What "pure white" means
Amazon asks for a pure white background: red, green and blue all at 255. A background at 252, 252, 252 looks identical on most screens, but it is a different color, and it is one of the most common reasons a main image is flagged.
| Background value | Looks like | Passes? |
|---|---|---|
| 255, 255, 255 | White | Yes |
| 250-254 | White on screen | Risky |
| 240-249 | Very light grey on a good screen | No |
| Below 240 | Visibly grey or cream | No |
Step 1: measure it
Do not judge by eye. Open the image in an editor and sample the corners and edges with the eyedropper, or use the free Amazon Main Image Checker, which reports how much of the image border is exactly 255 and also checks product fill and size. It runs in your browser, so the image is not uploaded.
Step 2: pick a fix
- Light the background better. Put the product on a white sweep and light the background separately, about one stop brighter than the product, so it blows out to white without lighting up the product itself.
- Set the white point. In Levels or Curves, drag the white input slider in until the background reads 255. This is quick for clean photos, but it also brightens the product, so check the highlights are not clipped.
- Cut out the product and place it on a white canvas. Remove the background with a selection or mask, fill a new layer with #FFFFFF, and keep a soft shadow under the product if you want it to look grounded. This is the most reliable method for messy photos.
- Let ReddStudio do it. ReddStudio generates the main image on white and then snaps near-white background pixels to exactly 255, alongside the rest of the listing images. Your first listing is free.
Step 3: export carefully
- Export as JPEG at high quality, or PNG. Low-quality JPEG shifts near-white values.
- Use sRGB so the white does not shift between screens.
- Make it at least 1,000 px on the longest side, and let the product fill 85% or more of the frame.
- Re-check the exported file, not the original.
Full rules for main and secondary images are in the Amazon product image requirements guide.
FAQ
Why does Amazon reject a background that looks white?
Screens hide small differences. A background of RGB 250, 250, 250 looks white but is not pure white, and Amazon's checks can flag it. The fix is to make the background exactly 255, 255, 255.
How do I check the background color of my image?
Use the eyedropper in an image editor and read the RGB value at several background points, or run the image through the free ReddStudio Amazon Main Image Checker, which measures the border of the image in your browser.
Is it OK to keep the shadow under the product?
A soft natural shadow directly under the product is generally fine, but the rest of the background should still be pure white. If the shadow spreads across the frame, the background is no longer white.
Does JPEG compression change the white?
It can. Saving at low quality can shift near-white pixels by a few values. Export at high quality and check the exported file, not the original.
Do the secondary images need a white background?
No. Only the main image has the pure white rule. Secondary images can use colored backgrounds, lifestyle scenes and text.