# Promotional overlay on image The "Promotional overlay on image" issue means the main image carries added text, badges, logos or watermarks, so the item is disapproved. On Shopify it usually means sale badges or brand marks were baked into the image file itself, or supplier photos arrived with watermarks or promotional text already applied. - **Canonical URL:** https://www.feedlab.io/knowledge/errors/promotional-overlay-on-image - **Last reviewed:** 3 November 2026 - **Source:** feedlab knowledge base - **Licence:** free to quote and cite with attribution to feedlab ## How this appears in your account - `Promotional overlay on image [image_link]` - `Promotional overlay on image` ## Why it happens on Shopify ### Sale badges were edited into the image file A "Sale" or "-30%" sticker added in an image editor becomes part of the file. Badges that a Shopify theme or app draws over the image on the storefront are not the problem, because they are not in the file the feed submits. ### Supplier photos carry watermarks or logos Stock photo watermarks, copyright marks and supplier or brand logos stamped onto the image all count as overlays, even when the photograph underneath is fine. ### The main image is a marketing graphic Some stores lead with a banner-style image showing the price, free shipping, a call to action or feature callouts. That works on a product page but breaks image policy as the main feed image. ### The first image in Shopify is not a clean product shot Feeds usually take the featured image, which is simply the first image on the product. If that slot holds an infographic or size chart, it becomes the main image in the feed. ## How to fix it 1. **Identify where the overlay lives** — Open the submitted image URL directly. If the badge is visible in the raw file it has to be replaced; if it only appears on the storefront, the file is clean and the flagged image is a different one. 2. **Upload a clean version of each image** — Use the original photograph without text, badges, watermarks or added logos. Ask suppliers for unwatermarked files rather than cropping marks out, which tends to damage the image. 3. **Choose a clean image for the main slot** — If the product has a clean shot further down its image list, reorder it to first in Shopify or map image_link to that image. Infographics and size charts can still go in as additional images. 4. **Move promotions into feed attributes** — Express discounts through sale_price and promotions rather than in artwork. They can then be changed without editing images and appear in the format the channel expects. 5. **Consider automatic image improvements as a stopgap** — Merchant Center can try to remove overlays automatically and reapprove the product. It is off by default, replaces the original image when it succeeds, and leaves heavy text or dense watermarks unfixed, so it does not replace clean source images. ## How feedlab handles this feedlab lets image_link be set with a conditional rule, so products whose featured image is a known graphic can submit a different image from the product instead. The rule preview shows which image each product resolves to against your real catalogue before the feed is published. ## Frequently asked questions ### My theme shows a sale badge on product images. Is that the problem? Not usually. Badges a Shopify theme or app draws on the storefront are separate from the image file, so the feed submits the clean image. The issue arises when the badge is part of the file itself. ### Can Google remove the overlay for me? Merchant Center has an automatic image improvements setting that tries to strip overlays and reapprove the item. It is off by default and cannot fix every image, particularly heavy text or dense watermarks, so clean originals remain the reliable fix. ### Can I use infographics or size charts at all? Not as the main image. The main image must show the product clearly without added text or graphics. Supporting images can be submitted separately as additional images. ## Primary sources - [Google: image_link attribute specification](https://support.google.com/merchants/answer/6324350) - [Google: Allow Merchant Center to improve your product images](https://support.google.com/merchants/answer/9242973)