Video tips · Cover
Setting preview image and Cover the right way
The first image decides whether someone keeps watching. Some platforms accept your own file for it; on others the first frame of the video counts. Here is what applies where – and how to put a Cover before your video in FrameJet.
Your own file or the first frame?
You upload a file here
Instagram Reel, Instagram Feed, YouTube Shorts, YouTube, Facebook Video, LinkedIn: here you upload the preview image as a file. A Cover before the video is optional.
Here the first frame counts
TikTok, Instagram Story: there is no separate upload here. A Cover before the video decides what viewers see first.
How the Cover works in FrameJet
Files
PNG, JPG or WEBP, at least 320 px per edge and at most 25 MB.
How long the Cover shows
The Cover runs between 0.3 and 10 seconds before the video and counts towards its length.
Transition into the video
From the Cover into the video with Fade in, Zoom, Slide or Direct – the preview shows it right away.
Per platform or for all
Set one Cover per format or one for all. On request it also comes as an image file in the ZIP – for platforms with their own preview image.
In four steps
- Choose an image or drag it into the field.
- Adjust the framing: move and zoom in.
- Set duration and transition.
- Export – the Cover then sits before the video.
Set a Cover and export your formats
One image, one video – you adjust the Cover’s framing for each format.
Frequently asked questions
Which image formats does the Cover accept?
PNG, JPG and WEBP, up to 25 MB and at least 320 px per edge.
Does a Cover make my video longer?
Yes, by its duration (0.3 to 10 seconds). For platforms with a length limit the preview takes that into account.
Do I also get the Cover as an image file?
Yes, on request as a file in the ZIP, in the right format for each platform.
Do I need a separate Cover for every platform?
No. You can use one Cover for all platforms and adjust the framing per format.