses the platform's default (the video's poster frame).

  2. 2

    for direct mp4 or audio, set a thumbnail

    bobcat doesn't auto-extract a frame from a self-hosted mp4. paste a still image url (or pick one from bullfrog) so the card has a real preview.

  3. 3

    for audio especially

    audio cards with no thumbnail show a generic music icon. for podcasts and music portfolios, set a thumbnail to album art or a session photo — the card reads as a piece, not a placeholder.

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