Clean up a product photo for a listing
Even light, a plain background and a straight angle — what every marketplace asks for.
SamImageGenerator ·
A usable listing photo needs three things: a clean background, honest colour and no distractions. All three are edits to a photo you already have, which makes this the shortest route from a phone snapshot to something that belongs in a shop.
The three-step routine
Start with the background. Mark it and write "plain white seamless backdrop, soft even light, subtle shadow under the product". The shadow matters — a product with no shadow at all looks pasted, and marketplaces notice that as much as buyers do.
Then remove distractions: reflections of the room, a hand at the edge of the frame, a cable, a price sticker. Mark each and write "remove". Finally check the colour: "correct the white balance, keep the product colour accurate" fixes the orange cast that indoor light leaves on everything.
| Problem in the snapshot | Instruction |
|---|---|
| Cluttered table behind | plain white seamless backdrop, soft even light |
| Product looks like it floats | add a soft contact shadow under the product |
| Yellow indoor light | correct the white balance, neutral background |
| Reflection of the room | remove the reflection, keep the surface texture |
The one rule that is not negotiable
Do not change the product. Colour, shape, texture, logo and finish must match what the buyer receives, or the photo is a misrepresentation rather than a retouch — and returns cost more than any photo saves. Clean the surroundings, not the item.
Sizes and where they go
Most marketplaces want square images, which is why 1:1 is the default here; a shop hero banner usually wants 16:9 and a story ad wants 9:16. Generate the ratio you need rather than cropping into a square, for the reasons in aspect ratio and resolution. The wider e-commerce workflow, including scenes and lifestyle shots, is in the industry guide.