Analyze images and multi-frame sequences using OpenAI GPT series
OpenAI Vision Analysis Skill
Purpose
This skill enables image analysis, scene understanding, text extraction, and multi-frame comparison using OpenAI's vision-capable GPT models (e.g., gpt-4o, gpt-5). It supports single and multiple images analysis and sequential frames for temporal analysis.
Image quality: Clear and legible; minimum 512×512px recommended
File size: Under 20MB per image recommended
Maximum per request: Up to 500 images, 50MB total payload
URL or Base64: Images can be provided as URLs or base64-encoded data
Output Schema
All analysis results should be returned as valid JSON conforming to this schema:
{"success":true,"model":"gpt-5","analysis":"Detailed description or analysis of the image content...","metadata":{"image_count":1,"detail_level":"high","tokens_used":850,"processing_time_ms":1234},"extracted_data":{"objects":["car","person","building"],"text_found":"Sample text from image","colors":["blue","white","gray"],"scene_type":"urban street"},"warnings":[]}
Field Descriptions
success: Boolean indicating whether the API call succeeded
model: The GPT model used for analysis (e.g., "gpt-4o", "gpt-5")
analysis: Complete textual analysis or description from the model
metadata.image_count: Number of images analyzed in this request
metadata.detail_level: Detail parameter used ("low", "high", or "auto")
metadata.tokens_used: Approximate token count for the request
metadata.processing_time_ms: Time taken to process the request
extracted_data: Structured information extracted from the image(s)
warnings: Array of issues or limitations encountered
Code Examples
Basic Image Analysis
from openai import OpenAI
import base64
defanalyze_image(image_path, prompt="What's in this image?"):
"""Analyze a single image using GPT-5 Vision."""
client = OpenAI(api_key=os.environ.get("OPENAI_API_KEY"))
# Read and encode imagewithopen(image_path, "rb") as image_file:
base64_image = base64.b64encode(image_file.read()).decode('utf-8')
response = client.chat.completions.create(
model="gpt-5",
messages=[
{
"role": "user",
"content": [
{"type": "text", "text": prompt},
{
"type": "image_url",
"image_url": {
"url": f"data:image/jpeg;base64,{base64_image}"
}
}
]
}
],
max_tokens=300
)
return response.choices[0].message.content
Using Image URLs
from openai import OpenAI
defanalyze_image_url(image_url, prompt="Describe this image"):
"""Analyze an image from a URL."""
client = OpenAI(api_key=os.environ.get("OPENAI_API_KEY"))
response = client.chat.completions.create(
model="gpt-5",
messages=[
{
"role": "user",
"content": [
{"type": "text", "text": prompt},
{
"type": "image_url",
"image_url": {"url": image_url}
}
]
}
]
)
return response.choices[0].message.content
Multiple Images Analysis
from openai import OpenAI
import base64
defanalyze_multiple_images(image_paths, prompt="Compare these images"):
"""Analyze multiple images in a single request."""
client = OpenAI(api_key=os.environ.get("OPENAI_API_KEY"))
# Build content array with text and all images
content = [{"type": "text", "text": prompt}]
for image_path in image_paths:
withopen(image_path, "rb") as image_file:
base64_image = base64.b64encode(image_file.read()).decode('utf-8')
content.append({
"type": "image_url",
"image_url": {
"url": f"data:image/jpeg;base64,{base64_image}"
}
})
response = client.chat.completions.create(
model="gpt-5",
messages=[{"role": "user", "content": content}],
max_tokens=500
)
return response.choices[0].message.content
Full Analysis with JSON Output
from openai import OpenAI
import base64
import json
import time
defanalyze_image_to_json(image_path, prompt="Analyze this image"):
"""Analyze image and return structured JSON output."""
client = OpenAI(api_key=os.environ.get("OPENAI_API_KEY"))
start_time = time.time()
warnings = []
try:
# Read and encode imagewithopen(image_path, "rb") as image_file:
base64_image = base64.b64encode(image_file.read()).decode('utf-8')
# Make API call
response = client.chat.completions.create(
model="gpt-5",
messages=[
{
"role": "user",
"content": [
{"type": "text", "text": prompt},
{
"type": "image_url",
"image_url": {
"url": f"data:image/jpeg;base64,{base64_image}",
"detail": "high"
}
}
]
}
],
max_tokens=500
)
analysis = response.choices[0].message.content
tokens_used = response.usage.total_tokens
processing_time = int((time.time() - start_time) * 1000)
result = {
"success": True,
"model": "gpt-5",
"analysis": analysis,
"metadata": {
"image_count": 1,
"detail_level": "high",
"tokens_used": tokens_used,
"processing_time_ms": processing_time
},
"extracted_data": {},
"warnings": warnings
}
except Exception as e:
result = {
"success": False,
"model": "gpt-5",
"analysis": "",
"metadata": {
"image_count": 0,
"detail_level": "high",
"tokens_used": 0,
"processing_time_ms": 0
},
"extracted_data": {},
"warnings": [f"API call failed: {str(e)}"]
}
return result
# Usage
result = analyze_image_to_json("photo.jpg", "Describe what you see in detail")
print(json.dumps(result, indent=2))
Batch Processing with Sequential Frames
from openai import OpenAI
import base64
from pathlib import Path
defprocess_video_frames(frames_directory, analysis_prompt):
"""Process sequential video frames for temporal analysis."""
client = OpenAI(api_key=os.environ.get("OPENAI_API_KEY"))
image_extensions = {'.jpg', '.jpeg', '.png', '.webp'}
frame_paths = sorted([
f for f in Path(frames_directory).iterdir()
if f.suffix.lower() in image_extensions
])
# Analyze frames in groups (e.g., 5 frames at a time)
batch_size = 5
results = []
for i inrange(0, len(frame_paths), batch_size):
batch = frame_paths[i:i+batch_size]
# Build content with all frames in batch
content = [{"type": "text", "text": analysis_prompt}]
for frame_path in batch:
withopen(frame_path, "rb") as f:
base64_image = base64.b64encode(f.read()).decode('utf-8')
content.append({
"type": "image_url",
"image_url": {
"url": f"data:image/jpeg;base64,{base64_image}",
"detail": "low"# Use low detail for video frames to save tokens
}
})
response = client.chat.completions.create(
model="gpt-5",
messages=[{"role": "user", "content": content}],
max_tokens=800
)
results.append({
"batch_index": i // batch_size,
"frame_range": f"{batch[0].name} to {batch[-1].name}",
"analysis": response.choices[0].message.content
})
return results
Text Extraction from Images (OCR Alternative)
from openai import OpenAI
import base64
defextract_text_with_gpt(image_path):
"""Extract text from image using GPT Vision as OCR alternative."""
client = OpenAI(api_key=os.environ.get("OPENAI_API_KEY"))
withopen(image_path, "rb") as image_file:
base64_image = base64.b64encode(image_file.read()).decode('utf-8')
response = client.chat.completions.create(
model="gpt-5",
messages=[
{
"role": "user",
"content": [
{
"type": "text",
"text": "Extract all text from this image. Return only the text content, preserving the layout and structure."
},
{
"type": "image_url",
"image_url": {
"url": f"data:image/jpeg;base64,{base64_image}",
"detail": "high"
}
}
]
}
],
max_tokens=1000
)
return response.choices[0].message.content
Model Selection and Configuration
Available Models
# GPT-4o - Best for general vision tasks, fast and cost-effective
model = "gpt-4o"# GPT-5-nano - Faster and cheaper for simple vision tasks
model = "gpt-5-nano"# GPT-5 - More capable for complex reasoning
model = "gpt-5"
Detail Level Configuration
Control how much visual detail the model processes:
# Low detail - 512×512px resolution, fewer tokens, faster"image_url": {
"url": image_url,
"detail": "low"
}
# High detail - Full resolution with tiling, more tokens, better accuracy"image_url": {
"url": image_url,
"detail": "high"
}
# Auto - Model chooses appropriate detail level"image_url": {
"url": image_url,
"detail": "auto"
}
When to use each detail level:
Low: Video frames, simple scene classification, color/shape detection
High: Text extraction, detailed object detection, fine-grained analysis
Auto: General purpose when unsure; model optimizes cost vs. quality
Token Cost Management
Understanding Image Tokens
Image tokens count toward your request limits and costs:
Low detail: Fixed ~85 tokens per image (gpt-5)
High detail: Base tokens + tile tokens based on image dimensions
Use low detail for video frames - Temporal analysis doesn't need high resolution
Resize large images before uploading - Reduce dimensions to 1024×1024 if high detail not needed
Batch related questions - Analyze multiple aspects in one API call
Cache analysis results - Store results for repeated processing
Advanced Use Cases
Image Comparison
defcompare_images(image1_path, image2_path):
"""Compare two images and identify differences."""
client = OpenAI(api_key=os.environ.get("OPENAI_API_KEY"))
images = []
for path in [image1_path, image2_path]:
withopen(path, "rb") as f:
base64_image = base64.b64encode(f.read()).decode('utf-8')
images.append(base64_image)
response = client.chat.completions.create(
model="gpt-5",
messages=[
{
"role": "user",
"content": [
{
"type": "text",
"text": "Compare these two images. List all differences you observe, including changes in objects, colors, positions, or any other visual elements."
},
{"type": "image_url", "image_url": {"url": f"data:image/jpeg;base64,{images[0]}"}},
{"type": "image_url", "image_url": {"url": f"data:image/jpeg;base64,{images[1]}"}}
]
}
]
)
return response.choices[0].message.content
Structured Data Extraction
defextract_structured_data(image_path, schema_description):
"""Extract structured information from image based on schema."""
client = OpenAI(api_key=os.environ.get("OPENAI_API_KEY"))
withopen(image_path, "rb") as f:
base64_image = base64.b64encode(f.read()).decode('utf-8')
prompt = f"""Analyze this image and extract information in JSON format following this schema:
{schema_description}
Return only valid JSON, no additional text."""
response = client.chat.completions.create(
model="gpt-5",
messages=[
{
"role": "user",
"content": [
{"type": "text", "text": prompt},
{
"type": "image_url",
"image_url": {
"url": f"data:image/jpeg;base64,{base64_image}",
"detail": "high"
}
}
]
}
],
response_format={"type": "json_object"}
)
return json.loads(response.choices[0].message.content)
# Usage example
schema = """
{
"products": [{"name": string, "price": number, "quantity": number}],
"total": number,
"date": string
}
"""
data = extract_structured_data("receipt.jpg", schema)
Error Handling
Common Issues and Solutions
Issue: API authentication failed
# Verify API key is setimport os
api_key = os.environ.get("OPENAI_API_KEY")
ifnot api_key:
raise ValueError("OPENAI_API_KEY environment variable not set")