Duplicate artwork explained

When you upload a trigger image and see this message, it means Artivive has detected an image that is too similar to one already in the system. Every trigger image on Artivive has to be unique so that a scan can always be matched reliably to the right artwork.

A duplicate flag does not mean you did anything wrong. It usually falls into one of the common cases below, and most of them are quick to fix.

Good to know: Recognition is based on detail, not colour. Our technology reads the fine visual detail of an image (its patterns, edges and contrast) rather than its colour, so two versions of the same artwork in different colours can still register as duplicates.

There are five common reasons an image is flagged:

• A famous artwork

  Well-known works (for example the Mona Lisa) can only be used once across Artivive. If your trigger image is a famous piece, you will need to choose a different trigger image.

• The same image as another user

  The identical image has already been uploaded to another account. If it belongs to you but sits on another account, contact us so we can look into it.

• Shared elements with another image

  Your image shares distinctive elements (the same text, numbers, icons or shapes) with an existing one. Remove or change those shared elements and re-upload.

• The same artwork in different colours

  Because recognition reads detail and not colour, colour variations of one artwork can conflict. Either change the trigger image, or reuse a single animation across the versions.

• A false duplicate

  Sometimes two genuinely different images are flagged by mistake. If your image is clearly distinct from anything else, contact support and we can enable it for you.

These examples come from the Artivive Editor (Bridge). A flagged artwork shows "This artwork already exists in your account".

Identical artworks. The same image uploaded twice is always flagged.

Shared text and logos. These two posters share the same title and date, so the second one is flagged. Without the text, both are approved.

Similar characters. The ninja is in a different pose, but the two artworks still share too much.

Repeated symbols. The same border and card symbols on every card cause a duplicate. Remove them and each card is unique.

You only need to remove these elements from the image you upload to the editor, not from the physical work.

• Add more detail. High-contrast, detailed images with plenty of unique features track best and are least likely to clash.
• Remove shared elements. If your image shares text, logos or shapes with another, edit those out and upload again.
• Change the trigger image. Pick a different, more distinctive image to trigger your AR experience.
• Contact us for false duplicates. If your image is clearly unique and still flagged, reach out and we will enable it for you.
• Check with your team. If you work on the project with someone else, they may have uploaded the image to their account. Get in touch with them.
• Never use a QR code as the trigger image. If your poster carries the Artivive QR code, upload the trigger image with the code covered.
• Someone using your work? If you think another account uploaded your artwork, tell us which one. We will contact the other artist and solve it.

For more tips, see our guide on optimizing image recognition.

Famous works can only be used once across all of Artivive, so they are usually already taken. If your trigger image is a well-known piece, choose a different, more distinctive image for your project instead.

Because recognition reads the underlying visual detail rather than colour, two colour variations of one artwork have an identical "fingerprint" and can conflict. Not all versions will be usable. You can either change the trigger image so each version is distinct, or reuse a single animation across the versions.

Contact us at nora@artivive.com with your artwork name and the email address of the account it is on, and we will check it and enable it for you.