Why does my product image quality degrade online?

Shopify Discussion

Topic summary

A Shopify store owner is experiencing inconsistent product image display across devices. Black hoodies appear washed out or degraded on iPhones running iOS 16.2 and 16.0, but display correctly on devices with iOS 14.2.

Key Technical Issue:

  • The problem appears device-specific rather than platform-related
  • Likely caused by differences in display technology (dynamic range, NITS levels) between iPhone models
  • iPhone 13 Pro Max devices show the degraded quality, while iPhone 12 Pro Max and iPhone X display correctly

Proposed Solution:
A community member suggests adjusting the image editing parameters:

  • Increase: Exposure and Highlights
  • Decrease: Shadows and Contrast

This approach makes product details more visible to customers, though the trade-off is the black won’t appear as “pure black.” The issue stems from the inherent difficulty of photographing true black fabric while maintaining visible detail—a common challenge in product photography rather than a Shopify-specific problem.

Summarized with AI on November 23. AI used: claude-sonnet-4-5-20250929.
1

Im working weeks now , when i get my product online the black becomes really bad.

On my Macbook , My iPhone iOS 16.2 , other phone iOS 16.0

However on an iPhone with iOS 14.2 it shows the true colours.

I need help I just cant figure it out im on dawn btw..

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2

BlackHoodie.jpg
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It is very difficult to photograph true black and still show any product detail, especially when photographing clothing. You will either need to brighten up the image (+Exposure, +Highlights, -Shadows and Contrast) and end up with an image that is not truly “black” but still allows a customer to see the detail you want them to OR be ok with them switching to a different color item to see the details and then back to the black to make the purchase. I have to do that move all the time on Amazon … it’s not a Shopify problem. Some devices offer a display with high NITS and wide enough dynamic range that seeing details in black fabric is not a problem. It’s not usually the operating system of the device either. are the iPhone’s that you mentioned identical models?

3

Yes the Ios 16 devices are both Iphone 13 Pro max , the 14.2’s are Iphone 12 Pro max and a Iphone X.

so i need to fix it with the highlight ?

4

Sorry I wasn’t clear. What I did to your image was increase both Exposure and Highlights, but I decreased Shadows and Contrast. I thought it came out better / easier for the customer to see the details of the image you put up…the caveat is that it’s not pure black.