Reviewed 2026-10-10
Define the product and its destination
A catalog thumbnail and a lifestyle advertisement need different framing. Write the final placement first: a square listing image, a portrait social post or a wide website banner. Then describe the product’s material, shape, colour and visible identifying details.
If the item already exists, use an authorised reference photo and list the features that must remain: label wording, cap shape, seams or component count. A text-only request creates an interpretation of the object; it cannot establish an exact match to a real product that the model has never seen.
Use a short prompt with a clear hierarchy
Original catalog brief: “One matte cobalt-blue refill bottle, centred on a pale stone surface. Soft window light from the left, a short natural shadow, neutral background and generous space around the product. Straight-on camera at bottle height. No props, extra products or added lettering.”
For an authorised reference edit, replace the invented subject with: “Keep the bottle shape, cap, label and proportions from reference 1 unchanged; replace only the setting with the pale stone scene.” Tell the model which image defines the product instead of asking it to infer the role of each reference.
Change the setting without rewriting the product
Lifestyle variation: keep the same bottle description and change only the setting to a quiet bathroom shelf with soft daylight. Campaign variation: use the same product and leave an uncluttered area on the right for later typesetting. Avoid adding several new effects in the same revision.
If the product shifts shape, return to the accepted reference and repeat the preservation list. Check whether the selected live endpoint supports the edit you need. Preparing a reference brief does not imply that generation is enabled or that every advertised model feature is exposed here.
Inspect the image before using it in a listing
Compare silhouette, label, colour and functional parts against the actual product. Inspect reflections for invented logos or text, and make sure the image does not show accessories that are not included. Review the crop at its final size, not only in a large preview.
For exact packaging text, keep a clean image and typeset or composite the verified artwork in an editable layer. Save the approved prompt, references and file. Use the generator for a new scene or the editor for a targeted correction once the connection and quote are available.
Questions before you start
Can text alone reproduce my real product exactly?
It can describe the idea but cannot establish an exact match. Supply an authorised reference, name the fixed details and inspect the result against the real product.
Why does my product change during a background edit?
The edit may alter more than the requested area. Make the preservation list explicit, use a clean product reference and reject outputs that change required details.