Methods and apparatus to perform image analyses in a computing environment

An apparatus includes a feature extractor to generate image descriptors based on retail product tag images corresponding to a retailer category; a probability density function generator to generate a probability density function of probability values corresponding to visual features represented in the image descriptors; a sample selector to select ones of the probability values based on a sample selection algorithm that identifies positions in the probability density function of the ones of the probability values to be selected; a category signature generator to generate a category signature based on the selected ones of the probability values; and a processor to train a convolutional neural network (CNN) based on a feature descriptor and one of the retail product tag images, the feature descriptor including the category signature concatenated to one of the image descriptors, the training to cause the CNN to classify the one of the retail product tag images as a type of product tag.