> ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://www.tella.com/docs/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Get a source thumbnail or animated preview > Get a thumbnail of a source. If you pass `width`/`height`, the aspect ratio must match the source's native ratio. Omit both to default to the source's native size. ## OpenAPI ````yaml /openapi.json get /v1/videos/{id}/clips/{clipId}/sources/{sourceId}/thumbnail openapi: 3.0.3 info: description: >- The Tella Public API allows you to programmatically access your videos and playlists, including transcripts, chapters, and thumbnails. ## Authentication All requests require a Bearer token in the Authorization header: ``` Authorization: Bearer tella_pk_xxxxx... ``` API keys can be generated in your Tella workspace settings. ## Rate Limiting The API is rate-limited to 100 requests per minute per user within a workspace. Rate limit information is returned in response headers: - `RateLimit-Policy`: Named quota, request limit, and window in seconds - `RateLimit`: Remaining quota and seconds until reset - `X-RateLimit-Limit`: Maximum requests per window - `X-RateLimit-Remaining`: Remaining requests in current window - `X-RateLimit-Reset`: Unix timestamp in milliseconds when the window resets A `429 Too Many Requests` response also includes `Retry-After` in seconds. title: Tella Public API version: 1.0.0 servers: - description: Production url: https://api.tella.com security: [] tags: - description: Video operations name: Videos - description: Sections of a video name: Clips - description: Playlist operations name: Playlists - description: Sidebar groups for organizing playlists name: Playlist Groups - description: Tags for categorizing and filtering videos name: Tags - description: >- Viewing analytics for a video or across the workspace: plays, watch time, retention, geography, referrers name: Analytics - description: Personal, workspace, and default video backgrounds name: Backgrounds - description: >- Reusable media saved to a workspace, plus Tella's curated sound effect and background music catalogs — the same items the editor's media panels show name: Library - description: Webhook endpoint management name: Webhooks externalDocs: description: API versioning and deprecation policy url: https://www.tella.com/docs/versioning paths: /v1/videos/{id}/clips/{clipId}/sources/{sourceId}/thumbnail: get: tags: - Clips summary: Get a source thumbnail or animated preview description: >- Get a thumbnail of a source. If you pass `width`/`height`, the aspect ratio must match the source's native ratio. Omit both to default to the source's native size. operationId: getSourceThumbnail parameters: - description: Video ID in: path name: id required: true schema: description: Video ID type: string - description: Clip ID in: path name: clipId required: true schema: description: Clip ID type: string - description: Source ID in: path name: sourceId required: true schema: description: Source ID type: string - description: Output format. Defaults to jpg. in: query name: format schema: description: Output format. Defaults to jpg. enum: - jpg - png - webp - gif - mp4 example: jpg type: string - description: Frame offset in ms from the source's start. Defaults to 0. in: query name: startTimeMs schema: description: Frame offset in ms from the source's start. Defaults to 0. example: 1000 maximum: 9007199254740991 minimum: 0 type: integer - description: >- Duration of the animated preview in ms. Only valid when format is gif or mp4. in: query name: durationMs schema: description: >- Duration of the animated preview in ms. Only valid when format is gif or mp4. example: 3000 exclusiveMinimum: true maximum: 9007199254740991 minimum: 0 type: integer - description: >- Output width in pixels. The thumbnail keeps the source's aspect ratio; a missing side is derived from it. in: query name: width schema: description: >- Output width in pixels. The thumbnail keeps the source's aspect ratio; a missing side is derived from it. example: 1280 exclusiveMinimum: true maximum: 9007199254740991 minimum: 0 type: integer - description: >- Output height in pixels. Derived from the source's aspect ratio when omitted. in: query name: height schema: description: >- Output height in pixels. Derived from the source's aspect ratio when omitted. example: 720 exclusiveMinimum: true maximum: 9007199254740991 minimum: 0 type: integer - description: Suggest a download disposition on the signed URL. in: query name: download schema: anyOf: - enum: - 'true' type: string - enum: - 'false' type: string description: Suggest a download disposition on the signed URL. - description: >- Set to 'json' to receive `{url}` instead of the default 302 redirect. in: query name: response schema: description: >- Set to 'json' to receive `{url}` instead of the default 302 redirect. enum: - json type: string responses: '200': content: application/json: schema: $ref: '#/components/schemas/ThumbnailResponse' description: Returned when `?response=json` is set headers: Deprecation: $ref: '#/components/headers/Deprecation' RateLimit: $ref: '#/components/headers/RateLimit' RateLimit-Policy: $ref: '#/components/headers/RateLimitPolicy' Sunset: $ref: '#/components/headers/Sunset' X-RateLimit-Limit: $ref: '#/components/headers/XRateLimitLimit' X-RateLimit-Remaining: $ref: '#/components/headers/XRateLimitRemaining' X-RateLimit-Reset: $ref: '#/components/headers/XRateLimitReset' '302': description: Redirect to the signed CDN URL headers: Deprecation: $ref: '#/components/headers/Deprecation' RateLimit: $ref: '#/components/headers/RateLimit' RateLimit-Policy: $ref: '#/components/headers/RateLimitPolicy' Sunset: $ref: '#/components/headers/Sunset' X-RateLimit-Limit: $ref: '#/components/headers/XRateLimitLimit' X-RateLimit-Remaining: $ref: '#/components/headers/XRateLimitRemaining' X-RateLimit-Reset: $ref: '#/components/headers/XRateLimitReset' '400': content: application/json: example: docsUrl: https://docs.tella.com/ error: bad_request message: The request was malformed or contained invalid parameters. schema: $ref: '#/components/schemas/ErrorResponse' description: The request was malformed or contained invalid parameters. headers: Deprecation: $ref: '#/components/headers/Deprecation' RateLimit: $ref: '#/components/headers/RateLimit' RateLimit-Policy: $ref: '#/components/headers/RateLimitPolicy' Sunset: $ref: '#/components/headers/Sunset' X-RateLimit-Limit: $ref: '#/components/headers/XRateLimitLimit' X-RateLimit-Remaining: $ref: '#/components/headers/XRateLimitRemaining' X-RateLimit-Reset: $ref: '#/components/headers/XRateLimitReset' '401': content: application/json: example: docsUrl: https://docs.tella.com/ error: unauthorized message: Authentication is required. Provide a valid API key. schema: $ref: '#/components/schemas/ErrorResponse' description: Authentication is required. Provide a valid API key. headers: Deprecation: $ref: '#/components/headers/Deprecation' RateLimit: $ref: '#/components/headers/RateLimit' RateLimit-Policy: $ref: '#/components/headers/RateLimitPolicy' Sunset: $ref: '#/components/headers/Sunset' X-RateLimit-Limit: $ref: '#/components/headers/XRateLimitLimit' X-RateLimit-Remaining: $ref: '#/components/headers/XRateLimitRemaining' X-RateLimit-Reset: $ref: '#/components/headers/XRateLimitReset' '403': content: application/json: example: docsUrl: https://docs.tella.com/ error: forbidden message: You don't have permission to access this resource. schema: $ref: '#/components/schemas/ErrorResponse' description: You don't have permission to access this resource. headers: Deprecation: $ref: '#/components/headers/Deprecation' RateLimit: $ref: '#/components/headers/RateLimit' RateLimit-Policy: $ref: '#/components/headers/RateLimitPolicy' Sunset: $ref: '#/components/headers/Sunset' X-RateLimit-Limit: $ref: '#/components/headers/XRateLimitLimit' X-RateLimit-Remaining: $ref: '#/components/headers/XRateLimitRemaining' X-RateLimit-Reset: $ref: '#/components/headers/XRateLimitReset' '404': content: application/json: example: docsUrl: https://docs.tella.com/ error: not_found message: The requested resource was not found. schema: $ref: '#/components/schemas/ErrorResponse' description: The requested resource was not found. headers: Deprecation: $ref: '#/components/headers/Deprecation' RateLimit: $ref: '#/components/headers/RateLimit' RateLimit-Policy: $ref: '#/components/headers/RateLimitPolicy' Sunset: $ref: '#/components/headers/Sunset' X-RateLimit-Limit: $ref: '#/components/headers/XRateLimitLimit' X-RateLimit-Remaining: $ref: '#/components/headers/XRateLimitRemaining' X-RateLimit-Reset: $ref: '#/components/headers/XRateLimitReset' '409': content: application/json: example: docsUrl: https://docs.tella.com/ error: conflict message: >- The request conflicts with the resource's current state, e.g. an Idempotency-Key whose first request is still in progress. Retry once it settles. schema: $ref: '#/components/schemas/ErrorResponse' description: >- The request conflicts with the resource's current state, e.g. an Idempotency-Key whose first request is still in progress. Retry once it settles. headers: Deprecation: $ref: '#/components/headers/Deprecation' RateLimit: $ref: '#/components/headers/RateLimit' RateLimit-Policy: $ref: '#/components/headers/RateLimitPolicy' Sunset: $ref: '#/components/headers/Sunset' X-RateLimit-Limit: $ref: '#/components/headers/XRateLimitLimit' X-RateLimit-Remaining: $ref: '#/components/headers/XRateLimitRemaining' X-RateLimit-Reset: $ref: '#/components/headers/XRateLimitReset' '429': content: application/json: example: docsUrl: https://docs.tella.com/ error: rate_limited message: You have exceeded the rate limit. Please slow down. schema: $ref: '#/components/schemas/ErrorResponse' description: You have exceeded the rate limit. Please slow down. headers: Deprecation: $ref: '#/components/headers/Deprecation' RateLimit: $ref: '#/components/headers/RateLimit' RateLimit-Policy: $ref: '#/components/headers/RateLimitPolicy' Retry-After: $ref: '#/components/headers/RetryAfter' Sunset: $ref: '#/components/headers/Sunset' X-RateLimit-Limit: $ref: '#/components/headers/XRateLimitLimit' X-RateLimit-Remaining: $ref: '#/components/headers/XRateLimitRemaining' X-RateLimit-Reset: $ref: '#/components/headers/XRateLimitReset' '500': content: application/json: example: docsUrl: https://docs.tella.com/ error: server_error message: An unexpected error occurred schema: $ref: '#/components/schemas/ErrorResponse' description: An unexpected error occurred headers: Deprecation: $ref: '#/components/headers/Deprecation' RateLimit: $ref: '#/components/headers/RateLimit' RateLimit-Policy: $ref: '#/components/headers/RateLimitPolicy' Sunset: $ref: '#/components/headers/Sunset' X-RateLimit-Limit: $ref: '#/components/headers/XRateLimitLimit' X-RateLimit-Remaining: $ref: '#/components/headers/XRateLimitRemaining' X-RateLimit-Reset: $ref: '#/components/headers/XRateLimitReset' '501': content: application/json: example: docsUrl: https://docs.tella.com/ error: not_implemented message: The requested operation is not implemented. schema: $ref: '#/components/schemas/ErrorResponse' description: The requested operation is not implemented. headers: Deprecation: $ref: '#/components/headers/Deprecation' RateLimit: $ref: '#/components/headers/RateLimit' RateLimit-Policy: $ref: '#/components/headers/RateLimitPolicy' Sunset: $ref: '#/components/headers/Sunset' X-RateLimit-Limit: $ref: '#/components/headers/XRateLimitLimit' X-RateLimit-Remaining: $ref: '#/components/headers/XRateLimitRemaining' X-RateLimit-Reset: $ref: '#/components/headers/XRateLimitReset' '503': content: application/json: example: docsUrl: https://docs.tella.com/ error: unavailable message: >- A dependency was unavailable and the request was not executed. Safe to resend unchanged after the Retry-After delay. schema: $ref: '#/components/schemas/ErrorResponse' description: >- A dependency was unavailable and the request was not executed. Safe to resend unchanged after the Retry-After delay. headers: Deprecation: $ref: '#/components/headers/Deprecation' RateLimit: $ref: '#/components/headers/RateLimit' RateLimit-Policy: $ref: '#/components/headers/RateLimitPolicy' Sunset: $ref: '#/components/headers/Sunset' X-RateLimit-Limit: $ref: '#/components/headers/XRateLimitLimit' X-RateLimit-Remaining: $ref: '#/components/headers/XRateLimitRemaining' X-RateLimit-Reset: $ref: '#/components/headers/XRateLimitReset' security: - BearerAuth: [] components: schemas: ThumbnailResponse: additionalProperties: false description: >- Signed CDN URL for the requested thumbnail. Returned only when `?response=json` is set; otherwise the endpoint redirects to the URL with a 302. properties: url: format: uri type: string required: - url type: object ErrorResponse: additionalProperties: false description: Standard error response format properties: docsUrl: description: Link to Tella API documentation example: https://docs.tella.com/ format: uri type: string error: description: Machine-readable error code enum: - bad_request - unauthorized - forbidden - not_found - rate_limited - server_error - conflict - not_implemented - unavailable example: not_found type: string message: description: Human-readable error message example: Resource not found type: string required: - error - message - docsUrl type: object headers: Deprecation: description: Indicates that an API operation is deprecated, following RFC 9745 example: '@1767225600' schema: type: string RateLimit: description: >- Current quota with remaining requests (`r`) and seconds until reset (`t`) example: '"public-api";r=95;t=42' schema: type: string RateLimitPolicy: description: >- Named quota policy with the request limit (`q`) and window in seconds (`w`) example: '"public-api";q=100;w=60' schema: type: string Sunset: description: >- Indicates when a deprecated API operation will become unavailable, following RFC 8594 example: Tue, 30 Jun 2026 23:59:59 GMT schema: type: string XRateLimitLimit: description: Maximum requests allowed in the current window example: 100 schema: type: integer XRateLimitRemaining: description: Requests remaining in the current window example: 95 schema: type: integer XRateLimitReset: description: Unix timestamp in milliseconds when the window resets example: 1704067200000 schema: format: int64 type: integer RetryAfter: description: Seconds to wait before retrying a rate-limited request example: 45 schema: minimum: 1 type: integer securitySchemes: BearerAuth: description: API key obtained from your Tella account settings scheme: bearer type: http ```` ## Related topics - [Get a video thumbnail or animated preview](/docs/api-reference/videos/get-a-video-thumbnail-or-animated-preview.md) - [Get a clip thumbnail or animated preview](/docs/api-reference/clips/get-a-clip-thumbnail-or-animated-preview.md) - [Clips](/docs/mcp-tools/clips.md) - [How to change the thumbnail of your Tella video](/docs/help/video-metadata/change-thumbnail.md) - [Generate an animated GIF from your video](/docs/help/sharing/generate-an-animated-gif-from-your-video.md)