ai-product-photography

name	ai-product-photography
description	AI product photography guide. Background removal, studio prompts, e-commerce outputs.
allowed-tools	[]
disable-model-invocation	false

AI Product Photography Guide

Produce e-commerce-ready product images using /pocket-knife:background-removal and /pocket-knife:ai-image-generation. No physical studio required — AI handles background replacement and scene composition.

Two Core Workflows

Workflow A: Real product photo → clean studio background

Use when you have an existing product photo and want a professional background.

Step 1: /pocket-knife:background-removal
  Input:  IMAGE_URL = public URL of product photo
  Output: PNG with transparent background

Step 2: Upload PNG to a public host → get public URL

Step 3: /pocket-knife:ai-image-generation
  Input:  PROMPT = product description + studio background scene
  Output: Final composite image

Workflow B: Generate product image from scratch

Use when you need a product concept, variation, or you don't have a photo yet.

Step 1: /pocket-knife:ai-image-generation
  Input:  PROMPT = detailed product + background + lighting description
  Output: ~/Downloads/product_[timestamp].png

Studio Lighting Prompts

Lighting is the single most important factor in professional product photography.

Lighting style	Prompt fragment	Best for
White seamless	"white seamless background, soft studio lighting, even illumination"	All products; safest default
Beauty dish	"beauty dish lighting, crisp highlights, light grey background"	Cosmetics, jewelry
Gradient backdrop	"gradient studio backdrop, light grey to white, professional"	Electronics, tech
Natural window	"soft natural window light, white surface, airy and bright"	Food, lifestyle products
Dark luxury	"dark studio background, dramatic side lighting, moody, premium feel"	Watches, spirits, perfume
Flat lay	"flat lay composition, overhead shot, white marble surface, even light"	Small products, accessories

Full Prompt Formula for Product Photography

[Product description] + [Background/surface] + [Lighting] + [Shot type] + [Style] + [Technical]

Examples:

Product	Complete prompt
Running shoes	"pair of white running shoes, white seamless studio background, soft diffused lighting, side view, product photography, sharp focus, 4K"
Perfume bottle	"luxury perfume bottle with gold cap, dark black background, dramatic rim lighting, three-quarter view, high-end product photography, reflective surface"
Skincare cream	"white skincare cream jar, light grey gradient background, beauty dish lighting, centered, clean product shot, sharp detail"
Coffee mug	"ceramic coffee mug with steam, rustic wooden table, warm window light, lifestyle product shot, cozy atmosphere"
Smartwatch	"smartwatch on white surface, top-down flat lay, even studio lighting, tech product photography, minimal composition"

E-Commerce Platform Specifications

Platform	Required ratio	Minimum resolution	Background
Amazon main image	1:1	1000×1000px	Pure white only
Shopify product	1:1 or 4:5	800×800px	White or clean
Instagram shop	1:1	1080×1080px	Any
Google Shopping	1:1	250×250px min	White preferred
Pinterest	2:3	1000×1500px	Any

Amazon requirement: Pure white background (#FFFFFF) with no shadows touching the edges. Use the ASPECT_RATIO: 1:1 parameter and include "pure white background" explicitly in the prompt.

Background Removal: When to Use It

Use /pocket-knife:background-removal when:

• You have a real product photo with a complex background
• You want to test multiple backgrounds without re-shooting
• The original background is inconsistent (shadows, props, clutter)

Image requirements for good background removal:

• Product must have clear edges (avoid transparent/glass products without additional setup)
• High contrast between product and background improves edge detection
• Resolution: 512×512 minimum; higher is better

Composition Principles

Principle	Application
Rule of thirds	Position product at a third-point, not dead center, for lifestyle shots
Negative space	Leave empty space around product to allow text overlay for ads
Multiple angles	Generate front, side, three-quarter, and detail shots as a set
Prop consistency	Keep lifestyle props minimal and brand-consistent
Color harmony	Background color should complement, not compete with, product color

Common Mistakes and Fixes

Mistake	Fix
Product blends into white background	Add "subtle drop shadow" or switch to light grey gradient
Background removal leaves rough edges	Use higher-resolution source image; re-upload at 1024px+
Reflective products (glass, metal) look flat	Add "reflective surface, specular highlights" to prompt
Colors look washed out	Add "vibrant colors, high contrast, accurate color" to prompt
Amazon rejects non-white background	Use "pure white #FFFFFF background, no shadows, no props"
Product looks AI-generated	Use /pocket-knife:background-removal on a real photo instead

Batch Production Workflow

For a complete product page (6 angles + lifestyle):

1. Generate each angle as a separate prompt with consistent lighting descriptors
2. Use the same lighting language across all prompts for visual consistency
3. Add one lifestyle/contextual shot with a "in use" scene
4. Apply background removal to isolate product for the white-background hero image
5. Resize to platform requirements using any image editor

Workflow with Other Skills

• /pocket-knife:background-removal — isolate product from complex backgrounds
• /pocket-knife:ai-image-generation — generate product on new backgrounds
• /pocket-knife:image-to-video — animate the product for video ads (rotation, reveal)
• /pocket-knife:elevenlabs-tts — add product narration voiceover to a video ad