Product Images

Product images help customers visually identify dishes and make better ordering decisions. They're especially useful for catering, retail, and hospitality businesses.

Why Add Images?

Images increase:

• Customer engagement: Visual appeal drives ordering decisions
• Confidence: Customers know exactly what they're getting
• Accessibility: Useful for customers with visual preferences
• Professional appearance: Makes your menu look polished and modern

Adding Images to Items

When creating or editing a menu item:

1. Find the Image section
2. Click the image upload area or drag and drop a file
3. Select a photo from your device
4. The image will be automatically optimised for web display
5. Save your item

Enabling Images on Your Menu

Images are off by default and controlled at the menu level:

1. Go to your menu settings
2. Toggle "Show Images" to enable product images
3. Save your changes

When disabled, images won't display publicly (but remain stored for later use).

Image Requirements

Recommended Specifications

• Format: JPG, PNG, or WebP
• Minimum width: 400px (images display at up to 400px wide; uploading at 800px is recommended for sharpness on high-DPI screens)
• Aspect ratio: 16:9 works best
• File size: Under 5MB (automatically optimised on upload)
• Quality: Clear, well-lit photos

Best Practices

• Use good lighting: Clear, natural lighting shows food best
• Simple background: Keep focus on the dish
• Realistic appearance: Ensure photos match actual serving
• Consistent style: Use similar angles and framing across items
• High resolution: Use high-quality source images

Image Optimisation

Allergenius automatically optimises all images you upload:

• Resized to maximum 800px width (preserving aspect ratio)
• Converted to modern WebP format for faster loading
• Compressed for optimal web performance
• Mobile-friendly display

Editing or Replacing Images

1. Click on the menu item
2. Find the image section
3. Click "Replace" or "Remove"
4. Upload a new image or remove it
5. Save your changes

Tips for Menu Item Photos

For Restaurants

• Plated presentation: Show how the dish is served
• Garnish included: Display with herbs, sauces, accompaniments
• White or neutral plate: Keeps focus on the food

For Retail

• Product packaging: Show the item as customers receive it
• Clear front shot: Show the product clearly from the front, highlighting key features
• Consistent scale: Helps customers understand sizing

For Catering

• Serving style: Show platters and presentation
• Portion sizes: Display realistic serving quantities
• Multiple items: If offering variety packs, show contents

Mobile Considerations

Images display differently on mobile devices:

• Keep key details visible at smaller sizes
• Avoid text overlays that become unreadable
• Test how your images look on phone screens

Accessibility

While images are visual aids, customers also see:

• Item name (required, always visible)
• Description (recommended for all items)
• Allergen information (important for safety)

Ensure complete allergen information even with images, as some customers can't view them.

Troubleshooting

Image Won't Upload

• Check file size (under 5MB)
• Ensure supported format (JPG, PNG, WebP)
• Try a different browser

Image Not Displaying

• Verify "Show Images" is enabled on the menu
• Check the image was successfully saved
• Refresh your browser

Next Steps

• Add allergen information
• Download your menu as PDF
• Manage your menu settings
• Add nutrition text or a label image
• Check your public menu