Two new AI tools sit on every item's edit page next to the image upload field: Generate image with AI (creates a fresh image from your item's name and description) and Enhance photo with AI (cleans up the photo you already uploaded — background removal, lighting fix, sharper focus).
When to use which:
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You have a real photo → Use Enhance. Photoroom-grade cleanup of your own snap. The result still depicts your real product, so no customer-facing AI label is added.
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You don't have a photo yet → Use Generate. Fills the slot with an AI-rendered image based on the item name and description you've typed. The storefront shows a small "AI-generated" badge on the item card so customers know upfront.
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You want to try a different style on an AI image → Use Generate again. Each click opens the preview modal and lets you refine the prompt ("warmer lighting", "outdoor setting") and try again.
How it works:
Click the button → a preview modal opens with your current photo on the left (if any) and an empty slot on the right. Click Generate or Enhance → the AI processes for a few seconds → the result appears in the right slot. Like it? Click Use this image to save. Want a different angle? Click Try again — each attempt is a fresh AI run.
The preview-then-commit flow means an attempt you don't like never lands on your storefront. You see the result first, then decide.
What it costs:
5 credits per attempt. Each click on Generate or Enhance charges your credit balance, whether or not you save the result. The platform pays OpenAI / Photoroom for every generation; the credit covers that cost. The modal shows a running count: "Attempt 3 — 15 credits spent so far."
If you'd rather not spend platform credits, you can plug in your own OpenAI API key and (for enhancement) your own Photoroom API key in Settings → Apps → AI Kit. With either key on file, the calls route through your account, your provider bills you directly, and platform credits aren't deducted. See the BYOK update for details.
The customer-facing badge — and why it matters:
Items whose photo was created by Generate (not photographed) show a small "AI-generated" label in the corner of the item card on your storefront. This badge:
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Protects you from "not as described" customer disputes. Stripe and PayPal both accept this as a chargeback reason. A visible AI label on the storefront establishes that the photo is illustrative — Stripe's dispute reviewers see it and side with you.
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Sets customer expectations up front. Fewer surprises when the dish or product arrives = fewer disputes at the source.
Items enhanced from a real photo show NO badge. Enhancement just cleans up your phone snap — the product depicted is still your real item, so no disclosure is needed.
The badge appears on the catalog grid and on the item detail page. It's small, sits in the top-right corner of the image, and includes a tooltip on hover ("This image was generated by AI from the item description, not photographed.").
Tips for better results:
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Generate: write a clear, descriptive item name and a short description before clicking. The AI builds the image from what you've typed. "Beef burger with cheddar, lettuce, tomato on a brioche bun, side of fries" produces a sharper image than "Burger."
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Enhance: shoot from above on a plain surface for catalog-grid uses; a busy background is harder to clean up perfectly. The AI works best when your phone snap is already in focus and well-lit — Enhance polishes, it doesn't rescue.
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Try again is cheap. Each attempt costs 5 credits; if the first result misses the mark, refine the prompt and try once more. A soft cap of 10 attempts per modal session protects your balance from accidental click-spam.
What's NOT supported yet:
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Bulk Generate / Enhance for the whole catalog. Single-item only for now. Reach out via the Helpbot if this would unblock a catalog rebuild.
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Faces and people. OpenAI's image policy declines portrait-style outputs for safety reasons. Stick to product photography use cases (food, retail, services) — a salon merchant who wants "haircut model" images is better off using real photos with consent.