Optimize Adobe API costs across Firefly Services (generative credits),
SKILL.md
Adobe Cost Tuning
Overview
Optimize costs across Adobe's consumption-based APIs. Each API family has different pricing models: Firefly uses generative credits, PDF Services uses document transactions, and Photoshop/Lightroom use API call credits.
import crypto from 'crypto';
function promptHash(prompt: string, size: { width: number; height: number }): string {
return crypto.createHash('sha256')
.update(`${prompt}:${size.width}x${size.height}`)
.digest('hex')
.slice(0, 16);
}
// Before generating, check if identical prompt was already run
const hash = promptHash(prompt, { width: 1024, height: 1024 });
const cached = await cache.get(`firefly:${hash}`);
if (cached) return cached; // Saves 1 generative credit
Strategy 2: Minimize PDF Services transactions
// EXPENSIVE: Extract + Create + Merge = 3 transactions
await extractPdf(input);
await createPdf(html);
await mergePdfs([pdf1, pdf2]);
// CHEAPER: Combine operations where possible
// Use Document Generation API (1 transaction) instead of
// creating PDF then merging
await generateDocument(template, data); // 1 transaction
Strategy 3: Right-size Firefly image dimensions
// Same credit cost but different use cases:
// - Thumbnails: 512x512 (same 1 credit, faster generation)
// - Social media: 1024x1024
// - Print: 2048x2048 (same 1 credit, slower generation)
// Generate at the size you actually need — don't upscale unnecessarily
Strategy 4: Use Photoshop batch actions
// EXPENSIVE: 5 separate API calls = 5 credits
await removeBackground(image1);
await removeBackground(image2);
// ...
// CHEAPER: Photoshop Actions can chain operations
// Record an action that does: remove bg + resize + add watermark
// Run it once per image = 1 credit for all 3 operations
await runPhotoshopAction(image, actionFile);
Step 4: Budget Alert System
// Check PDF Services free tier monthly limit
const pdfTracker = new AdobeUsageTracker();
// Wrap PDF Services calls with tracking
async function trackedPdfExtract(pdfPath: string) {
const budget = pdfTracker.checkBudget('pdf-services', 500); // Free tier
if (budget.remaining <= 0) {
throw new Error('PDF Services monthly quota exhausted. Upgrade or wait for reset.');
}
if (budget.warning) {
console.warn(`PDF Services: only ${budget.remaining} transactions remaining this month`);
// Send alert to Slack/email
}
const result = await extractPdfContent(pdfPath);
pdfTracker.record({
api: 'pdf-services',
operation: 'extract',
durationMs: 0,
creditsUsed: 1,
});
return result;
}
Step 5: Cost Dashboard Query
-- If tracking usage in your database
SELECT
api,
operation,
DATE_TRUNC('day', timestamp) as date,
COUNT(*) as calls,
SUM(credits_used) as credits,
AVG(duration_ms) as avg_latency_ms
FROM adobe_api_usage
WHERE timestamp >= DATE_TRUNC('month', CURRENT_DATE)
GROUP BY 1, 2, 3
ORDER BY credits DESC;
Output
Per-API usage tracking with credit consumption
Budget alerts at 80% threshold
Caching to prevent duplicate Firefly credit charges
Operation batching for Photoshop workflows
Monthly cost dashboard query
Error Handling
Issue
Cause
Solution
Unexpected charges
Untracked batch jobs
Wrap all calls with usage tracker
Free tier exceeded
No budget alerts
Implement 80% warning threshold
High Firefly costs
Duplicate prompts
Cache by prompt hash
PDF overage
Unnecessary re-extractions
Cache extraction results
Examples
Start with the smallest applicable command or code example already provided in this guide, using a non-production Adobe environment and credentials. Confirm the documented response or validation result before applying the pattern to production.