Visual Search

Visual search lets you find materials by uploading an image instead of typing keywords. Perfect for matching client inspiration photos, replicating existing materials, or finding visually similar alternatives.

How Visual Search Works

Palett analyzes your uploaded image and finds materials in our catalog with similar:

• Colors & Tones: Dominant colors, palettes, warmth/coolness
• Patterns & Textures: Geometric, organic, woven, smooth, rough
• Visual Style: Modern, traditional, rustic, industrial
• Material Type: Wood grain, stone veining, fabric weave

Note: Visual search works best with clear, well-lit photos focused on the material itself.

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Using Visual Search

Step 1: Upload an Image

From the search bar:

1. Click the camera icon in the search bar (top of page)
2. Choose upload method:
   • Drag and drop an image into the upload area
   • Click "Browse" to select from your files
   • Paste an image from your clipboard (⌘V / Ctrl+V)

From AI Chat:

1. Open the AI chat interface
2. Type: "Find materials similar to this image"
3. Attach your image (click paperclip icon or drag and drop)
4. Send message

Supported formats: JPG, PNG, WEBP, HEIC Max file size: 10MB Best resolution: 1000x1000px or larger

Step 2: Crop & Focus (Optional)

If your image contains multiple materials:

1. Use the crop tool that appears after upload
2. Select the area you want to match
3. Zoom in on specific details (fabric pattern, tile design, wood grain)
4. Click "Search" to find matches

Pro Tip: Cropping to isolate a single material dramatically improves accuracy.

Step 3: Adjust Similarity

Use the similarity slider to control result breadth:

• High Similarity (90-100%): Nearly identical matches

  • Use when: Client wants exact replica, matching existing materials
  • Example: "Find this exact tile pattern"

• Medium Similarity (70-90%): Similar style and feel (default)

  • Use when: Client likes the vibe but open to variations
  • Example: "Similar wood tone but different grain pattern"

• Low Similarity (50-70%): Broader interpretation

  • Use when: Inspiration image, exploring options
  • Example: "Materials in the same color family"

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Best Practices

What Works Great

Fabric & Textiles: Upload photos of:

• Upholstery fabric (patterns, textures, weaves)
• Rugs and carpets (patterns, pile, colors)
• Curtains and drapery
• Woven wallcoverings

Tile & Stone: Upload photos of:

• Tile patterns (subway, hexagon, mosaic)
• Stone veining and colors
• Terrazzo patterns
• Marble or granite finishes

Wood & Flooring: Upload photos of:

• Wood grain and stain colors
• Plank widths and layouts
• Parquet patterns
• Engineered wood finishes

Wall Finishes: Upload photos of:

• Wallpaper patterns and textures
• Paint colors with texture
• Textured plaster or concrete
• Paneling styles

What's Challenging

Avoid these scenarios:

❌ Multiple materials in one shot: Separate materials make matching ambiguous

• Solution: Crop to isolate one material at a time

❌ Poor lighting: Shadows or extreme brightness skew color matching

• Solution: Use well-lit, evenly lit photos

❌ Small product images: Low-resolution website thumbnails lack detail

• Solution: Use high-res product photos or room shots

❌ Angled or distorted views: Perspective distortion affects pattern matching

• Solution: Use straight-on, flat views when possible

❌ Lifestyle photos with filters: Instagram filters change colors

• Solution: Use unfiltered, natural photos

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Common Use Cases

1. Matching Client Inspiration

Scenario: Client sends Pinterest board with dream materials

Workflow:

1. Download inspiration images
2. Upload to visual search
3. Find similar materials in stock with known specs and pricing
4. Create comparison board with real options vs. inspiration

Example: Client loves a herringbone wood floor from a design magazine

• Upload the magazine photo
• Set similarity to 80-90%
• Filter by: Category → Flooring, Price → Client's budget
• Save top 5 matches to a board for client review

2. Finding Alternatives for Out-of-Stock Items

Scenario: Specified material is discontinued or on backorder

Workflow:

1. Upload photo of original material
2. Set high similarity (90%+)
3. Filter by: Lead Time → Ships in 2 weeks or less
4. Present alternatives to client

Example: Tile is 12-week lead time, project starts in 6 weeks

• Upload tile photo
• Find visually identical alternatives
• Compare specs, pricing, availability

3. Sourcing Custom Requests

Scenario: Client provides a "similar to this" reference

Workflow:

1. Upload client's reference photo
2. Start with medium similarity (70-80%)
3. Show client initial results
4. Adjust similarity based on feedback
5. Add filters as needed (price, vendor, lead time)

Example: "I want tile that feels like this Italian villa"

• Upload villa photo
• Set similarity to 70% (broader interpretation)
• Filter by: Category → Tile, Style → Mediterranean/Traditional
• Curate 10-15 options for client presentation

4. Creating Cohesive Palettes

Scenario: Building a color/texture scheme from one hero material

Workflow:

1. Upload your anchor material (e.g., statement tile)
2. Use low-medium similarity (60-75%)
3. Browse complementary materials in same color family
4. Build board of coordinating finishes

Example: Designing around a patterned wallpaper

• Upload wallpaper photo
• Set similarity to 65%
• Find rugs, fabrics, tiles that harmonize with the wallpaper's colors and style

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Tips for Better Results

Optimize Your Images

Before uploading:

1. Crop tightly: Remove background, people, furniture
2. Adjust lighting: Brighten dark photos, reduce harsh shadows
3. Straighten: Ensure materials are level and centered
4. Remove filters: Use original, unedited photos

Use Multiple Angles

Upload 2-3 photos of the same material from different angles:

• Close-up for texture and pattern
• Mid-range for scale and context
• Flat/straight-on for accurate color

Compare results to see which angle gives best matches.

Combine with Text Search

Hybrid approach:

1. Start with visual search
2. Note the types of materials appearing in results
3. Refine with text search: Add filters (vendor, price, specs)
4. Use keywords from successful results

Example:

• Visual search: Upload oak floor photo
• Notice results are mostly "white oak engineered flooring"
• Text search: "white oak engineered flooring under $7/sq ft"

Refine Iteratively

Progressive refinement:

1. First search: Broad similarity, see what's available
2. Second search: Adjust similarity based on initial results
3. Third search: Add filters (category, vendor, price)
4. Final search: Narrow to top candidates

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Comparing with Text Search

Pro Strategy: Use visual search for discovery, then text search to refine specifications.

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Troubleshooting

Results Don't Match

Problem: Results look completely different from uploaded image

Solutions:

1. Check your crop: Did you isolate the right material?
2. Try different similarity: Increase to 85-95% for closer matches
3. Add category filter: Narrow to correct material type (Flooring, Tile, etc.)
4. Use a different photo: Try a clearer, better-lit image
5. Switch to text search: Describe what you see and use keywords

Too Few Results

Problem: Only 2-3 materials found

Solutions:

1. Lower similarity: Try 60-70% for broader results
2. Remove filters: Clear category, vendor, or price filters
3. Expand search scope: Switch from "Palett Library" to "Web Products"
4. Try a different image: Your photo might be too specific or unusual

Wrong Material Type

Problem: Searching for tile but getting fabric results

Solutions:

1. Add category filter: Select "Tile" before searching
2. Crop more precisely: Remove any textile/fabric in the background
3. Use clearer image: Ensure image clearly shows hard surface, not soft goods

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Advanced Techniques

Multi-Material Boards

Create boards with complementary materials:

1. Upload hero material (e.g., statement wallpaper)
2. Save top matches to board
3. Upload second material (e.g., coordinating fabric)
4. Add those matches to same board
5. Review how materials work together

Seasonal Trends

Track style evolution:

1. Upload trending design photos from Instagram/Pinterest
2. Find current materials that match the aesthetic
3. Create trend boards for client presentations
4. Update quarterly as trends shift

Reverse Engineering Luxury Looks

Make high-end designs accessible:

1. Upload luxury hotel/designer showhouse photos
2. Find similar materials at various price points
3. Create "Splurge vs. Save" comparison boards
4. Present options at different budget levels

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Related Topics

• Text Search: Refine visual search results with keywords and filters
• AI Chat: Ask AI to search and analyze images
• Creating Boards: Organize visual search results
• Search Types: Understanding different search scopes

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Need help? Chat with us (bottom right) or email support@palett.space.