Why flat-lay garment photos improve AI try-on quality

AI try-on quality depends heavily on the garment reference image. Your default Shopify product photo might work — but lifestyle shots with models, cropped edges, or busy backgrounds often produce muddy colors, warped logos, or missing details.

A flat-lay (garment laid flat on a neutral surface) gives the model a clean silhouette and accurate print placement. You do not need a studio: a phone, window light, and ten minutes per SKU is enough to start.

Default product image vs custom flat-lay

• Default image works when — front-facing product on plain background, full garment visible, accurate color, minimal wrinkles
• Upload a flat-lay when — model blocks the print, background is busy, image is cropped, or stripes/logos look wrong in try-on output
• Flat-lay is private — uploaded to Shopify Files via Stylab; it powers AI generation only and does not replace your storefront gallery

Which SKUs to fix first

Prioritize by impact, not catalog size:

1. Top 5 products by PDP traffic where try-on is enabled
2. New drops and hero pieces with complex graphics (jerseys, collabs, all-over prints)
3. SKUs with try-on sessions but shopper complaints or high failure rates in History
4. Everything else — only after winners are dialed in

See our 5-SKU rollout guide for how to sequence launch and photo work together.

Shoot a flat-lay with your phone (10-minute setup)

What you need

• Phone camera (12 MP or higher is fine)
• Plain surface — white desk, grey floor tile, or craft paper
• Window daylight or two soft light sources (avoid single harsh overhead)
• Optional: thin board or clips to flatten sleeves

Step by step

1. Lay the garment flat, front facing up. Smooth major wrinkles; sleeves and hem fully visible.
2. Shoot directly overhead — phone parallel to the floor, not at an angle.
3. Fill the frame with the garment; leave a small margin, do not crop the collar or hem.
4. Take 3–5 shots; pick the sharpest with truest color.
5. Export JPG or PNG. Aim for at least 1200 px on the long edge — higher is fine, avoid heavy compression.

Pro tip: For jerseys and tees with large chest prints, make sure the print is fully lit and not shadowed by the collar. Print accuracy is what shoppers judge first.

Upload in Stylab admin

1. Open Products in the Stylab app inside Shopify admin
2. Search for your SKU and open the product row
3. Upload your custom garment photo — it saves to Shopify Files
4. Run a test try-on yourself on the live PDP before announcing to customers

Compare output against the default image side by side. Keep whichever reference produces clearer color, sharper logos, and believable fit.

Quality checklist before you go live

• Garment fully in frame — no cropped sleeves, hem, or collar
• Color matches real product under daylight (no orange filter)
• Print/logo centered and readable
• No hangers, tags, or hands in shot
• Background plain — white, grey, or black
• File is sharp when zoomed — blur causes AI artifacts

Troubleshooting bad try-on output

• Wrong colors — re-shoot under neutral light; disable warm filters
• Logo stretched or missing — use flat-lay with full front print visible
• Garment looks pasted on — shopper photo may be low light; also check reference crop
• Failures in History — check quota, image size, and retry; failed generations should not count as successful try-ons

After fixing photos, run an A/B test to see if output quality changes move add-to-cart behavior — not just session count.

Related resources

• Reduce purchase hesitation — 5-SKU rollout
• A/B testing try-on on Shopify
• Try the live demo