How to convert images for an online product catalog

Your product photos look right on your computer, but the catalog rejects them, displays them with a strange background, or shows some listings differently from others. The right image format depends on what the catalog accepts and what each picture needs to preserve.

Use the Image Converter to convert up to 50 images in your browser. Before converting a whole product library, check the catalog's file requirements and test a few representative photos.

Convert a small batch first

1. Check the catalog or store's image requirements. Note the accepted formats, maximum file size, and any required dimensions. If you cannot find the requirements, test with a few images before preparing everything.
2. Open the Image Converter and select a few sample product images. Include a regular product photo, an image with a transparent background if you use one, and any unusual image type in your collection.
3. Choose an output format that the catalog accepts. JPG, PNG, WEBP, GIF, BMP, ICO, and TIFF are supported by the converter, but your store may accept only some of them.
4. Convert the sample images and save the results. Keep the original files unchanged until you have checked the converted versions in the catalog.
5. Upload the samples and inspect them on a product page, not just in a file preview. Check for missing transparency, unwanted cropping, visible quality changes, and whether the catalog accepts each file.
6. Once the sample works, convert the remaining images in batches of up to 50. Keep a copy of the originals and use clear file names so you can match each converted image to its product.

Choose the right format for each image

JPG for ordinary product photos

JPG is a common choice for photographs of clothing, furniture, food, and other products against a solid background. It does not support transparency. If the original has transparent areas, those areas must be filled with a background when the image is saved as JPG, so check the result before using it.

PNG when transparency matters

Choose PNG for a product image or logo that needs a transparent background, provided your catalog accepts PNG. PNG can also be useful for crisp graphics and text. It may produce larger files than JPG for photographs, so check the store's file-size limit.

WEBP when the catalog supports it

WEBP is a web image format that can store photographic images and transparency. It can be a useful option for online catalogs, but use it only if your store accepts WEBP and displays it correctly on the product page. If you need to send images to a supplier or upload them to an older system, check compatibility first.

GIF, BMP, ICO, and TIFF for specific requirements

These formats are less common for ordinary product listings. GIF can contain animation, while ICO is intended for icons. BMP and TIFF may be requested by a particular workflow, but they are not automatically better choices for a website. Follow the catalog's specifications rather than converting every image to one of these formats by default.

Fix common catalog image problems

1. Match the catalog's accepted formats. A file extension alone does not guarantee the system supports that format. Check the upload instructions or test one converted image before processing the whole batch.
2. Keep a transparent background when you need one. Do not convert a transparent product cutout to JPG unless you are happy for its transparent areas to be flattened onto a background. Use a format with transparency, such as PNG or WEBP, if the catalog supports it.
3. Check animated images before changing format. If a source GIF contains motion, converting it to a still-image format may leave you with a still image rather than the animation. Keep the original GIF if the animation is important and the catalog accepts it.
4. Check dimensions separately from format. Changing an image from TIFF to JPG, for example, does not mean it has been resized to meet a store's pixel-width or pixel-height requirements. Look up the required dimensions and inspect the image after upload.
5. Keep originals until listings are approved. Save converted files in a separate folder or use a naming pattern such as item-123-webp. If a listing looks wrong, you can compare it with the source and try another format without starting over.
6. Test the uploaded image at its displayed size. A photo can look fine in a large preview but appear soft or cropped in a product grid. Check both the listing thumbnail and the full product image if the catalog shows both.

Why a format change may not fix every issue

An image format controls how image data is stored. It does not by itself make every picture the same dimensions, crop, background, or visual style. A catalog can also resize or crop images after upload, so an image that looks correct on your computer may display differently on the site.

For consistent listings, use product photos with similar framing and backgrounds, then follow the store's requirements for dimensions and file size. Convert only what needs converting. If the store accepts your original format and displays it correctly, there is no need to change it just for the sake of using a different extension.

The Image Converter processes your selected files in the browser, and your photos stay on your device.