Nowadays, Amazon has become one of the biggest e-commerce platforms worldwide, with millions of sellers and even more shoppers searching for the right products. With the competition fierce like that, it's pretty hard to stand out and become successful.
Aldo, it's hard to be noticed there are a lot of things that can affect your Amazon product listing and make you more appealing than the rest of the crowd. The Amazon product image is one of the most critical aspects of the product listing, and it can directly influence your success in the online selling business. Humans are visually oriented creatures, and therefore product images are something that all potential customers see first. If your product picture catches their eye, they will click and examine further whether your item is just the one they are looking for.
But eye-catching photos aren't the only thing you should worry about. Amazon will provide you with a worldwide marketplace and broad audience, but there are a few things this platform requires you to follow. Among them are their strict rules for product images. If you don't fit in their criteria, your images will be rejected.
We made this article, so next time you are adding your products for sale, you are fully prepared. This guide will help you create and add images that will fit all Amazon requirements and draw more sales.
Technical image requirements
One of the first things you need to think about when considering Amazon picture requirements is the technical aspect. If you don't follow Amazon's technical specifications for pictures, you won't like the result, that's for sure. This is what your images should be:
- Larger than 1000 pixels on one of the sides;
- The minimum dimension for the picture's longest side shouldn't be less than 500 pixels;
- The longest side of your Amazon image shouldn't be more prominent than 10,000 pixels;
- Hence you have a range between 500 pixels to 10,000 pixels for one image side, which is pretty extensive;
- The recommended size for your Amazon images is 2,000 x 2,000 pixels, square image 1:1;
- If you use the recommended size and 1:1 square image, you will gain the ability of maximum zooming, and your customers will be able to check your products with a 5:1 aspect ratio;
- The minimum Amazon image size for maximum zoom is 1,000 pixels on the longest and 500 pixels on the shortest side;
- Every image file size should be less than 10mb, or it will be rejected;
- The recommended image file format is undoubtedly the JPEG, but you can also use TIFF, PNG, and GIF files;
- Make sure you crop your pictures well, with the limited white area to maximize the size of an item;
- The item should fill 85% of the image frame;
- All product images should be with a pure white background;
- You need to compress your images before uploading them to fit Amazon requirements. Use services like TinyJPG to compress your images;
- Both sRGB and CMYK color modes are allowed;
- These technical image requirements are valid for all Amazon product photos;
- Before you upload images, you should name them appropriately. The file name should include your product identification number ( Amazon ASIN, JAN, EAN, ISBN, or UPC ), period, and file extension. For instance, 1234567893216.jpeg. Also, don't include any dashes, spaces, and additional characters.
Best Amazon product image size
The best size for your images would be 2,000 x 2,000 pixels. This size forms an aspect ratio of 1:1 . Also, your pictures will have the option of maximum zoom.
Design image requirements
When you were searching for products on Amazon, you have probably noticed that most pictures look alike. That's because Amazon doesn't have only technical requirements. They are also pretty strict about the design of product images.
Design requirements are different for the primary photo listing image, the picture that will appear as the thumbnail in searches and the first item picture, and the additional photos that potential customers can scroll through on the product listing's page.
Requirements for the main Amazon picture
As we mentioned above, requirements differ for primary and additional photos. These are specific requirements for the main picture design:
- Pornographic, racist or in any way offensive images aren't allowed;
- Photos must be professional product photos;
- Drawings or illustrations aren't permitted on Amazon;
- If you are selling digital books, music CDs, etc. you can use the cover art photo, other illustrations are prohibited;
- The picture needs to be professional, with the in-focus and professional lightening;
- The product you are displaying needs to be the same as in-person, realistic with true colors;
- Different product categories may have different requirements;
- Your product photo should not contain any additional objects that you aren't selling with that product. For example, if you are selling a woman's jacket, don't display a photo where the model is wearing a jacket, shirt, and a hat. That isn't allowed, and you are going to confuse your potential customers;
- When you are displaying clothes, show the clothing laying flat, or the picture where a model is wearing only the piece you are listing;
- The whitespace in the background of your photos is limited, and the item you're listing should contain 85%, or more, of the image frame;
- The main photo can only have a pure white background. On the color wheel that is RGB 255, 255, 255;
- The whole item needs to fit within the frame. You can't add pictures that are cut on any sides or aligning exactly on the edge of the picture;
- The main image shouldn't contain any supplementary graphics or texts, keep that for additional photos;
- The picture needs to have flat edges, as opposed to irregular margins;
- You aren't allowed to feature any designs, such as watermarks.
Requirements for the alternative Amazon pictures
Additional product photos that potential customers see when they click on your product listings are alternative images. Amazon has special design requirements for these photos too:
- Pornographic, racist or in any way offensive photographs are prohibited;
- Images must display the product you're selling or are closely concerning your product. For example, you're listing shoes, and one of your alternative pictures can be the size chart and the guide on how to determine your shoes size;
- Like the main picture, alternative ones also need to be professional photos, well-lit, and colors must be realistic, so does the product;
- Additional objects can persist on your alternative images, but they must have a clear connection with your item. For example, you can put the additional object next to your product for comparative purposes;
- The item must occupy at least 85% of the picture frame;
- You can add close-up images, for instance, if you're showing details or textures;
- Alternative photos don't need to have a plain white background. You can use pictures showing the environment or pictures where your product is in use;
- You can use text and graphics to explain or highlight any features of your product.
Amazon product pictures that convert sales
We got the design and technical requirements down so that Amazon doesn't reject your pictures, but that's not nearly enough to make your products stand out. In such a hyper-competitive marketplace like Amazon, you still need to go even further to make your product pictures more appealing for potential customers and therefore convert more sales.
Take a look at our pro tips list, and make sure you do these things next time you're preparing your product pictures if you want to make an impression and draw more sales for your online selling business.
1. Go big enough!
You won't get a zoom option if your pictures aren't big enough. This is a great option where you can give your potential customers a close-up look and show them more details, the texture, or parts they need to see from a closer range.
Many sellers believe that they need to add 3,000 pixels image to gain this option, but this is definitely not true. As we previously mentioned, pictures that have more than 1,000 pixels will obtain this option. Pictures with 2,500 pixels are good enough.
2. The multiple images option
Aren't you skeptical about the products that have only one or two pictures? I know I am, so will be your potential customers. Always add additional images to your product listings to represent your product better.
With additional photos, you can display features of your product, show the item from other angles, and provide a better showcase of your product to your audience. Alternative photos are allowed to contain graphics and text to explain the context and give more relevant information.
The Seller Central represents the opportunity to upload up to nine product photos, but we recommend using only eight slots. Besides the main product picture, only seven more of them will be visible in your listing. You can use the last sloth for the 9th picture, but this one won't be visible until your potential buyer goes to the gallery. The last image will less likely improve your sales rate, so there is no point in spending money on more professional photos than necessary.
3. Show the product in use
It's always a great idea to show your products in action. Potential customers may envision having the product in real life, and you can showcase how easy or flattering it is for use.
For instance, if you only show the picture of a dress while laying flat, customers won't be able to envision how it will fit on their body. Another example is to show settings of a hose nozzle. With pictures, you can demonstrate how far the splash can reach or show different spraying settings.
Showcases are high selling points if customers can visualize the product, they are more prone to believe it, and therefore, they will feel like they need your product.
4. Check industry-specific Amazon guidelines
Before you set the photoshoot session or start creating your product photos, make sure you check industry-specific guidelines. Some categories have additional image requirements that you must follow.
For example, clothes for men and women must be portrayed either flat or on an invisible model, while clothes for infants must be laid flat for the main photo. Accessories are required to be photographed flat, and lingerie and swimsuits aren't allowed to look ''sexy'', they need to seem demure.
5. The compression
Keep on your mind that when you upload images to Amazon, this platform automatically generates 1:1 500px square jpeg. Double compressions are always resulting in reduced photo quality, so when you compress the photos, make sure you set maximal possible compression with the highest quality. Or else you risk that Amazon destroys your photo quality and makes it less appealing to your otential buyers.
6. Set photos to sRGB
The left photo opened in Photoshop is the CMYK version, while the right photo is the same picture in CMYK uploaded to Amazon. Can you notice the difference?
Aldo certain Amazon pages claim that you can use the CMYK, SRGB is the only recommended way. By saving your images in SRGB, you will make sure Amazon doesn't render the colors and incorrectly show them on your product image. If you notice that your previous photos have a color discrepancy after you uploaded them to Amazon, it implies that color space is not SRGB.
7. The main photo
You probably already know this, but we must point out that your main product picture is the most important one. This is because it's shown on the search results and directly influences your traffic and sales. It's the first thing, besides the price, that will draw your potential customers' attention and make them click on your listing to find more about your product. Excellent product main photo will make you stand out and beat your competitors. Professional, appealing photos bring 20% more sales than dull DIY images. Don't be afraid to invest in professional photographs because, in the long run, it will definitely pay off.
