Will the fire bowl fit on the patio? What does the bottom look like? In a store, the customer picks it up and turns it over. On Amazon, your images have to answer these questions. The main image decides the click in search. The other images decide the purchase on the product page.
A lot of outdated rules on Amazon product images still circulate online. Amazon requires at least 500 pixels, zoom starts at 1,000 pixels on the longest side, and there is no fixed aspect ratio. Since July 2026, Amazon has a new rule for AI-generated people. And since August 2, 2026, Article 50 of the EU AI Act applies.
Our example: the outdoor clay fire bowl of the invented brand Glutvik (ASIN B0EXAMPLE1). You use it to check the image rules and the main image. You also get tips for better photos, the ways to upload, and the current state of AI labeling.
Image types on Amazon and where they appear
The main image follows the customer from search to the product page. Amazon shows it in search results, as the first image on the product detail page and in ads, that is in Sponsored Products, Sponsored Brands and Sponsored Display. The previews in the Amazon Brand Store use it too. Without a compliant main image, Amazon can temporarily remove the listing from search.
If Glutvik sells the fire bowl in three colors, every child ASIN needs its own main image that shows exactly that color. How parent and child fit together is explained in the article on Amazon variations.
Besides the main image, there are three more groups:
- Gallery images (PT01, PT02 and so on) appear next to the main image on the detail page. This is where you show views, details, dimensions and the product in use.
- Swatch images (SWCH) are the small images in the variation picker. They show the color or material of a variation.
- Safety images (PS01 to PS06) show warnings and safety information, for example for the General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR). Amazon shows them in the “Safety and Product Resources” section.
Search result
Glutvik Outdoor fire bowl, clay, 30 cm
€24.90
Product detail page
Brand: Glutvik
Outdoor fire bowl, clay, 30 cm
€24.90
Color: Terracotta
Safety and Product Resources
PS01- MAIN
- Main image: in search results, on the detail page, in ads and in the Brand Store.
- PT01–PT08
- More images in the gallery. At most 9 images including the main image, so 8 more.
- SWCH
- Small images in the variant picker. Text and pricing details are banned only here.
- PS01–PS06
- Safety images in the “Safety and Product Resources” section.
Example product and brand are invented. Source of the rules: Amazon product image guide (G1881).
Variant codes for sellers and vendors
Each image gets its place through its variant code. For bulk uploads, the code goes into the file name. The current list is in Amazon’s Product image guide:
| Code | What it is | Where it appears |
|---|---|---|
| MAIN | Main image | Search, detail page, ads, Brand Store |
| PT01 to PT99 | Additional product images | Gallery on the detail page |
| SWCH | Swatch image (color, material) | Variation picker |
| PS01 to PS06 | Product safety and compliance images | ”Safety and Product Resources” |
| TOPP, BOTT, LEFT, RGHT, FRNT, BACK, SIDE | Views from the top, bottom, left, right, front, back, side | Gallery |
| IN01 to IN99 | Interior shots, usually sample pages of books | Gallery |
| INGR | Ingredient information | Gallery |
| EEGL | Energy guide images | Energy information |
| DTLS | Multipack image: several items packaged together or large quantities of identical items | Gallery |
Amazon lists up to 99 PT codes. Because only nine images per product count, you will use PT01 to PT08 in practice. Watch the spelling RGHT, not RIGHT. The older codes PAIR, FACT, AW01 and FL01 are no longer on the list. EU and UK energy labels and product information sheets have no variant code. You upload them a different way, which Amazon describes on the page Upload energy efficiency information to Amazon’s websites.
Vendor Central uses the same codes as Seller Central. This is shown in the product image guide (G1881) in the Vendor Central help.
How many images and videos Amazon allows
Amazon allows a maximum of nine images per product: one main image and eight more slots. Amazon recommends at least six additional images and one video. This is not mandatory.
According to Amazon, videos are available to brand-registered and non-brand-registered sellers who have been selling for three months or more. We have not found any Amazon source for Germany that says how many videos amazon.de allows per ASIN, and Seller Central does not show it either (as of November 2026).
The file is uploaded. Whether customers see it is another question: Amazon says it can take up to 24 hours for an image to appear. If several sellers supply images for the same ASIN, Amazon picks the images and their order. Amazon can also modify them. So an upload alone does not guarantee that your image goes live.
Which Amazon guidelines should you follow when choosing your product images?
Amazon’s rules are in the “Product image guide”, help page G1881 (linked above). We checked the page for the German marketplace on November 1, 2026. The numbers below come from there and from the linked technical help pages.
Image size, resolution and file format
| Requirement | Amazon’s rule |
|---|---|
| Minimum size | 500 pixels on the longest side |
| Zoom | from 1,000 pixels on the longest side |
| Maximum size | 10,000 pixels on the longest side |
| Resolution | at least 72 dpi |
| Color mode | RGB (CMYK is accepted, Amazon recommends converting to RGB) |
| File formats | JPEG (recommended), TIFF, PNG, non-animated GIF |
| File name for bulk uploads | product ID, variant code, extension, separated by dots, e.g. B0EXAMPLE1.MAIN.jpg |
Amazon does not require an aspect ratio. The often-quoted “3:4” rule is not in G1881. Square images are a common choice, but not a requirement. Clothing has its own guidance, covered in the glossary entry on image guidelines for clothing.
Amazon also lists the sizes and the zoom threshold on the page on image upload errors. The technical image file requirements add: little compression, the highest JPEG quality, no layers. Amazon does not accept formats such as EPS, BMP, PDF, PSD or AI. Grayscale is meant only for gray or silver metal products.
Our advice: upload 2,000 pixels or more on the longest side. This leaves room for zoom and cropping; it is not an Amazon limit. Amazon explicitly forbids blowing up a small photo to get there.
Main image requirements
The main image has the strictest rules:
- pure white background (RGB 255, 255, 255)
- the product fills 85% of the image
- the whole product is in the frame, nothing is cut off
- the product appears only once: one unit, plus only the accessories included with it
- no props, no mannequin
- no packaging, unless the packaging is a feature of the product
- realistic and professional, with the real size, quantity and color, no placeholder
Some categories have their own rules. Adult clothing is shown on a standing model. Shoes are shown as a single shoe, facing left, at a 45-degree angle. Amazon allows a lifestyle image as the main image only for a few product types. For clothing, shoes and jewelry, Amazon may give the main image a neutral background such as gray or beige itself. You still have to upload an image on pure white.
Six main images of the Glutvik fire bowl, and only one meets every rule. Which one would you upload? The others have a light gray background, a product that is too small (about 60% of the image), props in a lifestyle scene, a “Best seller” badge, or two bowls instead of one.
Which main image follows Amazon’s rules? Tap an image.
Example product is invented. Rules: Amazon product image guide (G1881).
Requirements for all images
Some rules apply to every image, not just the main image:
- The image shows the product accurately and matches the title.
- No nudity. Form-fitting children’s clothing is shown lying flat, without a model.
- No images of customer reviews, no stars, no claims such as “free shipping”, no information specific to one seller.
- No Amazon logos, trademarks or badges such as “Amazon’s Choice” or “Best seller”.
Text and pricing details are banned only on the swatch image. The old claim that “no image may contain text or logos” is not correct as stated. So Glutvik may add dimensions, weight or a care note to its gallery images. More on this below in the optimization section.
Common violations and what Amazon does
Most problems concern the main image:
- badges, seals or a homemade “Best seller” label on the image
- a gray or colored background instead of pure white
- a product that is too small, with a lot of empty space
- several products or color variations in one image
- props that are not included with the product
G1881 separates two cases: if a file does not meet the technical requirements, the upload itself fails. If an image breaks the rules, Amazon can remove it. If a compliant main image is missing, the listing can temporarily disappear from search.
You can see whether an image has a problem in Seller Central on the image management page, in the “Submission status” tab. There, the image upload status shows the state of each upload. The “Content compliance issues” tab lists flagged images with the reason and the action needed, and you can also download it as a report. According to the help page Upload images, a red exclamation point in the image tile also marks a problem.
AI images on Amazon: what the law says (as of November 2026)
This section gives general information as of November 2026. It does not replace legal advice. Whether and how a rule applies to your images is a question for a lawyer.
Since summer 2026, AI images have two new layers of rules: a rule from Amazon and obligations from the EU AI Act. Competition law continues to apply alongside them.
Amazon’s rule for AI-generated people
Since July 2026, product images with photorealistic AI-generated people must carry a specific metadata keyword before upload: contains-synthetic-performer. The rule applies to listings and to A+ content, in all Amazon stores worldwide. Amazon’s reason is that some jurisdictions require such a disclosure. Amazon announced the rule on July 27, 2026 in the German Seller Forum. The English Product image guide puts it like this:
“If your image includes photorealistic AI-generated people, you must tag that image with the appropriate metadata before uploading it to Amazon.”
Once you have set the keyword, Amazon can show customers a notice that the image contains AI-generated people. Amazon says “where applicable”, so it does not necessarily show the notice.
| What does the image show? | Do I need the tag? |
|---|---|
| a photorealistic AI-generated person | yes |
| a real person, even if edited with AI tools | no |
| a character from a film, game or other work | no |
| no person at all, for example only the fire bowl in the garden | no |
| a person who is not photorealistic, for example a drawing | no |
Amazon gives no clear deadline for older images. Check your existing images anyway. Amazon is strict about A+ content: breaking the A+ content guidelines can lead to rejection of the content or even “potential removal of your ASIN as a restricted product”. In G1881, the rule is in the section “AI-generated people disclosure”.
How to set the contains-synthetic-performer tag
Amazon’s help page How to tag media that contains an AI-generated person describes three ways: macOS Preview, Windows File Explorer and exiftool. The A+ Content Manager also has an option when uploading, which is described in the A+ content guidelines. Afterwards, the keyword sits in the file’s XMP metadata (field dc:subject). It works for images and for videos.
| Tool | Where | What to enter |
|---|---|---|
| macOS Preview | Inspector (Cmd+I), “Keywords” tab, then ”+“ | contains-synthetic-performer |
| Windows File Explorer | Properties, “Details” tab, “Tags” field, not “Subject” | contains-synthetic-performer |
| exiftool | command line | command below |
| A+ Content Manager | Creative Assets, the “AI-generated people” option when uploading | Amazon applies the metadata itself |
exiftool -XMP-dc:Subject+=contains-synthetic-performer image.jpg
In the A+ content Manager, Creative Assets offers two options: “AI-generated” for AI images without people and “AI-generated people” for images with AI people. This is what Amazon’s A+ content guidelines say. We have not checked the labels in the upload dialog itself.
For regular listing images, you set the tag through the metadata. We have not yet checked whether there is also a checkbox there.
To tag many images at once, use our free Synthetic Performer Tagger. The tool runs in your browser.
EU AI Act Article 50: obligations for providers and deployers
The EU AI Act (Regulation (EU) 2024/1689) sets out transparency obligations in Article 50. It distinguishes two roles.
Providers of generative AI systems must mark the outputs in a machine-readable format, so that they are detectable as artificially generated or manipulated (Art. 50(2)). This does not apply to the extent the systems “perform an assistive function for standard editing or do not substantially alter the input data provided by the deployer or the semantics thereof”.
Deployers, meaning anyone “using an AI system under its authority except where the AI system is used in the course of a personal non-professional activity” (Art. 3(4)), must disclose deep fakes (Art. 50(4)). Under Art. 3(60), a deep fake is AI-generated or manipulated content that “resembles existing persons, objects, places, entities or events and would falsely appear to a person to be authentic or truthful”. Whether a product image is a deep fake depends on the individual case. The European Commission’s FAQ (last updated July 24, 2026) says nothing about product images in e-commerce. However, the Commission’s Article 50 guidelines (C(2026) 5054 of July 20, 2026) list an AI-generated product image in advertising or on packaging that can mislead about the real product’s appearance, characteristics or use as an example of a deep fake.
The same FAQ makes clear: to disclose a deep fake, deployers cannot simply rely on the provider’s machine-readable marking. The disclosure should be perceivable by people “without need for any specific technical tools”, for example as a visible label.
In Germany, under § 2(1) of the KI-Marktüberwachungs-und-Innovationsförderungs-Gesetz (KI-MIG), the German act on market surveillance under the EU AI Act, the Bundesnetzagentur (Federal Network Agency) is the competent authority in principle, with other authorities for some areas. On June 10, 2026, the Commission published a Code of Practice on marking and labelling of AI-generated content. It is voluntary.
Key dates
| Date | What applies |
|---|---|
| July 27, 2026 | Amazon announces the rule for AI-generated people in the German Seller Forum |
| July 27, 2026 | Regulation (EU) 2026/1744 (“Digital Omnibus on AI”) enters into force |
| August 2, 2026 | Article 50 of the EU AI Act applies |
| December 2, 2026 | End of the grace period for providers whose systems were placed on the market before August 2, 2026, only for the marking under Art. 50(2). The disclosure of deep fakes under Art. 50(4) is not postponed. |
Misleading images: German unfair-competition law still applies
An AI image must not mislead customers about size, color, contents or function. In Germany, this follows from German unfair-competition law (§ 5 UWG, the ban on misleading commercial practices), and it applies to AI images just as to any photo editing. If the AI image shows the Glutvik bowl larger or in a red that does not exist, that is a problem, with or without the tag.
How can you optimize your Amazon product images?
The eight slots next to the main image answer the questions customers have before they buy: Will the bowl fit on the patio? What can I use it for?
Show the product in use
Glutvik shows the fire bowl on a patio in the evening, with guests around it. This lets the customer picture the bowl on their own patio. A second image shows what it can be used for: fire pit, decoration with a candle, planter in winter.
Show sizes and dimensions
How much space does the bowl need? A gallery image with diameter, height and weight answers the most common question before a purchase. This information is allowed there. For the fire bowl, you show the 30 cm diameter and add how much clear space it needs around it.
Renderings instead of photos
A rendering is created from a 3D model on a computer. Once the model of the Glutvik bowl is done, you change the perspective and color quickly, without photographing every variation again. This pays off for many color variations or for products that are hard to photograph. A rendering must also be realistic and show size and color accurately. Otherwise the ban on misleading images from the section on unfair-competition law applies.
Avoid wrong purchases
Return reasons give you ideas for your next images. Does the bowl come back because it is too big for a balcony? Show in an image what it is suited for and what not. For spare parts and accessories, an image of the compatible models helps.
Edit images with AI
AI tools remove or replace backgrounds and adjust brightness, contrast and sharpness. The patio may change, but the bowl must stay the same. Three rules help:
- Start with a good, sharp photo of the real product.
- Change the background, lighting and color balance on purpose, but not the product’s features.
- Compare the result with the product: color, size, surface and details must match.
You can use this prompt:
You are a professional assistant for e-commerce photography. Your task is to optimize product images for Amazon listings, follow Amazon's requirements and show the product truthfully. Follow these steps:
1. Basic image editing: Adjust brightness, sharpness and contrast. The product should be well lit and stand out from the background.
2. Background: Remove the current background and replace it with a pure white background (RGB 255, 255, 255).
Optional: Create a second version with a lifestyle background that complements the product without distracting from it. [Add background suggestions here if needed.]
3. Product accuracy: Optimize texture and color. Size, properties and materials must match the real product.
4. Amazon compliance:
- The image has at least 1,000 pixels on the longest side. If not, point this out.
- Save the image as JPEG or PNG.
- The product fills 85% of the image.
5. Final check: Compare the edited image with the original and check that it shows the product truthfully.
You will receive the product image in the next step.
How to create images with AI in AMALYTIX is shown in the article AI image generation for Amazon. If the AI creates photorealistic people, set the tag from the section on Amazon’s rule for AI-generated people.
Compare images with an A/B test
With two main images of the Glutvik bowl, a team can argue about the favorite for a long time. A test shows which one gets more clicks. With A/B tests on Amazon, you compare two main images or two sets of gallery images with real customers.
How do you upload images to Amazon?
Upload images in Seller Central
Go to “Manage Products”, find the product, and in the “Actions” column select “Edit images” from the drop-down menu. In the “Images” tab, click “Upload multiple files” to upload up to nine images. Alternatively, go to the “Manage images” tab and select Image Manager. There you assign a variant code to each image and check whether your images are live. This is how Amazon’s help page “Add product images and video” describes it. In the new Seller Central interface, however, “Edit images” opens the listing editor, where images and videos sit in the description section.
Upload many images at once
For large catalogs there are three ways:
- Bulk upload with the “Upload Images” tool: Each zip file can hold up to 1,000 images and 1 GB. Name each file as product ID, variant code, extension, for example
B0EXAMPLE1.MAIN.jpgandB0EXAMPLE1.PT01.jpg. Amazon treats a file with a product ID but no variant code as a main image. You can also name files freely and match them to products after the upload under “Assign Images”. - Bulk listing templates: In the inventory files, you enter image URLs. The images must be publicly accessible.
- Through an API: Software uploads images with the Listings Items API of the SP-API. The old MWS interface no longer exists. More on this in the article on the Amazon API.
Upload images in Vendor Central
In Vendor Central, Items › Upload Images opens the Image Manager, which lists your products with the submitted and the live images. There is no drop-down for the variant code when uploading. Put the variant code, such as MAIN or PT01, in the file name, for example B0EXAMPLE1.MAIN.jpg, or assign uploaded images later under “Assign Images”.
To upload many images at once, use the “Upload Images” tab, also with zip files. One zip file may hold up to 1,000 images and 1 GB. Leave special characters out of the zip file’s name. Vendor Central accepts JPEG, TIFF, PNG and non-animated GIF. The “Submission Status” tab shows progress. A selected image can take up to 24 hours to appear on the product detail page.
Create and check product images with AMALYTIX AI Image Creation
Three colors of the fire bowl, plus A+ modules and ads: with 200 ASINs and nine images per product, that is up to 1,800 images in different formats. After the upload, you have to check: does Amazon show your images or different ones?
With AI Image Creation, you create new images from one product photo. You pick an image type or write your own prompts, add brand guidelines as text and choose the aspect ratio. Amazon does not require an aspect ratio, so the choice is a design decision: square for the gallery, other formats for A+ modules or ads.
Square · 2,048 × 2,048 pixels
In the example, the Glutvik bowl is 2,048 × 2,048 pixels in 1:1, 1,856 × 2,304 pixels in 4:5 and 2,752 × 1,536 pixels in 16:9. All three are above Amazon’s zoom threshold of 1,000 pixels.
Generated files carry a machine-readable AI marking (IPTC). AMALYTIX does not set the Amazon tag contains-synthetic-performer. If an image shows a photorealistic AI person, set the tag yourself, as described above.
Once the images are live, Content Monitoring checks the live listing against your approved snapshot every day. For images, the visible content counts, not the file name. If Amazon shows a different image, you see the difference. In the Listing Quality Index (LQI), you weight images by your own rules, for example next to the title, bullet points and A+ content.
Which images go live, whether an image needs the tag, and how you assess the legal situation for your range is your decision.
Create product images in the format your listing, A+ module or ad needs, and check every day whether Amazon shows your images. Start your 14-day free trial
Conclusion
First a compliant main image. Then gallery images that show the size and use of the fire bowl. Work through five steps:
-
Check the main image
Pure white background, 85% product, only one unit, no badges and no props.
-
Upload large enough
At least 1,000 pixels on the longest side, so zoom works. More gives you room.
-
Use the slots
Up to nine images are allowed. Amazon recommends at least six additional images and one video.
-
Tag AI people
Photorealistic AI people need the tag contains-synthetic-performer before upload.
-
Check the live images
Amazon picks and modifies images. Check regularly what customers really see.
Your title, bullet points and description must fit the images too. How to approach that is shown in the series on Amazon listing optimization.
Frequently asked questions about Amazon product images
What image size do Amazon product images need?
At least 500 pixels on the longest side, at most 10,000 pixels. Zoom works from 1,000 pixels on the longest side. The resolution should be at least 72 dpi.
What aspect ratio does Amazon require?
None. Amazon’s Product image guide does not require an aspect ratio. Square images are common, but not a requirement.
How many images can I upload to Amazon?
Up to nine images per product, including the main image. Amazon recommends at least six additional images and one video.
Can Amazon product images contain text?
Yes, except the swatch image. Dimensions, for example, are allowed on gallery images. Banned on all images are reviews, stars, claims such as “free shipping” and Amazon badges. The main image shows only the product on a white background.
What is a swatch image?
A swatch image (code SWCH) is the small image in the variation picker. It shows the color or material of a variation. Text and pricing details are banned on it.
Do I have to label AI images on Amazon?
If an image shows photorealistic AI-generated people, Amazon has required the keyword contains-synthetic-performer in the metadata since July 2026. This rule does not apply to images without people. In addition, since August 2026 the EU AI Act contains obligations for providers and deployers of AI systems. For your individual case, ask a lawyer.
Can I use AI for Amazon product images?
Yes. Amazon does not ban AI images. But the image must be realistic and show the product with its real size, color and contents. A misleading image breaks Amazon’s rules and, in Germany, § 5 UWG.
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