How to Edit Product Photos in Photoshop: A Complete Tutorial for E-commerce

Product photography in e-commerce is the creative and professional art of showing products in their best light to fulfil commercial purposes. Professional product contributes to driving traffic, increasing engagement, and augmenting sales for online stores.

The key to a successful product presentation depends on knowing photography post-processing work. Familiarity with photo editing software allows users to create high-quality, creative photos in makeshift studios or other unfavorable conditions.

Today, we will guide you on how to edit product photos in Photoshop for e-commerce. We will take you through every step and show you how to tweak your edits for the best possible outcome. Luckily, Photoshop has a range of smart tools that can make this process quick and effective.

How to Edit Product Photos in Photoshop for E-commerce?

To edit product photos in Photoshop for e-commerce, follow this 9-step process. 

Step 1: Duplicate Your Background

Open your photo and duplicate the background. Press Cmd + J (Ctrl + J for PC) shortcut or drag your background over the “Create a new layer” icon at the bottom of the layers panel.

Image of Adobe Photoshop interface showing a photo being edited with layers and the background duplication process.
Screenshot of Adobe Photoshop with a photo open, demonstrating how to duplicate the background layer.

Step 2: Select Your Object

Object selection is required to remove the background. We will show you 3 different methods to remove background from a product photo with a similar background, which will be challenging for AI to detect the product.

Method 1: Object Selection Tool

The Object Selection Tool is a godsend tool product photographers to use for editing specific areas quickly. The Object Selection Tool is in the right-hand toolbar, in the same section as the Quick Selection Tool and Magic Wand. Right-click the icon to switch between these tools. This tool uses AI to automatically detect the product in photos, or you can manually process it as follows.

Where To Find the Object Selection Tool in Photoshop?

The Object Selection Tool is in the right-hand toolbar, in the same section as the Quick Selection Tool and Magic Wand. Right-click the icon to switch between these tools.

Step 1: Select Your Subject

The Object Selection Tool has a button in the top toolbar to the right that can automatically detect the main object in the image. It works best when the subject has a plain environment where no other elements around.

  • Hover the mouse cursor over the image. When an object is detected, you should see a pink overlay on your product.
A pink purse displayed in Adobe Photoshop, with a pink overlay appearing when the mouse hovers over the image.
Image of a pink purse in Photoshop, with a pink overlay appearing when the mouse hovers over the image.
  • Click this overlay, and the area will be selected automatically.

Step 2: Adjusting Your Selection

  • Ensure that the “marching ants” dotted line covers every part of your product. A simple shape will likely yield perfect results. However, more detailed products, like this handbag, have a few things to look out for.
  • Zoom in to at least 100% (we recommend 200%) and trace the shape, looking for inconsistencies.
Zoomed-in image showing shape tracing at 200% magnification for quality check.
Tracing a shape at 200% zoom to identify inconsistencies.
  • Click the “Select and Mask” button along the top toolbar. This will open up a specialized dialog box. The Select and Mask box has a range of features to help you fine-tune your selection. To refine your selection, find the Refine Edge Brush Tool in the new toolbar to the left.
  • Set your Edge Detection to around 2px and tick Smart Radius. We also recommend putting Smooth at 1 and Feather at 0.5px.
  • Use the Positive brush to select the areas missing from the selection. This may take some playing around, so use the Negative brush to counter the selection spreading out of the object.
  • Press OK or Enter on your keyboard once you have cleaned up your selection.
Clean selection finalized with OK or Enter.
Press OK or Enter to confirm a cleaned selection.

Method 2: Quick Selection Tool

The Quick Selection Tool used to be the fastest method to select your product in Adobe Photoshop. The Quick Selection Tool is located on the left-hand toolbar near the top. Its icon is a paintbrush and a dotted circle.

Step 1: Select Your Subject

Expand your brush size and paint directly onto the object. The dotted line will expand to the areas it thinks are part of the object. Follow around the object until all areas are selected. You can also use the Select Subject option along the top toolbar to give you a good start.

A handbag displayed in Adobe Photoshop, with tools for selecting and painting areas around the object for editing.
A handbag in Photoshop, showcasing selection tools for painting and refining the object’s outline.

Step 2: Adjusting Your Selection

Use the “Add to selection” and “Subtract from selection” brush options along the top left to fix areas that aren’t part of the object. To perfect your selection, zoom in to 200% and switch between the brushes and sizes.

Refining object selection in Photoshop using the Add to Selection and Subtract from Selection brush tools at 200% zoom.
Instructions for using “Add to selection” and “Subtract from selection” brushes to refine object selection.

Method 3: Create a Path

Use Adobe Photoshop’s Pen Tool to create your own path. The Pen Tool offers precise control and flexibility in creating the path. Find the Pen Tool at the bottom of the left-hand toolbar.

Step 1: Trace Around Your Subject

Set the anchor point by clicking, holding, and dragging the line of the product to best fit the curve between the points. Do this every time the shape varies its direction. Make sure you do this at least at 200% zoom.

  • Draw the path around the entire Object.
  • After connecting to the final point, click the “Selection…” box along the top toolbar. The Make Selection dialog box will appear, put a 1 or 2 px Feather Radius in.
Instructions to access the Make Selection dialog box and set a Feather Radius of 1 or 2 pixels in the toolbar.
Make Selection dialog box in Photoshop with Feather Radius set to 1 or 2 pixels.

Step 2: Fill in Missing Areas

Once you have traced the object, you can cut out the areas where the product has gaps. When you have connected the dots, make it a selection again. This time, when the Make Selection Box appears, select Subtract from Selection. Also, make sure you put in the same Feather Radius. This should give you multiple dotted lines. Repeat this process for every gap in the shape.

Photoshop selection process showing subtracting gaps from a product shape using the Pen Tool with multiple dotted lines.
Using the Make Selection box in Photoshop to subtract areas from a product selection with a feather radius applied.

Step 3: Remove the Background in Photoshop

Follow these steps to remove the background from the product image in Photoshop. 

  • Use the shortcut Cmd + Shift + I (Ctrl + Shift + I for PC). Alternatively, go to select along the top toolbar and click Inverse.
  • The dotted lines should look the same. The difference should be that a dotted line runs along the outside of your frame.
Ensure the dotted line outlines the outside of your frame, not just the inner area.
Dotted line outlining the outer edge of a photo frame in Photoshop.
  • Now, you can press backspace on your keyboard to delete the background of this layer.

Note: If you see a dialog box pop up, it indicates that the image doesn’t have a duplicate layer.

Press Backspace on your keyboard to delete the background of the selected layer in Photoshop.
Using Backspace to Remove Background.
  • Click “Create a new fill or adjustment layer” along the bottom of the layers panel. The icon is a circle divided into two, each semi-circle in a different shade. 
  • Select “Solid Color…” A Color Picker dialog box should pop up, allowing you to choose the exact color you like. We recommend using white. 
  • Press OK and drag this layer below your background layer, which should be called Layer 1.
Dragging the new layer below the background layer named 'Layer 1' in Photoshop layers panel.
Move the new layer beneath ‘Layer 1’ after clicking OK in Photoshop.

Step 4: Cropping Your Image in Photoshop

To crop the product image, think about the platform on which the picture will appear. If it’s social media, use a square. If it’s part of a series of images, make sure they are the same dimensions. Find the Crop tool along the left-hand toolbar. 

Straighten Your Product

Begin the process by straightening the image before you crop any of the following ways.

a. Use Spirit Level Icon

  • Click the spirit level icon.
  • Pick a straight horizontal or vertical line on your product.
  • Pull the line to the desired distance to adjust the angle.
  • When you let go, the image should be straight. Use Cmd + Z (Ctrl + Z for PC) to go back and perfect the angle.
Editing an image in Adobe Photoshop, with instructions to straighten and use Cmd + Z to undo adjustments.
Image being edited in Adobe Photoshop, focusing on adjusting the angle for a straightened appearance.

b. Adjust manually

The manual method is convenient because once you start rotating the image, you will see a grid overlay. This makes it easy to perfect your product. 

  • Click and drag outside the photograph to adjust the angle when using the Crop tool. Take note of the degree increments in case you need to make another slight adjustment.
Screenshot of Photoshop displaying the Crop tool, highlighting how to adjust the angle of an image by clicking and dragging.
Image of Photoshop interface showing the Crop tool in use, with instructions for adjusting the angle of a photograph.

c. Crop the Product

With the crop tool selected, drag the sides of the image inward.

  • Use the Ratio dropdown menu along the Crop toolbar at the top to select from a range of different aspect ratios. The boxes next to this allow you to set a custom aspect ratio.
  • To keep the image dimensions the same as the original, drag one of the corners while holding the Shift button.
  • Make sure you use compositional techniques like the rule of thirds to perfect your crop. Photoshop helpfully brings up a rule of thirds overlay when adjusting your crop.
Adobe Photoshop workspace featuring the rule of thirds overlay to assist in perfecting image crop adjustments.
Image of Photoshop editing interface showing the rule of thirds overlay for cropping adjustments.

Step 5: Retouching Your Product in Photoshop

With the image close to finishing, we need to ensure all the finer details are perfect, as all attention is now on the product. 

Spot Removal 

Use spot removal to remove all blemishes, dust, and marks. Ensure you select the right layer when working with spot removal in Adobe Photoshop. 

a. Spot Healing Brush Tool: The Spot Healing Brush Tool is Photoshop’s quickest method to remove blemishes. Adjust the brush size, zoom close into the image, and click (or click and drag) over the bits you want to remove. The AI will struggle with certain patterns, so you may have to use the Clone Stamp Tool. 

b. Clone Stamp Tool: The Clone Stamp Tool is more accurate but can be tricky. Make sure the Opacity and Flow are at high numbers to ensure a smooth and believable edit. 

  • Hold down the Option (Alt on PC) to select an area with a similar texture/color/ shade as your desired area.
  • Click or paint over the area. If you notice a different shade or pattern, you must adjust your anchor point until it’s perfect.
Click or paint the area, adjusting the anchor point if you see a different shade or pattern for accuracy.
Instructions to click or paint over an area, adjusting the anchor point for perfect shade or pattern matching.

Tonal Adjustments

Use the Levels and Curves Adjustments to fine-tune your product. The product I am working on is too dark in the shadows to the left. Notice how the color can change when adjusting the tones. This is why we leave the next step until after your tonal adjustments.

Step 6: Color Correction for Product Photography in Photoshop

Color correction is key to making our product look as attractive as possible. Use the Color Balance and the Hue/ Saturation adjustments to make these edits. It is helpful to have the product with you when color correcting to ensure you capture the right colors.

Handbag displayed in Adobe Photoshop, emphasizing color correction techniques for product enhancement.
Handbag shown in Photoshop, highlighting the importance of color correction for accurate product representation.

Step 7: Add Shadow to Your Product Photography Images in Photoshop

Creating a shadow for your product in Photoshop transforms your edit from a flat image to a three-dimensional photo. Adding this extra element makes it look like the product is jumping out of the image. 

Add the Base Shadow

Begin by identifying where the light source is coming from. Use the original photo to help.

  • Create a New Layer below your cut-out image and have this selected.
  • Select the Polygonal Lasso tool and trace the rough dimensions of the bottom of the product.
  • Complete the selection well out of the frame while mimicking the direction of the shadow.
  • Press Option + Backspace (Alt + Backspace for PC) to fill this area in black.
  • You may need to repeat this step to make the direction look believable.
A handbag displayed in Adobe Photoshop, with instructions for filling an area in black using keyboard shortcuts.
An image of a handbag in Adobe Photoshop, featuring guidance on using keyboard shortcuts to fill an area in black.

Add a Blur

We all know shadows don’t have defined edges like this. Let’s add a blur that increases as the distance increases from the object.

  • Start by going to Filter > Convert for Smart Filters. This will allow you to edit the layer later if necessary.
  • We will use the Tilt-Shift Blur. Go to Filter > Blur Gallery > Tilt-Shift
  • Move the Middle Point to a point around the center of your product. Edit this according to your product/ shadow shape. 
  • Tilt the direction of the filter to mimic the shadow direction.
  • Change the Blur slider under the Blur Tools panel along the right-hand side of the screen. Edit this to your preference. We recommend a high number like 180px.
  • The two lines around the center line will set where the blur starts, and the two lines further out will set where it ends.
  • Only use the lines in the same direction as your shadow. Edit these lines until they have a believable shadow.
Editing an image in Adobe Photoshop, focusing on adjusting lines for realistic shadow blur effects.
Photoshop interface showing adjustments for shadow blur, with lines indicating start and end points for editing.

Fine-Tune Your Product Shadow

We will now add a gradient to fade the shadow that’s further away.

  • Select your shadow layer and click Layer Mask at the bottom of the layer panel. The icon is a rectangle with a circle cut out. 
  • Select the Gradient tool along the left-hand toolbar.
  • With the mask layer selected, click on the product near where the shadow starts and drag a gradient toward the shadow.
  • You can edit these two points to your liking. Make sure the shadow has a believable fade.
  • For additional fine-tuning, get a brush with 0% Hardness and low Opacity, and brush away the areas that don’t look right.
  • If you want the shadow to be even more subtle, you can reduce the Opacity of this layer at the top of the Layers panel.
Handbag shown in Adobe Photoshop, featuring guidance on adjusting shadow opacity and brush settings for refinement.
Handbag displayed in Photoshop, with tips for fine-tuning shadows and brush settings for editing.

Final Touch

All shadows are much darker where the object touches the surface. To replicate this, we will manually draw in a dark line.

  • Start by creating a new layer. Make sure this layer is below the main product layer, like before.
  • Select a Brush tool with 0% Hardness and 100% Opacity and Flow.
  • Make the brush very small and zoom into the product’s bottom edge.
  • Click on the product edge to show only half of the brush circle.
  • Shift-click along the bottom of the product. Do not worry about keeping it extremely accurate, as this will add some dimensionality.
  • Finish by reducing the Opacity of this layer.
Using Shift-click to create a selection along the product bottom in Photoshop and adjusting layer opacity for depth.
Editing an image in Adobe Photoshop, focusing on layer adjustments and opacity reduction for dimensionality.

Step 8: Add a Reflection

You can finish your edit with a simple shadow. To make your product stand out even more, add a reflection.

Set Up the Reflection

Start by duplicating the top layer of your cut-out product.

  • Drag the layer over Create a New Layer or press Cmd + J (Ctrl + J for PC). Move this layer just below your original one.
  • Press Cmd + T (Ctrl + T for PC) to enter the Transform mode. Right-click the product and select Flip Vertically.
  • Drag the layer down so the final points of the product overlap. The new layer should be behind and tucked below the main product image.
Handbag displayed in Adobe Photoshop, demonstrating the Transform mode and vertical flip technique for editing layers.
Image of a handbag in Photoshop, showcasing the process of flipping and layering for product presentation.

Perspective Warp

  • Go to Edit > Perspective Warp.
  • Drag a box to match the larger surface of the inverted product. As you cannot see the end of this duplicate, roughly mimic what this shape will look like.
  • Drag out an additional rectangle for the other surface. This should connect to your other shape.
  • Click Warp along the top toolbar.
  • Pull the outer points to connect to the product, similar to the point tucked underneath it.
Click 'Warp' on the top toolbar and drag the outer points to align with the product shape, mimicking the tucked area.
Using the Warp Tool in Photoshop to adjust product photo edges for a natural fit.

Blur the Reflection

We want to blur the reflection in Photoshop to achieve the true reflective effect. Use the same Blur as above, but this time, position the blur horizontally. Like before, create a mask and add a gradient. Fine-tune this selection in the same way.

A handbag displayed in Photoshop with a blurred reflection effect applied to enhance its visual appeal.
An image of a handbag in Photoshop, featuring a blurred reflection to create a soft, artistic look.
Blur the reflection final version.
A blurred reflection of a handbag is displayed in Photoshop, showcasing the final edited image.

Step 9: Final Touches to Your Product Photography Images

You now have a professional product photograph in Photoshop. The next step is to add the final touches and export your image. 

Adjust Sharpness

The final adjustment to and edit in Photoshop should be to add a touch of sharpness. With the main product layer selected, follow these steps.

  • Go to Filter > Sharpen > Unsharp Mask.

You can adjust this to your liking, but we suggest a 1px Radius and a 20-30% Amount. Ensure you don’t go overboard, as too much sharpness can make the product look worse.

Adjust Sharpness
Using Unsharp Mask filter in Photoshop to apply final sharpening to a product image layer.

Exporting for Web

Consider where your product photos are going to end up.

  • Go to Image > Image Size. First, ensure you have the right Resolution. Web images should be at least 72 dpi (Pixels/Inch). Amazon requires images to be at least 1000px on the longest side. Instagram uses posts at 1080 x 1080 px. For portraits, you can make it as large as 1080 x 1350 px (4:5 aspect ratio) and landscapes 1080 x 566 px (1.91:1 aspect ratio). 
  • Click Ok after you make your adjustments. 
  • Then go to File > Export > Export As… 
  • Check your final sittings and export.
Image of Adobe Photoshop interface showing the export process.
Exporting a product photo in Photoshop using the Export As option.
Two pictures of a handbag and a purse, showcasing the transformation from the original to the edited version in Photoshop.
Before and after photo editing of a handbag and purse using Photoshop for e-commerce presentation.

Why Should You Edit Your E-commerce Product Photos?

You should edit your e-commerce product photos to create a professional and appealing online store, as it provides buyers a physical store-like experience, builds trust, and drives sales by showcasing products in the best possible light. The demand for e-commerce product photos has exponentially increased, impacting on global market. 

A 202 report published in Business Research Insights titled E-commerce Product Photography Market Research Market Size, Share, Growth and Industry Analysis, By Type (Hardware, Software & Services), By Application (2D Photography, 3D Photography), and Regional Forecast to 2033 states that global e-commerce product photography market size is expected to reach $2 billion by 2033. Other reasons to edit e-commerce product photos are as follows.

Creating First Impressions That Matter

Raw photos are messed up; not suitable to publish. Image retouching allows e-commerce businesses or brands like yours to eliminate those unwanted flaws, distractions, and overall visual aesthetic without losing quality. In the absence of physical interaction, buyers prioritize only high-quality product images.

Highlighting Product Features

Close-ups, zoom-ins, lifestyle, and enhanced textures help customers examine product details and uniqueness, reducing uncertainty and potential returns. Whether it’s a food item, a clothing item, or a fashion accessory, uniform lighting, backgrounds, and styling across all product visuals improve the shopping experience and boost brand recognition.

Removing Distractions and Flaws

Unwanted shadows, dust, scratches, or imperfections steal product focus. E-commerce product image editing services like background removal, color correction, shadow adding, clipping paths, and others make products stand out in crowded marketplaces and increase click-through rates. 

Adapting to Different Platforms & Devices

You can’t publish any images to any platforms, but the edited ones are. Photo editing experts ensure your product images fulfill different e-commerce platforms (Amazon, Shopify, eBay, etc.) and devices (mobile, desktop, and social media). Professional photo editors work on necessary corrections, adjustments, and overall improvement.

Improving Loading Speed and SEO 

Well-optimized and high-resolution images load faster on any device, reduce bounce rate, and alt-tagged images also improve search engine rankings. Also, you provide consumers 360-degree views and feature-rich visuals that create an immersive shopping experience.
These are some of the reasons why you need to edit product photos in Photoshop. Almost all major brands and e-commerce sites hire freelance photographers and outsource photo editing to make their products stand out.

Get the Perfect Edit for Your Product Photos

FAQs on How to Edit Product Photos for E-commerce

What file format is best for e-commerce photography?

JPEG is the best file format for e-commerce product photography for its small compressed file types that retain good quality.

How can I make my product stand out?

To make your product stand out, use Photoshop to remove your product from a busy background, add a shadow and reflection to highlight it, adjust colors, tonal range, and saturation to make your product more prominent.

What is the best way to remove the background?

The Object Selection Tool in Photoshop is the best and fastest way to remove the background. Apart from the manual approach, you can use Adobe’s AI feature to detect background and elements in photos.

How do I make all my product colors consistent in Photoshop?

To make all your product colors consistent in Photoshop, do a batch edit of your images. Later work on white balance and lights, in case batch edit doesn’t display the product in the best light.

 Final Overview

Here is a quick recap of how you should edit a product photo in Photoshop:

  • Wrap up with sharpness and export settings. Apply a touch of sharpening and make sure your export settings match your platform (Amazon, Instagram, etc.) for a polished final image.
  • Start by mastering clean object selection. Whether using the Object Selection Tool, Quick Selection, or Pen Tool, precisely removing the background is the foundation of a great product edit.
  • After removing the background, add a solid color layer (usually white), straighten and crop your image carefully, and consider the platform it’ll appear on.
  • Use spot healing and the clone stamp tool to remove blemishes, dust, and any distracting marks on your product.
  • Dial in perfect color and tone. Adjust Levels, Curves, Color Balance, and Hue/Saturation to ensure your product looks natural and vibrant.
  • Creating subtle shadows and adding a reflection makes your product feel three-dimensional, helping it pop out of the screen.

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About the Author

Nick Constant
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Nick Constant

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Photographer, Photoshop Specialist

Nick Constant is a London-based conceptual and documentary photographer with expert-level mastery of Photoshop, the full Adobe suite, and all major photo editing software. He has grown up alongside the evolution of Adobe tools. His award-winning photography has been featured in group exhibitions throughout Europe, making him a trusted voice in both visual art and photo editing.

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