Claude Vision Patterns

Quick Guide: Use type: "image" content blocks for images (base64, URL, or file_id) and type: "document" content blocks for PDFs. Supported image formats: JPEG, PNG, GIF, WebP. Images before text in the content array improves results. Token cost formula: tokens = (width * height) / 750. Images are auto-resized if the long edge exceeds 1568px or exceeds ~1600 tokens. PDFs use type: "document" with media_type: "application/pdf". No OCR library needed -- Claude reads text directly from images and PDFs.

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CRITICAL: Before Using This Skill

(You MUST use type: "image" for images and type: "document" for PDFs -- they are different content block types)

(You MUST place images and documents BEFORE text in the content array -- Claude performs better with visual content first)

(You MUST always provide max_tokens in every request -- it is required and has no default)

(You MUST iterate over response.content blocks -- never assume a single text block in the response)

(You MUST use named constants for max_tokens, token budgets, and pixel limits -- no magic numbers)