PixelPanda + Esko Automation Engine

AI image processing in your packaging prepress flow

Esko Automation Engine drives packaging prepress at scale — but the product and lifestyle images that land in artwork are rarely print-ready. With a small script step, Automation Engine can hand any image to the PixelPanda API and get back a clean cutout, a print-resolution upscale or an enhanced photo, then continue the workflow.

API Documentation Get a Free API Key

Script to add

AI operations

1 credit

Most operations

How the Integration Works

No plugin required — Esko Automation Engine hands the image to a small script via a Script Runner task or hot folder, the script calls the PixelPanda REST API, and the processed file continues through your workflow.

Four Steps to Set Up

Pick your hook

Use an Esko Script Runner task (shell script on the Script Runner host) or a watched hot folder as the integration point in your workflow.

Add the script

Copy the sample script onto the Script Runner host and set your PixelPanda API key.

Route the output

The processed file lands in the output folder; the next Automation Engine task picks it up like any other file.

Scale it

One credit per image, no per-seat licensing — every workflow on the server can share the same script.

Sample Script

A working starting point — swap the endpoint for /api/v1/upscale, /api/v1/remove-text or /api/v2/enhance to change the operation. Full request and response formats are in the API documentation.

#!/bin/bash # PixelPanda for Esko Automation Engine (Script Runner) # Usage: pixelpanda_removebg.sh <input-file> <output-folder> API_KEY="pk_live_YOUR_KEY" # pixelpanda.ai/profile IN="$1"; OUT_DIR="$2" NAME=$(basename "${IN%.*}") curl -s -X POST "https://pixelpanda.ai/api/v1/remove-background" \ -H "Authorization: Bearer $API_KEY" \ -F "file=@$IN" \ | python3 -c "import sys,json,base64;d=json.load(sys.stdin);open('$OUT_DIR/${NAME}_nobg.png','wb').write(base64.b64decode(d['result'].split(',')[-1]))"

What Print Teams Use It For

Packaging artwork intake

Strip busy backgrounds from supplied product shots before they hit the artwork template.

Low-res assets from brands

Upscale 72-DPI web images to print resolution automatically during preflight.

Mockup imagery

Generate clean cutouts for 3D mockups and WebCenter previews.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does PixelPanda integrate with Esko Automation Engine?

Through a Script Runner task or hot folder: a small script uploads the image to the PixelPanda REST API and writes the processed result back into the workflow. No plugin needs to be installed in Esko Automation Engine itself.

What operations are available?

Background removal (transparent PNG), 2x/4x/8x AI upscaling, text removal and photo enhancement — plus generation endpoints (product scenes, try-on, avatars, UGC video) via the same API.

What does it cost?

The integration pattern is free; processing spends PixelPanda credits — most operations cost 1 credit per image. Accounts start free.

Where do I get an API key?

Create an account at pixelpanda.ai, open your Profile and copy the key under API Token (it starts with pk_live_).

Do you have native apps for other print platforms?

Yes — free Enfocus Switch Appstore apps and Fiery JobFlow Connect Packages, plus Zapier, Make and n8n integrations.