Semantic search: find images by content with AI

Semantic search is one of Polimake's most powerful features. Unlike basic search, which looks by file name, semantic search understands the visual content of your images, letting you find what you need by typing natural descriptions in everyday language.

This guide will show you how semantic search works, how to use it effectively, and when it's the best option for finding your images.

What is semantic search?

Semantic search uses artificial intelligence to:

• Understand the visual content of your images
• Search by concept instead of just by text
• Find related images even if they don't match exactly
• Understand natural descriptions that you write in everyday language "

" It's like having an assistant that "sees" your images and finds them when you describe what you're looking for.

How it works

The process behind the scenes

When you upload images to Polimake:

1. Each image is analyzed automatically with AI
2. Embeddings are generated (vector representations) of the content
3. They're stored for fast searching later

When you search:

1. Your query is converted into a similar embedding
2. It's compared with the embeddings of your images
3. The results are ranked by relevance
4. The most relevant images are shown first

Automatic analysis

Every image you upload is analyzed to extract:

• Objects and elements visible in the image
• Concepts and themes represented
• Style and aesthetic (colors, composition, mood)
• Context and potential use

This information is used to make search smart and contextual.

How to use semantic search

Accessing semantic mode

To use semantic search:

1. Click the search bar in the header
2. Select "Semantic" mode (brain or AI icon)
3. Or just start typing - semantic mode is the default

Visual indicator: The icon in the search bar shows you which mode is active.

Writing effective searches

For best results, write the way you'd speak:

Examples of effective searches:

• ✅ "beach images at sunset"
• ✅ "photos of Italian food"
• ✅ "people smiling in an office"
• ✅ "fashion products on a white background"
• ✅ "nature with mountains and lakes"

Avoid overly specific searches:

• ❌ "1920x1080 jpg image with a beach"
• ✅ "beach"

Tip: Be descriptive but natural. Write as if you were describing the image to another person.

Waiting for results

After typing your search:

1. Press Enter or wait a moment
2. The search is processed (it may take a few seconds)
3. The results appear ranked by relevance

Processing indicator: You'll see an indicator while the search is being processed, especially for complex searches.

Practical examples

Case 1: Search by concept

Search: "summery images with happy people"

Finds:

• Beach photos with people
• Images of a picnic in a park
• Photos of outdoor festivals
• Any image that conveys summer and happiness

Doesn't require: That the file be named "summer" or "happy"

Case 2: Search by style

Search: "professional corporate photography"

Finds:

• Office images
• Professional portraits
• Photos of business meetings
• Images with a corporate style

Doesn't require: Specific tags or descriptive names

Case 3: Search by specific content

Search: "Italian food on a wooden table"

Finds:

• Pasta dishes on rustic tables
• Pizza in an Italian setting
• Italian food in the right context

Understands: The full concept, not just individual words

Advantages over basic search

No need to remember names

With semantic search:

• You don't need to know what the file is called
• Describe what you're looking for and find relevant images
• It works even if the names are generic (IMG_1234.jpg)

Finds related concepts

Semantic search:

• Finds variations of the same concept
• Relates similar concepts (beach → ocean → sand)
• Understands synonyms and related concepts

A more natural search

You can search:

• The way you'd speak: "nature photos"
• With context: "product images for e-commerce"
• By style: "minimalist photography"

Best practices

Be descriptive but concise

For best results:

• Include key elements: What's in the image
• Add context: Where, when, style
• Avoid being too specific: Let the AI find variations

Examples:

• ✅ "beach sunset people"
• ✅ "Italian food restaurant"
• ❌ "1920x1080 jpg image beach sunset people smiling blue shirt"

Combine concepts

You can combine multiple concepts:

• "fashion product white background": Finds fashion products with a white background
• "nature mountains lake": Finds landscapes with these elements
• "people office meeting": Finds corporate scenes

Use natural language

Write the way you'd speak:

• ✅ "food photos"
• ✅ "nature images"
• ✅ "products on a white background"
• ❌ "food images jpg"
• ❌ "nature photos png"

Comparison with other modes

Semantic vs. Basic

Semantic search:

• Searches by visual content
• Doesn't require knowing the name
• Finds related concepts
• Takes a few seconds to process

Basic search:

• Searches by file name
• Requires knowing the name
• Exact text search
• Instant results

When to use each: Use semantic when searching by content, basic when you remember the name.

Semantic vs. Reasoned

Semantic search:

• Search by visual/conceptual similarity
• Fast and efficient
• Good for discovery

Reasoned search:

• Uses advanced AI reasoning
• More precise for complex searches
• May take longer

When to use each: Use semantic for most searches, reasoned for very specific or complex cases.

Semantic search results

Ranking by relevance

The results are shown:

• Ordered by relevance: The most relevant first
• With a similarity score: Indicates how well they match
• Grouped visually: Easy to scan

Interpreting results

The results show:

• Images relevant to the concept you searched for
• Variations of the same concept
• Related images that may be useful

Tip: Review the first results - they're usually the most relevant. If you don't find what you're looking for, refine your search.

Limitations and considerations

Requires prior analysis

For semantic search to work:

• The images must be analyzed (this is done automatically on upload)
• It may take time if you've just uploaded many images
• Wait for the analysis to finish before searching

Very specific searches

For extremely specific searches:

• It may not find exact matches
• Consider using reasoned search for complex cases
• Or combine it with basic search if you remember part of the name

FAQ about semantic search

Does it work with images I just uploaded?
Images are analyzed automatically on upload. It may take a few minutes for them to become available for semantic search.

Can I search in a language other than Spanish?
Semantic search works best in the configured language, but it can understand basic concepts in other languages.

How accurate is semantic search?
Very accurate for visual concepts and general themes. For very specific details, you may need to refine your search.

Can I combine semantic search with filters?
Yes, you can combine semantic search with folder, date, or other available filters.

Does it work better with certain types of images?
It works well with most images, but it's especially effective with photographs that have clear, recognizable content.

Can I improve search results?
Yes, by being more descriptive in your search, using natural language, and refining terms based on the results you see.

Conclusion

Semantic search transforms how you find images. You no longer need to remember file names - just describe what you're looking for and Polimake finds the relevant images using artificial intelligence.

For even more advanced searches, explore reasoned search, which uses AI reasoning for complex cases.

Next steps

1. Try semantic searches with natural descriptions
2. Experiment with different concepts to see what it finds
3. Combine concepts for more specific searches
4. Compare results with basic search
5. Integrate it into your regular workflow

Discover the power of searching by content, not by name!