Prepare sharp images and choose the right aspect ratios so that products and messages are not cropped in the store.
This guide applies to store administrators in Go, Plus, and Pro. Product images are uploaded to the product; images for custom pages and many theme blocks are managed via Appearance → File archive or the block's image selector. The theme settings below apply to Diversity. TPL and custom themes may have different fields and image rules; check the active theme first.
1. Distinguish between pixel dimensions, aspect ratios, and file size
Pixel dimensions specify the image's width and height, for example 1500 × 500 pixels. The aspect ratio is then 3:1. The file size, for example in kB or MB, indicates how much data the file contains. A larger file is not automatically sharper.
500 × 100, 1500 × 300, and 3000 × 600 pixels all have the aspect ratio 5:1, but different levels of detail. Start with the image's largest display size and choose enough original pixels. Enlarging a small file does not create new details.
Edit the subject, cut-out, background, and retouching in an image editor before uploading. For example, you can use GIMP, Paint.NET or Pixlr. The theme's scaling and cropping control the display; it is not the same as editing the original's subject.
2. Choose aspect ratios for the slideshow
Open Appearance → Themes → the active theme → Edit → Content → Home page and select the slideshow block. Choose aspect ratios that suit both the subject and the page layout.
Example: 5:1
An image of 1500 × 300 pixels has the same aspect ratio as the 5:1 setting.
Example: 3:1
An image of 1500 × 500 pixels has the aspect ratio 3:1.
If a very wide image needs to fill a taller image area, parts of it may be cropped. The theme adapts the image to the display area and settings; it cannot automatically determine which subject must remain. The following example shows how text is cropped when the aspect ratios do not match.
Check on both mobile and desktop. Do not place important information only as text within the image; use the block's text fields when possible and keep important subjects away from edges that might be cropped.
3. Upload and configure product images
Open Catalogue → Products and select the product.
Open the product's image management under Edit → Images and upload the original image.
Open the active theme and Style → Images.
Select the aspect ratio, whether the image should be cropped or fit within the image area, and which part of the subject to prioritize where such options are available.
Save and check both the product list and the product page.
For square images, select 1:1. For example, 1000 × 1000 pixels provide this aspect ratio, but it is not a universal upload limit or a requirement for all sales channels.
For landscape images, for example, 1500 × 1000 pixels is a 3:2 aspect ratio. The setting and the subject determine how the image fills the area.
4. Set up product group images
Open Catalogue → Product groups → select group → Edit → Properties and the field for the image in the product group table. In the theme, select the group image's aspect ratio under Style → Images.
Example with 1:1 and square originals:
Example with 3:2 and landscape originals:
5. Adapt images for storefronts
Storefronts can use a 5:4 aspect ratio. However, check the current block's settings; a different theme or configuration might use other aspect ratios. The number of blocks in the row affects how large the image is displayed, not how much detail the original contains.
For 5:4, you can use, for example, 1000 × 800, 1500 × 1200, 2000 × 1600, or 2500 × 2000 pixels depending on the display size. More pixels are needed when the same subject is displayed larger. Do not use these examples as a rule that a specific column layout must have an exact pixel dimension.
6. Choose a format and manage transparency
JPEG: is suitable for photographs and does not have a transparent background.
PNG: can preserve transparency. A white background that is already part of the pixels does not become transparent by renaming the file to PNG.
WebP: can result in smaller files. Check for support in the specific upload field and the channel where the image will be used.
SVG: can be used for some logos and illustrations where the field supports it. Only upload SVG files from a trusted source. The product image upload does not accept SVG; a format that works in the file archive will not automatically work on the product.
If the background looks wrong, open the original file in an image editor and check if it actually has transparency. Then, check if the theme's image area has its own background or cropping. The theme's background color cannot remove a baked-in white background from a subject.
7. Check external image requirements and accessibility
An image that looks good in the store may still be too small or have the wrong content for Google Merchant Center. Check the image URL that is actually sent in the product feed's image_link, not just a small preview. The main image should show the actual product; do not use a logo, promotional text, or placeholder as a substitute.
Google has announced a minimum of 500 × 500 pixels for product images from January 31, 2027. Prepare sufficiently large originals now and follow Google's current image requirements and any warnings in Merchant Center. An approved upload in Abicart is not an approval from an external sales channel.
Use a consistent image template and supplement it with relevant angles, details, and size references. Feel free to show the product in use when it helps the customer understand its size or function. Give the file a descriptive name before uploading and write short alternative text in the image field that supports it. Describe the image's content and function without listing keywords. Purely decorative images can have empty alternative text.
Quick start
Identify the image's location and the active theme's proportions.
Prepare a sharp original with the right subject, background, and format.
Upload to the product or select the image in the correct block.
Check the cropping on mobile and desktop, as well as external image requirements if you use product feeds.
Subscription
Product images and basic image management are available in Go, Plus, and Pro. The theme's settings and the respective upload field's format and file limits apply. External channels have their own image requirements that are not determined by the Abicart subscription.
Frequently asked questions about images in online stores
How large should product images be?
For many online stores, 1000 × 1000 pixels is a good starting point for square product images. The best size depends on the theme, how much detail customers need to see, and the largest size in which the image is displayed.
What is the best aspect ratio for product images?
A square aspect ratio of 1:1 is a flexible choice for many product catalogues. A landscape aspect ratio of 3:2 may be better for wide products or photographs that require more horizontal space. It is more important to be consistent throughout the catalogue than to choose a single universal aspect ratio.
Why is my image cropped?
An image is usually cropped when its original aspect ratio does not match the aspect ratio selected in the theme. Resize or crop the source image to the correct aspect ratio before uploading it.
Should all product images have the same dimensions?
Using the same dimensions and aspect ratio gives product galleries a cleaner and more uniform look. The images can contain products of different shapes, but the image area should remain consistent.
Which file format is best for product images?
JPEG is a practical choice for most product images. PNG is useful when transparency is needed. WebP can provide smaller file sizes when the platform supports it.
Do image sizes affect the online store's speed?
Yes. Large, uncompressed image files can increase loading times, especially on mobile devices. Resize and compress your images before uploading them, while ensuring the quality is high enough for customers to examine the product.