Techniques
Product photo editing
Most product photos need three edits, not thirty: the right crop, an accurate white balance and a clean background. Everything past that is risk.
The edits that matter
Start with the crop, because it decides how much of the product the buyer sees and how the image behaves in a grid. A marketplace main image should be square with the product filling most of the frame; a social image can be taller with more space.
Then white balance, so the product's colour is what it actually is rather than what the room made it. Then the background: white for a listing, styled for social. Sharpening, if any, comes last and light.
- Crop to the channel's aspect ratio before anything else.
- White balance from a neutral reference — a white sheet of paper in the shot.
- Background: clean white for listings, generated scene for social.
- Light sharpening only; heavy sharpening produces halos on edges.
The edits that get you a return
Any edit that changes the product is a liability. Removing a scuff, smoothing a dent, straightening a bent corner, brightening a faded colour, or slimming a shape all describe a product that does not exist. The buyer receives the real one and returns it.
It is also worth knowing what a marketplace will check. Some channels compare listing images against buyer photos when a dispute is opened, and an image that has been substantially altered is not a strong position to argue from.
- Never remove damage: photograph it and describe it.
- Never change the product's colour to look richer.
- Never change size or proportions within the frame.
- Never add an accessory that is not included.
Editing on a phone, in one pass
Zenith AI – Product Photo does the three edits that matter in one step: it removes the background, corrects the light on the product and recomposes it into the frame. From there you export at the size the channel wants.
For a batch of products, that is the difference between editing images one at a time in a photo editor and running a set through in the time it takes to make coffee.
How it works
Three steps from a phone photo to a finished image
Scan or upload
Take a photo in the app, or pick one you already shot on your iPhone.
Let the AI work
The app removes the background, relights the product and builds the scene.
Export and list
Save a marketplace-ready image at the size your listing needs.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What should I edit in a product photo?
Crop, white balance and background. Those three decide whether the image fits the channel and whether the product's colour is accurate. Sharpening and small exposure corrections come after, and should be light.
Is it OK to remove scratches from a product photo?
No. Photograph the scratch, keep it in the image and describe it in the listing. Removing it does not remove the scratch from the product, and the buyer will find it when the parcel arrives.
Can I edit product photos on an iPhone?
Yes, and most of the work can be done in one app. Zenith AI – Product Photo handles background, light and framing, and exports at the size each marketplace needs, so a separate desktop editor is not required.
How long should editing take per product?
A minute or two for a single product once the crop and background are decided. If it is taking longer, the problem is usually the original photo — bad light and a busy background are slow to fix and quick to reshoot.
Try it on your next photo
Free to download on the App Store. iPhone and iPad only.