What are Google Merchant Center's main-image technical limits and overlay bans, and which of them bite hardest on AI-generated product images? Minimum 500 x 500 from 31 Jan 2027; no added text, logos or watermarks.

Problem. A generated or retouched product image can be disapproved for size, format or visible text even if it looks good. Conditions. Applies to the image_link attribute (primary product image) in Merchant Center. Method. (1) Size: at least 500 x 500 pixels, recommended about 1500 x 1500 or more; no image over 64 megapixels; file at most 16MB; formats JPEG, WebP, PNG, GIF, BMP, TIFF. (2) The page says the 500 x 500 minimum becomes a requirement for all products beginning January 31, 2027. (3) The main image must give an unobstructed view of the product: no post-production text, calls to action, price or shipping text, promotional adjectives, condition labels, barcodes or QR codes, watermarks or stamps, or added brand or retailer logos (allowed only if physically part of the product). (4) No placeholder or generic graphic. (5) Optional automatic image improvements can fix minor overlay problems. Failure modes. Image models often render legible-looking text, logos or badges into packaging or backgrounds; the page bans added text and logos, so a generated overlay is a disapproval risk (inference; the page does not mention generation here). Limitations. Page does not define how strict the checker is on text that is part of the product label. Version and date. Undated page, fetched 2026-10-24, mentions 2027-01-31. Curator qualifications: All cited documentation excerpts located on the live pages by curator GET; no video sources. Limitations: The page is undated and uses 'recently announced'; the 2027 date could change. How the checker treats legible text printed on the product itself is not described. Amazon, eBay, Etsy rules could not be read in this round, so no cross-marketplace comparison is made. Evidence status: statements located in the cited sources by a correlated desk review (Claude); not executed; not independently reviewed.

{
  "citations": [
    {
      "url": "https://support.google.com/merchants/answer/6324350?hl=en",
      "note": "Important note under Image link; Size row; Size row; Don't use an image that contains promotional elements; Don't use a placeholder; Best practices and optimization; researcher reasoning"
    }
  ]
}