ideogram-common-errors

What this skill does

# Ideogram Common Errors

## Overview

Quick reference for the most common Ideogram API errors, their root causes, and proven fixes. All Ideogram endpoints return standard HTTP status codes with JSON error bodies.

## Prerequisites

- Ideogram API key configured
- Access to request/response logs
- `curl` available for manual testing

## Error Reference

### 401 -- Authentication Failed

```
HTTP 401 Unauthorized
```

**Cause:** Missing, invalid, or revoked API key.

**Fix:**

```bash
set -euo pipefail
# Verify the key is set and not empty
echo "Key length: ${#IDEOGRAM_API_KEY}"

# Test auth directly
curl -s -o /dev/null -w "%{http_code}" \
  -X POST https://api.ideogram.ai/generate \
  -H "Api-Key: $IDEOGRAM_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"image_request":{"prompt":"test","model":"V_2_TURBO"}}'
```

**Common mistakes:**

- Using `Authorization: Bearer` instead of `Api-Key` header
- Whitespace or newlines in the key string
- Key was regenerated in dashboard but not updated in `.env`

---

### 422 -- Safety Check Failed

```json
{"error": "Prompt or provided image failed the safety checks"}
```

**Cause:** Prompt text or uploaded image triggered Ideogram's content filter.

**Fix:**

- Remove brand names, celebrity names, or trademarked terms
- Avoid violent, sexual, or politically sensitive content
- Remove explicit references to real people
- Rephrase with neutral descriptors

```typescript
// Pre-screen prompts before sending to API
const FLAGGED_PATTERNS = [
  /\b(coca.?cola|nike|apple|disney)\b/i,
  /\b(celebrity|politician|president)\b/i,
];

function isPromptSafe(prompt: string): boolean {
  return !FLAGGED_PATTERNS.some(p => p.test(prompt));
}
```

---

### 429 -- Rate Limited

```
HTTP 429 Too Many Requests
```

**Cause:** More than 10 in-flight requests (default limit).

**Fix:**

```typescript
async function rateLimitedGenerate(prompt: string) {
  const maxRetries = 5;
  for (let attempt = 0; attempt < maxRetries; attempt++) {
    try {
      return await generateImage(prompt);
    } catch (err: any) {
      if (err.status !== 429) throw err;
      const delay = 1000 * Math.pow(2, attempt) + Math.random() * 500;
      console.warn(`Rate limited. Retry in ${delay.toFixed(0)}ms`);
      await new Promise(r => setTimeout(r, delay));
    }
  }
  throw new Error("Rate limit retries exhausted");
}
```

---

### 400 -- Bad Request

```json
{"error": "Invalid input"}
```

**Cause:** Invalid parameter values in request body.

**Common issues:**

| Parameter | Wrong | Correct |
|-----------|-------|---------|
| aspect_ratio | `"16:9"` | `"ASPECT_16_9"` (legacy) or `"16x9"` (V3) |
| style_type | `"realistic"` | `"REALISTIC"` (uppercase enum) |
| model | `"v2"` | `"V_2"` (underscore + uppercase) |
| num_images | `10` | `1`-`4` (max 4 per request) |
| resolution | Used with `aspect_ratio` | Use one or the other, not both |

---

### 402 -- Insufficient Credits

```
HTTP 402 Payment Required
```

**Cause:** API credit balance is depleted.

**Fix:**

1. Log into [ideogram.ai](https://ideogram.ai) > Settings > API Beta
2. Check current balance and top-up settings
3. Increase auto top-up amount or manually add credits
4. Default: auto top-up $20 when balance drops below $10

---

### Expired Image URL

```
HTTP 403 or 404 when downloading generated image
```

**Cause:** Ideogram image URLs are temporary (expire after ~1 hour).

**Fix:**

```typescript
// ALWAYS download immediately after generation
async function generateAndSave(prompt: string): Promise<string> {
  const result = await generateImage(prompt);
  const imageUrl = result.data[0].url;

  // Download within seconds, not later
  const response = await fetch(imageUrl);
  if (!response.ok) throw new Error(`Image download failed: ${response.status}`);

  const buffer = Buffer.from(await response.arrayBuffer());
  const path = `./images/gen-${result.data[0].seed}.png`;
  writeFileSync(path, buffer);
  return path;
}
```

---

### Mask Size Mismatch (Edit Endpoint)

```json
{"error": "Invalid input"}
```

**Cause:** Mask image dimensions do not match source image dimensions.

**Fix:**

```bash
set -euo pipefail
# Check dimensions match
identify source.png  # e.g., 1024x1024
identify mask.png    # Must also be 1024x1024

# Resize mask to match source
convert mask.png -resize 1024x1024! mask-resized.png
```

---

### Multipart Form Errors (V3 Endpoints)

**Cause:** V3 endpoints (`/v1/ideogram-v3/*`) require multipart form data, not JSON.

**Fix:**

```typescript
// WRONG for V3 endpoints:
fetch(url, { body: JSON.stringify({...}), headers: { "Content-Type": "application/json" } });

// CORRECT for V3 endpoints:
const form = new FormData();
form.append("prompt", "...");
form.append("aspect_ratio", "1x1");
fetch(url, { body: form, headers: { "Api-Key": key } });
// Do NOT set Content-Type -- FormData handles the boundary
```

## Quick Diagnostic Script

```bash
set -euo pipefail
echo "=== Ideogram Diagnostics ==="
echo "API Key set: ${IDEOGRAM_API_KEY:+YES}"
echo "Key length: ${#IDEOGRAM_API_KEY}"

# Test connectivity
STATUS=$(curl -s -o /dev/null -w "%{http_code}" \
  -X POST https://api.ideogram.ai/generate \
  -H "Api-Key: $IDEOGRAM_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"image_request":{"prompt":"test circle","model":"V_2_TURBO","magic_prompt_option":"OFF"}}')

echo "API Response: $STATUS"
case $STATUS in
  200) echo "OK: Auth and generation working" ;;
  401) echo "ERROR: Invalid API key" ;;
  402) echo "ERROR: Insufficient credits" ;;
  422) echo "ERROR: Safety filter (try different prompt)" ;;
  429) echo "ERROR: Rate limited (wait and retry)" ;;
  *)   echo "ERROR: Unexpected status $STATUS" ;;
esac
```

## Error Handling

| Error | HTTP | Root Cause | Fix |
|-------|------|-----------|-----|
| Auth failed | 401 | Bad `Api-Key` header | Verify key, check header name |
| Safety filter | 422 | Flagged prompt/image | Rephrase prompt |
| Rate limited | 429 | >10 in-flight requests | Exponential backoff |
| Bad params | 400 | Wrong enum values | Use exact enum strings |
| No credits | 402 | Balance depleted | Top up in dashboard |
| URL expired | 403/404 | Late download | Download immediately |

## Output

- Identified error root cause
- Applied fix with verification
- Diagnostic output confirming resolution

## Resources

- [Ideogram API Reference](https://developer.ideogram.ai/api-reference)
- [API Overview](https://developer.ideogram.ai/ideogram-api/api-overview)

## Next Steps

For comprehensive debugging, see `ideogram-debug-bundle`.