Marketplace listing-photo checklistbefore you publish a product listing

Why this came up in October 2026

On 22 October 2026, Etsy published "Important updates to AI use on Etsy." Most listings, it said, must include at least one unedited photo of the actual item against a real background. Other photos may still be edited, including with AI, if they accurately represent the item a buyer will receive and do not hide flaws or make the item look different. Fully bot-generated listings with no human involvement are not allowed. AI-generated functional guides, such as patterns, recipes or instructions, are no longer allowed, and those listings need to show a real result rather than a simulated one. Etsy said it plans to begin proactive enforcement in early 2027, with advance notice, and that exceptions may apply depending on the type of item. The Verge, CNBC and Retail Dive reported the changes the same day. Individual posts about the update were modest; the official handbook, the press coverage and Google autocomplete suggestions such as "etsy ai policy 2026", "etsy ai image policy" and "etsy ai photo policy" are the primary public record cited here.

This checklist is a reading of those published updates, not an official platform tool. The checks are written so they also help a seller on another marketplace that asks for a real, unedited product photo. Always check the current rules for the site you use.

Sources: Etsy's 22 October seller-handbook article, Etsy's listing-image help page, The Verge, CNBC, and Retail Dive.

If the unedited photo is one you may need to show later

For a handmade item, a print-on-demand product or any other listing a buyer might later question:

1. Keep the unedited product photo in a place separate from later edits.
2. Make a TimeBind of that exact file. The fingerprint is made in your browser and the file stays on your device.
3. Store the unedited photo, a copy of the listing images you published, and the Proof of Time Certificate together.

A TimeBind shows the exact file existed no later than the recorded time and still matches. It does not show that the listing complied, and it is not legal advice.

What a TimeBind shows, and what it does not. It shows that an exact file existed no later than a recorded time and that a copy shown later still matches its fingerprint. It does not show who made the file, who owns it, that its contents are true, or whether AI was used to make or edit it. This is general information, not legal advice.