mike-convex-thumbnail

name	mike-convex-thumbnail
description	Generate Mike-style YouTube thumbnail concepts and final drafts for Convex videos using Mike's local head-and-shoulders photo cutouts and local Convex logo assets. Use when the user asks for thumbnails, YouTube thumbnails, video thumb options, or a thumbnail like the Convex static hosting "NO DASHBOARDS" example.
compatibility	Designed for Mike's macOS workstation with Google Drive for desktop and Convex brand assets in ~/Assets/Images.

Mike Convex Thumbnail

Create polished YouTube thumbnails for Mike's Convex/dev videos using the image model, Mike's local cutout photos, and local Convex brand assets.

When to Use

• Creating YouTube thumbnail options for a Convex or developer video.
• Reworking the Convex static hosting "NO DASHBOARDS" thumbnail.
• Making a thumbnail that must include Mike's recognizable head-and-shoulders portrait.
• Replacing an incorrect generated mark with the real Convex logo or symbol.

When Not to Use

• Generic thumbnail advice with no image generation requested.
• Non-Convex videos unless Mike explicitly wants the same personal thumbnail style.
• Deterministic compositing in code, unless Mike explicitly asks for a manual layout. The manual collage route looked bad for this style.

Core Workflow

1. Inspect the available local references before prompting the image model:
   • Run bash scripts/check-local-assets.sh from this skill. It discovers the Google Drive account folder and prints absolute paths for the photo and brand assets.
   • Use view_image on at least one Mike headshot and the Convex symbol before calling the image model.
2. If the user provided a script, Notion page, or video brief, extract the main hook first. Keep the thumbnail concept simple enough to read at feed size.
3. Use the image model for the thumbnail. Do not build the main image by manually pasting cutouts and cards together unless the user asks for that.
4. Keep text short. Prefer one strong phrase such as NO DASHBOARDS, HOST ON CONVEX, STATIC APP LIVE, or SKIP HOSTING.
5. Prompt for Mike as a large recognizable head-and-shoulders portrait, not a full-body figure.
6. Prompt the Convex logo as a brand reference. If a generated logo is wrong, explicitly say to replace any cube or hexagon mark with the official Convex swirl symbol.
7. Return 3 to 5 visually distinct options when brainstorming. If Mike points at one option, iterate that option instead of restarting the set.

Local Paths

Use these current local paths on Mike's machine:

Purpose	Path
Mike cutout photo folder	~/Library/CloudStorage/[e-mail]/My Drive/Personal/Photos of Me/convex/Backgrounds Removed
Primary Convex symbol	~/Assets/Images/symbol-color (1).png
Convex color logo	~/Assets/Images/logo-color.png
Convex white wordmark	~/Assets/Images/wordmark-white.png
Convex white symbol	~/Assets/Images/symbol-white.png
Static hosting reference	references/static-hosting-thumbnail.md

The Google Drive account folder can change. Use the absolute paths printed by scripts/check-local-assets.sh instead of guessing or passing a literal ~ to an image tool.

Preferred Mike References

Use the folder above. These files worked well in the static hosting session:

File	Best use
WIN_20250626_10_41_38_Pro.png	Skeptical or "no dashboards" side-eye
WIN_20250626_10_39_35_Pro.png	Friendly/excited host-on-Convex idea
WIN_20250701_07_35_49_Pro.png	Excited, looking up at a concept
WIN_20250701_07_36_01_Pro.png	Smiling explainer pose
WIN_20250701_07_34_53_Pro.png	Looking right with gesture

Prompt Patterns

Bad

Make a thumbnail about Convex hosting with Mike and some dashboard stuff.

This lets the model invent Mike, invent the logo, and create clutter.

Good

Use case: ads-marketing
Asset type: YouTube thumbnail edit, 16:9 landscape
Primary request: Create a polished version of the provided thumbnail image.
Keep Mike on the left, big "NO DASHBOARDS" text, blurred generic dashboard
panels with red X marks in the middle, and a glowing live hosting card on the
right.
Input image roles: Use the provided thumbnail as composition/style reference.
Use the visible Mike photo as identity reference. Use the visible Convex
colored swirl symbol as the exact brand/logo reference.
Required change: Replace any cube or hexagon mark on the right-side card with
the official Convex colored swirl symbol. The card can say "convex.site" and
"Live".
Constraints: Head and shoulders only. Preserve Mike's recognizable face and
black Convex cap. Keep the text exactly "NO DASHBOARDS". No real third-party
logos. No watermark.
Avoid: fake logo, misspelled text, extra words, cluttered UI, distorted face,
extra fingers, cheap collage look.

Static Hosting Recipe

Read references/static-hosting-thumbnail.md when the user asks for a thumbnail like the Convex static hosting example or when the requested video is about static hosting, convex.site, hosting without Vercel/Netlify/Cloudflare, SPA fallback, CI deploys, custom domains, or update banners.

Checklist

• Loaded or inspected a Mike headshot from the local photo folder.
• Loaded or inspected the real Convex symbol or wordmark.
• Used the image model for the main thumbnail draft.
• Kept the visible text short and exact.
• Preserved Mike's recognizable head-and-shoulders identity.
• Avoided real third-party hosting provider logos unless Mike explicitly asked for them.
• Replaced any generated cube/hexagon logo with the real Convex swirl.