Shopify Product Image Guide
Technical Specifications
Shopify accepts JPEG, PNG, GIF (non-animated), and WebP image formats. Maximum dimensions: 4472 x 4472 pixels. Maximum file size: 20MB per image. Recommended: 2048 x 2048 pixels (square). This enables smooth zoom functionality on product pages while keeping file sizes manageable. Consistent aspect ratios are critical for Shopify. Product images in collection grids display at the same aspect ratio. If some images are square and others are portrait, the grid looks inconsistent with mismatched spacing. JPEG at 80-90% quality provides the best balance of image quality and file size. PNG should only be used when transparency is needed (overlay graphics, logos). WebP offers smaller file sizes with comparable quality. Shopify automatically generates multiple sizes of each uploaded image for different contexts: thumbnails, cart, product page, and zoom. Upload the largest, highest-quality version and let Shopify handle the rest.
Upload at 2048x2048
Square format. Enables zoom. Consistent with Shopify's image processing pipeline.
Use consistent aspect ratios
Every product image in the same ratio. Square (1:1) is the safest choice for grid consistency.
JPEG at 85% quality
Best quality-to-size ratio. Upload the highest quality; Shopify generates smaller versions automatically.
Product Photo Best Practices
Each product listing should have 5-8 images covering different aspects of the product. Hero image (main product shot): clean background (white or consistent with your brand), product clearly visible, professional lighting. This is the collection grid thumbnail and the first thing shoppers see. Multiple angles: front, back, side, and three-quarter views. Shoppers want to understand the product's full physical form. Detail close-ups: texture, stitching, material quality, hardware, labels. These build confidence and reduce returns by setting accurate expectations. Scale reference: the product being held, worn, or placed next to a common object. Helps buyers understand actual size. Lifestyle/in-context: the product being used in a real-world setting. This helps buyers visualize ownership and connects emotionally. Packaging: if your packaging is attractive, show it. Unboxing experience matters for premium products.
5-8 images per product
Hero + angles + details + scale + lifestyle. Cover every question a buyer might have.
Consistent first images
Every product's hero image should use the same background, lighting, and composition style.
Show scale and detail
Close-ups build quality perception. Scale references prevent size-related returns.
Collection and Banner Images
Collection images appear at the top of collection pages and influence the shopping experience. Collection hero images: dimensions depend on your theme but 1200 x 600 (2:1) or 1600 x 800 are common. Check your specific Shopify theme's documentation for recommended sizes. Banner images: full-width banners are typically 1920 x 600-800 pixels. They should be high quality since they stretch across the full browser width. Slideshow images: match your theme's recommended dimensions. Usually 1920 x 600-1000 pixels for full-width sliders. All banner and collection images should have the key content centered, as they may be cropped differently on mobile (more cropping on the sides) versus desktop.
Check your theme specs
Each Shopify theme has recommended banner and collection image dimensions. Check the docs.
Center important content
Mobile crops from the sides. Keep text and key visuals centered for proper display on all devices.
Optimize file size
Large banners can slow page load. Compress to under 500KB while maintaining visual quality.
Variant Images
Product variants (color, size, material) should each have their own images. When a customer selects a variant, the product image gallery should update to show that specific variant. For color variants, photograph each color independently with the same angle, lighting, and composition. This allows direct comparison and reduces returns due to color mismatch. Shopify's variant system associates images with specific variant options. Upload color-specific images, then link them to the corresponding color variant in the product admin. For size variants, the same image often works for all sizes. But if the product looks meaningfully different at different sizes (a bag with different proportions), photograph each. Consistency across variants is paramount. Mismatched angles, lighting, or backgrounds between variants looks unprofessional and confuses customers.
Photograph each color variant
Same angle, lighting, and composition for every color. Enables accurate comparison.
Link images to variants
In Shopify admin, associate each image with its corresponding variant option.
Maintain consistency
Same background, same angle, same lighting across all variants. No exceptions.
Image SEO for Shopify
Shopify product images contribute to SEO through alt text, file names, and page speed. Alt text: describe the product and key features. 'Blue cotton v-neck t-shirt front view' is better than 'IMG_3847'. Shopify lets you set alt text on each product image in the admin. File names: rename before uploading. Use descriptive, hyphenated names: 'blue-cotton-vneck-tshirt-front.jpg'. This helps Google Image search find your products. Page speed: large images slow down your store. Shopify automatically creates responsive images, but uploading reasonably sized originals (2048x2048, not 6000x6000) helps. JPEG compression at 85% keeps quality high while reducing file size. Structured data: Shopify themes typically include product image schema automatically, but verify that your product images are included in the JSON-LD markup for rich results in Google Shopping.
Add descriptive alt text
Describe the product: 'Blue cotton v-neck t-shirt front view'. Not 'IMG_3847' or 'product image'.
Rename files before upload
'blue-vneck-tshirt-front.jpg' not 'DSC0437.jpg'. Helps Google Image search.
Optimize file sizes
2048x2048 at 85% JPEG quality. Shopify handles responsive sizing from there.
Editing Product Photos for Shopify
Consistency across your Shopify store is the priority. Every product should be photographed and edited the same way. For white backgrounds: 'Remove the background and make it pure white' creates the clean, professional look most Shopify stores use. For lifestyle images: 'Place this product in a modern kitchen/living room/workspace setting' creates context shots without a separate photoshoot. For consistency: process all images through the same editing workflow. Same brightness, same contrast, same color temperature, same background across every product.
Create consistent backgrounds
'Remove background and make pure white' for every product hero image. Consistency is key.
Generate lifestyle shots
'Place this product in a lifestyle setting' for context images without a separate photoshoot.
Batch-process consistently
Same brightness, contrast, and color adjustments across all products for a cohesive store.
Frequently Asked Questions
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