Image guidelines

CatalogueImage Guidelines

IntroductionIn an online marketplace, images are the most important trigger that influence purchases. Adding clear, crisp, high-resolution images make it easier for customers to find your listings and make purchase decisions.

Follow our three-step image guidelines to create an appealing catalogue:

1. How to take good photographs2. How to edit an image3. Good images vs. poor images

Topics

How to Edit an Image

How to Take Good Photographs

Good Images vs. Poor Images

Types of Catalogue PhotographyPhotography for catalogue can be categorised into two types – model shoots and product shoots. However, before we look at the detailed guidelines for each type, let’s look at some general guidelines that apply to all categories.

Model Shoots Product Shoots

General Guidelines

Here is a list of general guidelines that apply to all categories and product types:

• Always use a white background.• Ensure that the product is centre-

aligned and covers at least 80% of the frame.

• Always take high-resolution photographs.

• Avoid blurred images.• Avoid using flash to prevent over-

exposure and reflections.• Use soft lighting to avoid shadows.• Use your camera’s Auto White Balance

feature to avoid tinted images.

General Guidelines: BackgroundWhat: You should not place your product against a colourful background as this prevents the product from standing out. Use white background in order to help your product draw more attention.

Coloured Background White Background

General Guidelines: CompositionYour product should be centre aligned and cover at least 80% of the frame to ensure that customers can view its every detail.

Left Aligned and 60% Fill Centre Aligned and 80% Fill

General Guidelines: Image ResolutionYou should capture high resolution images. The ideal resolution is 2000 (height) X 1500 (width) pixels. Use a minimum resolution of 1400 (height) X 1100 (width) pixels to ensure that customers can use the zoom-in feature. High resolution images also ensure that the fine details of your products are not lost and avoid pixilation.How: From your camera settings, select medium or high file size for high-resolution images.

Pixilated Image Crisp Image

General Guidelines: Image Blur

Often, shaky hands can result in blurred images. To take crisp and clear photographs, you should use a tripod that keeps your camera steady. Alternatively, you can place your camera on a plane to avoid blurred images.

Blurred Image Crisp Image

General Guidelines: LightingYou should avoid using flash to prevent over-exposure and reflections. This will help you retain the original colour and fine details of the product.

Overexposed Image Normal Image

General Guidelines: Lighting (cont'd.)Instead of using flash, you should use soft lighting. This ensures that the images do not have shadows and the original colour is captured. This also helps to ensure that the images are not under-exposed either.How: Place a white screen or sheet in front of the light source. Alternatively, you can face the light source away from the product/model and bounce it off the ceiling.

No Lighting Diffused Lighting

General Guidelines: Lighting (cont'd.)You should avoid using filters, incandescent bulbs or fluorescent lights to avoid tinting of images as this prevents from capturing the original colour of the product.How: From your camera settings, select Auto White Balance (AWB).

Tinted Neutral

Model Shoots: Overview of Guidelines

All apparels and preferably accessories should use models. Here is a list of guidelines that apply to model shoots:

• Always use a professional model.• Apparels should fit the model properly.• Models should pose in a decent way.• Avoid using props.

Model Shoots: Professional ModelAlways use a professional model. Non-professional models do not enrich the viewing experience. Customers will not buy a product if it does not look good on the model.

Non-Professional Model Professional Model

Model Shoots: Fit ClothingApparels should fit the model. Customer will not purchase the product if it does not fit the model in the image.

Loose Fit Proper Fit

Model Shoots: PosesThe model should pose in a decent and professional way. Indecent poses will not appeal to customers, and may distract them.

Indecent Pose Decent Pose

Model Shoots: PropsModels should avoid using props as they may end up hiding fine details of the product. In addition, props may also confuse customers about the product that has been listed.

Props Covering Top Details No Props, Clear Details

Model Shoots: Angles of Casual WearAll apparels should be shown in different angles so customers can view complete details of the product. You must add a detail/close up shot so customers can view the texture of the fabric/material. Let’s look at the different angles that you should capture for casual wears, ethnic wears and sarees.For casual wear, you should capture at least four shots so your customers can get a 360 degree view of the product.Cover image for casual wear: Front cropped shot

Front Cropped Shot:Primary/cover image

Full Shot Back Shot Close Up/Detail Shot

Model Shoots: Angles of Ethnic WearFor ethnic wears or sets, you should capture front and back shots, and detail shots of each product included in the set. For example, in a Kurta set, you should add detail shots of the kurta, legging and dupatta.Cover image for ethnic wear: Full front shot of complete set

Full Front Shot of Complete Set:

Primary/cover image

Back Shot Detail Shot – Kurta

Detail Shot – Legging

Detail Shot – Dupatta

Model Shoots: Angles of Sarees

Full Front Shot :Primary/cover image

Back Shot Detail Shot – Pallu

For sarees, you should capture full front and full back shots. You should capture detail shots of the body and the loose end of the saree called pallu.Cover image for sarees: Full front shot

Detail Shot – Body

Product Shoots: Overview of Guidelines

Now that we have discussed most of the guidelines on how to take good photographs, let’s find out the different angles that you should capture in a product shoot that does not involve models. In this section, we will cover the following categories:

• Footwears• Electronics

Product Shoots: Angles of FootwearFor footwears, you should at least capture four shots – 45 degree angular front shot, 45 degree angular back shot, front and back shot, and combo shot.Cover image for footwear: 45 degree angular front shot

Front Shot:Primary/cover image

Combo Shot

Back Shot

Front and Back Shot

Model Shoots: Angles of Electronics

Front Shot :Primary/cover image

Back Shot Shot of Brand Box

For electronics, you should cover at least three shots – front shot, back shot, angular shot and a shot of the brand box in case of phones.Cover image for electronics: Front shot

Angular Shot

Topics




Overview of Edited Guidelines

After you have captured the images of your product, you must edit and save them using Paytm-specific naming conventions. Here are some editing guidelines that you should follow:

• Never use images with watermarks and logos.

• Never use any form of texts, graphics, promotional content or borders on your image.

• Use Paytm-specific naming conventions.

• Save all images in JPEG/JPG or PNG formats.

Logos and WatermarksIf you are using an image with a logo or watermark, you must remove it before submitting it to Paytm.

Without LogoWith Logo

Texts , Graphics and BordersYou should not add any text, graphics or borders in the image. Always edit out any graphics or text that already exists in the image.

Without Text and GraphicsWith Text and Graphics

Naming ConventionYou should use the following Paytm-specific naming conventions while saving the images:• SKUID_other_1.jpeg• SKUID_other_1.jpeg• SKUID_other_1.jpeg

Image FormatSave all images in any of the following universally accepted formats:

• JPEG/JPG• PNG

Topics




Smudging Minor IrregularitiesIf there are any minor irregularities in the image, edit it using an image editor, like Adobe Photoshop, to fix it.

Falling StrapsJumbled Shoelaces

Removing BackgroundsIf there is any background in the image, you need to edit it to ensure that the background is white.

After Editing BackgroundBefore Editing Background

CroppingIf the model used is not professional, you should crop out the face from the image.

After CroppingBefore Cropping

Editing CombosFinally, in case of combos, crop and edit to arrange the image in a compact frame.

CompactUnarranged

Thank you!

Image guidelines

Education