Box shots (sometimes known as "virtual boxes" or "virtual box shots" are graphical images depicting a 3D representation of how a product might look if it were in a box. However, it should be noted that these images are typically used not for physical products (where actual pictures of the product are used), but instead for intangible ("virtual") products, especially downloadable products, such as software (including shareware), audio, music, video, or graphics packages.
Occasionally, especially if you hang around marketing discussion forums, you may encounter the odd person who feels that box shots can be in someway misleading. Usually they'll say something like "Well I know they're just graphics, but some people might think that they represent the actual product". Personally I think these people are underestimating the public, because everybody who uses a computer is familiar with the idea that icons and graphics on the screen don't necessarily represent actual physical objects. That said, I wouldn't want to risk misleading or confusing even one person (and wouldn't want you to either), so I always include a very prominent notice on my web sites stating something like "3D box shot images do not represent the actual products which are delivered as electronic downloads".

So what could you use a box shot for? Well, apart from simply looking attractive (which some people might say is reason enough to use them), box shot graphics can actually be quite useful:

- You could use them in advertising materials (e.g. banner adverts) or on your web site.

- You could use them as a navigational element on your web site. For example, if you have several products for sale, you could design a layout with several box shots, each of these box shots would be accompanied by a brief description, and visitors could select which product to purchase (or view more information about) by clicking on the appropriate one.

- You could use them within the product itself. When I create a software product, for example, I personally like to place a box shot either in the splash screen graphic (the graphic that is shown when the program is loading), and/or in the "About" dialog box (the dialog box which contains program version and copyright information).