# Generate quality-checked YouTube thumbnails with OpenAI: n8n workflow

> Started by someone submitting a form, and works across Google Drive and Google Sheets. It hands the judgement calls to OpenAI.

Source: https://millionrounds.com/workflow/generate-quality-checked-youtube-thumbnails-with-openai (Millionrounds; every figure on the page links to its filing or article)

[Automation library](https://millionrounds.com/workflows) · [Content](https://millionrounds.com/workflows?category=Content#library)

# Generate quality-checked YouTube thumbnails with OpenAI

Started by someone submitting a form, and works across Google Drive and Google Sheets. It hands the judgement calls to OpenAI. 27 steps, 2 branches, 1 loop or waits: large, and worth reading before you trust it with anything live.

Large Calls a model: OpenAI

[Download free](https://millionrounds.com/login?next=%2Fapp%2Fworkflow%2Fgenerate-quality-checked-youtube-thumbnails-with-openai)

**27 steps** Large: read it before trusting it with anything live

**2** Branches: places the flow splits

**1** Loop or waits

**2** Services it connects to

## The flow

Starts it 1 Model 6 Logic 11 Service 9

The steps in the order they run, from what starts it.

- 1 **When Form Submitted** Form trigger *Starts it*
- 2 **OpenAI GPT-4 Mini Chat** Lm Chat Open Ai *Model*
- 3 **Parse Structured Output** Output Parser Structured *Model*
- 4 **Fetch Character Files** Google Drive *Service*
- 5 **Fetch Thumbnail Examples** Google Drive *Service*
- 6 **AI Thumbnail Generation Agent** Agent *Model*
- 7 **Download Characters from Drive** Google Drive *Service*
- 8 **Download Thumbnails from Drive** Google Drive *Service*
- 9 **Loop Over Batch Items** Split In Batches *Logic*
- 10 **OpenAI Analyze Characters** Open Ai *Model*
- 11 **OpenAI Analyze Designs** Open Ai *Model*
- 12 **Reset Global Retry Counter** Code *Logic*
- 13 **Aggregate Characters Data** Aggregate *Logic*
- 14 **Aggregate Thumbnails Data** Aggregate *Logic*
- 15 **Post Image Generation Request** Http Request *Service*
- 16 **Merge Characters and Thumbnails** Merge *Logic*
- 17 **Convert Image to File** Convert To File *Service*
- 18 **Post to Cloudinary for URL** Http Request *Service*
- 19 **Upload to Google Drive** Google Drive *Service*
- 20 **Merge URLs and Drive Files** Merge *Logic*
- 21 **Split Image URLs** Split Out *Logic*
- 22 **OpenAI Analyze Image Quality** Open Ai *Model*
- 23 **If Image Quality Acceptable** If *Logic*
- 24 **Append to Google Sheets** Google Sheets *Service*
- 25 **Calculate Quality Retry Count** Code *Logic*
- 26 **If Retry Count in Limit** If *Logic*
- 27 **Node for Manual Review** No Op *Logic*

## How it's built

- **Starts on:** Someone submitting a form
- **Steps:** 27, with 2 branches, 1 loop or waits
- **Size:** Large: read it before trusting it with anything live
- **Connects to:** Google Drive, Google Sheets
- **Model:** OpenAI

## Questions

What does it need to run?

An n8n account, plus your own Google Drive and Google Sheets accounts, and a key for OpenAI. You connect your own accounts after importing it; none are included.

What starts it?

It starts on someone submitting a form.

Does it use AI?

Yes. It calls OpenAI. Model calls are billed by the provider, not by n8n.

How long does it take to set up?

Take your time. At 27 steps it is large: read it before trusting it with anything live.

How do I import it?

Copy the workflow, open a new workflow in n8n and paste. The steps appear on the canvas, ready for your own accounts.

**Before you run it**

Nothing here has been tested by us. It is somebody's working automation, read and described from its own steps. Treat the connections it wants as a list of accounts it will touch, and read the 27 steps before you point it at anything that matters.

## Run it in n8n

- **Create your n8n account** Free to start. n8n is where the workflow runs. [Create an n8n account ↗](https://millionrounds.com/n8n)
- **Download the workflow** Free with a Millionrounds account. [Download free](https://millionrounds.com/login?next=%2Fapp%2Fworkflow%2Fgenerate-quality-checked-youtube-thumbnails-with-openai)
- **Paste it into n8n** Open a new workflow in n8n and paste. Then connect your own accounts.

Stored with the author's traces removed: canvas notes, instance identifiers, saved credential names and any live document they had left behind.

## Connects to

Each opens the other workflows that use it.

[Google Drive](https://millionrounds.com/workflows?service=Google+Drive#library)[Google Sheets](https://millionrounds.com/workflows?service=Google+Sheets#library)

## Workflows like it

Also content, with the same services where possible, closest in size first.

- [**Create & track LinkedIn posts with Google Sheets and OpenAI** 27 steps · calls a model · Gmail, Google Sheets](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/create-and-track-linkedin-posts-with-google-sheets-and-opena)
- [**Create content from form inputs and save it to Google Drive** 27 steps · calls a model · Google Drive, Google Sheets](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/create-content-from-form-inputs-and-save-it-to-google-drive)
- [**Create hours-long wave music videos with Suno and YouTube** 27 steps · calls a model · Google Sheets](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/create-hours-long-wave-music-videos-with-suno-and-youtube)
- [**Generate and Sync SEO Blog Posts to Wix with Claude** 27 steps · calls a model · Airtable, Google Drive](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/generate-and-sync-seo-blog-posts-to-wix-with-claude)
- [**Generate riddle shorts & post on YouTube with Pinecone** 27 steps · calls a model · Gmail, Google Sheets](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/generate-riddle-shorts-and-post-on-youtube-with-pinecone)
- [**Mine YouTube competitor content ideas with Gemini** 27 steps · calls a model · Gmail, Google Sheets](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/mine-youtube-competitor-content-ideas-with-gemini)