adobe-cost-tuning

What this skill does

# 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.

## Prerequisites

- Access to Adobe Admin Console billing (https://adminconsole.adobe.com)
- Understanding of current API usage patterns
- Monitoring infrastructure for usage tracking

## Instructions

### Step 1: Understand Adobe API Pricing Models

| API | Free Tier | Paid Unit | Key Limit |
|-----|-----------|-----------|-----------|
| **PDF Services** | 500 tx/month | Document Transaction | Per-page for extract, per-file for create |
| **Firefly API** | Trial credits | Generative Credit | 1 credit per image generated |
| **Photoshop API** | Trial credits | API Credit | 1 credit per operation (cutout, actions, etc.) |
| **Lightroom API** | Trial credits | API Credit | 1 credit per auto-edit |
| **I/O Events** | Included | Free with entitlement | 3,000 events/5sec rate limit |
| **Document Generation** | Part of PDF Services | Document Transaction | Per-document generated |

### Step 2: Track Usage per API

```typescript
// src/adobe/usage-tracker.ts
interface ApiUsageEntry {
  api: 'firefly' | 'pdf-services' | 'photoshop' | 'lightroom';
  operation: string;
  timestamp: Date;
  durationMs: number;
  creditsUsed: number;
}

class AdobeUsageTracker {
  private entries: ApiUsageEntry[] = [];

  record(entry: Omit<ApiUsageEntry, 'timestamp'>): void {
    this.entries.push({ ...entry, timestamp: new Date() });
  }

  getMonthlySummary(): Record<string, { calls: number; credits: number }> {
    const now = new Date();
    const monthStart = new Date(now.getFullYear(), now.getMonth(), 1);

    const monthly = this.entries.filter(e => e.timestamp >= monthStart);

    return monthly.reduce((acc, entry) => {
      const key = entry.api;
      if (!acc[key]) acc[key] = { calls: 0, credits: 0 };
      acc[key].calls++;
      acc[key].credits += entry.creditsUsed;
      return acc;
    }, {} as Record<string, { calls: number; credits: number }>);
  }

  checkBudget(api: string, monthlyLimit: number): { remaining: number; warning: boolean } {
    const summary = this.getMonthlySummary();
    const used = summary[api]?.credits || 0;
    const remaining = monthlyLimit - used;
    return { remaining, warning: remaining < monthlyLimit * 0.2 };
  }
}
```

### Step 3: Cost Reduction Strategies

**Strategy 1: Cache Firefly outputs by prompt hash**

```typescript
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**

```typescript
// 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**

```typescript
// 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**

```typescript
// 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

```typescript
// 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

```sql
-- 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 |

## Resources

- [Adobe PDF Services Pricing](https://developer.adobe.com/document-services/pricing/main/)
- [Firefly Services Documentation](https://developer.adobe.com/firefly-services/docs/guides/)
- [Adobe Admin Console](https://adminconsole.adobe.com)

## Next Steps

For architecture patterns, see `adobe-reference-architecture`.