Thumbnails for a 30-episode series: 3 options per episode, priced

Three thumbnail options for each of 30 episodes is 90 images, and on Sume that costs between $0.47 and $9.50 depending on the image model, fee included. The cheapest model in the router is Higgsfield Soul at 720p and the dearest of the eight below is Nano Banana 2.1. Prices are at the router's default 1K tier.

Why 90 images

TechCrunch reported on 2026-09-23 that YouTube's new Shorts series feature supports custom thumbnails for episodes. Picking a thumbnail usually means looking at a few candidates, so this example generates three per episode. The three is an assumption; change n in the arithmetic to match your own workflow.

The image arithmetic

Each row takes the provider list price per image from Sume's rate table, multiplies by 1.25 (rounded up) for the sell price, multiplies by 90 images, then adds the 5.5% platform fee.

Choosing a model

Price is only one input. Models differ in text rendering, style and edit support, and the cheapest model is not always the one that gets a thumbnail right in three tries. A practical split is to draft options on a low-priced model and regenerate only the winners on a dearer one. The Images API docs list the available model ids and options.

Cost control

Image jobs reserve at submit like video jobs. A 90-image batch needs the whole amount in your balance, or later submits get 402 insufficient_credits. The fee post explains the 5.5%.