Why photos?
Creating enchanting images is key to ensuring the success of marketing and sales campaigns. Uploading photo allows you to easily showcase the best features of your products, hit home their unique properties and persuade your target group. Use on the power of visuals and ramp up your sales by drawing on the GS1 datapool: My Product Manager!
After all, no one buys a product without having seen what it looks like.
What do Benelux retailers want to be provided with?
The provider of the images is to supply at least one high quality image. Normally, this is an image of the product’s front.
For FMCG & Foodservice, it is mandatory to have at least one packshot image, carrying one of the following names:
- GTIN_A1N1 = primary photo name
- GTIN_C1N1 = primary photo name (high resolution)
We advise using the GTIN_C1N1 high resolution format.
For the DIY, garden & pet sector, no packshot requirement applies. Use the view/angle that shows off your product to the best effect.
How do I take high-quality photos that meet all the specifications?
Please find our guidelines to comply with all specifications, for all of the different types of product images.
Here you will find a checklist for adding product images to the GS1 datapool
How to add a photo/URL to a product sheet?
You can add a product image in 2 ways:
- Upload your image directly to the My Product Manager web interface.
- Enter the link to your own URL in your product sheet.
Consider the following specifications:
- the URL must be publicly accessible (no login)
- the URL must always point directly to the image, and not to a web page containing the image.
- the URL must support a HEAD call
- the URL must contain a content_length so that we can validate the file when downloading
- The DAM system must be able to handle a large load in a short period of time without waiting time. If the DAM receives too many requests, there must be an appropriate error handling process (e.g. HTTP 429 too many requests).
Is it mandatory?
Include at least 1 product image in your product fact sheet. As a provider, you are free to ignore this "warning" (notification in My Product Manager) and send in your product information regardless. However, be aware that if your product is audited this will have a negative impact on your score if no images have been included.
How do I add digital assets?
Online purchases are growing explosively and consumers are using more and more channels. It can therefore be useful to be able to exchange videos or instructions with web shops and consumers in addition to images.
Moreover, the government is requiring more and more information. In addition to reliable product information and product images, chain parties increasingly need documents or Digital Assets (e.g. safety data sheets, DoPs, etc.) for internal processes, but also for (online) customers.
You can consult the specifications and guidelines for the do-it-yourself, garden & animal sector here.
Frequently Asked Questions
When exchanging primary images (chapter 3) we recommend using the TIFF-format being the highest quality format. As a supplier you are free to use other formats, while exchanging product images might this better cover the needs of your retailer.
Other allowed formats are: JPG, PNG, GIF
At least one high quality picture should be added to your product sheet. However, retailers may request several pictures to be added. Remember, as a supplier it is your product that is being sold and the chance of selling improves when product data and pictures are available.
A packshot is a front elevation of the product with an angle of view of 0 degrees, as it would be displayed on the shop shelf. For packaged products, this means a photo of the packaging.
No, we facilitate the possibility to allow suppliers to upload a high quality picture in different image formats other than TIFF. We still recommend to use the TIFF format since it is the highest quality picture available, but we facilitate the option to do otherwise.
The retailer can make the necessary agreements with its supplier to request one or another format.
We recommend using a 1:1 aspect ratio. Visuals should be centred in Margins to cover 95% on the canvas.
With a file size between:
| Image type | Height | Width |
| A (web) | 900 - 2400 | 900 - 2400 |
| C (high resolution) | 2401 - 4800 | 2401 - 4800 |
Here are some best practices according to the context where the picture can be used
- Digital: Any product images used for display on websites. This includes eCommerce web, eCommerce Mobile, Social Media, Influencer, Lifestyle, etc.
- Formats: JPEG/PNG
- Path/Background: Clipping path or transparent background (when supported by the format)
- Planogram/Space planning: Any product images used for planogram or retail shelf space planning management. This includes Planogram and Shelf Tags
- Formats: JPEG/TGA/PNG
- Path/Background: Clipping path or transparent background (when supported by the format)
- Print Marketing: Any Product image used for print. This includes circulars, Product Catalogues, Free Standing Inserts, Coupons, Banners, Instore Signage, Sell Sheets, etc.
- Formats: JPEG/PNG/TIFF
- Path/Background: Clipping path or transparent background (when supported by the format)
The aim of this obligation is to allow packshots for all products to be exchanged via one channel and to meet the same specifications. Various retailers in Belgium and in Luxembourg who receive their product sheets via My Product Manager and/or a GS1 GDSN data pool, have committed themselves to process these.
Does the FMCG packshot obligation only apply to packshots or also to other types of product visuals?
From 01/01/2021, it is mandatory for each FMCG product sheet to have a packshot. Other types of product visuals may also be added.
When adding other types of product visuals, please refer to the GS1’s guidelines.
Some of our partners are champions in product pictures and are familiar with GS1’s requirements. Take a look on our solution provider finder to find the right solution provider for your company.