How to Set a Lesson Thumbnail in Sparkforge Courses

Strong lesson thumbnails help learners find the right lesson and keep your course branding consistent. Sparkforge lets you capture an exact frame from the lesson video or upload a custom image — both from inside the lesson editor.

Why thumbnails matter

• Brand consistency: Lesson tiles match your course style.
• Higher engagement: A relevant frame attracts more plays.
• Faster workflow: Set a thumbnail in one click, no external editor.
• Better navigation: Distinct images make lessons easier to scan.

Where the thumbnail shows up

After saving, the selected image appears on both the lesson tile and inside the video player as the poster frame. To use a different image on the tile, upload a separate lesson thumbnail and it overrides the shared image.

Requirements

• Frame capture works on videos uploaded directly to the lesson in Sparkforge.
• For lessons using embedded third-party players (YouTube, Vimeo), upload a custom thumbnail to control the lesson tile.
• Always click Save after selecting the frame.

Set a lesson thumbnail

1. Go to Sites → Memberships → Courses and open the course.
2. Open the lesson and upload the video.
3. Play to the frame you want, pause, then click Use current frame as thumbnail.
4. Confirm the preview updates to the new image.
5. Click Save in the lesson editor.

Use different images for the tile and player

Selecting Use current frame as thumbnail sets both the video poster and the lesson tile. To split them:

• Keep the captured frame as the video thumbnail inside the lesson.
• For the lesson tile, either pick a different frame and click Use current frame as thumbnail again, or upload a dedicated lesson thumbnail in the lesson details.

Best practices

• Center the subject — speaker face, key graphic, or product.
• Add 3-5 words of readable text only if it adds clarity.
• Use 16:9 aspect ratio at 1280x720 or larger.
• Keep colors, type, and framing consistent across lessons.
• Avoid dark, blurry, or cluttered frames.