Optimize Gamma usage costs and manage API spending. Use when reducing API costs, implementing usage quotas, or planning for scale with budget constraints. Trigger with phrases like "gamma cost", "gamma billing", "gamma budget", "gamma expensive", "gamma pricing".
npxskills add jeremylongshore/claude-code-plugins-plus-skills--skill gamma-cost-tuningLoading…
Optimize Gamma API usage to minimize credit consumption. Gamma uses a credit-based billing system where costs are driven by image generation model tier and content complexity. API access requires Pro or higher subscription.
gamma-install-auth setup| Tier | Credits per Image | Quality Level |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | 2-15 | Good for internal/draft presentations |
| Advanced | 20-33 | Higher quality, more detail |
| Premium | 34-75 | Best quality images |
| Ultra | 30-125 | Highest fidelity, photorealistic |
Card text generation also costs credits based on the AI model used.
| Feature | Pro | Ultra | Teams | Business |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly credits | Included | More credits | Team pool | Custom |
| API access | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Max cards | Standard | Up to 75 | Standard | Custom |
| Ad-hoc credit purchase | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Auto-recharge | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
// src/gamma/cost-tracker.ts
interface UsageEntry {
generationId: string;
creditsUsed: number;
outputFormat: string;
timestamp: Date;
}
class CreditTracker {
private usage: UsageEntry[] = [];
record(entry: UsageEntry) {
this.usage.push(entry);
}
getDaily(): { total: number; count: number; avg: number } {
const today = new Date().toDateString();
const todayUsage = this.usage.filter(
(u) => u.timestamp.toDateString() === today
);
const total = todayUsage.reduce((sum, u) => sum + u.creditsUsed, 0);
return {
total,
count: todayUsage.length,
avg: todayUsage.length > 0 ? Math.round(total / todayUsage.length) : 0,
};
}
getMonthly(): { total: number; count: number } {
const thisMonth = new Date().getMonth();
const monthUsage = this.usage.filter(
(u) => u.timestamp.getMonth() === thisMonth
);
return {
total: monthUsage.reduce((sum, u) => sum + u.creditsUsed, 0),
count: monthUsage.length,
};
}
}
// Track after each generation
const tracker = new CreditTracker();
async function generateTracked(gamma: GammaClient, request: GenerateRequest) {
const { generationId } = await gamma.generate(request);
const result = await pollUntilDone(gamma, generationId);
tracker.record({
generationId,
creditsUsed: result.creditsUsed ?? 0,
outputFormat: request.outputFormat ?? "presentation",
timestamp: new Date(),
});
return result;
}
The biggest cost driver is image generation tier. Reduce costs by:
// EXPENSIVE: default image settings (may use Advanced/Premium tier)
await gamma.generate({
content: "Company quarterly review",
outputFormat: "presentation",
// No imageOptions = AI chooses model tier
});
// CHEAPER: explicitly use standard tier when quality isn't critical
await gamma.generate({
content: "Company quarterly review",
outputFormat: "presentation",
imageOptions: {
style: "simple flat illustration", // Simpler styles use fewer credits
},
});
// CHEAPEST: text-focused, minimal images
await gamma.generate({
content: "Company quarterly review",
outputFormat: "document", // Documents typically use fewer images
textAmount: "detailed", // Focus on text, not visuals
});
// WASTEFUL: regenerating entire presentations for minor content changes
for (const client of clients) {
await gamma.generate({
content: `Proposal for ${client.name}: ${fullProposalText}`,
outputFormat: "presentation",
});
// Each generation costs full credits
}
// EFFICIENT: use templates for repeated structures
// Create a one-page template gamma in the app
// Then generate variations with targeted prompts
for (const client of clients) {
await gamma.generateFromTemplate({
gammaId: "template_proposal_id",
prompt: `Customize for ${client.name}. Focus on ${client.industry}.`,
exportAs: "pdf",
});
// Template generations can be more cost-effective
}
// src/gamma/budget.ts
const MONTHLY_BUDGET = 5000; // credits
const ALERT_THRESHOLDS = [0.5, 0.75, 0.9, 1.0]; // 50%, 75%, 90%, 100%
async function checkBudget(tracker: CreditTracker) {
const { total } = tracker.getMonthly();
const percentUsed = total / MONTHLY_BUDGET;
for (const threshold of ALERT_THRESHOLDS) {
if (percentUsed >= threshold) {
await sendAlert(
`Gamma budget ${(threshold * 100)}% used: ${total}/${MONTHLY_BUDGET} credits`
);
}
}
// Hard stop at 100%
if (percentUsed >= 1.0) {
throw new Error(`Monthly Gamma budget exceeded: ${total}/${MONTHLY_BUDGET} credits`);
}
}
// Cache generation results to avoid paying twice for same content
import NodeCache from "node-cache";
const generationCache = new NodeCache({ stdTTL: 86400 }); // 24 hour TTL
async function generateCached(
gamma: GammaClient,
request: GenerateRequest
): Promise<GenerateResult> {
// Create cache key from request parameters
const key = JSON.stringify({
content: request.content,
outputFormat: request.outputFormat,
themeId: request.themeId,
textMode: request.textMode,
});
const cached = generationCache.get<GenerateResult>(key);
if (cached) {
console.log("Cache hit — skipping generation");
return cached;
}
const result = await generateAndWait(gamma, request);
generationCache.set(key, result);
return result;
}
| Strategy | Credit Savings | Implementation |
|---|---|---|
| Standard image tier | 50-80% on images | Set imageOptions.style to simpler styles |
| Templates over ad-hoc | 20-40% | Use generateFromTemplate for repeated content |
| Caching results | 100% on duplicates | Cache by content hash |
| Text-focused output | 30-50% | Use document format, textAmount: "detailed" |
| Budget caps | Prevents overrun | Track credits, alert at thresholds |
| Auto-recharge | Avoids disruption | Enable at gamma.app/settings/billing |
| Issue | Cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Credits exhausted | Over budget | Purchase ad-hoc credits or enable auto-recharge |
| Unexpected high cost | Premium image tier | Specify imageOptions.style explicitly |
| Budget alert missed | Tracker not running | Verify tracking on all generation paths |
Proceed to gamma-reference-architecture for architecture patterns.
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Set up and use 1Password CLI (op). Use when installing the CLI, enabling desktop app integration, signing in (single or multi-account), or reading/injecting/running secrets via op.
CLI to manage emails via IMAP/SMTP. Use `himalaya` to list, read, write, reply, forward, search, and organize emails from the terminal. Supports multiple accounts and message composition with MML (MIME Meta Language).