Why white paper looks grey in photos
Cameras expose for the whole scene. A bright background makes the camera darken the image, so white turns light grey. Uneven light adds gradients and shadows, and warm room lighting tints everything yellow. To the eye it looks white; in the file it might be RGB 230, 228, 220.
What “pure white” means
In digital images, pure white is RGB 255, 255, 255 (hex #FFFFFF). Every background pixel must have this exact value — not 250, not 252. That is what makes product images blend seamlessly into a white web page.
The reliable method: replace the background
- Photograph the product on any plain surface in soft light.
- Open White background — the subject is cut out and placed on exactly #FFFFFF.
- Optionally switch the shadow to Ground so the product does not look like it floats.
- For shops, use the product photo studio, which also centres the product on a square with a margin.
Check the result
Open the image in any editor with a colour picker and sample a few background points — all should read 255, 255, 255. Avoid saving as heavily compressed JPG: very low quality can introduce slight off-white artefacts around edges. Quality 85–95% is a safe range.
Frequently asked questions
Can I just increase brightness?
Brightening until the background is white also overexposes the product and washes out its colours. Replacing the background keeps the product untouched.
Is the shadow allowed on white-background images?
A subtle natural shadow under the product is generally accepted and looks more realistic, but always check the rules of your specific marketplace.