Do I need to disclose that my product images are AI-generated on Etsy or Shopify?
2 min read
Quick Answer
It depends on the platform. Etsy requires disclosure when AI is used to design or produce the item itself, including AI-generated visual art listed for sale. Shopify does not require an "AI-generated" tag on product photos as long as the product is real and the image is not misleading. Transparency is the safest default either way.
Nightjar's role here
Nightjar is built for product photography, not for inventing products that do not exist. Generations are anchored to the real Product Asset, so the work is closer to editing a photograph than synthesizing a fake item. That distinction is what most platform rules actually care about.
Etsy's specific rules
Etsy distinguishes between "Handmade" and "Designed by." If the visual art itself is the product (for example, AI-generated prints), you need to:
- List the item as "Designed by a seller."
- Disclose AI involvement in the listing description.
If you are selling a physical handmade item and only use AI to edit the background or styling, Etsy's enforcement focuses on whether the item itself is genuinely handmade. Do not describe a fully synthesized image as "photographed by me."
Shopify and general ecommerce
Shopify does not have a dedicated AI-disclosure tag for product photos. The relevant rule is Truth in Advertising, which is also enforced by the FTC and most marketplace policies.
Allowed:
- Replacing a background, placing a model in a generated scene, color-correcting via hex codes.
- Using Nightjar's Try On Edit Shortcut to show a real garment on a Fashion Model.
Not allowed:
- Generating a product that looks materially better than what ships, for example smoothing stitching errors on a bag or hiding defects.
- Showing materials, colors, or proportions that differ from the physical unit.
Best practice for Nightjar users
If you use Nightjar's Try On or background editing:
- Verify the rendered product matches the physical unit before publishing.
- Keep a real photograph somewhere in the listing so buyers can compare.
- Do not use AI to hide material defects.
Consistent and on brand AI photoshoots, optimized for conversion.
Nightjar