Why put photos on pure white backgrounds<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Before getting into the technicalities of achieving a pure white background for your product images in post production, let\u2019s understand why most products are shot against white to start with.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To support just how important image quality is for your online sales, research from Deloitte<\/a> found that customers perceive content quality as a key pillar to brand building\u2014this includes your product images.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are at least five reasons why ecommerce marketers want to have a product white background for their imagery:<\/p>\n\n\n\n You want to sell the product, not the background\u2014so that\u2019s what you want people to pay attention to. Avoid busy backgrounds<\/a> and other distractions. Any colored, textured or patterned setting around your item will steal some of the spotlight from the product, making it less pronounced, competing for attention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Amazon and many other third-party ecommerce marketplaces require your product photos<\/a> to have a pure white background. Take a look at Amazon and you\u2019ll see every pixel on the page is crowded with visual information and cues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Marketplaces are there to make money, so they use intricate user experience (UX) and user interface (UI) design to guide their users to purchase.Streamlining the visuals from their millions of vendors reduces additional distractions and creates a cohesive, on-brand look for the marketplace itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the below thread called White Background Pics<\/a> on Amazon\u2019s Seller Central forum, merchants confirm that any non-white background is detrimental to product search rankings, as the algorithm suppresses those listings.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Another seller points out, addressing such photography mistakes gives a boost in sales:\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Long story short: When on Amazon, follow Amazon\u2019s guidelines for product photos<\/a>\u2014and whatever other marketplace you\u2019re selling on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you want to replace an existing background with a transparent<\/a> or colored one, the easiest starting point is a product image with a white background. Many photo-editing platforms<\/a> like Photoshop provide a few tools<\/a> in their rich arsenal designed specifically for whitening a selection or making white pop, for example.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you need to repurpose your product photos<\/a> for other channels, white background images are an excellent base. For example, you might promote an image on Instagram, use it on your website\u2019s product page, and list the item on eBay or Etsy\u2014you can start with your white background images and manipulate them accordingly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pure white backgrounds are universal, unobtrusive and adaptable for multiple uses and channels. Ambiance-rich hues, like neon or RGB-range backgrounds, are only good in certain marketing contexts\u2014for example on social media or in commercials. Just like textured backdrops, they are rather limiting this way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There is a time and place to get creative though. Check out these ideas for product photo backgrounds that aren\u2019t white<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Maintaining consistency in your visual approach and branding is more complex than you might think. There\u2019s so much nuance and detail\u2014every pixel, font, and hue can impact consistency and brand recognition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Plus, consistent product photos make it easy for people to comparison shop. It\u2019s easier to compare two items when their images are similar, as opposed to products that have two different photographic approaches. Showing your product against a really white background helps consumers clearly see the object\u2019s details, improves the professionalism of your brand, and ensures consistency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But removing a product image from its background takes time, money, and energy. And while you can find cheap background removal services and apps, the quality and reliability of these tools may not always be up to your standards. After all, the last thing you want is for your beautiful product to look inferior after a subpar editing job.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Save a ton of time with pro background removal from 39\u00a2 per image<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n In the best-case scenario, you won\u2019t even have to remove background from product photography in post-production, as you invested the time, effort, and skills to shoot the object against the white background to start with. However, this isn\u2019t always possible with limited resources, as white background product photography involves quite a bit of experience in handling multiple lighting sources, reflectors, and diffusers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Below we review the pros and cons of all available options for every budget and skillset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Estimated startup cost: $750+<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Fixed upfront cost can include either daily studio and equipment rental or a monthly studio rental + purchasing of photo equipment. Both variants also include the services of a photographer whose per day rate or monthly salary depend widely on the skills and geography. Let\u2019s consider daily hire for example\u2019s sake.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Estimated cost per image: $2.50+<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Taking perfectly white background product photos from the get-go will dramatically reduce the amount of time and money you need to spend editing them. Typically all you have to do is to touch up color contrast<\/a> and retouch any minor imperfections<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While you get the best results this way, it comes with a lot of caveats and upfront investment in equipment and skill-building.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These are some considerations to account for when setting up a white background photoshoot:<\/p>\n\n\n\n While it\u2019s best to take a high quality image with proper lighting against the white backdrop to start with, this method comes at a cost. There are hefty upfront expenses, like studio and equipment rental, as well as hiring a professional photographer to deal with the intricacies of setting up the location.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The anti-example below exhibits an unevenly creased and partially patterned background in an inconsistent natural light with shadows\u2014everything that can and should be avoided in the above-described scenario. So this was ultimately a case for an advanced photo editing team that knows how to edit the background of a photo by hand. Needless to say, that natural hair is a bit of a challenge to edit and a variety of techniques can be used to achieve a true-to-life result, for example clipping paths<\/a> and image masking<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Polish up your product shots with pro retouching from 79\u00a2 per image<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Estimated startup cost: $0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Estimated cost per image: 88\u00a2<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Remove.bg pricing plans 2022<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Problem is, automated product photo editing tools rely on AI and algorithms instead of human skill. Many times, you\u2019ll find part of your product gets removed when you didn\u2019t want it to, or a portion of your background remains visible even after you\u2019ve tried to get rid of it. You certainly don\u2019t want to be the victim of a Photoshop fail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Even when the AI photo editors do get it right, you have to spend time carefully checking each and every image for errors\u2014a painstakingly tedious and time-consuming ($$) process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You\u2019ll likely need to make some detailed edits yourself. Most of these automation tools offer ways to tweak your image after the initial background removal, but trying to fight against the algorithm to fix the image can become such a hassle that the program is no longer quick\u2014nor easy\u2014to use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Related: 5 Jobs That AI Can Never Replace in Your Ecommerce Business<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you don\u2019t take the time to finesse product images after the initial background removal, you could end up with an inferior image. But you may not get the results you desire with these limited tools.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Apowersoft: background eraser reviews on App Store<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Remember, consumers have a ton of options when shopping online, so showcasing your product with high-quality, professional images is key to standing out from the competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Estimated startup cost: $9.99 per month<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Photoshop pricing plans<\/a> are now rather affordable, with its most affordable Photography plan starting at $9.99 per month. This plan grants you access to Lightroom and Photoshop and includes 20GB of storage. You can also test out the free trial before you subscribe. The biggest cost here is your time and effort investment into mastering this complex tool, which takes hundreds of hours of learning curve just to grasp the basics.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Estimated cost per image: varies\u2014mostly costs you time<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The above point makes per image cost rather cumbersome to calculate, as some people have plenty of free time to learn another tool and some are more strapped for time. Additionally, everyone learns at a different pace.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Adobe Photoshop CC is the professional, industry standard software for image editing and manipulation. Once upon a time, Photoshop<\/a> was a very expensive piece of software. Today, however, Adobe offers a monthly plan that gives you access to just Photoshop CC and Lightroom for only $9.99\/month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Photoshop allows you to remove a background in many different ways, depending on what type of product you are working with. The wide menu of techniques including clipping paths, masks, selections, and layers gives you maximum flexibility and the ability to tweak your image\u2019s tiniest details, pixel by pixel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With all that power, however, comes a steep learning curve. Photoshop can take years to master, and if you have other things to worry about besides editing your product images (which you probably do), this might be the last thing you want to add to your plate. And, removing images from their backgrounds still can be very time-consuming, even for skilled Photoshop professionals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here are a few helpful tutorials to get started with:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Get product photos that pop with background removal services<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Estimated startup cost: $4,000+<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Estimated cost per image: $1.60<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s say you already have a junior team member looking to diversify their skills with photo editing. With an average hourly rate of $16 and productivity of 7\u201310 images per hour at the top capacity for a non-professional, your per image price is going to start from $1.60 per image. Once again, we didn\u2019t accrue hiring cost, office rental, taxes, and sick days, which could easily double the pre image pricing eventually.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n If you have a team working for you, you might consider assigning photo editing responsibilities to one of your employees. This is often ideal because an internal employee knows your brand inside and out, and can make edits accordingly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Carla Kabbabe, owner and founder of Claurete<\/a> jewelry, built a three-person team<\/a> who collaborates on product photography<\/a> for the brand. \u201cI understand if someone is earlier in their career, but talented and going to excel in the future,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you have someone who has expressed an interest in learning Photoshop, this could be a great opportunity for them to learn a new skill. If you already have skilled graphic designers on staff, they probably know how to produce perfect product photos on white background in Photoshop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But if you have a large quantity of product images that need to be adjusted, asking one person to take on all photo editing responsibilities\u2014in addition to their regular duties\u2014is a huge time burden.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As mentioned above, even skilled Photoshop users might need a lot of time\u2014up to an hour per image\u2014to remove the background from a product photo. If you have to add the time (and cost) of training a new employee on Photoshop, you could be looking at a significant net productivity loss for that employee while they learn the software.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Learn how to build an in-house product photography team<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n And while spending all day cutting out product images might sound like a lot of fun, it isn\u2019t. It\u2019s tedious, boring, and often stressful. Make sure your employee really wants to take on this responsibility before you try adding this to their plate. And check in regularly to see if they\u2019re still happy with the work. You might consider additional incentives (such as bonus pay based on number of edited images) to ensure they don\u2019t become disgruntled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Estimated startup cost: $4,000+<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Estimated cost per image: $3.15<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n At the rate of 50 images per day\u2014which is a considerably fast pace<\/a> for a background editing job and other basic post production manipulations\u2014260 working days, the annual productivity of one internal staff member is 13,000 images per year. When an average salary of $41,167 is divided by the annual output of 13,000 images the per image pricing for the editing job only is $3.15. Mind you, this calculation doesn\u2019t take into account any of the above-mentioned fixed variables, like cost of hiring, office rental, and equipment cost. Plus, it assumes this person is only doing photo edits and not performing any other duties or administrative tasks related to their job.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Because background removal is such a mundane and unexciting task, it can quickly become a full-time job. Companies often opt to hire individuals called production assistants to take on these roles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Whereas graphic designers tend to spend most of their time creating layouts, choosing colors and fonts, and helping design your overall branding, production assistants spend the majority of their time importing content into design templates, making edits to existing designs, or editing photos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Production assistants are often in the beginning of their career\u2014in many companies this role is considered a stepping stone towards becoming a graphic designer. As such, an entry-level production assistant (with two years of experience or less) can command an average salary of about $17\/hour, or about $41 thousand per year in the US, according to Indeed<\/a>. However, this calculation doesn\u2019t account for additional employee-related expenses such as benefits, etc.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you hire a full-time production assistant, you might also have to provide benefits and paid time off. You can choose to go with a creative staffing agency where the agency takes on the burden of benefits, but you may pay more per hour for the employee, and you risk employee turnover because you are, after all, hiring a temporary worker.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Also, production assistants often take positions with the hope of moving into a design role, so they have the expectation they won\u2019t be removing backgrounds from photos forever. Keep that in mind when you select your candidate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Estimated startup cost: $0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n There are no explicit upfront costs in this case.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Estimated cost per image: $5+<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Prices range from $5\u2013$50 per image for basic photo editing depending on the location, experience, profile strength, and rankings.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n There are plenty of skilled individuals out there hungry for work, and they will happily edit your photos for you. The great thing about outsourcing to a freelancer is you pay per image or per hour\u2014no salary or benefits\u2014and you pay only for what you need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Freelancers charge a bit more per hour than an in-house employee to compensate for the lack of benefits. According to Payscale<\/a>, a median salary for a US-based photo editor is just over $57,000 per year or $15.95 per hour. Freelance editors based outside of the US offer their services on freelance marketplaces from $4.95 for basic edits to quadruple of that for premium service per image. This is the per image pricing<\/a> by one of Fiverr\u2019s top sellers.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Even with higher rates, paying a freelancer could work in your favor as you pay only when you need the work done, without having to keep someone on payroll during lull times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, freelancers have limited capacity. If you only have a handful of images per week, a freelancer will likely have the bandwidth to handle your request. But one person can\u2019t edit hundreds of images in a short timeframe. At least, not edit them well. So if you have a backlog of images that need backgrounds removed, a freelancer likely won\u2019t have the bandwidth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Also, you aren\u2019t that freelancer\u2019s only client. When you request work, you\u2019ll likely end up in a queue with other clients, and your photos will be edited in turn. This might mean several weeks before you receive your edited shots. Some freelancers offer quicker turnarounds but this usually comes with a rush fee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Furthermore, freelancers are human beings. They get sick. They go on vacation. They move. They switch careers. All of these factors can affect how quickly you get your images edited, and whether that same freelancer will still be serving you five years from now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Estimated startup cost: $0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n There\u2019s no upfront investment whatsoever in this scenario. However, note some services require a monthly subscription with minimum contract fees, even if you don\u2019t use all your subscription credits within that month. Path doesn\u2019t require a subscription or signup fee, and Path credits never expire, so you don\u2019t have to worry about that with us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Estimated cost per image: 39\u00a2+<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Starts at 39\u00a2 per image with Path.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Companies such as Path specialize in removing backgrounds from product photography. When you use a service, you pay for image editing as you need it, as you would with a freelancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The difference: A company has more resources. So a company like Path can accommodate more images at a time than an individual freelancer would. Plus, these companies usually have very quick turnaround times. At Path, you can get your edits back in as little as six hours. And having been in business for almost 15 years, you can rest assured we\u2019ll be here when you need us, through every stage of business growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Photo-editing companies employ many skilled designers and production assistants, so there\u2019s always someone on staff who can get your image right. And because these people have the same training as an in-house designer or freelancer, edited images are high quality and professional.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Companies also typically have more longevity than an individual, so once you find one you like you know you can continue to use them as long as you need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When choosing a company for photo-editing outsourcing<\/a>, look at several factors to help you make your decision:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Give our photo editing services a shot with two free edits<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Depending on your needs, you have a variety of options when choosing how to edit your product photography. Remember, the cheapest option may not be the best option, because poor quality images can actually harm your business growth. Also, just because it won\u2019t cost you extra dollars to do it yourself, it will cost you time and ability to grow your business in other areas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Outsourcing your background removal to a photo-editing company can give you the flexibility to receive high quality, edited images in a short time. If you choose to go this route, make sure you research the company thoroughly to make sure they can accommodate your needs to your satisfaction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n CTA Let us look after your white background edits, so you can get back to the fun stuff. Try Path free<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Diagram](\"https:\/\/cdn.pathedits.com\/Images\/posts\/what-s-the-cheapest-way-to-put-a-product-on-a-white-background\/media-partners-areas-of-value.png\")
\n\n\n\nPut white backgrounds to spotlight your product<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Marketplaces require pure white backgrounds<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"User](\"https:\/\/cdn.pathedits.com\/Images\/posts\/what-s-the-cheapest-way-to-put-a-product-on-a-white-background\/amazon-product-suppression-background.png\")
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\n\n\n\nPure white background photos are easy to edit<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Create a universal starting point for every channel<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Cultivate visual consistency<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
7 ways to put a product on a white background on a budget<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Create a white background for your shoot<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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![\"Side-by-side](\"https:\/\/cdn.pathedits.com\/Images\/posts\/what-s-the-cheapest-way-to-put-a-product-on-a-white-background\/fashion-model-before-after-background-removal.jpg\")
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2. Choose an online automation tool<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Comparison](\"https:\/\/cdn.pathedits.com\/Images\/posts\/what-s-the-cheapest-way-to-put-a-product-on-a-white-background\/image-editing-pricing-plans-free-subscription-pay-as-you-go.png\")
\n\n\n\n![\"Screenshot](\"https:\/\/cdn.pathedits.com\/Images\/posts\/what-s-the-cheapest-way-to-put-a-product-on-a-white-background\/background-removal-app-user-reviews-ratings.png\")
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3. Learn how to remove backgrounds in Photoshop<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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4. Assign image editing to an employee<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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5. Hire a full-time, in-house production assistant<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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![\"Screenshot](\"https:\/\/cdn.pathedits.com\/Images\/posts\/what-s-the-cheapest-way-to-put-a-product-on-a-white-background\/production-assistant-salary-us.png\")
\n\n\n\n![\"Screenshot](\"https:\/\/cdn.pathedits.com\/Images\/posts\/what-s-the-cheapest-way-to-put-a-product-on-a-white-background\/production-assistant-annual-salary-us.png\")
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6. Contract an individual freelancer for background removal<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Comparison](\"https:\/\/cdn.pathedits.com\/Images\/posts\/what-s-the-cheapest-way-to-put-a-product-on-a-white-background\/photo-editing-service-package-comparison.png\")
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7. Outsource background removal to a photo editing company<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Choose how to edit product photos on a white background<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
FAQs: how to edit product photos white background<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What\u2019s the cheapest way to put a product on a white background?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n