How to Use AI to Create Free Product Images

One of the first things I learned in digital marketing is that a good product image is essential to generate sales on the Internet.

You can have the best copy, the most competitive price, even a spectacular product… but if you don't show it in that image, you lost the opportunity.

That's why brands invest so much in product photography. But of course, not all of us have the budget or time for professional sessions. And that's where artificial intelligence (AI) comes in.

I've been testing various free AI tools to create images that sell, and in this article I'll tell you what results I've had and how you too can create your product photos with artificial intelligence.

Today we will see:

• AI tools to create product images

• How I use AI to take product photos 

• In which cases to use AI to create product photos

• Learnings from using artificial intelligence for advertising photos

Additionally, you can download the free guide to create your own product photos with AI (step by step) 

Let's get started!

How I found AIs to create product photos and which ones I chose

If we search “AI to create product images” on Google, we get thousands (if not millions) of pages promising to be the tool you need, but… are they really?

When starting this exploration, I always had three things in mind. I needed the artificial intelligence tools to be free (no payment), easy to use, and to give me a good result (so that it almost wasn't noticeable that the images were AI).

• Price

This was one of my non-negotiables. I wanted to find accessible AI apps and tools for everyone and I didn't plan to invest in memberships or subscriptions in dollars. 

I knew that being free AIs there could be limitations like a maximum number of images per day or access to basic options, but what I needed were product photos for social media or the catalog, so it was enough.

• Ease of use

After finding those free tools, my second criterion was that they were easy to use. I needed to repeat the process with several images so an AI that worked in a few steps was ideal. 

I also considered that the registration process to start using the tool not be too long (or, in the best case, not require registration at all)

• The result

This I could only verify by using the AIs. I tried to generate product images with different options from each tool to confirm that the quality of the result was consistent. 

After testing more than 20 tools for AI product photos, I share with you the top five that met my 3 criteria. 

My top 5 AI tools to create free product images

• PhotAI

• PixelCut

• Photoroom

• ChatGPT 

• Gemini (very powerful!)

Here I can divide these tools into two types: those that allow you to generate product images with prompts and without prompts. Join me to see them in action.

How I use AI to create and improve product images

Much has been said about how to generate images with AI, but when it comes to photos of your products, it is necessary to provide that initial photo to the artificial intelligence. 

That is, if you sell office chairs, you could ask the AI to make a product photo of a corporate chair in black, but it would give you a very generic image. How do you ensure it is the same model you sell? 

Therefore, we must start with a base image of your product. For example, I used these:

And I got to work to generate good product images in these cases:

1. Catalog photo with white background

➡️ AI for product photo I used: Photoroom

By uploading your base photo, the same tool will automatically remove your background to customize it according to what you need. 

For this case, I needed the product on a clean white background as it is the standard in product catalogs or e-commerce stores. When the user is reviewing your store, you want all the focus to be on your products, and you achieve that with a neutral background like white. 

The great thing about Photoroom is that it comes with a template for professional product images and your image even comes out with a shadow that adds depth to the product 

See the before and after!

2. Product photo with AI-customized background

➡️ AI for product photo I used: PhotAI and Gemini

Now, what if you need a thematic background for your image? Well, it is also achievable with artificial intelligence. In fact, this is one of the most common uses: AI for product backgrounds. 

Both PhotAI and Gemini gave me good results without needing to pay. 

With PhotAI, I uploaded my base image, it recognized the category of my product, and suggested high-quality backgrounds. 

Additionally, I could opt for an already generated background or create one to my liking with a prompt. 

In the case of Gemini, I did have to generate my own prompt, but it was totally worth it because the results were incredible. I could even make variations of the same image to my liking.

Here I show you the before and after:

3. Two products in one advertising image

➡️ AI for product photo I used: Gemini

Now yes, the ultimate test. I had two products I wanted to combine into one image, and it occurred to me that AI could do it. 

So I turned to Gemini for the good result in the previous experiment, and it didn't let me down. 

However, I must warn you that a lot depends on how detailed your prompt is. It took me several attempts to get the correct one, but the result was spectacular. 

Here is the before and after:

Download the guide: How to use AI for product photos (step by step)

Your turn has come! If you've made it here, it's because you're looking for how to create or improve your product photos with artificial intelligence. And you have seen it is indeed possible.

I've reviewed more than 20 AI tools, and the top 5 I selected have given me excellent results. Now, you can download for FREE the step-by-step guide I followed to generate the product photos you see in this article and more:

You'll find:

• How should you take a base photo to use it with AI?

• The step-by-step to create your product images with AI for free.

• 9 proven prompts for AI product images

• Visual styles recommended according to your industry

• How to use AI to generate your product listings (a must-see!)

• The uses you saw here and additional ones with free AI tools

Learnings from creating product photos with AI

• The base photo is an obligatory input to generate a good image of your product. Try to take it in an environment with white light and ensure the background has a solid color.

  
  

• When using prompts, they must be quite detailed to get the result you have in mind. In the guide, I include the formula to make your own prompt.

• There are many AI tools capable of generating images. Dare to explore new uses on your own. Ask yourself what you want to improve in your product photos? Surely, there is an AI for that.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions about using AI for product photos

Can AI help with product photography?

Yes, artificial intelligence can generate realistic, attractive, and customized product images without the need for a photo session. It is an ideal solution for e-commerce businesses looking to save time and money.

Is it necessary to have experience in design or photography to use these AI tools?

No, you don't need prior experience. Most AI tools for images are intuitive; you just describe what you want, and the platform generates it. It's as simple as writing a message.

Are images generated with AI suitable for advertising?

Yes, many images generated with AI can be used in ads, especially on social media or online stores. Just ensure they comply with the policies of the platform where you are going to publish them.