When it comes to selling shoes online, where the image speaks for itself, you can expect lots from AI there. But how much you can trust this text-to-image generation is not beyond question by any means.
In fact, the AI-generated shoe image mistakes footwear sellers make are so glaring that they can turn eCommerce shoppers away in an instant. As time goes by, people are becoming more and more picky about the authenticity of products.
In line with that, the use of AI has become very efficient, you can’t say so right away. Get along with this blog, and you will become clear about exactly which AI image problems can wreak havoc on your shoe product page.
1. The Sole Curved Abnormally
Sole flexibility is highly desirable, but what if it’s bent so that only the middle part of it touches the ground? Put yourself in your store visitors’ shoes. What would you think if you saw such a picture?
You wouldn’t leave aside the safety of your feet and focus on the color of the shoe, would you?
Moreover, in the AI result, you will often see that there is no foam cushioning at all under the heel. Visitors will leave your store right after looking at the pictures, let alone reading the details of such products.
Check Related Service: Professional Bulk Shoe Photo Editing Services
2. Inconsistency of Holes and Laces
Shoppers like to see the same number of holes for each shoelace, spaced equally apart. This also uplifts the overall look of the shoe, as it is natural for the number of holes to not be greater than the number of laces.
Unfortunately, this is exactly the kind of mistake that sellers often make with AI photos and end up doing footwear image editing again and again.
It also happens that the lace goes into the hole and that’s it. There is no sign of its other head coming out through any other hole.
3. Wrongly Mixing Up the Materials
If you get 10 bad AI images, you’ll get 7 of them that have the shoe materials mixed up. You’ll see one material on the upper of the shoe morphing into another material on the lower part.
Also, some images have colors that make it confusing for shoppers to tell if it is in leather or mesh. As a seasoned seller, you might be aware that it is this made-quality that shoppers verify and reach the final decision of the purchase.
You have to be way more careful because visitors now often zoom in and check these things in detail. But in many AI images, texture mistakes are not instantly apparent until you zoom in.
4. Right and Left Leg Side Complications
There’s nothing more embarrassing than having hardles to figure out which pair of shoes is for the right foot and which is for the left. Things get that much unfortunate when AI goes wrong.
These types of incorrect images place the logo and supporting structures on the same side of both pairs. It turns out like you’re watching the same part twice.
Shoppers don’t have the opportunity to try on shoes while viewing product pages, so in such a dilemma, they don’t take long to leave the store.
5. Strange Pattern of Spikes on the Soles
When making shoes, a shoemaker keeps in mind where exactly people will use them (such as on a mountain trail or a paved city road). AI rarely catches it, even though you give it the right instructions.
Among the AI’s flaws, you’ll find that the spikes on the soles are in a way that doesn’t signal that you’ll be able to walk well in them.
It won’t take long for hikers to notice if some of the spikes are smaller than others, or even if some are in the wrong part of the shoe. And if office goers see spikes on their loafers, then your footwear business is over.
6. Melting of text and logos
Another mistake in AI-generated images that sellers have to deal with the most is text distortion. It would be wrong to say that AI cannot give you logos at all, especially those designed with letters.
Thing is – if you get 15, there’s a chance that 12 of them have melt texts. And it’s even more so in plain text, which clearly raises questions about whether you can rely on AI at all.
Even if the shoe inside the image is perfect in every way, bad text can increase your bounce rate. After all, text-based content in images can easily convey the context of the product to viewers.
7. Inappropriate Lighting and Casting Shadows
A subtle drop shadow cast on a shoe lying on a mountain path adds a touch of enchanting realism to the entire image.
By seeing shadows on the shoes from the exact opposite direction from where the light is falling, shoppers get a sense of the three-dimensional state of the shoe.
Even if you say it at the prompt, AI often fails to provide these kinds of details needed to bring the image closer to life. The worst part is that AI casts shadows in the wrong direction, without taking into account the direction the light is falling on the shoe.
Frequently Asked Questions About AI-generated Shoe Image Mistakes
1. Can I make an entire lifestyle image, including shoes, with AI?
It is possible to do this, instead, you shouldn’t. Because in most cases, AI cannot keep the shoes as they are in the original when generating the entire lifestyle shot. So it’s best to do a photoshoot for shoes and then place any original photos against an AI-generated lifestyle background.
2. Can AI images increase product return rates for eCommerce stores?
Yes, it can happen. It could even be possible if you could create an attractive product photo without defects with AI. The problem occurs when your original product does not match the image you created. The customer will order it right away, but will immediately return it since the product is not exactly what they saw in the picture.
3. Can AI design shoes as precisely as Nike Air or Adidas Boost?
No. AI models basically give you designs at a very generic level. They can have the Nike and Adidas Boost logos, but if you look closely, you will notice the differences from the brand photos.
4. Do search engines penalize AI shoe images?
No. They don’t penalize your shoe images just because of them being AI-induced. The main issue here is how browsers respond to images, which, in most cases, is positive for authentic and high-quality images. But sellers are mostly careless in using AI and end up creating poor images that browsers turn away from.
5. Are AI photo editing tools better than human editors at fixing AI flaws in footwear photos?
It depends because if you’re going to do basic fixes like removing simple backgrounds or plain color changes on a large scale, then you should go for AI tools. But if your backgrounds are complex or you want to restore age-old poor color, you can’t fully rely on them. Here, expert and experienced human editors can take it up to your expectations, even if it takes longer.
Final Words: What Is the Solution
The point is, it’s always challenging to give AI prompts with complete instructions to get a good image out of it. But customers always want to see clear and realistic images, and now they have become even more picky.
This is why the AI-generated shoe image mistakes footwear sellers make cost them lots of expenses and working hours.
You might get 70 out of 100 good results if you’re lucky, but are you ready to take this bet when the very existence of your ecommerce store depends on it? After all this, it doesn’t mean that those other 30 images of yours were wasted.
Just manually edit them, and your full photo asset is ready, right? And speaking of manua edit, the best way to deal with AI mistakes is to adopt a combination of both AI and professional human editing.
So, by now you’re half ready. And to fill the other half of your workflow, there’s Retouching Zone, a 10+ year seasoned footwear photo editing company.
Try their services for free to check their expertise and see how reasonable it is to partner with them for the long run.
