FFmpeg recipe
FFmpeg: Extract a Single Frame as a JPG
Combine -ss (seek) with -vframes 1 to grab one frame at a precise timestamp.
Command
ffmpeg -ss 00:00:10 -i input.mp4 -vframes 1 -q:v 2 -y thumbnail.jpgPrefer no terminal?
Use the Frame Extractor in your browser
What each flag does
| -ss | Seek to this timestamp (HH:MM:SS or seconds). Place BEFORE -i for fast keyframe seek; AFTER -i for sample-accurate seek. |
|---|---|
| -i | Input file. Can be a video, audio, or image. Repeat for multiple inputs. |
| -y | Overwrite output file without confirmation. |
| -vframes 1 | Output exactly one video frame. |
| -q:v 2 | JPEG quality (2 = highest). Range 1–31, lower = better. |
Notes & gotchas
- For PNG output (lossless), drop -q:v and use thumbnail.png.
- For multiple thumbnails at intervals, use -vf fps=1/30 to grab one frame every 30 seconds.
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