Following a study we conducted, staged visuals were considered more effective for:
emotion (92.5%), projection (70.8%), perceived value (68%), and click intent (66%).
By contrast, simpler visuals were considered more realistic by 69.8% of respondents.
In addition, 56.6% of participants said they do not mind an AI-generated image as long as it remains faithful to reality, and 34% considered images to be a decisive factor in online purchasing, almost on par with price (35.8%).
Conclusion: a high-performing visual is one that balances desirability, projection, and product accuracy.