Product imagery

Featured links

1. Reference resource on help.shopify.com: partner directory
2. Shopify documentation on product management
3. Shopify documentation on adding product media
4. Shopify admin Products page
5. Shopify documentation on metafields
6. Shopify documentation on video and 3D model hosting limits
7. Shopify documentation on the 3D scanner
8. Shopify documentation on adding alt text to media
9. Shopify documentation on supported product media themes
10. Shopify developer documentation on adding media support

Helpful videos

Product imagery video

Product imagery video

Product media basics

In your Company XYZ Align store, use Shopify product media to present physical goods, digital downloads, services, and gift cards. Add product details and media, then create variants for options such as size or color.

You can make a product available to one or more sales channels while adding or updating it. Manage products and variants from Products in the Shopify admin.

Add product media

You can add up to 250 images, 3D models, and videos to each product. Videos and 3D models also count toward store-wide hosting limits, which vary by plan; see video and 3D model hosting limits

On compatible iOS devices, you can also scan and build a 3D model in the Shopify Mobile app with the 3D scanner feature

The first media item for a product is its featured, or main, media. Shopify uses this main item on collection pages, the cart page, the checkout page, and the home page. You can change it at any time.

Add media to a product

1. From your Shopify admin, go to Products
2. Select the product that you want to edit.
3. In the Media section, add an image, 3D model, or video using one of these methods:
   • Select Upload new, then choose the file to upload.
   • Drag and drop a file into the Media section.
   • Select Select existing to choose from media files you already have.
   • To add a file from a URL, select Select existing, then select Add from URL.

Change the main product media

1. From your Shopify admin, go to Products
2. Select the product that you want to edit.
3. In the Media section, drag the media item you want to use into the first position.

Delete product media

You can delete media one item at a time or delete several items in bulk.

Delete one media item

If a file is used elsewhere in your store, deleting it here removes it only from this product.

1. From your Shopify admin, go to Products
2. Select the product that you want to edit.
3. In the Media section, select the media item that you want to delete.
4. Select the trash can icon.
5. Select Delete file.

Delete media in bulk

If any selected files are used elsewhere in your store, they are removed only from the product you are editing.

1. From your Shopify admin, go to Products
2. Select the product that you want to edit.
3. In the Media section, use the checkboxes to select the media items that you want to delete.
4. Select Delete files.
5. Select Delete.

Videos and 3D models

3D models and videos cannot be used as product variant media.

Before relying on 3D models or videos in your Align product pages, confirm that your installed version supports the media type. Shopify maintains a list of themes that support 3D models and videos. If you are using an older compatible version, update it when needed.

If you plan to customize Align code to support media, review Shopify’s guidance for adding media support to your theme and the media UX guidelines. For Align-specific guidance, consult Company XYZ documentation or contact Company XYZ support.

Video and 3D model hosting limits

Your store has a total limit for Shopify-hosted videos and 3D models across product media and the Files page. The 3D model limit depends on your plan.

Starter	Basic Shopify	Shopify	Advanced Shopify	Shopify Plus
250	250	1000	5000	Contact Shopify Plus Support

Note

Every plan allows a maximum of 250 media files of any type on one product at a time.

Add product media with metafields

Use metafields when you want more control over how product media appears in your online store. Create a file reference metafield for a product to upload an image for display, or another file type for customers to download.

File reference metafields can display JPEG, PNG, WEBP, SVG, HEIC, and GIF images. Each metafield can contain only one file at a time.

Revert product image edits

If you no longer need a crop, resize, or magic edit, return an image to its original state with Revert to original in the top corner of the editor.

Note

Revert to original is available only while previewing media that has previously been edited. After you confirm the action, the file returns to its original form. This option is available only for product media edits made after January 2024.

Product media types

Customers view product media, such as images, on product pages. Video, 3D models, and augmented reality can help customers understand a product more clearly, increasing confidence and improving the shopping experience.

Use high-quality media that meets the required specifications so it displays correctly. All themes support product images, but videos and 3D models require support in the installed version of Align.

Images

Product images appear across sales channels, including your online store and Shopify POS. PNG is the best file type for most product images, followed by JPEG.

Other accepted image types are PSD, TIFF, BMP, GIF, SVG, HEIC, and WebP. Shopify’s imagery service selects the best supported format for each customer’s web client. The exact presentation depends on your Align settings and templates, but all themes support product images.

Product and collection images can be up to 5000 x 5000 px, or 25 megapixels, and must be smaller than 20 MB. High-resolution photography generally gives products a more polished, professional appearance.

For square product images, 2048 x 2048 px usually works best. For photography guidance, read The definitive DIY guide to beautiful product photography in the Shopify Blog.

Tip

Product images can appear side by side at different sizes on collection pages. Keep featured images visually consistent by using the same aspect ratio, or height-to-width ratio.

When you add an image, Shopify automatically creates different sizes for use in different areas of your theme. For example, a larger version can appear on a product detail page, while a more compact version can appear in collection templates where a large image is unnecessary.

Find additional imagery

Need royalty-free images for your online store? Download high-resolution product and lifestyle photos from Burst

3D models

A 3D model is a virtual, three-dimensional representation of an object. It can help customers better understand a product’s size, scale, and details.

Customers can view 3D product models from the product page. The model uses the device camera and screen to place the product in the customer’s environment, letting the customer inspect it from any angle.

Before you add a 3D model to your online store, make sure the file meets these requirements:

1. File size Up to 500 MB
2. File type GLB or USDZ

If you upload a 3D model larger than 15 MB, Shopify optimizes it to reduce file size and improve loading speed.

Model size	Optimization	Conversion
Smaller than 15 MB	The model is not optimized. Its geometry and materials are unchanged.	Files are converted so both .USDZ and .GLB versions are available, supporting Android- and iOS-based devices.
Larger than 15 MB	The model is optimized. Geometry and textures are optimized while preserving the visual output of the original file.	Files are converted so both .USDZ and .GLB versions are available, supporting Android- and iOS-based devices.

Videos

Add product videos in either of these ways:

1. Upload a video file.
2. Embed a YouTube or Vimeo video link.

Uploaded video files must meet the following requirements:

1. Video length Up to 10 minutes
2. Video size Up to 1 GB
3. Video resolution Up to 4K, or 4096 x 2160 px
4. Video file type .mp4 or .mov

These file requirements do not apply to embedded YouTube or Vimeo videos. URLs from other video providers are not supported.

In browsers that support streaming, videos display at 480p, 720p, or 1080p based on the viewer’s connection speed and the uploaded video’s resolution. In browsers that do not support streaming, videos display at the highest available resolution.

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

Align support for 3D models and videos

The installed version of Align may support 3D models and videos, but compatibility depends on the version in your Shopify theme library. Check Company XYZ documentation before updating or customizing Align. For help with Align-specific behavior, contact Company XYZ support. For Shopify-admin, plan, account, or platform hosting questions, contact Shopify Support.

Usage notes

1. Choose the first item carefully. Your first media item becomes the main product media shown across key customer-facing pages.
2. Plan media volume. Keep the 250-file per-product limit in mind, and check store-wide video and 3D model limits before uploading a large catalog.
3. Keep images consistent. Use high-quality images with a consistent aspect ratio, especially for featured images that appear in collections.
4. Check Align support first. Confirm that your installed Align version supports video and 3D media before relying on those formats.
5. Use metafields for tailored media. A file reference metafield holds one file, making it useful when your theme is set up to display product-specific supporting media.
6. Review edits before reverting. Reverting an edited image returns it to its original file, so confirm that you no longer need the crop, resize, or magic edit.