Passport Size Photos

Hi All

I have tried to make passport sized photographs using PS7 but the results
are not that great.

What I have done is taken a head and shoulder photo, imported the image to
PS7, opened image size to 35mm x 45mm, but the result is that the head is a
bit elongated.

Is there a plug-in or tutorial that I can use to get better results.

Any info would be appreciated.

David

 

Hi David;

I made thousands of passport photos over the years both as
an air force photographer as well as my career as a professional. There are
more requirements than just size so you should check what all the specs are.
As to your question, take your white background photo ( a requirement ) with
the subject square to the lens and looking directly at the lens ( another
requirement ) and just use the crop tool in version 7.0 . Set the size to
2"x2" as required . Click ok and you have it . Before you try this , contact
the nearest government office for passports for the most current specs on
passports. Keep in mind too why most passports are now done with poloroid
film and why most pro photogs. no longer do them ...cost. Since you are in
the uk, your requirements may be a bit different than here across "the
pond". Once you have the specs, then try cropping the image. If they have a
size requirement for top of head to bottom of chin you will have to make
sure you allow for that. If there is a spec for that , make your image a bit
bigger and trim them down so the head size is correct ..you can trim the
photos for the overall size easily. Keep in mind visas as well. I'd use the
picture package in Photoshop for 8 up wallets and trim those down . Good
luck ;
Craig Flory

 

AFAIK there are 2 things that need to be correctly sized/measured for a
passport photo.

The head size and the picture size.

Here's how to do it:
Head Size. Know what the head size needs to be. Open the image in PS. Make
sure that background color is set to white. Pull down 2 guides so that they
are at the correct measurement. For example if you need a head size of 1
inch (I'm one of those dumb Americans that doesn't use metric) place one
guide on the 1 inch mark, the second one on the 2 inch mark.

Next do a select all, Edit/Transform/Scale. Grab a corner of your image with
the mouse, hold down the Shift key and resize the image so that the head of
the subject will fit between the guides. By holding down the shift key you
will not distort the image. You can move the image over the background so
that you can position the head where needed to do the measurement.

Image Size:
Select the Rectangular Marquee tool. Set the style to Fixed Size. Fill in
the size you need in the Width and Height boxes. Click on the image and move
the Marquee box to where you want it. Do Image/Crop.

 

Strangely enough, I attacked this problem only yesterday. I did it
this way. If anyone knows a better, please share it!

This is for British passports, which require prints 35x45mm, white
background.

Taking the picture, against a suitable background, was the easy bit.

Now I needed to crop to the correct proportions.
Using the Rectangular Marquee Tool, I selected Style: Fixed Aspect
Ratio, Width 35, Height 45. I dragged this over the picture until it
was suitably framed. Then Image: Crop gave me a picture with the
right proportions.

Then I used Automate: Picture Package. There was no suitable preset,
so I constructed one. They are kept in the Photoshop program folder,
/Presets/Layouts. I made a text file, passport.txt, containing:

c 21.1 28.7
(20)3.5x4.5
2 1 3.5 4.5
6.1 1 3.5 4.5
11 1 3.5 4.5
15.5 1 3.5 4.5
2 6.5 3.5 4.5
6.5 6.5 3.5 4.5
11 6.5 3.5 4.5
15.5 6.5 3.5 4.5
2 12 3.5 4.5
6.5 12 3.5 4.5
11 12 3.5 4.5
15.5 12 3.5 4.5
2 17.5 3.5 4.5
6.5 17.5 3.5 4.5
11 17.5 3.5 4.5
15.5 17.5 3.5 4.5
2 23 3.5 4.5
6.5 23 3.5 4.5
11 23 3.5 4.5
15.5 23 3.5 4.5

This produces 5 rows of 4 pictures, 35x45mm, on a sheet of A4 paper.

 

Please convert your passport size photo into the smart object and then edit in PS7 by using dimension 35mm x 45mm.