How to Add Multiple Images for Variants on Shopify

In the world of e-commerce, presentation is everything. When you’re selling products online, it’s crucial that customers can see every detail before making a purchase decision. One of the most effective ways to achieve this is by adding multiple images for each variant of your products.

Shopify multi-variant images are a key feature that can significantly benefit your product listings. It allows you to display multiple images for each variant, such as showing different angles or color options for a single product. 

According to a recent study, 75% of online shoppers rely on product photos to make purchasing decisions. This statistic underscores the importance of providing clear and detailed images for each product variant.

This guide explores why adding multiple images for variants is essential, how you can do it on Shopify, and best practices for managing variant images.

What are Product Variants in Shopify?

In Shopify, product variants are different versions of a single product that customers can choose from. Variants typically differ by attributes like size, color, material, or style. For example, a T-shirt might have variants for small, medium, and large sizes, or for colors like red, blue, and green.

Each variant can have its own price, SKU, inventory level, and even specific images. Variants help store owners offer multiple options under one product listing, making it easier for customers to find exactly what they want without browsing separate products.

Variants are created by adding options (like “Size” or “Color”) to a product and then defining the possible values for those options. Shopify allows up to three options per product, enabling flexible combinations like size + color + material.

Understanding what product variants are is essential before exploring why adding multiple images for each variant can help your customers’ shopping experience.

Why Add Multiple Images for Variants?

Adding multiple images for variants doesn’t just make your Shopify store look better; it offers several advantages that can directly impact your sales and customer satisfaction. Here’s why you should consider using Shopify multi-variant images:

1. Better Visual Representation of Products

Each product variant, whether it’s a different color, size, or design, deserves to be seen in detail. For example, a red shirt might look completely different from a blue one. Multiple images allow you to show each color in the best light, highlighting important details like texture, fit, and style. This gives your customers a better idea of what they’re purchasing, reducing the chances of returns due to unmet expectations.

2. Innovative User Experience

Customers want to interact with your products in the same way they would in a physical store. Shopify multi-variant images let shoppers click through different images of the same product variant, helping them understand exactly what they’re getting. By seeing every angle or different colors of a product, customers feel more in control of their shopping experience, which can lead to higher conversions.

3. Increased Conversion Rates

When a customer has all the information they need to make a purchase decision, they’re more likely to complete the transaction. Multiple images help reduce indecision by offering a complete view of the product, showcasing all available variants. When customers feel confident that the product matches their expectations, they’re more likely to click that “Buy” button, increasing your conversion rates.

4. Improved Visual Storytelling

Product photos are your store’s story. Showing multiple images for each variant allows you to tell a richer, more complete story about the product. For instance, if you sell a dress, showing images of it from different angles, with close-ups of the fabric, or even worn by a model, provides the customer with a more dynamic shopping experience.

5. Better SEO

Each image you upload to your Shopify store is an opportunity to enhance your SEO. By adding multiple images for each variant and optimizing their alt text and filenames, you improve the likelihood that your products will appear in image search results.

Now that you know how important variant images are, let’s look into the most common methods you can use to add them on Shopify.

Methods to Add Multiple Images for Variants

There are several ways to add multiple images for product variants on Shopify, depending on your theme and technical knowledge. Below are some of the most common methods to get the job done.

Method 1: Using Shopify’s Built-in Variant Image Feature

Shopify offers a built-in feature to assign multiple images to each product variant. This is the easiest and most straightforward method for store owners who don’t want to deal with code. Here’s how to do it:

1. Go to Shopify Admin and click on Products.
2. Select the product you want to edit and scroll to the Variants section.
3. For each variant (color, size, etc.), click on Edit.
4. Upload the images you want for that particular variant. Shopify allows you to assign more than one image per variant by clicking on the Add Image button.
5. After uploading, the images will automatically be linked to that variant.

Method 2: Using Shopify Apps

For more flexibility and advanced functionality, you can use apps like Variant Image Automator or Swatchify. These apps allow you to automatically link multiple images to each variant and even enable additional features like variant-specific image galleries.

Here’s how to set up Variant Image Automator:

1. Go to the Shopify App Store and install the Variant Image Automator app.
2. Once installed, the app will automatically sync variant images based on your product’s variant options.
3. You can upload multiple images for each variant, and the app will handle image display automatically.
4. The app also integrates with your theme, preserving your image gallery layout and even adding features like image zoom or product videos.

Method 3: Custom Code Implementation

For advanced users or store owners who want complete control over their product page design, adding custom code is the best option. By modifying your Shopify theme’s Liquid, HTML, and CSS files, you can create a fully customized experience for displaying Shopify multi-variant images.

Here’s a basic example of adding multiple images to variants using code:

1. Navigate to Online Store → Themes and click Actions → Edit Code.
2. Locate your product template file (typically product.liquid).
3. Add custom code to display additional images when a customer selects a variant. Use a code snippet like this:

{% for variant in product.variants %}

  {% assign color = variant.option1 | downcase %}

  <div class="variant-image" data-variant-id="{{ variant.id }}">

    <img src="{{ variant.featured_image | img_url: 'medium' }}" alt="{{ color }}">

  </div>

{% endfor %}

4. Customize the design and functionality further using CSS and JavaScript to allow variant image switching when a user selects a different color or size.

With various methods available, following best practices will help you keep your images organized and your store looking professional.

Best Practices for Managing Multiple Variant Images

Managing Shopify multi-variant images effectively can help simplify your product listings and improve user experience. Here are five best practices to make sure you’re getting the most out of your variant images:

1. Use High-Quality Images

Your images are the first impression customers get of your products, so they must be high-quality. Make sure that each image is well-lit, crisp, and clear, so customers can see the details of every variant. Avoid using pixelated or poorly cropped photos.

2. Organize Images by Variant

Keep your variant images well-organized in Shopify. Use clear file names that correspond to your variant options (e.g., “red-shirt-front.jpg,” “blue-shirt-back.jpg”). This will make it easier to manage and edit images as needed.

3. Optimize for Mobile

With mobile shopping becoming increasingly popular, make sure your variant images are responsive. Test how they look on different screen sizes and make certain that they load quickly. Mobile users should have the same experience as desktop users.

4. Add Image Alt Text for SEO

Always include descriptive alt text for each image. This helps with SEO and makes your store more accessible. For example, for a red shirt variant, you might use alt text like “Red shirt front view.”

5. Use Swatches for Color Variants

For color variants, consider using swatches instead of image galleries. Swatches make it easy for customers to select their preferred color variant quickly, and they help keep your product page clean and organized.

Even with careful management, issues can arise, so knowing how to troubleshoot common problems guarantees a smooth shopping experience for your customers.

Troubleshooting Common Issues with Multiple Variant Images

While adding multiple images for variants is simple, issues can occasionally arise. Here’s how to troubleshoot common problems:

1. Images Not Displaying Correctly

Sometimes, images may not appear on the product page as expected. This can be due to issues with the image file itself, incorrect file formats, or loading errors.

Solution: Check the image file sizes. Large files can slow down your page or fail to load. Compress them to optimize load times.

2. Variant Images Not Linking Correctly

Sometimes, the images don’t switch properly when customers select different variants (such as a color or size). This issue can make it unclear for customers which image corresponds to which product variant.

Solution: Check if each image is correctly assigned to its corresponding variant in Shopify. Double-check your product variant settings and image links.

3. Mobile Display Issues

Many customers shop using mobile devices, and if your variant images aren’t displaying properly on mobile, it can lead to a frustrating experience. Images may appear misaligned, fail to load, or be too large to view properly on smaller screens.

Solution: Test how images appear on mobile devices. Make sure images are resized properly for mobile screens, and use responsive design to adjust automatically.

4. Slow Image Load Times

Slow load times can cause frustration for users, especially on mobile devices with slower internet connections. Large images or too many images for variants can cause your page to load slowly, which can lead to a higher bounce rate and lower conversions.

Solution: Large, uncompressed images slow down your site. Compress images and implement lazy loading to improve load times, especially for mobile users with slower connections.

5. Variants Not Showing All Images

Sometimes, not all images for a variant are visible, even when they’ve been assigned correctly. This can lead to confusion for customers who might not see all available views of a product.

Solution: If not all images are showing for a variant, double-check image assignments in the Shopify Admin and review your theme or app settings to verify if they’re correctly linked.

To simplify and supercharge your variant image management, tools like StarApps Studio offer advanced features that make the process effortless.

Take Your Variant Image Management to the Next Level with StarApps Studio

If you want an even easier and more effective way to manage Shopify multi-variant images, look no further than StarApps Studio. This app offers powerful tools for adding, organizing, and automating the assignment of multiple images to product variants, simplifying the process while improving the overall performance of your Shopify store.

SA Variant Image Automator

One of the standout features of StarApps Studio is the SA Variant Image Automator, which allows you to automatically assign multiple variant images. This tool eliminates the need for manual image tagging, saving you time and effort. 

• Instant Image Display: Multiple images are displayed instantly when a variant is selected, which improves the user experience.
• Theme Integration: The app integrates with your theme’s image gallery layout, preserving the image zoom and variant gallery features without causing any slowdown.
• Supports Multiple Image Layouts: If you’re showcasing a 3D view, product videos, or using advanced variant options, SA Variant Image Automator has you covered.
• No Manual Tagging Required: Just organize the product images, and the app will handle the rest, streamlining the variant image management process.

Color Swatch King: Variants

Another feature that takes variant image management to the next level is Color Swatch King. Variant image swatches help customers quickly compare product options, while color swatches displayed on the collection page provide an easy way to browse without clicking into each individual product.

• Quick Comparison: Customers can quickly compare product variants, whether it’s color, size, or style, using the variant image swatches.
• Customizable Variant Selectors: Choose from a variety of selectors, including swatches, buttons, and dropdowns, to display variant options with prices, labels, and badges.
• Bulk Uploads: Easily upload color swatches in bulk using CSV files to save time.

Variant Alt Text King: SEO Optimization

Managing Shopify multi-variant images isn't just about visual appeal; it’s also about optimizing your images for search engines. Variant Alt Text King is an essential tool for improving SEO and accessibility. 

• Auto Sync ALT Text: The app automatically updates ALT text for all new variant images, checking if they are SEO-friendly and contain relevant product details.
• Improve Accessibility: By adding descriptive ALT text, you improve the accessibility of your product images, which helps with ADA and WCAG compliance.
• Promote Image Search Ranking: The right ALT text helps your product images rank better in Google’s image search, driving more organic traffic to your store.

Conclusion

Adding multiple images for variants on Shopify is a smart way to improve product visibility, increase conversions, and enrich the customer experience. By following best practices, organizing your images well, and troubleshooting any issues, you’ll create a professional shopping experience that keeps customers coming back.

If you're looking for a more practical way to manage your variant images, StarApps Studio’s products can help. With bulk image uploads, advanced image management, and smooth integration, you can easily optimize your product displays.

Contact us today to learn how StarApps Studio can help you automate your store’s image management.