Free โ€ข No signup Open Editor

AI Etsy Flat Lay Photo Editor

Turn messy overhead shots into Pinterest-worthy flat lays with one prompt.

Product flat lay on stained kitchen counter with uneven lighting
Before
โ†’
Same arrangement on clean white marble with even professional lighting
After
FreeNo signupNo watermark

Drop your photo here

or click to browse

Release to upload

Free โ€ข No signup

Advertisement
Quick Answer Updated
Upload your overhead product arrangement and describe what you want: 'replace background with clean white marble, even overhead lighting, consistent shadows' or 'clean up the background and make the arrangement look professionally styled.' The AI fixes the most common flat lay problems: cluttered surfaces, inconsistent shadows, and uneven spacing. 15-30 seconds. Free, no signup, no watermark.
"I'm terrible at flat lay styling but my products look amazing from above. Now the AI fixes my messy attempts and they look like a pro styled them." @TheCraftedCollection

Built for Etsy Sellers Creating Flat Lay Photos

Background surface is cluttered, stained, or has visible texture you don't want
Shadows go in different directions making the arrangement look haphazard
Spacing between items is inconsistent and looks unprofessional
Surface material doesn't match your brand aesthetic (wrong color, wrong texture)
Products look different from each other due to uneven lighting across the flat lay

Flat lays are Etsy gold. They show collections, bundles, and product ranges in one scroll-stopping image. But great flat lays require perfect surfaces, consistent overhead lighting, and prop styling skills most sellers don't have. EditThisPic fixes the background and lighting of your overhead shots so the arrangement you spent time creating actually looks professional.

Flat lay product photos receive 47% more engagement on Etsy and Instagram compared to single-item shots - Etsy Visual Marketing Study 2024

Tools for Flat Lay Photography

How to Edit Your Etsy Flat Lay Photos

  1. Upload your flat lay photo

    Drop your overhead product arrangement photo into EditThisPic. JPG, PNG, and WebP up to 7MB. Shoot from directly above your products. Phone photos work fine. Don't worry about the surface or background, just focus on getting the arrangement right.

    Background surface swap: 15-30 seconds. Lighting and shadow fixes: 15 seconds.
  2. Describe your ideal flat lay surface and lighting

    Type what you want: 'replace background with clean white marble surface, consistent even overhead lighting' or 'clean up this flat lay with a solid blush pink surface and soft diffused shadows.' The AI replaces the surface while keeping your product arrangement exactly as you styled it.

    Always specify 'consistent overhead lighting' for flat lays. This ensures even illumination across all items, which is the hallmark of professional flat lay photography.
  3. Check all items are preserved correctly

    Zoom in on each item in the arrangement. All products should be intact, properly colored, and in their original positions. Pay special attention to items at the edges of the frame, as they're most likely to be affected by background changes.

    Count your items before and after. In complex flat lays with many small items, occasionally one may be affected by the background change.
  4. Mark any items that need preservation

    If any product in the arrangement was altered or if edges between products and the new surface look rough, tap markers on those specific items. This tells the AI to preserve them exactly while only changing the background surface.

    For flat lays with thin, delicate items (ribbons, strings, small beads), mark those items before any background change.

Copy-Paste Prompts for Flat Lay Photos

Clean white marble flat lay surface
replace the background surface with clean white marble with subtle gray veining, consistent even overhead lighting, soft uniform shadows beneath each item, preserve all products and arrangement exactly

White marble is the #1 flat lay surface on Etsy and Instagram. It elevates any product category.

Pure white for catalog-style flat lay
replace background with pure white seamless surface, even overhead diffused lighting, consistent soft shadow beneath each item, clean professional catalog aesthetic

Pure white flat lays perform best in Etsy search results because products pop against the clean background.

Rustic wood for artisan product flat lay
replace background with weathered light wood surface, warm natural overhead light, rustic farmhouse aesthetic, preserve all product arrangement and spacing

Wood surfaces are perfect for food, kitchen, soap, candle, and farmhouse product flat lays.

Fix uneven flat lay lighting and shadows
fix the lighting to be perfectly even and consistent across all items, soft diffused overhead light, remove harsh shadows, replace with uniform soft shadows

Consistent lighting is what separates amateur flat lays from professional ones. This is the quickest win.

Show 4 more prompts
Natural linen for textile and fabric flat lay
replace background with natural cream linen fabric, soft even overhead light, elegant textile flat lay aesthetic, preserve all items and arrangement

Linen surfaces complement fabric products, clothing, and wedding items beautifully. Texture adds depth.

Solid brand color background
replace background with solid soft sage green matte surface, even overhead lighting, consistent shadows, clean modern brand aesthetic

Using your brand color as a flat lay surface creates instant recognition. Save this prompt for all your listings.

Remove unwanted props and clutter
remove the distracting items at the edges and background, keep only the main products in the arrangement, clean up the surface around them

Sometimes less is more. Remove props that compete with your products for attention.

Concrete surface for modern products
replace background with smooth light gray concrete surface, modern minimalist aesthetic, even overhead lighting with subtle shadows, clean contemporary feel

Concrete surfaces suit modern, minimal, and industrial product aesthetics without being as stark as pure white.

Edit Type Prompt Time
White marble replace surface with white marble, even overhead lighting, consistent shadows 20s Try This โ†’
Pure white replace background with pure white, even overhead light, uniform soft shadows 15s Try This โ†’
Fix lighting fix lighting to be even across all items, soft overhead diffused light 15s Try This โ†’
Rustic wood replace surface with light weathered wood, warm overhead light, farmhouse feel 20s Try This โ†’
Advertisement

Real Flat Lay Transformations

Product flat lay on stained kitchen counter with uneven lighting
Before
->
Same arrangement on clean white marble with even professional lighting
After

Messy surface to clean marble flat lay

Product collection arranged on a stained kitchen counter. Background swapped to clean marble, making the arrangement look professionally styled.

Prompt: replace the background surface with clean white marble, even overhead lighting, consistent soft shadows, preserve all products and their arrangement exactly
Flat lay with half in shadow, half overexposed
Before
->
Same flat lay with perfectly even lighting on every item
After

Inconsistent lighting fixed across flat lay

Flat lay with products lit unevenly, some in shadow, some washed out. Even overhead lighting made every item look consistent.

Prompt: fix lighting to be perfectly even across all items, soft diffused overhead light, consistent exposure on every product
Flat lay with tape, pencil, and debris visible
Before
->
Same arrangement with all clutter removed, clean surface
After

Background decluttered and cleaned

Flat lay photo with visible props and debris that distracted from the products. Cleanup removed everything that didn't belong.

Prompt: remove the distracting items at the edges, clean up dust and debris on the surface, keep only the main product arrangement, clean white background

Common Flat Lay Photo Issues

Some items in the arrangement were altered or removed

Why: With multiple items on a surface, the AI may interpret some products as part of the background, especially small or flat items that blend with the surface.

Try: Tap markers on each item in the arrangement that was affected, then regenerate: preserve ALL items and their positions exactly, only change the background surface

Before any background change, mark your most vulnerable items: small items, flat items, items similar in color to the surface.

Shadows go in different directions across the flat lay

Why: The original photo had mixed lighting sources (window + overhead) creating conflicting shadow directions.

Try: fix shadows to be consistent soft downward shadows from directly above, even overhead diffused lighting, same shadow direction for every item

For flat lays, 'overhead' lighting is always correct. Side lighting creates directional shadows that look wrong from above.

New surface texture competes with product textures

Why: A highly textured surface (rough wood, heavy marble veining) can visually compete with textured products like yarn, fabric, or beaded items.

Try: replace background with a smooth, subtle surface with minimal texture, products should be the visual focus not the background

Rule of thumb: textured products need smooth surfaces, smooth products can handle textured surfaces.

Products at the edges of the frame look cut off or distorted

Why: Edge items have less context for the AI to work with, making clean separation from the background harder.

Try: Tap markers on the edge items, then regenerate: preserve all items including those at the edges of the composition

Leave a small margin of empty space around your arrangement when photographing. This gives the AI more to work with at the edges.

Colors of products look inconsistent after editing

Why: The new surface color can affect how product colors appear, especially for items near the edges of the frame.

Try: replace background with [your choice], maintaining exact original colors of every item in the arrangement, consistent color accuracy across all products

Neutral surfaces (white, light gray) affect product colors least. Colored surfaces (blush, sage) can cast subtle color influences on nearby items.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will the AI keep my product arrangement exactly as I styled it?

Yes, that's the core promise. The AI only changes the background surface and lighting, preserving your product positions, spacing, and arrangement exactly. If any item shifts, use markers to lock it in place. The styling work you did is preserved while the surface underneath gets upgraded.

What's the best surface for flat lay product photos on Etsy?

Depends on your brand. White marble is the most popular and versatile. Pure white for maximum product pop in search results. Natural wood for farmhouse and artisan brands. Linen for textiles and wedding items. Solid brand colors for shop cohesion. Start with white or marble and experiment from there.

How do I get consistent shadows in flat lay photos?

Prompt: 'consistent even overhead lighting with uniform soft shadows beneath each item.' The key phrase is 'overhead lighting.' Flat lays shot from above need top-down light to create consistent downward shadows. Side lighting creates directional shadows that look strange from a bird's-eye view.

Can I remove specific props from my flat lay without removing products?

Yes. Prompt: 'remove the [specific item] from the flat lay, keep all products in their exact positions, fill the gap naturally with the background surface.' You can also tap markers on the items you want to KEEP, then ask to remove everything else. Great for decluttering over-styled flat lays.

What resolution should flat lay photos be for Etsy?

Upload the highest resolution available, at least 2000px on the longest side. Flat lays often contain many small items, so buyers zoom in on individual products. Higher resolution means every item stays sharp at zoom. Etsy recommends 2000x2000px minimum for best display.

Should I style the flat lay first or let the AI arrange it?

Style it yourself first. The AI changes backgrounds and lighting but doesn't rearrange products. Spend time getting the arrangement, spacing, and composition right, then let EditThisPic upgrade the surface and lighting. Your eye for composition + AI surface perfection = professional results.

Ready to create flat lays that stop the scroll?

Professional flat lay surfaces and lighting without the studio. Free to try.

Start Editing Your Flat Lay Photos