AI color variants
AI color variants,
the whole range from one shot
AI color variants are images of every colorway of a product made from a single reference shot: you photograph one variant well, and we generate the others with the same light, the same pose and the same crop. The real work isn't changing the color, it's getting it right: every variant is checked against the Pantone code or the physical swatch before delivery.
In short
- Every colorway from one master shot, with identical light, pose and crop
- Color checked against Pantone, HEX and physical swatches, not by eye
- Each material handled separately: fabric, leather, metal, plastic
- Useful for launches, pre-orders and colors not yet sampled
- From €20 per image, delivered in 5-10 working days
The use case
Why photograph
just one color
A product in eight colors means eight samples to get to the studio, eight sets of shots, and often one color that arrives late and launches without photos. The resulting product pages have slightly different poses and lighting, and clicking a swatch makes the image "jump".
With AI color variants you invest in one well-made master shot and build the whole range from it. Shoppers browsing the page see only the color change, as it should be.
Accuracy
How we keep AI color
variants true to the product
01
Numeric references
A Pantone code for each colorway and, for the web, the HEX or sRGB value approved by the brand.
02
Physical swatch
Where one exists, a swatch photographed in neutral light next to a reference color card.
03
Material zones
Body, stitching, lining, hardware and logo are separated: often only one part changes color.
04
Shadows and highlights
Navy and yellow don't react to light the same way: we review shadows and reflections variant by variant.
05
Approval
Each colorway is approved next to its reference, then exported in sRGB for shops and marketplaces.
Screen vs reality
Why a Pantone
on screen isn't enough
A Pantone code is built for print and materials, while a screen shows color in RGB. Picking or checking a brand color on screen alone can lead to clear differences from the real ink (JPMTR source). On top of that, every customer views the product page on a different monitor or phone.
That's why our reference stays the physical swatch, when there is one, and the final file is in sRGB, the color space browsers display most predictably. Some colors are trickier than others:
| Color or finish | The risk | What we do |
|---|---|---|
| Fluo and neon | Often outside the range a screen can display | The closest possible rendering, with a note on the page if needed |
| Blacks, navy, dark greys | They blur into each other and lose texture | Checks on shadows and fabric detail |
| Metallic and iridescent | The color depends on the light angle | A real shot of the variant is often needed |
| Heather and garment-dyed | The color is uneven by nature | Texture rebuilt from the swatch, not a flat color |
Our checking method for color, logo and packaging is described in product and packaging accuracy in AI images.
Where it's used
Color variants
for every kind of product
02
Footwear and leather goods
Leathers and uppers in several shades, with soles and hardware unchanged. See AI footwear photography.
03
Design and objects
Lamps, chairs and homeware in the catalog finishes.
04
Packaging
Lines that use the same bottle or box in different colors.
Variants are produced like any other shot: from €20 per image, with the price falling as volume grows, and they combine with AI packshots or the scenes of AI product photography.
Limits
When you still need
a photo of the sample
AI color variants work when only the color changes. If anything else changes, so does the job.
When AI color variants aren't the right choice
If the variant also changes material or finish (smooth to suede leather, matte to gloss), has a different print or pattern, or is metallic or iridescent, you need a real photo of the sample. The same goes for the collection's lead color, which is always worth photographing: it becomes the reference for all the others.
FAQ
Questions about
AI color variants
How much do AI color variants cost?
Each variant is one image: from €20 each, with the price falling as volume grows. For large ranges across many SKUs we send an estimate within one working day.
Can I get photos of a color I don't have a sample of yet?
Yes, starting from a master shot and the Pantone or HEX code. It's useful for pre-orders and launches, but when the sample arrives it's worth comparing it with the image.
How do you make sure the color is right?
We compare every variant with the physical swatch or the reference code and deliver in sRGB. No one can guarantee identical color on every screen, but the file starts out correct.
Can you change the color of a print or pattern?
A different pattern isn't a color variant: it needs to be photographed or supplied as a file. We can recolor an existing print if the design stays identical.
Are AI color variants fine for Amazon and Zalando?
Yes, they are exported in the required formats. The rule remains that the image must show the product the customer receives, so color has to be checked against the sample.
The whole range,
from one shot.
Send us the master photo and color codes: we'll show you a first variant.