Cross-border
Localizing Product Listings for Cross-Border Sales: Images, Text and Specs
Selling the same product on Amazon US, Rakuten, Taobao and Shopee is not a translation job. Each market expects different image text, units, backgrounds and selling points. The good news is that most of the work is edits on images you already have.
What changes between markets
| Element | What to localize |
|---|---|
| Infographic text | Language, and claims that are allowed in that market |
| Units | inches / cm, oz / ml, °F / °C, US / EU / JP sizes |
| Main-image rules | Amazon: pure white; Rakuten: text under 20%, no frames; Taobao: often richer main images plus a white one |
| Models and scenes | Settings and styling that look local |
| Plugs, labels, packaging | Regional plug types, local-language packaging if sold that way |
| Listing copy | Search terms buyers actually type, not literal translations |
Image localization workflow
- Make a master set with text-free versions of every infographic.
- Swap text per market with Qwen Image Edit on inpaint — it handles Chinese and Japanese text at headline size. Details in packaging text localization.
- Swap scene props (plug, measuring cup, background objects) with object swap.
- Localize on-model images with outfit change, keeping the garment identical.
- Re-check each main image against that market's rules.
Copy, not just images
Titles and bullets should be written from local search behaviour. Use listing and video SEO copy to draft titles, bullets and video captions per market, then have a native speaker review claims and sizing.
Cost
Localizing an eight-image set is about eight edits per market: $0.25 on Qwen Image Edit Plus at list price, before retries.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need new photos for each marketplace?
Usually not. Localize text, units, props and scenes with edits on a master set, and check each main image against the local rules.
Can AI translate the text inside product images?
Qwen Image Edit can replace headline text with a translation in a matching style. Have a native speaker check it, and use real artwork for regulated text.
What's different about Rakuten main images?
Rakuten's guideline limits text to under 20% of the first image and requires a white or photographic background without frames.
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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.