1 Introduction
1.1 GS1 Product Image Specification Standard
1.2 Sharing product images
The GS1 Product Image Specification Standard establishes rules for the storage of digital images associated to products. … [It] does not specify how the images should be delivered via electronic commerce.”
This guideline aims to provide the best practices and recommends on Product Image delivery in a global and technological agnostic manner. The reader of this guideline is assumed to be familiar with the GS1 Product Image Specification Standard and the product images for sharing are assumed to be compliant in terms of:
■ Aspect ratio
■ Image quality
■ Naming conventions
■ And all other requirements except the format (e.g., TIFF, JPEG, etc.)
Before turning to the technical recommendations, at a high level it is assumed that:
■ An image provider will want to share the same product images with multiple image recipients.
■ An image recipient will want to receive multiple images from multiple image providers.
■ Both image providers and image recipients may work with images inhouse or with the support of a dedicated image service provider.
In such an environment, global standards for the product image helps reduce costs and complexity by defining a common framework for all stakeholders. The two basic models to achieve this are summarised below.
Note: Image recipients do not assume ownership of a product image which has been shared with them. While the image can be used, product image shall not be manipulated unless explicitly permitted.
1.2.1 Store one high-quality product image, and generate format required
Widely used for product recognition (e.g., reuse on websites where the product is listed for sale). This is primarily used for images that can be used without further permissions.
Figure 1‑1 Show process flow below
1.2.2 Bespoke create of product image by provider based on recipients needs
Commercial images (e.g., product images used for advertisement, promotion, or other promotional needs) where the individual image has specific usage requirements (by country, by retailer, by region, etc.) Product Images.
Figure 1‑2 Show image of bespoke process flow here
2 Regulatory/legal and usage rights
Product Image Providers usually own the image rights of the GS1 compliant Product Images that they share or shared by their Solution Provider. While the intent is often for Product Image Recipients to reuse the images (on websites, in print, for product confirmation systems, etc.) there are limits to how images can be shared. While individual images will have their own specific requirements the table below provides a summary:
Table 2‑1 Synopsis of usual product image usage rights
3 GS1 Product Image Naming
■ The GS1 Product Image Specification Standard provides a best practice for naming conventions for Product Images. This includes all the GTIN based naming & GDTI identification for Product Images. Please note, however, that the industry is increasing moving toward the use of Metadata, rather than product image file name, to communicate attributes of the image. Please see: https://www.gs1.org/standards/gs1-product-image-specification-standard/current-standard#7-Identification-and-Metadata+7-1-Identification
4 Best practices for sharing Product Images by application area
Before turning to the sharing recommendations by application area, at a high level it is assumed the following notes for each image format regarding the path/background specifications:
Table 4‑1 Image format characteristics
Note: A clipping path (Path 1) and white or a transparent background is preferred for sharing product images since they are more flexible and easier to be managed/used by the recipients.
4.1 Digital
4.2 Planogram/Space planning
4.3 Print Marketing
4.4 Provide one, front facing, image
Overview: Any product images used for display on websites. This includes eCommerce web, eCommerce Mobile, Social Media, Influencer, Lifestyle, etc.
Summary of Product Image requirements:
■ Views: Straight-on, various angle and plunge, varietal composition, info-graphics
■ Formats: JPEG/PNG
■ Path/Background: Clipping path or transparent background (when supported by the format)
Associated Data: All optional (e.g., trading partner specific items such as brand, quantity, unit of measure, etc.)
4.1.1 GS1 Mobile Ready Hero Images
Go see https://www.gs1.org/standards/Mobile-Ready-Hero-Image/1-0
Overview: Any product images used for planogram or retail shelf space planning management. This includes Planogram and Shelf Tags
■ Views: Straight-on, all product sides
■ Formats: JPEG/TGA/PNG
■ Background transparency: Clipping path or transparent background (when supported by the format)
■ Associated Data: All mandatory (e.g., dimensions)
Overview: Any Product image used for print. This includes circulars, Product Catalogues, Free Standing Inserts, Coupons, Banners, Instore Signage, Sell Sheets, etc.
■ Views: Straight-on, various angles and plunge, varietal composition, info-graphics
■ Formats: JPEG/PNG/TIFF
■ Path/Background: Clipping path or transparent background (when supported by the format)
■ Associated Data: All optional
Overview: The image provider provides one, high quality, image. This is normally a front facing image centred on the product. Such an image can be used or shared in many different ways: URL, GDSN, Verified by GS1, etc
■ Views: Straight-on
■ Formats: TIFF, JPG, PNG, GIF
■ Path/Background: Clipping path or transparent background (when supported by the format)
■ URL links: In the product data sheet, several URL links to the images of the product could be shared by the brand, only one of them should be the main image. To be sure to identify the correct main image, the brand will have the opportunity to specify it with the Digital Asset Primary Indicator equals “TRUE” (GDSN attribute name: isPrimaryFile) associated to only one Digital Asset Type Code (GDSN attribute name: referencedFileTypeCode). The brand could share several main images but linked to the period of validity. This means that GDSN subscribers (Retailers, Verified By GS1, etc.) should manage the start and end date for each instance of main images. Only one main image should be valid per:
□ referencedFileTypeCode (Mobile Hero Image, Product image, etc.)
□ for the same period (current and future)
□ CPV (Consumer Product Variant)
□ File format (TIFF, JPEG, ..)
□ The full list of applicable rules can be found in:
- GDSN Validation Rules, latest release
Note: If the image – or the images – are provided in a high quality format such as TIFF, the image recipient would be required to manipulate for the format they require, however, changes should be restricted to format and white/transparent background only.
5 Technical considerations
This guideline aims to be technology agnostic. However, the technology used to deliver or share product images between trading partners does need to be considered. The sections below aim to provide some tips and key considerations on using the main methodologies.
5.1 Shared URL
5.2 Global Data Synchronisation Network (GDSN) and other systems
5.3 Send Product Image File
Image providers can make their product images available via a URL that can be shared with multiple image recipients.
A very simple example is a single product shot, created and named in line with the GS1 Product Image Specification Standard, that is the primary front on image, square aspect ratio, white background, using GTIN-naming, etc as outlined in section 4.4. For example:
■ https://www.gs1.org/docs/images/09504002100016_A.jpg
However, the exact same process can be used for sharing any type of product image. For example an image that is compatible with the GS1 Mobile Ready Hero Image Guideline:
■ https://www.gs1.org/docs/images/09521234567806_B1C1_0622_s01.jpg
While the shared URL is, in principle, very simple and scalable to multiple images of single product the following best practices should help image providers:
URL Management: Automated image sharing requires valid URL for each image being shared. The following are known issues that must be avoided:
□ Broken links
□ Image files that are corrupted or of low quality
□ Image formats that are not supported (e.g., doc, ppt, html, etc.)
□ A URL that is password protected
□ A URL that requires manual navigation or shows multiple images that requires manual navigation
□ Etc.
GS1 Product Images shared via URL ideally do not require specific permissions to be reused, but if the brand owner has any restrictions on the use of the image (see section 2), these should be listed on a higher-level page.
The scope of this document does not cover meta-data, but once an image is loaded on its own unique URL by the brand owner, required meta-data can be associated with each image.
Within the GDSN network, product images are not shared directly. Links are provided to the URL where the product images can be found (see section 5.1). It is important to consider the needs of the recipient. Many recipients will be receiving images from several providers, so it is important to provide an image that recipients can use without overloading their servers or requiring interventions for converting or editing the file.
The recommended file type of full quality TIFF files are excellent inventory for the image provider. This rich format enables the creation of any other format or size for downstream purposes. However, as this TIFF format was created for print purpose originally, full quality TIFF files can be very large which can be challenging for the recipient to manage and pass between servers depending on the use.
If one, front facing, image is provided as stated in section 4.4, by providing the files in TIFF format, the recipient has all flexibility to create internally all required, different file types, resolutions, backgrounds (white or transparent) etc. The lighter JPEG and PNG images, which comply more with web requirements, can easily be created from the master TIFF and still contain the pixel ranges provided in the GS1 Product Image Specification Standard.
There are a variety of attributes that need to be populated in order to effectively send an image to a recipient.
A lot of images could be shared for the same product, and the goal of this section is to help users to identify the main image for each product. The provider could identify the main image that he wants to use and it is up to the recipient to use it or to define another one according to its usage. It is essential that all of these attributes are consistent with each other in the transaction.
■ referencedFileTypeCode: This attribute will be used to specify referenced file type links to the primary file that should be used.
■ uniformResourceIdentifier: This attribute refers to a resource on the internet, URLs may refer to documents, resources, people, etc. It will facilitate the exchange of information through an URL.
■ isPrimaryFile: This attribute will help to indicate which asset is/are the main asset(s). For the same consumer product variant, same period, and same file format, we can only have one main asset with isPrimaryFile sets to true.
7 References
Contributors & change log
Contributors
Log of Changes
Useful links:
* PDF version of the GS1 Product ImageShareing Guideline
All GS1 Product Image Standards and Guidelines