# Chapter Thumbnails **URL:** \ **Category:** General Discussions\ **Created:** [June 8, 2020, 12:05pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/chapter-thumbnails/601254 "2020-06-08T12:05:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Buhli](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Buhli](https://forums.plex.tv/u/Buhli)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2020, 12:05pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/chapter-thumbnails/601254/1 "2020-06-08T12:05:56Z")
Hey guys I am ripping my DVDs to MKVs and later I watch these movies / tv-shows with Plex. In the beginning I used MakeMKV to rip my DVDs and later in the Plex, I had always for each chapter a thumbnail. See the follow picture ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/plex/original/3X/7/b/7b8a25b766610867488c7591a778f11e49d0e784.jpeg) Unfortunately, I had to change from MakeMKV to Handbrake and there now these chapter thumbnails are missing. See the next picture ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/plex/original/3X/a/8/a86daa5b870a7c45209f2f06ed851304505311a4.jpeg) Are these thumbnails saved directly in the mkv file? Or from where exactly get Plex this chapter thumbnails? Can I add my self chapter thumbnails? Thank you very much and best regards Buhli ---
**Author:** ![Buhli](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Buhli](https://forums.plex.tv/u/Buhli)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2020, 2:22pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/chapter-thumbnails/601254/3 "2020-06-08T14:22:03Z")
Hey JuiceWSA Thanks for your quick reply. Unfortunately it didn’t work. I’m not sure this is really a Plex issue. It started after I am using HandBrake to create the mkv files. But I don’t know from where exactly Plex get these chapter thumbnails. It comes frome the mkv file? Or Plex generates the chapter thumbnails itself? Thanks and best regards Buhli ---
**Author:** ![Buhli](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Buhli](https://forums.plex.tv/u/Buhli)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2020, 5:09am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/chapter-thumbnails/601254/5 "2020-06-09T05:09:34Z")
Hey JuiceWSA Thanks for the explination. I’m not quite sure what do you mean with “disabled the Transcoder”. Here is a Printscreen from my Transcoder settings. Maybe you can quick have a look there and tell me if there is something wrong ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/plex/original/3X/3/5/35ce171bb653dcb89c436d420a853bc0d57adedf.jpeg) Printscreen from my Library settings: ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/plex/original/3X/5/2/52ea82392aff2d7a9ba72b3502ae70a2dfc17bb9.jpeg) Thank you for your support Best regards Buhli ---
**Author:** ![JuiceWSA](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/juicewsa/32/12253_2.png) [@JuiceWSA](https://forums.plex.tv/u/JuiceWSA)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2020, 5:20am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/chapter-thumbnails/601254/6 "2020-06-09T05:20:36Z")
Yea, that looks normal to me. @anon18523487 …should take it from here… ---
**Author:** ![Buhli](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Buhli](https://forums.plex.tv/u/Buhli)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2020, 9:34am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/chapter-thumbnails/601254/7 "2020-06-09T09:34:44Z")
Hey JucieWSA I’m sorry, what that means: …should take it from here… Do you have another idea? Which is also a bit strange for me. I have created a mkv file by makemkv and there I see the thumbnails. I created the same episode from the same ISO with handbrake and there I have no thumbnails. Even when I change the view in the windows explorer from “Details” to “Large Icons”, this files which I created by Handbrake I just see the VLC icon. ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/plex/original/3X/7/0/7001ca0362ef8d663d881499a2256b57d4b8c9ff.png) Because of this, I thought there might be a problem with the mkv files. Thanks and best regards Buhli ---
**Author:** ![OttoKerner](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/ottokerner/32/10079_2.png) [@OttoKerner](https://forums.plex.tv/u/OttoKerner)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2020, 9:48am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/chapter-thumbnails/601254/8 "2020-06-09T09:48:17Z")
Verify you can play them in other player software than VLC. A good test is to use MPC-HC, because it uses a software stack similar to Plex. > **[clsid2/mpc-hc](https://github.com/clsid2/mpc-hc/releases)** > > Media Player Classic. Contribute to clsid2/mpc-hc development by creating an account on GitHub. Using [mediainfo](https://mediaarea.net/en/MediaInfo "download mediainfo here") is also recommended, to see what is actually inside those mkv files. ---
**Author:** ![Buhli](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Buhli](https://forums.plex.tv/u/Buhli)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2020, 11:06am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/chapter-thumbnails/601254/9 "2020-06-09T11:06:37Z")
Hey OttoKerner Thanks for your quick reply. Mediainfo Export: [handbrake.txt](https://forums.plex.tv/uploads/short-url/pJoQomSIZQJGu58ywjrp16R77fd.txt) (12.9 KB) [makemkv.txt](https://forums.plex.tv/uploads/short-url/k9S8nszwmeVbSbpkQauyksV0aks.txt) (16.1 KB) I checked it already with Mediainfo but I could nothing see. Maybe you will see something? I will test it later with MPC-HC too. By Plex and also by VLC I can play the episode without any problems. All the tracks, chapters, audio, subtitles etc. Thanks and best regards Buhli ---
**Author:** ![OttoKerner](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/ottokerner/32/10079_2.png) [@OttoKerner](https://forums.plex.tv/u/OttoKerner)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2020, 11:09am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/chapter-thumbnails/601254/10 "2020-06-09T11:09:18Z")
You’ve somehow managed to re-encode the file with the MPEG2 video codec, instead of H.264 (At least your mediainfo info from Handbrake still shows MPEG2 as video codec) ---
**Author:** ![Buhli](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Buhli](https://forums.plex.tv/u/Buhli)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2020, 11:15am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/chapter-thumbnails/601254/11 "2020-06-09T11:15:36Z")
Hey OttoKerner Yes that is correctly. I analyse first the disc or the ISO file and from there I take over the codecs. But both mkv files (makvemkv and handbrake) are MPGE2. So I don’t think so that is the problem. Or why you think I have to use H.264? Thanks and best regards Buhli ---
**Author:** ![OttoKerner](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/ottokerner/32/10079_2.png) [@OttoKerner](https://forums.plex.tv/u/OttoKerner)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2020, 11:18am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/chapter-thumbnails/601254/12 "2020-06-09T11:18:18Z")
> [@Buhli](#): > > I analyse first the disc or the ISO file and from there I take over the codecs. Don’t do that. MPEG2 is a very old codec and inefficient and also incompatible with a lot of Plex client types. If you do re-encoding, use H.264 as target. (Because otherwise, why re-encoding at all – when you don’t save any storage space and the quality is still getting worse due to the re-encoding.) ---
**Author:** ![Buhli](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Buhli](https://forums.plex.tv/u/Buhli)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2020, 11:28am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/chapter-thumbnails/601254/13 "2020-06-09T11:28:35Z")
The storage space is no problem for me. More important for me is to get the highest quality. But if you say with H.264 I get a better video and sound quality than MPEG2 I can do this. But I think my common problem with the thumbnails will be not sloved when I changed the codec right? ---
**Author:** ![OttoKerner](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/ottokerner/32/10079_2.png) [@OttoKerner](https://forums.plex.tv/u/OttoKerner)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2020, 11:33am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/chapter-thumbnails/601254/14 "2020-06-09T11:33:19Z")
> [@Buhli](#): > > But I think my common problem with the thumbnails will be not sloved when I changed the codec right? I can’t tell with certainty, but it’s worth a test with 1 – 2 files. ---
**Author:** ![Buhli](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Buhli](https://forums.plex.tv/u/Buhli)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2020, 11:41am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/chapter-thumbnails/601254/15 "2020-06-09T11:41:14Z")
Okay I will test it and give you a feedback. If this is not the problem, do you have any other ideas? ---
**Author:** ![JuiceWSA](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/juicewsa/32/12253_2.png) [@JuiceWSA](https://forums.plex.tv/u/JuiceWSA)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2020, 1:12pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/chapter-thumbnails/601254/16 "2020-06-09T13:12:22Z")
> [@What settings should a newbie use for transcoding ripped bluray mkv files with handbreak?](https://forums.plex.tv/t/what-settings-should-a-newbie-use-for-transcoding-ripped-bluray-mkv-files-with-handbreak/514196/2): > > Start with the Basic HD profile - you can delete everything else - all crap. Then do this, exactly, make a 240 second ‘Preview’ and see what you think. File Sizes will be consistent at about 1.4G per hour. My eyeballs stop seeing improvement above about 3250kbps, so I give it 3750 and call it a day. Your eyeballs may require something different. Make a 4 minute preview and decide for yourself. [HB-Help1] [HB-Help2] [HB-Help3] Of course, you should create an audio track that will Direct Play.… ---
**Author:** ![Buhli](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Buhli](https://forums.plex.tv/u/Buhli)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2020, 2:27pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/chapter-thumbnails/601254/17 "2020-06-09T14:27:02Z")
Hey JuiceWSA Thanks for your post I will try it. You had never problems with the chapter thumbnails when you created mkv files by handbrake? Why do you recommend to use the “Avg Bitrate” with 3750kbps instead of “Constant Quality”? What will happend if I set for example the “Avg Bitrate” to 5000 or 10000kbps? Thanks and best regards Buhli ---
**Author:** ![Buhli](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Buhli](https://forums.plex.tv/u/Buhli)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2020, 5:26am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/chapter-thumbnails/601254/19 "2020-06-10T05:26:19Z")
Hey JuiceWSA I tried yesterday with your HB settngs. Frankly, this with your eyeballs I didn’t quite understand. How do you find out which is the best bitrate for you? Just by watching on the TV? Or is there a way how I can determine which is the best Bitrate (for video and sound quality)? I notice the same as you has written. If I set a too high bitrate value, the files is going bigger and bigger, but the quality will not more better. Unfortunately the chapter thumbnails are still black. Is it possible, Plex generate the thumbnails, but unfortunately it’s always black pictures? When you have a look to my first post, (Printscreen number 2 the 3 picture), there we can see, the thumbnail is not 100% black. We can see there is something like bridge. Can I ask you something else? Do you have experience to avoid ripping the same episode/track? I notice this somtimes when I wan to rip a DVD. The DVD contains 5 episodes, but HB shows me 12 epiosdes. If this here is there wrong place, I can also but this question somwhere else. Thanks and best regards Buhli ---
**Author:** ![JuiceWSA](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/juicewsa/32/12253_2.png) [@JuiceWSA](https://forums.plex.tv/u/JuiceWSA)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2020, 6:55am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/chapter-thumbnails/601254/20 "2020-06-10T06:55:45Z")
> [@Buhli](#): > > How do you find out which is the best bitrate for you? Just by watching on the TV? That’s the only way I know. Make some 240 Second Previews, put them in an Other Videos Library, watch them. > [@Buhli](#): > > Can I ask you something else? Do you have experience to avoid ripping the same episode/track? Go to MakeMKV forums - get the correct Playlist. Everything that matters, I’ve always found there. Sometimes the DVD will contain several versions - Widescreen/Full Screen. Always rip out the files with MakeMKV first - so you can see what they are. I used to guess - then I got tired of guessing wrong. (that actually didn’t happen more than about once) ---
**Author:** ![Buhli](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Buhli](https://forums.plex.tv/u/Buhli)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2020, 8:25am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/chapter-thumbnails/601254/21 "2020-06-10T08:25:15Z")
Thanks for your advice. I used a long time MakeMKV to rip my movies and tv-shows. But I had the problem, MakeMKV ripped the episodes in the wrong order. Then I saw, many tv shows they have one big track which contains all episodes. But unfortunately, this track was sometimes skipped by MakeMKV. But back to my real question 🙂 Can I do something else for my black thumbnails? Or I have to live with that? Thanks and best regards Buhli ---
**Author:** ![OttoKerner](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/ottokerner/32/10079_2.png) [@OttoKerner](https://forums.plex.tv/u/OttoKerner)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2020, 8:30am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/chapter-thumbnails/601254/22 "2020-06-10T08:30:38Z")
Is it possible that the chapter breaks coincide with a black screen in the video file? The chapter previews could have been picked at this exact moment. They can be quite precisely placed, as this example illustrates: ![grafik](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/plex/original/3X/d/5/d507b7c092337dcd23ffa7f2cfb1f1073f14431e.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Buhli](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Buhli](https://forums.plex.tv/u/Buhli)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2020, 8:46am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/chapter-thumbnails/601254/24 "2020-06-10T08:46:55Z")
The Multi-Episode-Files I can easy split in multiple files. so i can be sure that the episode order is correct. @JuiceWSA, @OttoKerner, I think you guys are right, I could check it quickly by one episode and there is really when the chapter change for one second a black screen. I think its not possible I can add own thumbnails? Or change timestamp from Plex to take this thumbnails? Tnaks and best regards Buhli [Next page](https://forums.plex.tv/t/chapter-thumbnails/601254.md?page=2)