Capturing good images

Result quality depends heavily on image quality. A clear, well-framed capture lets the platform authenticate reliably; a poor one leads to Uncertain results or rejected captures. This guide covers what a good capture looks like. The app also gives you fast feedback while you capture to help you capture a good image.

Framing

The camera shows an overlay that represents the region the platform expects to see. You should fit the product to that overlay. Alignment does not need to be pixel-perfect, but a large deviation will be rejected.

A good capture is:

At the right distance — the product fills the overlay without spilling past it. Not so far that the product appears small in the frame, not so close that it overflows.
Centred — the product sits inside the overlay rather than off to one edge.
Square to the camera — the camera faces the product directly, not from a steep tilt angle and not with the product rotated.
Unobstructed — nothing covers part of the product within the overlay. Occlusions can produce unreliable results.

If a capture is rejected, the app gives you the reason — too close, too far, not centred, tilted, distorted or product not detected.

Lighting

Capture in a well-lit space with even light:

Avoid darkness. The app detects low light and blocks capture until the scene is bright enough — a banner appears and the shutter is disabled.
Avoid glare. Sharp reflections or specular highlights on a glossy surface can hide the detail authentication relies on.
Avoid harsh shadows. Strong directional light casts shadows that reduce reliability. Aim for uniform lighting without shadows on the object.

Background

Keep only the product of interest in the frame. Several similar products in one shot — for example a shelf of comparable bottles — can make it ambiguous which item was checked, even when the platform handles it. A plain, uncluttered background is best.

Holding steady

Blur comes from two sources: motion (a shaky hand) and focus (the camera has not locked on). To avoid a blurry image, wait for autofocus to settle on the product, hold the phone still, press the capture button and let the overlay border turn green before you move away. To guide you, the app detects blur in the region of interest and sends a message if the region was too blurry.

Quick checklist

Product aligned to the overlay, centred, and square to the camera.
Right distance — fills the overlay without overflowing.
Even lighting, no glare or harsh shadows.
Only the product of interest in frame.
Phone steady and focused while capturing.
Follow any on-screen feedback and recapture if asked.