diff --git a/backend/cli.py b/backend/cli.py
index 9e9b15b..bb93103 100644
--- a/backend/cli.py
+++ b/backend/cli.py
@@ -2121,6 +2121,45 @@ def cmd_thumbnail_config(args):
     raise ValueError(f"unknown thumbnail-config action: {action}")
 
 
+def cmd_thumbnail_options(args):
+    """Emit candidate headline text pairs and face frames for the thumbnail picker."""
+    from services.thumbnail_ai import generate_headline_variations, extract_candidate_frames
+
+    os.makedirs(args.output, exist_ok=True)
+    texts = generate_headline_variations(args.title, args.texts) or []
+    frames = []
+    if args.video:
+        frames = extract_candidate_frames(
+            args.video, args.output, count=args.frames,
+            start_second=args.start, end_second=args.end,
+        ) or []
+    print(json.dumps({"texts": [list(t) for t in texts], "frames": frames}))
+
+
+def cmd_thumbnail_render(args):
+    """Render one final thumbnail from a chosen frame + headline.
+
+    Empty line1/line2 let the AI write the text; a chosen frame is used as-is.
+    """
+    from services.thumbnail_ai import generate_thumbnail_with_template
+    from services.asset_store import resolve_logo
+
+    frame_info = json.loads(args.frame_info) if args.frame_info else None
+    out = generate_thumbnail_with_template(
+        title=args.title,
+        frame_path=args.frame,
+        output_path=args.output,
+        logo_path=resolve_logo(args.logo) if args.logo else None,
+        frame_info=frame_info,
+        line1_override=args.line1 or None,
+        line2_override=args.line2 or None,
+    )
+    if not out:
+        print("thumbnail render failed", file=sys.stderr)
+        sys.exit(1)
+    print(json.dumps({"path": out}))
+
+
 def cmd_thumbnails(args):
     """Generate thumbnail variations for a title."""
     from services.thumbnail_ai import generate_variations
@@ -3332,6 +3371,26 @@ def main():
     tcfg_imp.add_argument("path", help="Source .json path")
     tcfg_sub.add_parser("reset", help="Remove the override and revert to the generic default")
 
+    # ── thumbnail-options (candidate text + frames for the picker) ──
+    topt = sub.add_parser("thumbnail-options", help="Emit candidate headline texts and face frames as JSON")
+    topt.add_argument("title", help="Clip/episode title to base headlines on")
+    topt.add_argument("-o", "--output", required=True, help="Directory to write candidate frames into")
+    topt.add_argument("--video", help="Source video to extract face frames from")
+    topt.add_argument("--start", type=float, help="Frame window start (seconds)")
+    topt.add_argument("--end", type=float, help="Frame window end (seconds)")
+    topt.add_argument("--texts", type=int, default=6, help="Number of headline options")
+    topt.add_argument("--frames", type=int, default=6, help="Number of frame options")
+
+    # ── thumbnail-render (one final thumbnail from a chosen frame + headline) ──
+    trnd = sub.add_parser("thumbnail-render", help="Render one thumbnail PNG from a chosen frame + headline")
+    trnd.add_argument("title", help="Clip/episode title")
+    trnd.add_argument("--frame", required=True, help="Background frame image path")
+    trnd.add_argument("-o", "--output", required=True, help="Destination PNG path")
+    trnd.add_argument("--line1", help="Headline line 1 (empty = AI writes it)")
+    trnd.add_argument("--line2", help="Headline line 2 (empty = AI writes it)")
+    trnd.add_argument("--frame-info", dest="frame_info", help="JSON face metadata for the frame")
+    trnd.add_argument("--logo", help="Logo (asset name or path)")
+
     # ── swap-thumbnail ──
     st = sub.add_parser("swap-thumbnail", help="Regenerate thumbnail on an existing clip")
     st.add_argument("clip", help="Path to rendered clip (.mp4)")
@@ -3473,6 +3532,10 @@ def main():
         cmd_thumbnails(args)
     elif args.command == "thumbnail-config":
         cmd_thumbnail_config(args)
+    elif args.command == "thumbnail-options":
+        cmd_thumbnail_options(args)
+    elif args.command == "thumbnail-render":
+        cmd_thumbnail_render(args)
     elif args.command == "swap-thumbnail":
         cmd_swap_thumbnail(args)
     elif args.command == "bake-thumbnail":
diff --git a/src/ui/client/ClipDetail.tsx b/src/ui/client/ClipDetail.tsx
index 18304f8..b5d97c8 100644
--- a/src/ui/client/ClipDetail.tsx
+++ b/src/ui/client/ClipDetail.tsx
@@ -50,8 +50,9 @@ export default function ClipDetail() {
   const [captionStyle, setCaptionStyle] = useState("");
   const [line1, setLine1] = useState("");
   const [line2, setLine2] = useState("");
-  const [thumbImage, setThumbImage] = useState<string | null>(null);
-  const [thumbTimestamp, setThumbTimestamp] = useState<number | null>(null);
+  const [textOpts, setTextOpts] = useState<[string, string][]>([]);
+  const [frameOpts, setFrameOpts] = useState<any[]>([]);
+  const [selFrame, setSelFrame] = useState<{ path: string; info?: any } | null>(null);
   const [busy, setBusy] = useState<string | null>(null);
   const [msg, setMsg] = useState<string | null>(null);
   const [bust, setBust] = useState(1);
@@ -69,8 +70,6 @@ export default function ClipDetail() {
           const tc = found.thumbnail_config || {};
           setLine1(tc.line1 ?? "");
           setLine2(tc.line2 ?? "");
-          setThumbImage(tc.image_path ?? null);
-          setThumbTimestamp(tc.image_path ? null : tc.timestamp ?? null);
         }
       })
       .finally(() => setLoading(false));
@@ -88,7 +87,6 @@ export default function ClipDetail() {
   const tc = clip.thumbnail_config || {};
   const dirty = title !== clip.title || captionStyle !== clip.caption_style;
   const previewUrl = `/api/clips/${clip.id}/preview?t=${bust}`;
-  const source = thumbImage ? `Image · ${basename(thumbImage)}` : thumbTimestamp != null ? `Frame @ ${fmt(thumbTimestamp)}` : "Auto";
 
   const patch = (body: any) => api(`/clips/${clip.id}`, { method: "PATCH", body: JSON.stringify(body) });
 
@@ -101,39 +99,40 @@ export default function ClipDetail() {
     } catch (e: any) { setMsg(`Save failed: ${e.message}`); } finally { setBusy(null); }
   };
 
-  const useCurrentFrame = () => { setThumbTimestamp(clip.start_second + playerTime.current); setThumbImage(null); setMsg(null); };
+  const loadOptions = async () => {
+    setBusy("options"); setMsg(null);
+    try {
+      const r = await api(`/clips/${clip.id}/thumbnail/options?texts=6&frames=6`);
+      if (r.error) throw new Error(r.error);
+      setTextOpts(r.texts || []);
+      setFrameOpts(r.frames || []);
+      if ((r.frames || []).length) setSelFrame({ path: r.frames[0].path, info: r.frames[0] });
+      if (!(r.texts || []).length && !(r.frames || []).length) setMsg("No options — is the AI CLI installed and the source video available?");
+    } catch (e: any) { setMsg(`Options failed: ${e.message}`); } finally { setBusy(null); }
+  };
 
-  const uploadImage = async (f: File) => {
+  const uploadFrame = async (f: File) => {
     setBusy("upload"); setMsg(null);
     try {
       const fd = new FormData(); fd.append("file", f);
       const r = await upload<any>("/upload", fd);
       if (!r.file_path) throw new Error("upload failed");
-      setThumbImage(r.file_path); setThumbTimestamp(null);
+      setSelFrame({ path: r.file_path });
     } catch (e: any) { setMsg(`Upload failed: ${e.message}`); } finally { setBusy(null); }
   };
 
-  const generate = async () => {
-    setBusy("thumb"); setMsg(null);
-    try {
-      const cfg: ThumbnailConfig = { line1: line1 || undefined, line2: line2 || undefined };
-      if (thumbImage) cfg.image_path = thumbImage;
-      else if (thumbTimestamp != null) cfg.timestamp = thumbTimestamp;
-      const p = await patch({ thumbnail_config: cfg });
-      if (p.error) throw new Error(p.error);
-      const r = await api(`/clips/${clip.id}/thumbnail`, { method: "POST", body: "{}" });
-      if (r.error) throw new Error(r.error);
-      setBust(Date.now()); load();
-    } catch (e: any) { setMsg(`Thumbnail failed: ${e.message}`); } finally { setBusy(null); }
-  };
-
-  const pickVariation = async (p: string) => {
-    setBusy("pick");
+  const renderThumb = async () => {
+    if (!selFrame) { setMsg("Select or upload a frame first"); return; }
+    setBusy("render"); setMsg(null);
     try {
-      const r = await api(`/clips/${clip.id}/thumbnail/select`, { method: "POST", body: JSON.stringify({ path: p }) });
+      const r = await api(`/clips/${clip.id}/thumbnail/render`, {
+        method: "POST",
+        body: JSON.stringify({ line1: line1 || undefined, line2: line2 || undefined, frame_path: selFrame.path, frame_info: selFrame.info }),
+      });
       if (r.error) throw new Error(r.error);
       setBust(Date.now()); load();
-    } catch (e: any) { setMsg(`Pick failed: ${e.message}`); } finally { setBusy(null); }
+      setMsg("Thumbnail generated");
+    } catch (e: any) { setMsg(`Generate failed: ${e.message}`); } finally { setBusy(null); }
   };
 
   const reopen = async () => {
@@ -232,17 +231,27 @@ export default function ClipDetail() {
           </div>
 
           <div className="section">
-            <label style={labelStyle}>Thumbnail</label>
+            <div style={{ display: "flex", justifyContent: "space-between", alignItems: "center", marginBottom: 10 }}>
+              <label style={{ ...labelStyle, marginBottom: 0 }}>Thumbnail</label>
+              <button className="btn btn-ghost btn-sm" onClick={loadOptions} disabled={busy !== null}>
+                {busy === "options" ? <><div className="spinner sm" /> Finding options…</> : (textOpts.length || frameOpts.length ? "Refresh options" : "Get options")}
+              </button>
+            </div>
+
             <div className="thumb-edit">
               <div className="thumb-edit-preview">
                 <div className="thumb-stage">
-                  {tc.preview_path ? (
+                  {busy === "render" ? (
+                    <div style={{ display: "flex", flexDirection: "column", alignItems: "center", justifyContent: "center", height: "100%", gap: 8, color: "var(--text2)", fontSize: 11 }}>
+                      <div className="spinner sm" /> Rendering…
+                    </div>
+                  ) : tc.preview_path ? (
                     <img key={`gen-${bust}`} src={img(tc.preview_path, bust)} alt="thumbnail" />
-                  ) : thumbImage ? (
-                    <img src={img(thumbImage, bust)} alt="thumbnail source" />
+                  ) : selFrame ? (
+                    <img src={img(selFrame.path, bust)} alt="selected frame" />
                   ) : (
                     <div style={{ display: "flex", alignItems: "center", justifyContent: "center", height: "100%", color: "var(--text3)", fontSize: 11, textAlign: "center", padding: 12 }}>
-                      Generate to preview
+                      Get options, pick a frame, then generate
                     </div>
                   )}
                 </div>
@@ -251,27 +260,41 @@ export default function ClipDetail() {
                 <input type="text" value={line1} onChange={(e) => setLine1(e.target.value)} placeholder="Line 1" style={{ width: "100%", fontSize: 14, padding: "9px 12px" }} />
                 <input type="text" value={line2} onChange={(e) => setLine2(e.target.value)} placeholder="Line 2 (highlighted)" style={{ width: "100%", fontSize: 14, padding: "9px 12px", marginTop: 8 }} />
                 <div className="set-actions" style={{ marginTop: 10 }}>
-                  <button className="btn btn-ghost btn-sm" onClick={useCurrentFrame} disabled={busy !== null}>Use current frame</button>
-                  <button className="btn btn-ghost btn-sm" onClick={() => fileRef.current?.click()} disabled={busy !== null}>
-                    {busy === "upload" ? <div className="spinner sm" /> : "Upload image"}
+                  <button className="btn btn-primary btn-sm" onClick={renderThumb} disabled={busy !== null || !selFrame}>
+                    {busy === "render" ? <div className="spinner sm" /> : (tc.preview_path ? "Regenerate" : "Generate")}
                   </button>
-                  <input ref={fileRef} type="file" accept=".png,.jpg,.jpeg,.webp" style={{ display: "none" }} onChange={(e) => e.target.files?.[0] && uploadImage(e.target.files[0])} />
-                </div>
-                <div style={{ fontSize: 11, color: "var(--text3)", marginTop: 8 }}>Source · {source}</div>
-                <div style={{ marginTop: 12 }}>
-                  <button className="btn btn-primary btn-sm" onClick={generate} disabled={busy !== null}>
-                    {busy === "thumb" ? <div className="spinner sm" /> : (tc.variations?.length ? "Regenerate" : "Generate thumbnail")}
+                  <button className="btn btn-ghost btn-sm" onClick={() => fileRef.current?.click()} disabled={busy !== null}>
+                    {busy === "upload" ? <div className="spinner sm" /> : "Upload frame"}
                   </button>
+                  <input ref={fileRef} type="file" accept=".png,.jpg,.jpeg,.webp" style={{ display: "none" }} onChange={(e) => e.target.files?.[0] && uploadFrame(e.target.files[0])} />
                 </div>
+                <div style={{ fontSize: 11, color: "var(--text3)", marginTop: 8 }}>Leave Line 1 &amp; 2 empty to auto-write the text.</div>
               </div>
             </div>
-            {(tc.variations?.length ?? 0) > 0 && (
-              <div className="thumb-variations" style={{ marginTop: 14 }}>
-                {tc.variations!.map((v) => (
-                  <button key={v} className={`thumb-variation ${tc.preview_path === v ? "selected" : ""}`} onClick={() => pickVariation(v)} disabled={busy !== null}>
-                    <img src={img(v, bust)} alt="" />
-                  </button>
-                ))}
+
+            {textOpts.length > 0 && (
+              <div style={{ marginTop: 16 }}>
+                <div style={{ fontSize: 11, color: "var(--text3)", marginBottom: 6 }}>Text options · click to use</div>
+                <div style={{ display: "flex", flexDirection: "column", gap: 5 }}>
+                  {textOpts.map(([l1, l2], i) => (
+                    <button key={i} className={`title-option ${line1 === l1 && line2 === l2 ? "selected" : ""}`} onClick={() => { setLine1(l1); setLine2(l2); }}>
+                      <strong>{l1}</strong>{l2 ? ` · ${l2}` : ""}
+                    </button>
+                  ))}
+                </div>
+              </div>
+            )}
+
+            {frameOpts.length > 0 && (
+              <div style={{ marginTop: 16 }}>
+                <div style={{ fontSize: 11, color: "var(--text3)", marginBottom: 6 }}>Frame options · click to select</div>
+                <div className="thumb-variations">
+                  {frameOpts.map((f, i) => (
+                    <button key={i} className={`thumb-variation ${selFrame?.path === f.path ? "selected" : ""}`} onClick={() => setSelFrame({ path: f.path, info: f })} disabled={busy !== null}>
+                      <img src={img(f.path, bust)} alt="" />
+                    </button>
+                  ))}
+                </div>
               </div>
             )}
           </div>
@@ -291,11 +314,14 @@ export default function ClipDetail() {
                   <div>
                     <div style={{ fontSize: 11, color: "var(--text3)", marginBottom: 6 }}>Title options · click to use</div>
                     <div style={{ display: "flex", flexDirection: "column", gap: 5 }}>
-                      {clip.generated_titles.map((t, i) => (
-                        <button key={i} className="title-option" onClick={() => { setTitle(t.replace(/^\d+\.\s*/, "")); }}>
-                          {t}
-                        </button>
-                      ))}
+                      {clip.generated_titles.map((t, i) => {
+                        const clean = t.replace(/^\d+\.\s*/, "");
+                        return (
+                          <button key={i} className={`title-option ${title === clean ? "selected" : ""}`} onClick={() => { setTitle(clean); setMsg("Title set — click Save to apply"); }}>
+                            {t}
+                          </button>
+                        );
+                      })}
                     </div>
                   </div>
                 ) : null}
diff --git a/src/ui/public/css/styles.css b/src/ui/public/css/styles.css
index 22ec263..c96cca1 100644
--- a/src/ui/public/css/styles.css
+++ b/src/ui/public/css/styles.css
@@ -430,10 +430,22 @@ select {
 .btn-primary:hover:not(:disabled) { background: var(--accent-hover); }
 .btn-primary:active:not(:disabled) { transform: translateY(4px); box-shadow: inset 0 1px 0 rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.18); }
 .btn-primary:disabled { opacity: 0.25; cursor: not-allowed; }
-.btn-ghost { background: transparent; color: var(--text2); border: 1px solid var(--border); }
-.btn-ghost:hover { border-color: var(--border-hover); color: var(--text); }
-.btn-danger { background: transparent; color: var(--text3); border: 1px solid var(--border); }
-.btn-danger:hover:not(:disabled) { border-color: var(--red-border); color: var(--red); background: var(--red-subtle); }
+.btn-ghost {
+  background: var(--surface3); color: var(--text);
+  box-shadow: 0 4px 0 0 var(--bg), 0 9px 16px -7px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.7),
+    0 0 0 1px rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.07), inset 0 1px 0 rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.10);
+}
+.btn-ghost:hover:not(:disabled) { background: #2c2c34; }
+.btn-ghost:active:not(:disabled) { transform: translateY(4px); box-shadow: 0 0 0 1px rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.09), inset 0 1px 0 rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.10); }
+.btn-ghost:disabled { opacity: 0.4; cursor: not-allowed; }
+.btn-danger {
+  background: var(--surface3); color: var(--text2);
+  box-shadow: 0 4px 0 0 var(--bg), 0 9px 16px -7px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.7),
+    0 0 0 1px rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.07), inset 0 1px 0 rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.10);
+}
+.btn-danger:hover:not(:disabled) { color: var(--red); box-shadow: 0 4px 0 0 var(--bg), 0 9px 16px -7px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.7), 0 0 0 1px var(--red-border), inset 0 1px 0 rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.10); }
+.btn-danger:active:not(:disabled) { transform: translateY(4px); box-shadow: 0 0 0 1px var(--red-border), inset 0 1px 0 rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.10); }
+.btn-danger:disabled { opacity: 0.4; cursor: not-allowed; }
 .btn-sm { padding: 6px 12px; font-size: 12px; border-radius: var(--radius-sm); }
 .btn-go {
   width: 100%; padding: 14px; font-size: 15px; justify-content: center;
@@ -452,13 +464,7 @@ select {
   transition: border-color 0.15s var(--ease), background 0.15s var(--ease);
 }
 .title-option:hover { border-color: var(--accent); background: var(--accent-subtle); }
-.copy-btn {
-  padding: 3px 9px; cursor: pointer; background: transparent;
-  border: 1px solid var(--border); border-radius: var(--radius-sm);
-  color: var(--text2); font-family: inherit; font-size: 11px; font-weight: 600;
-  transition: border-color 0.15s var(--ease), color 0.15s var(--ease);
-}
-.copy-btn:hover { border-color: var(--border-hover); color: var(--text); }
+.title-option.selected { border-color: var(--accent); background: var(--accent-subtle); }
 .pill { display: inline-block; padding: 3px 10px; border-radius: 20px; font-size: 11px; font-weight: 600; }
 .pill-blue { background: var(--accent-subtle); color: var(--accent); }
 
diff --git a/src/ui/web-server.ts b/src/ui/web-server.ts
index 33ba40d..3101f61 100644
--- a/src/ui/web-server.ts
+++ b/src/ui/web-server.ts
@@ -1443,6 +1443,63 @@ app.post("/api/clips/:id/thumbnail/select", async (req, res) => {
   res.json({ ok: true, preview_path: pick });
 });
 
+// Candidate headline texts + face frames for the two-step thumbnail picker.
+app.get("/api/clips/:id/thumbnail/options", async (req, res) => {
+  const clip = await clipsHistory.findById(req.params.id);
+  if (!clip) { res.status(404).json({ error: "clip not found" }); return; }
+  const tc = clip.thumbnail_config || {};
+  const clamp = (v: any, d: number) => Math.min(Math.max(parseInt(String(v)) || d, 1), 8);
+  const outDir = join(paths.output, "thumbnails", String(clip.id), "frames");
+  const r = await runCli([
+    "thumbnail-options", tc.text || clip.title,
+    "--output", outDir,
+    "--video", clip.source_video,
+    "--start", String(clip.start_second),
+    "--end", String(clip.end_second),
+    "--texts", String(clamp(req.query.texts, 6)),
+    "--frames", String(clamp(req.query.frames, 6)),
+  ]);
+  if (r.code !== 0) { res.status(400).json({ error: stripAnsi(r.stderr || r.stdout) || "options failed" }); return; }
+  const jsonLine = r.stdout.trim().split("\n").reverse().find((l) => l.trim().startsWith("{"));
+  try { res.json(JSON.parse(jsonLine || "{}")); } catch { res.status(500).json({ error: "bad options output" }); }
+});
+
+// Render one final thumbnail from a chosen frame + headline (empty lines = AI writes the text).
+app.post("/api/clips/:id/thumbnail/render", async (req, res) => {
+  const clip = await clipsHistory.findById(req.params.id);
+  if (!clip) { res.status(404).json({ error: "clip not found" }); return; }
+  const tc = clip.thumbnail_config || {};
+  const { line1, line2, frame_path, frame_info } = req.body || {};
+  if (!frame_path) { res.status(400).json({ error: "select a frame first" }); return; }
+  // Only allow frames podcli itself produced (candidate frames) or the user uploaded —
+  // never an arbitrary server path passed through to the renderer.
+  const resolvedFrame = resolve(String(frame_path));
+  const frameRoots = [resolve(join(paths.output, "thumbnails", String(clip.id))), resolve(uploadDir)];
+  const inAllowedRoot = frameRoots.some((root) => resolvedFrame === root || resolvedFrame.startsWith(root + path.sep));
+  if (!inAllowedRoot || !existsSync(resolvedFrame)) { res.status(400).json({ error: "invalid frame" }); return; }
+  const outDir = join(paths.output, "thumbnails", String(clip.id));
+  await mkdir(outDir, { recursive: true });
+  const out = join(outDir, `thumb_${uuidv4().slice(0, 8)}.png`);
+  const args = ["thumbnail-render", tc.text || clip.title, "--frame", resolvedFrame, "--output", out];
+  if (line1) args.push("--line1", String(line1));
+  if (line2) args.push("--line2", String(line2));
+  if (frame_info) args.push("--frame-info", JSON.stringify(frame_info));
+  const r = await runCli(args);
+  if (r.code !== 0) { res.status(400).json({ error: stripAnsi(r.stderr || r.stdout) || "render failed" }); return; }
+  const jsonLine = r.stdout.trim().split("\n").reverse().find((l) => l.trim().startsWith("{"));
+  let outPath = "";
+  try { outPath = JSON.parse(jsonLine || "{}").path || ""; } catch { /* no path */ }
+  if (!outPath || !existsSync(outPath)) { res.status(500).json({ error: "no thumbnail produced" }); return; }
+  if (clip.output_path && existsSync(clip.output_path)) {
+    const bake = await bakeThumbnailCard(clip.output_path, outPath, tc.card_seconds || 0);
+    if (!bake.ok) { res.status(500).json({ error: `rendered but bake into clip failed: ${bake.error}` }); return; }
+  }
+  const merged = { ...tc, line1: line1 || undefined, line2: line2 || undefined, preview_path: outPath, card_seconds: 1.5 };
+  const edit = await runCli(["clips", "edit", String(clip.id), "--thumbnail-config", JSON.stringify(merged)]);
+  if (edit.code !== 0) { res.status(500).json({ error: stripAnsi(edit.stderr || edit.stdout) || "thumbnail metadata update failed" }); return; }
+  res.json({ ok: true, preview_path: outPath });
+});
+
 // --- Secrets/settings stored in the global .env (e.g. HF_TOKEN) ---
 
 app.get("/api/settings", async (_req, res) => {