If you are experienced enough, you’ve seen it before: a beautifully shot product image, perfect lighting, clean background but when dropped into a lifestyle scene, it just feels... off.

The colors pop too much, reflections misfire, and the product looks like it’s floating in limbo.

The same issue frequently arises when using AI tools like Presti. But like most problems, there are practical solutions.

Let’s dive into how you can set up your studio to produce images that are not only visually stunning but also fully compatible with AI.

The Ideal Studio Setup for AI

Background Choices: Neutral Gray vs Pure White?

The background you choose dramatically impacts the final AI-generated results. Pure white backgrounds have been an industry standard, but for AI integrations, neutral gray is increasingly popular and for good reason.

Neutral gray backgrounds preserve subtle product details and reduce harsh reflections, offering AI clearer data to produce realistic outcomes. While white backgrounds might seem clean and versatile, they often lead to overly bright, unnatural AI-generated scenes. Opting for gray gives richer colors, improved realism, and ultimately, better furniture images.

Essential Lighting Techniques

Getting lighting right isn't just good photography practice it's essential for AI to produce believable lifestyle images.

• Adaptable Lighting: Use diffused, balanced setups, think soft boxes paired with reflectors. Harsh shadows and uneven lighting confuse AI, but controlled, even illumination reduces editing needs and enhances realism.

• Shadows and Reflections: Shadows anchor products, making them appear grounded rather than floating. Use reflectors or flags to manage directional light, especially with reflective surfaces like metals or polished wood.

• Positioning and Scale: Consistency matters. Photograph products from standardized angles and distances to help AI consistently recreate realistic lifestyle scenes.

Adopting AI-driven product photography is not just smart, it saves costs, accelerates your workflow, and empowers your creative team with greater flexibility. Without traditional creative roadblocks, you can swiftly adapt visuals for changing seasons, holidays, or special events, keeping your brand dynamic and relevant.

Optimizing your studio for AI is more than technical, it’s becoming strategic. Leverage these best practices now to turn your product photography into a flexible, powerful asset that sets your brand apart in a competitive digital landscape.