Product media can include images, 3D models, and videos. Using media such as 3D models for your products provides your customer with a better understanding of the function and size of an item, and increases your customers' confidence in the quality of your products.

You can add product media directly to your product pages, or by using metafields. If you have a compatible theme, then you can add references to your product metafields through the theme editor.

You can also access product media and other files by navigating to Content > Files within the Shopify admin. You can filter your list of files using the Used in search dropdown and selecting Product media. The Files section of the admin allows you to view all your files used across every product in your store.

To display 3D models or videos in your online store, you need to do one of the following:

• Use a theme that supports 3D models and videos. You might need to update to a newer version if you're currently using one of these themes and 3D models and videos don't display.
• Modify your current theme. If you're comfortable reading and editing theme code, then you can learn more about adding media support to your theme and media UX guidelines in Shopify's developer documentation. If you're not comfortable reading and editing theme code, then you can hire a Shopify Partner.

Product media types

Customers browsing in your online store view media such as images on product pages. Using media such as video, 3D models, and augmented reality on your product page can increase a customer's confidence in your products, leading to a better customer experience and more sales. It's important that the media that you add for your products are high quality and meet the required specifications so that they upload and are displayed properly.

To display videos or 3D models on product pages, your online store needs to use a theme that supports the media that you want to add. All themes support adding images to your products.

Images

Product images are used to display products across Shopify's sales channels, including on your online store and in Shopify POS. The best file type for most product images is PNG, followed by JPEG. Other accepted file types are PSD, TIFF, BMP, GIF, SVG, HEIC, and WebP. Animated versions of GIF and WebP files are also supported. Shopify's Imagery service determines which image formats are supported by your customer's web client, and then automatically displays the image in the best format available. The exact way that images display on your store depends on your online store theme, but all themes support adding images.

Your product and collection images can be any size up to 5000 x 5000 px, or 25 megapixels. Product and collection images need to have a file size smaller than 20 MB to be added to Shopify.

High resolution photos look more polished and professional to your customers. For square product images, a size of 2048 x 2048 px usually displays best. For more advice about photographing your products, read The definitive DIY guide to beautiful product photography in the Shopify Blog.

When you add an image, different sizes are automatically created for use in different areas of your online store theme. For example, a product image's large version might be used on the product detail page, where the customer wants to view the product in detail. The compact version of the same image might be used on the collection templates, where a larger image isn't necessary.

3D models

3D models are virtual representations of an object in three dimensions. 3D models can provide your customers with a better sense of the size, scale, and the details of your products.

A customer who is browsing your store can view 3D product models from the product page. The models use the device's camera and screen to display the product in the customer's environment. Using the 3D model, the customer can view the object from any angle.

You need to make sure that your 3D model files meet the following requirements before you add them to your online store:

• File size: Up to 500 MB
• File type: GLB, USDZ

If you upload a 3D model file that exceeds 15 MB, then your file is automatically optimized. Optimization reduces file sizes and increases loading speeds.

Videos

You can add videos for your product in two ways: uploading a video file, or embedding a YouTube or Vimeo video link. If you're uploading video files, then make sure that they meet the following requirements:

• Video length: Up to 10 minutes
• Video size: Up to 1 GB
• Video resolution: Up to 4K (4096 x 2160 px)
• Video file type: .mp4, .mov, or .webm

You don't need to meet these requirements for embedding YouTube or Vimeo videos, however URLs other than YouTube or Vimeo URLs aren't supported.

In browsers that support streaming, videos display in either 480p, 720p, or 1080p, depending on the viewer's connection speed and the resolution of the uploaded video. In browsers that don't support streaming, videos display in the highest resolution available.

You can add images, 3D models, or videos for your products from your Shopify admin or the Shopify app.

Supported themes for 3D models or videos

Your theme might already support 3D models or videos. You need to ensure that your theme is updated with the right version.

The following Shopify themes support the display of 3D models or videos on your online store:

• Online Store 2.0 themes built by Shopify:
  • Craft
  • Crave
  • Dawn
  • Sense
• All of the Horizon family of themes

Certain themes have also been updated to provide an enhanced experience for Vimeo video playback. If you want to feature Vimeo videos in your theme, then consider updating your theme to one of the following versions:

• Craft
• Crave
• Dawn
• Sense

Most third-party themes have recent versions that include 3D models or videos. If you use a theme developed by a third party, then you can contact the theme developer for support, or refer to your theme's help documentation.

Adding product media by using metafields

If you want to customize the way that product media are displayed in your online store, then you can use metafields to create a file reference metafield for your products. File reference metafields support uploading images to display your products, or all other file types for your customers to download. You can display JPEG, PNG, WEBP, SVG, HEIC, or GIF images in metafields on your online store. A metafield can contain only one file at a time.

If you have a compatible theme, then you can connect file reference metafields to your theme by using the theme editor. If you're using vintage themes, then you can edit your theme code or hire a Shopify Partner to help you.

Adding product media

You can add a maximum of 250 images, 3D models, or videos to a product. 3D models and videos have specific hosting limits based on your Shopify plan. You can also directly scan and build a 3D model directly within the Shopify mobile app on compatible iOS devices with the 3D scanner feature.

The first media item for each product is known as the featured, or main, media item. The main media item is displayed on collection pages, the cart page, the checkout page, and your home page. You can change your main media item any time.

Add media to your products

Change your main product media

Copy a link to your product media

If you need to copy a link to your product media to share it online or make it available for download from a product or collection description, webpage, or a blog post, then you can copy the link to an individual media file. Learn more about linking to a file in page content.

Deleting your media

You can delete your media individually or in bulk.

Delete media individually

Removing a file from a product won't remove it from your store. In order to delete media from your store, you have to delete it in the file manager in Content > Files in the admin.

Delete media in bulk

If any of the selected files are being used elsewhere in your store, then the files are removed only from the product that you're editing. In order to delete media from your store, you have to delete it in the file manager in Content > Files in the admin.

Replace files

1. From your Shopify admin, go to Content > Files.

2. Click the Replace icon next to the file name.

3. Select the file that you want to upload.

Edit files without overwriting the existing file

In the file editor, it's possible to make destructive edits to an image, such as changing the background of an image. To make changes without overwriting an existing file, save the changes as new.

Steps:

1. From your Shopify admin, go to Content > Files.

2. Select a media file to open the file editor.

3. Make file edits.

4. From the Save dropdown menu, select Save as new.

Saving as new saves the new file to your store's file system and preserves the original image in its original state.

File storage limits by plan

The amount of storage that you have available for uploaded files varies depending on your Shopify subscription plan.

Review the following table to learn more about file storage limits.

Paid storage increases

If you want to purchase additional file storage space for your organization, then the organization owner can contact Shopify Support to request an incremental storage increase.

The requested increase increments are added to one production store, and up to two development stores. All three of the included shops receive their own increase. The increment isn't split between them. Increases must be added in the available increments. Fractional paid increases aren't available.

Video and 3D model limits by plan

You need to do one of the following to display 3D models or videos in your online store:

• Use a theme that supports 3D models and videos. If you're using an older version of a supported theme, then you might need to update your theme to the newest version to use 3D models and videos.
• Modify your current theme. If you're comfortable reading and editing theme code, then you can learn more about adding media support to your theme and media UX guidelines in Shopify's developer documentation. If you're not comfortable reading and editing theme code, then you can hire a Shopify Partner.

The amount of both videos and 3D models that you have available to upload varies depending on your Shopify subscription plan.

Review the following table to learn more about video and 3D model limits.

Video storage limits by plan

The amount of storage that you have available for uploaded videos varies depending on your Shopify subscription plan.

Review the following table to learn more about video storage limits.

Video upload requirements

When adding videos from YouTube or Vimeo using Add from URL, videos must meet specific requirements for visibility and URL format.

Video privacy settings

Videos must have permissions that allow them to be accessed publicly or embedded on external websites. Videos that are set to private or have restricted viewing permissions can't be added to your Shopify admin:

• For YouTube videos, set the video to Public or Unlisted. Learn more about YouTube privacy settings.
• For Vimeo videos, ensure the video allows embedding on external sites. Learn more about Vimeo privacy settings.

Supported URL formats

Use the following URL formats when adding videos from URL:

• YouTube: Use the standard video URL format https://youtube.com/watch?v=[video-id]. YouTube Shorts URLs (https://youtube.com/shorts/[video-id]) aren't currently supported, but you can convert them by changing the URL to the standard format.
• Vimeo: Use the direct video URL format https://vimeo.com/[video-id]. If you have a Vimeo account with custom URL features, then use the direct video URL instead of your custom vanity URL.

Adding alt text to media

Alt (alternative) text describes a media item and is an important part of a product description. If a media item can't load for any reason, then alt text is shown instead. It's also used by assistive technology to describe an image to a customer who's visually impaired. Including alt text can boost your website's SEO.

Keep your alt text brief and descriptive. The maximum length is 512 characters, but 125 or less is recommended.

You can also upload alt text in a CSV file.

Steps:

Taking product photographs

Using high quality product photographs on your store demonstrates to your customers what they'll get if they buy your products. Your online store looks more professional with good quality product photography, and it can increase customer trust in your brand.

If you want to take the good quality photos at home, then there are some tools that you can use, and steps that you can take to produce the best results.

Photography definitions

• Aperture - Aperture is the opening in the camera lens that light passes through to enter the camera. Its size can be modified to control how much light reaches the sensor or film. The diameter of the aperture, also known as the f-stop, affects the exposure and depth of field.
• Aperture priority - Aperture priority is a camera mode in which you manually set your aperture, and the camera automatically selects a shutter speed.
• Depth of field - Depth of field defines the area of sharp focus. A lower f-stop produces a more shallow depth of field, or focused area.
• Exposure - Camera exposure is the overall amount of light that reaches the film or camera sensor when a picture is being taken. It determines the overall brightness or darkness of a photograph.
• F-stop - F-stop is the focal length of the lens. The f-stop determines how much light you allow to hit the sensor through the camera's aperture opening.
• ISO - The ISO controls the sensitivity of the sensor. The higher the ISO the more noise there is. Often times the lowest ISO you can set your camera to is ISO 100, so set it there if you can.
• Shutter speed - Shutter speed is the length of time that the lens stays open and the camera sensor is exposed to light when taking a photo. Slow shutter speeds capture the blur of subjects in motion. High shutter speeds allow you to freeze a single millisecond in time.
• White balance - White balance is the adjustment done to an image to compensate for the temperature of the light illuminating the scene. Cameras offer a few pre-set values based on the most common types of illumination, but it can also be set manually during or after the shot.

Tools for product photography

A good photograph is made up of a series of choices that incorporates lighting, exposure, styling, and post-processing decisions.

If you want to take the most professional looking photos possible from your home, then you might want to use some or all of the following equipment:

• the right location (a room with a window)
• a camera
• a tripod
• a table
• a white background
• tape
• white reflector cards made of foam board or paper

1. Choosing a location

If you aren't a photography expert and don’t own photography lights, then you need a room with a window to take your photographs next to. Indoor light bulbs and built-in camera flashes can create harsh contrast, light reflections, and undesirable color shifts on your photos.

You can position your setup closer to the window to create a softer light with darker, softer shadows. You can also position your setup further away to give a more even light but with sharper, lighter shadows.

2. Choosing a camera

You should take product photos with the best camera that you have available.

Although a higher quality camera can produce higher quality images, you don't need professional level equipment to have good results. You can use a reasonably priced DSLR, a point and shoot camera, or your smartphone.

3. Choosing a tripod

You might need a tripod to stabalize your camera. Tripods are more important when you use the manual camera settings, especially in low light conditions.

For example, if you're using a smartphone infront of a very large window, then you might not need a tripod, however one might still be helpful for stability.

If you're using a manual DSLR, then you might need to use a tripod to stabilize your camera to use a very small aperture, and slower shutter speed. When you use these settings, you let the most light in while getting the most depth of field, but you create the potential for camera blur.

4. Choosing your surface

You can use any table that you have, placed near a window. A good standard table width for product photography is between 24 and 27 inches.

5. Creating a white background

Make sure that your products are the main focus of the photograph by removing visual distractions. Using a pure white background for your product to sit in front of ensures that your product is the central focus.

There are a variety of background options depending on your budget. Check your local department or office stores for white poster board, or look online.

You can also buy a more professional photography background called a sweep, which is a roll of paper on a roller. If you intend to do a lot of product photography, then sweeps can be beneficial because when the used part gets dirty, you can cut off it off and roll a new piece down.

6. Securing your set with tape

You can use tape or clamps to secure down your board or paper sweep, depending on what kind of table you're using, so that your board or paper sweeps properly on a 90 degree slope.

7. Using a reflector card

If you want to have more control over the light in your photograph, then you can use either a white foam board to reflect light, or a black foam board to absorb light.

When you’re lighting your product with natural light, there's a bright side where the light hits it, and a shadow side. The shadow side can sometimes be too dark, so you can use something white to reflect the light back into the shadows to make the shadows brighter.

Alternatively, you can use black foam board to make the shadows deeper. This is helpful if you’re photographing a white product on a white background. You can add black foam board to the sides, just outside of the photo and behind the product to create a dark edge on the white product.

You might be able to buy foam boards from a department or art store. You might also be able to simply balance a sheet of white printer paper or use a piece of poster board.

Photography settings and techniques

The following is a list of steps you can take to create your photography set, and adjust your camera settings:

1. Setting up your table
2. Setting up your sweep
3. Adjusting your camera settings
4. Setting up your product
5. Setting up your reflector card
6. Taking the picture and evaluating
7. Retouching your images
8. Optimizing images for your website

1. Setting up your table

Place your table as close to the window as possible without intersecting the shadow from the windowsill. Start with the window 90 degrees to the right or left of your setup. Make sure there isn’t harsh direct sunlight hitting your set.

You can also try rotating the set so that the window is at a 45 degree angle to the set, or try it with the window straight onto the set for a different style of natural lighting.

Turn off all other lights inside the room you’re shooting in, as other light will contaminate the set.

2. Setting up your sweep

If you want a seamless white background, then you might want to sweep your set. In product photography, sweeping means setting up your mat board or paper to sweep or curve from being flat on your table to being vertical. You might need to roll up the board to help it reach that shape.

An example setup is to have a table placed against a wall and the sweep taped to the wall and the table. If you don’t have a wall, then you can make something to secure the back of the sweep onto.

Place your product in the center on the flat part of the sweep and leave enough room to add your white reflector card in later.

3. Adjusting your camera settings

Before you start adjusting the exposure settings on your camera, make sure your camera is set up with the following settings:

1. Set your white balance (WB) to automatic.
2. Turn your flash setting off.
3. Set your image settings to the highest quality. Look for L for Large size, and Superfine quality.
4. Set your ISO to 100.

Option A: Set your camera to Manual (M) mode

You have the most control over your photography when you shoot in manual mode. In manual mode, you set both your f-stop and shutter speed separately.

Steps:

1. Set your f-stop to the highest number, which gives you the greatest depth of field.
2. Adjust your shutter speed to make it bright enough that the image is properly exposed in the image preview.

Option B: Use Aperture Priority (AV) mode

In aperture priority mode, you set the f-stop, and then the camera adjusts the shutter speed to work with the f-stop you’ve chosen.

Steps:

1. Set the f-stop to the highest number.
2. Optional: If the shutter speed that the camera picks seems wrong, then you might need to use the exposure compensation dial to add light.

Option C: Auto Exposure

1. If you have an exposure compensation dial, then you might need to add +1 or +1½ to get the correct exposure. If you have only presets to choose from, then try picking a low light preset like Sunset.

4. Setting up your product

Take time to position your product appropriately in your set. Take a few test photos to make sure all of the product's important details are visible. You might need to make many tiny movements to get everything lined up perfectly from the camera’s viewpoint.

For example, if your product is a bottle, then pay attention to keeping the label type centered.

5. Setting up your reflector card

If you’re using a white reflector card, then test out different angles to observe how it changes the lighting. The light bounces off the card and fills in the shadows.

6. Taking the picture and evaluating

When you take the first pictures, take time to look at the image. Consider what’s working, what isn’t working, and what you might do to make it better.

Shoot multiple angles to give your customers different perspectives of the product. Some customers might prefer close up images and others might want to view items straight on.

Some camera angles to try are:

• eye level, which displays your product as you’d view it straight on.
• high angle, which displays your product as if you’re looking down at it.
• low angle, which displays your product as if you’re looking up at it.
• bird’s eye, which displays your product as if you’re standing above it.

7. Retouching your images

When you have final images that you’re happy with, you can use a photo editing software to retouch any areas that need improvement, like lightening the background to pure white.

There are a variety of retouching softwares available, and depending on your price range, you might want to hire a professional to do the retouching for you. You can also look for apps in the Shopify App Store or hire a Shopify Partner.

8. Optimizing and resizing images for your website

You might want to use an image editing tool to take your high quality photos and optimize and resize them for the web. Larger images can contribute to slower page loading times. A good image size to aim for is no larger than 200 KB, with lower numbers being better.

There are a variety of tools and softwares available online that you can use to optimize your images for the web. You can also use an app from the Shopify App Store, or hire a Shopify Partner to help you.

Replacing thumbnails for media

When you add 3D models and videos to your products, thumbnails are created for them automatically. You can replace the default thumbnails with images of your choice.

Steps:

1. From your Shopify admin, go to Products.

2. Click the name of the product that you want to edit.

3. Under Media, click the 3D model or video that you want to change the thumbnail for.

4. Click the pencil icon next to the cover image.

5. Select the image that you want to use.

6. After you've added your image, click X to exit the media preview.

Adding images to product variants

You can add images to your product variants to let your customers view each product variant. You can add new images from your device or choose from existing product images. Product variants don't support other types of media, such as 3D models or videos, and you can only add one image to each product variant.

Add images to existing variants individually

Add images to existing variants in bulk

1. From your Shopify admin, go to Products.

2. Click the name of the product that you want to edit.

3. In the Variants section, select the variants that you want to add images to using the checkboxes.

4. Click ..., and then click Add images, or Edit images if you're replacing existing variant images.

5. Select a product image from your existing images or click Add image to upload a new image from your device.

6. Click Done.

7. Click Save.

Protect your images

You can't prevent people from saving your on-screen images, but you can use an app from the Shopify App Store to add a watermark.

3D scanner

You can scan and create 3D models of your products in the Shopify app using the 3D scanner. 3D models are a great way to let customers interact with your products. Customers can preview 3D models directly in their space, or view the product from all angles. Consider how pairing a good 3D model can help supplement a set of high-quality, detailed images of your products.

Setting up your environment

Make sure you scan your model in a bright well-lit space. Use soft, diffused lighting to remove visible shadows on and around the product. If you have lamps or other light sources, then point them at a wall, ceiling, or floor to bounce light onto your product. Place your model on a flat, white or light surface and leave enough room to move completely around the product.

Product requirements and limitations

Certain physical characteristics of a product are more difficult for the 3D scanner to capture well enough to produce a usable 3D model. Before you start your scan, make sure that your product meets the minimum requirements and has the physical characteristics that will result in a high quality 3D model.

Minimum product dimensions

Products must be at least 3 in (8 cm) in length, width, and height to be detected by the 3D scanner.

Product characteristics

A product's physical characteristics directly impact the maximum quality of the 3D model. For example, if your product has a smooth and highly reflective surface, then it will be more difficult for the 3D scanner to capture and render a high quality 3D model.

The following physical characteristics are likely to impact the quality of your scan:

Scan your product

Now that you've set up your environment, lighting and product, you're ready to scan your product. You will likely need 10 to 15 minutes to scan and build a 3D model.

The 3D scanner requires three separate scans to create a model. You can scan your product in one of the following configurations:

• flip your product and scan each side.
• leave the product in its initial position and scan from a high angle, then a low angle.

The 3D scanner will suggest one configuration or the other automatically. If the suggested configuration doesn't make sense to you, then you can choose the other configuration instead.

Scan and add a model directly to a product

1. From the Shopify app, tap the icon .
2. Tap the product that you want to scan or tap + to create a new product.
3. In the Media section, tap + or tap Add images, videos, or 3D models.
4. Tap 3D scanner.
5. Follow the 3D scanner prompts to scan your product.
6. After all scans are complete, tap Continue to build your model. Keep the Shopify app open and running until the 3D model is processed.
7. After your model is built, review it by rotating the model to view it from all angles and tap the expand icon button to view the model in your space.
8. Tap Add to product to add the model and return to your product.
9. Tap Save to upload the 3D model to your product's media.

Scan a model and save to your device's files

1. From the Shopify app, tap the icon .
2. Tap 3D scanner.
3. Follow the 3D scanner prompts to scan your product.
4. After all scans are complete, tap Continue to build your model. Keep the Shopify app open and running until the 3D model is processed.
5. After your model is built, review it by rotating the model to view it from all angles and tap the expand icon button to view the model in your space.
6. Tap Save to Files app to move the model to a folder in your Files app.
7. Tap Move to save the 3D model file in your desired location.

Best practices and troubleshooting

If you are having trouble completing your scan or getting a high quality 3D model, try the following steps while you scan your product:

• You can resize the box around your product by dragging the handles to ensure your product fits completely inside the virtual box.
• While you scan, make sure that the product doesn't move and is centered in the scanner.
• Tap Reset to restart the segment scan at any point.
• Keep a steady hand. Move slowly and smoothly around your product during the scan to increase the focus and clarity of the captured images.
• If spots on the dial or point cloud aren't filled in, then tap the manual shutter icon in the bottom right corner to manually capture additional images. These images can help fill in gaps in the model.
• Scan your product in both segment configurations to see which configuration creates the best results.

Not every product can become a high quality 3D model. If you follow best practices for your environment set up and scan process and still aren't able to create a high quality 3D model, then the product's physical characteristics are likely responsible for low quality.

Compatible devices for the 3D scanner

You can use the 3D scanner on compatible iOS devices, or download a third-party scanning app for Android. Review the following table to learn more about the 3D scanner compatible iOS devices.