Vertical product photos without cropping: from original reference to 9:16
Prepare a vertical coffee-grinder or homeware image in Sowar: select 9:16, leave room for copy, and check the product and publishing preview before use.
Sowar team
How do you make a vertical image without cutting off the product?
Start from the original reference and select 9:16 in Sowar’s generator, rather than cropping a square image already filled by the product. Request the whole item with space around it, then inspect the result before adding a headline or opening the publishing app’s preview. The ratio sets the frame shape. It does not guarantee accurate product details or keep text clear of every app’s interface.
Suppose you sell a hand coffee grinder and need an image for a social story. A tight crop can remove the crank or base; shrinking the grinder too far makes its details unreadable. You need a new composition that reads quickly, not a stretched square image.
Plan the space before generating
Upper frame: a quiet area where you can try a headline later.
Middle: the whole product, with room around its handle and base.
Edges: inspect what the destination app’s interface covers in its actual preview.
Choose a reference that shows every essential part
Use a photograph showing the complete grinder, including the crank, handle and grounds container. If the source cuts off an important part, take another photo instead of asking the generator to invent it. Keep the reference beside the output for review. When selecting from your connected Salla catalog, check the exact model and color.
Give the image one job: introduce this hand grinder, for example, rather than explain its entire specification. Verified capacity, material and dimensions belong in the listing or accompanying copy. A generated cup beside the grinder cannot establish its real size.
Set the ratio after choosing the scene style
In the generation workspace, choose the reference and scene style, then check the aspect ratio and select 9:16. For a single image, turn off the image-pack option if it is selected. Some scene choices set output preferences, so confirm the final ratio before generating. Also review the resolution, image count and cost displayed in the app.
A test brief for the vertical grinder image
“Show the complete hand coffee grinder from the reference inside a vertical frame, with the crank, handle and base fully visible. Place it on a neutral surface with soft light. Use a simple background and leave open space above the product. Preserve the grinder’s shape and color. Do not add text, logos, cups or accessories.”
This is a brief for a test you must review, not a generated example or a promise to preserve every detail. Select 9:16 in the generator settings too; do not rely on mentioning the ratio in the prompt alone.
| What you see | Practical decision | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| The crank or base leaves the frame | Reject it and request more space around the product | The crop hides part of the item |
| The whole grinder is present but tiny | Bring it closer while keeping its edges visible | Text space is not useful if the product is hard to recognize |
| The background works but the shape changed | Return to the reference; do not publish this version | Good composition does not fix an inaccurate product |
Add the headline after approving the image
Download the accepted image and add a short headline in your usual design editor or publishing app. You can also follow the Sowar template text guide and choose a suitable layout; do not assume every template fits 9:16. This is a separate step, not a claim that Sowar posts stories to your accounts. Start with a line such as “Hand coffee grinder,” keeping it off the crank and container. Include an offer or price only if the creative needs it and you have checked it.
Open the actual destination’s preview on a phone. Check the headline and product with the account name and app controls visible. Do not treat a fixed border measurement as a universal safe zone. If fitting the copy makes the grinder too small, shorten the headline or move specifications to another image.
Test one product before preparing the rest
Compare the shape against the reference, then read the image at phone size. Can you recognize the grinder and message without zooming? Start with one item. When you move to a jar or household tool, identify the parts that must stay visible instead of copying the grinder’s position automatically.
Start with Sowar product photography using your own photo, whether or not you have a Salla store. If you are a Salla merchant new to Sowar, use the Salla App Store installation and connection guide. To prepare a store image alongside the story version, see the catalog visual consistency guide.