The image attributes
The Merchant Center image attributes, image_link and additional_image_link, resolution and format rules, the no-text/no-watermark/no-promo policy, and the image disapprovals that hit most often.
The image is the first thing a shopper sees, and Google has strict rules about it. You need a clean main image with no added text, watermarks or promotional overlays, at a decent resolution, showing the actual product. Extra angles go in additional_image_link. Most image disapprovals come from overlays and from URLs Google can't crawl.
The image attributes
| Attribute | What it is | Example |
|---|---|---|
image_link |
URL of the main product image | https://cdn.store.com/pegasus-40-black.jpg |
additional_image_link |
URLs of extra images (up to 10) | https://cdn.store.com/pegasus-40-black-sole.jpg |
The image carries the first impression and, in many placements, most of the click. Google treats it as both a merchandising surface and a policy surface: which is why the rules are strict and the disapprovals frequent.
image_link: the main image
The primary image has to clear a specific bar:
- The actual product, clearly, as the main subject, ideally on a plain white or neutral background.
- No added text, logos, watermarks or overlays of any kind: including your own brand marks and any promotional badge.
- No placeholder: "image coming soon" graphics disapprove.
- Sufficient resolution: 100x100 minimum (250x250 for apparel), but 800x800+ is the practical target for sharp rendering.
- A crawlable, stable URL: Google has to fetch it repeatedly; a URL that blocks its crawler or 404s means no image, which means no serving.
additional_image_link: the extras
Up to 10 additional URLs. These carry the alternative angles, close-up detail shots, scale references and lifestyle/in-context photos. They're where the looser creative work goes (a lifestyle shot with a model is fine here in a way it may not be for the main image) and Google displays them on the product detail page.
Deep dive The image disapprovals that hit most often
Image problems cluster into a short list, and knowing the list is most of the cure:
- Promotional overlays. A "Sale", "Free Delivery" or "-30%" badge burned into the image is the single most common image disapproval. So are price tags, calls to action, and condition claims. The image must show the product, not advertise it.
- Watermarks and logos. Your own logo, a photographer's watermark, or a supplier's mark. All disqualify the main image.
- Crawl failures. The URL times out, requires a login, is blocked by robots rules, sits behind an aggressive CDN that throttles Google's crawler, or simply 404s. No fetch means the item can't serve: and this one is invisible until Diagnostics flags it, because the URL "looks fine" in a browser.
- Wrong variant image. Every colour variant showing the same hero shot instead of its own colour. Not always a hard disapproval, but it confuses shoppers and undermines the variant group: assign a per-variant image and fall back to the product image only when one genuinely isn't set.
- Too small or generic. Sub-minimum resolution, or a generic stock/placeholder graphic standing in for a missing photo.
- Product not the main subject. The product is tiny, obscured, or shown among many other items so it's unclear what's for sale.
The through-line: the main image is a policed field, not a free canvas. Anything added on top of the product (text, badges, marks) is a liability, and anything that stops Google fetching the URL is a silent one.
How this works in /tools
Enrichment checks the image attributes rather than editing your photography: it flags URLs Google can't reliably crawl, main images that carry text or promotional overlays, missing or placeholder images, and variants pointing at the wrong image: and surfaces them through your Feed Health Score before Google disapproves them. Your image URLs and files are never altered. For the full policy detail, see the image policy reference; for getting per-variant images right, see item_group_id and variants; and for clearing an existing image disapproval, see fixing disapproved products.
Frequently asked questions
Can I put my logo or a "Sale" badge on the image?
No. The main image must be free of added text, logos, watermarks and promotional overlays. Badges like "Free Shipping" or "50% Off" burned into the image are one of the most common image disapprovals. Promotions belong in the sale price and promotion assets, not the picture.
What resolution do I need?
At minimum 100x100 pixels (250x250 for apparel), but aim much higher, 800x800 or more, so the image stays sharp on high-resolution placements. The file must be under 16MB and in a supported format (JPEG, PNG, GIF, WebP, BMP, TIFF).
How many images can I submit?
One main image_link plus up to 10 additional_image_link entries. Use the extras for alternative angles, detail shots and in-context lifestyle images, Google shows them on the product page.