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How to Edit Photos for Google Ads

6 min read
Quick Answer

To edit photos for Google Ads, upload your product or service image to EditThisPic and optimize it for ad performance. Remove cluttered backgrounds, brighten the subject, enhance colors for scroll-stopping impact, and ensure the image is sharp at all display sizes. The AI handles professional ad-quality edits in seconds. Free to use, no signup required.

Why Ad Image Quality Directly Affects ROI

Google Ads with high-quality images get significantly higher click-through rates than those with mediocre visuals. In Display Network and Performance Max campaigns, your image is the first thing users see. A blurry, cluttered, or poorly lit photo means wasted ad spend — you're paying for impressions that never convert to clicks. Investing a few minutes in photo editing before uploading to Google Ads can measurably improve campaign performance.

Google Ads Image Requirements

  • Landscape: 1200 x 628 pixels (1.91:1 ratio) — the most common display ad format
  • Square: 1200 x 1200 pixels (1:1 ratio) — used in responsive display ads and Discovery campaigns
  • Portrait: 960 x 1200 pixels (4:5 ratio) — appears in mobile placements
  • File size: under 5MB for all formats, JPG or PNG
  • No excessive text overlay — Google recommends less than 20% text coverage
  • No borders, rounded corners, or artificial buttons that mimic UI elements

Clean Backgrounds That Focus Attention

Cluttered backgrounds kill ad performance. The viewer's eye should go straight to your product or key visual. Remove distracting backgrounds and replace them with clean, solid colors or simple gradients. White backgrounds work for product-focused ads. Brand-colored backgrounds create recognition. For service businesses, remove irrelevant elements from the scene so the subject stands out. A clean background also helps Google's algorithm identify the ad's subject matter for better targeting.

Lighting and Color That Stop the Scroll

Display ads compete with the content around them. Bright, high-contrast images stand out in feeds and on websites. Fix underexposed product photos by boosting brightness and contrast. Saturate colors slightly to make them pop on screen without looking unnatural. Warm tones tend to attract attention, while cool tones feel premium. Test different color treatments — the same product with warm golden lighting versus cool studio lighting can produce very different click-through rates.

Editing Product Photos for Shopping and PMax Campaigns

Google Shopping and Performance Max campaigns surface product images directly in search results. These images need to be clean, well-lit, and show the product clearly on a white or transparent background. Remove shadows, reflections, and any props that aren't part of the product. Ensure the product fills at least 75% of the frame. Sharpen details so the product looks crisp even at thumbnail sizes where most users first see it.

Creating Multiple Ad Variations for Testing

Google recommends uploading at least 3 to 5 image variations per responsive display ad. Create variations by changing the background color, adjusting the crop, or trying different lighting treatments. EditThisPic makes it fast to generate multiple versions from the same base photo. Upload all variations and let Google's algorithm determine which performs best for different placements and audiences.

Step-by-Step Guide

1

Upload Your Product or Service Photo

Drag and drop your image into EditThisPic. Use the highest resolution source photo available since Google Ads performs better with sharp, detailed images. Supports JPG, PNG, WebP, and HEIC.

2

Clean the Background and Remove Distractions

Type 'remove the background and replace with white' for product shots, or 'remove the clutter in the background' for lifestyle images. For service businesses, try 'clean up the background and make the subject stand out.' Tap specific items to mark them for removal.

3

Enhance Lighting, Colors, and Sharpness

Ask for 'brighten the image and boost the contrast slightly' or 'make the colors more vibrant and sharpen the details.' For product shots, try 'make the product look crisp and professional with even lighting.' These edits ensure your ad image stands out at any display size.

4

Download and Upload to Google Ads

Download the edited image. Upload it to your Google Ads campaign as a responsive display ad asset, Performance Max creative, or Discovery ad image. Create 3 to 5 variations with different backgrounds or crops and upload all of them for Google to test.

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Frequently Asked Questions

The most common sizes are 1200x628 pixels (landscape, 1.91:1), 1200x1200 pixels (square), and 960x1200 pixels (portrait, 4:5). Google recommends uploading all three formats for responsive display ads. Files must be under 5MB in JPG or PNG format.
White backgrounds work well for Google Shopping and product-focused display ads because they keep attention on the product. For brand awareness campaigns, try brand-colored backgrounds or lifestyle settings. Test both and let Google's algorithm optimize for the best performer.
Use bright, high-contrast images with clean backgrounds. The product or subject should fill most of the frame. Boost color saturation slightly so the image pops against website content. Remove all distracting elements. Upload to EditThisPic and ask to 'make this image bright, sharp, and attention-grabbing.'
Google recommends keeping text to less than 20% of the image area. Ads with excessive text overlays may be disapproved or shown less frequently. If you need text, keep it short — a brief headline or price tag. Let the ad copy in Google Ads handle the messaging.
Google recommends at least 3 to 5 images per responsive display ad. Upload variations with different backgrounds, crops, or lighting treatments. Google's machine learning will test them automatically and show the best performer for each placement and audience.
Google Shopping requires clean, professional product images. Upload your photo to EditThisPic and remove the background, fix the lighting to be bright and even, and sharpen the details. The product should fill at least 75% of the frame with no props, watermarks, or promotional overlays.

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