Marketplace specs
Amazon Main Image Requirements: Pure White Background (RGB 255) Done Right
Amazon's main image is the one shoppers see in search results, and it is the image Amazon polices most strictly. Listings with a non-compliant main image can be suppressed from search until it is fixed. The rules are short; getting them right on every SKU is where sellers lose time.
The main-image rules (check Seller Central for your category)
- Pure white background: RGB 255,255,255. Off-white (250,250,250) or a faint grey gradient can be flagged.
- The product fills about 85% of the frame. Small products floating in white space look worse and are against the guideline.
- Size: at least 1000 px on the longest side enables zoom; 1600–2000 px or more is the practical target. Amazon accepts up to 10,000 px.
- Formats: JPEG preferred; TIFF, PNG and GIF (non-animated) accepted. Use sRGB.
- No extras: no text, logos added on top, watermarks, borders, colour blocks, inset images or props that are not included in the purchase.
- The whole product is visible and in focus, not cropped by the frame.
- Apparel: shown flat or on a model, without a visible mannequin.
Secondary images (up to eight more, depending on category) can use scenes, text, infographics and lifestyle props.
Why AI cutouts fail the white test
Three failure modes account for most rejections:
- Halos: a one-to-three-pixel fringe of the old background around the edge, visible on dark products.
- Near-white backgrounds: the tool outputs 252–254 instead of 255 in corners, especially after JPEG compression.
- Lost shadows: the product looks pasted. A soft contact shadow is allowed and makes the image look photographed.
A workflow that passes
- Cut out on background removal and export a PNG with alpha.
- Check edges at 200% zoom; clean fringes with inpaint using a thin mask along the edge.
- Composite on an exact #FFFFFF canvas sized so the product's longest dimension is ~85% of the frame.
- Add a soft, neutral grey contact shadow under the product only.
- Upscale the final composite to 2000 px or more on upscale.
- Export as high-quality JPEG in sRGB and verify the corner pixels read 255,255,255.
Prompt for an edit model, if you skip the manual composite
Replace the background with pure white (#FFFFFF, RGB 255,255,255). Keep the product, its label, logo, colours and proportions exactly unchanged. Add only a soft neutral contact shadow directly beneath it. No text, no props, no reflections.
Cost per SKU
One cutout on the background-removal model is $0.13 at list price; a Qwen cleanup pass is $0.032; an upscale is $0.036. Even with one retry on each step, a compliant main image costs well under a dollar.
| Model | Vendor | per image |
|---|---|---|
| Openai GPT Image-1 Mini Edit | OpenAI | $0.0060 |
| GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst Edit | OpenAI | $0.0075 |
| GPT Image 2.5 Flare Edit | OpenAI | $0.0075 |
| Openai GPT Image-1.5 Edit | OpenAI | $0.0075 |
| GPT Image 2 Developer Edit | Community | $0.0075 |
| Openai GPT Image 2 Edit | OpenAI | $0.0090 |
Frequently asked questions
Does Amazon allow a shadow on the main image?
A natural, soft shadow under the product is generally accepted. Coloured, gradient or textured backgrounds are not.
What size should an Amazon main image be?
At least 1000 px on the longest side for zoom; 1600–2000 px or more is a better target. The maximum is 10,000 px.
Is 'near white' good enough?
No. Aim for exact RGB 255,255,255. Sample the corners after export, because JPEG compression can shift white slightly.
Can the main image include the brand logo?
Only if it is printed on the product or packaging itself. Logos or text added on top of the image are not allowed on the main image.
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Front hero product angle, crisp edges. Frosted glass skincare serum bottle with gold dropper cap, keep brand logo and label text unchanged, pure #FFFFFF white background with soft contact shadow. 4K commercial e-commerce product photography, zero SKU geometry drift, keep original label text sharp — Flux Kontext & Qwen Image Edit.