Passport photo at home

Hi. Wasn't sure whether to post this in travel or tech, but I guess it may be more of a tech issue.

I need to take a passport photo (for an actual passport) digitally at home but I do not have a suitable plain background. I did buy a white sheet for this very purpose, but disappointingly it came really creased up so the lines show up pretty badly on the photo.

We all know how anal they are with these kinds of things so I guess it would need to be perfect.

Does anyone know of some way I can easily fix this using software? Like a background changer or something to save a few of hours or so of zooming in on paint and trying to white out the background without it looking like a copy and paste job?

Thanks.
Fight the WEF.
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Comments

  • gefnew
    gefnew Posts: 871
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    edited 16 June 2022 at 12:52PM
    Try gimp software for this also free to use. but depends on skill levels when you use it but not that hard really and lots of people use it so there is lots of tips on the internet
    GIMP - Downloads
  • Sandtree
    Sandtree Posts: 10,628
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    You dont have an iron? Ideally you also put tension on it which will help too, how best to do that will depend on the way you are making it into a background. Finally it can be good to have a light behind you directed at the sheet but tell your camera/phone to set the exposure/white balance etc from your face not the background and therefore its blown (hence why in most photo booths the background flashes.

    Minor cleanup far away from your head I'd risk doing in Photoshop etc but anything that looks like manipulation when pixel gazing is just asking for it to be rejected.
  • k_man
    k_man Posts: 1,636
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    IIRC the passport application process specifies an unedited image.
    Whether it knows or not is a different matter.
  • EssexExile
    EssexExile Posts: 6,110
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    As k_man says, no editing allowed, I just ironed the sheet before use. I've just done our applications, the computer says the photos are good enough, we'll know in a few weeks.
    Tall, dark & handsome. Well two out of three ain't bad.
  • bob_a_builder
    bob_a_builder Posts: 2,298
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    The computer has said Yes then - So no one would dare question the computer
  • forgotmyname
    forgotmyname Posts: 32,518
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    Editing someone's driving licence photo and never had an issue. A lot will edit the framing or retouch the background
    brightness. I went a little further and removed blemishes. They are watching me type this and will not let me say spots.

    Censorship Reigns Supreme in Troll City...

  • k_man said:
    IIRC the passport application process specifies an unedited image.
    Whether it knows or not is a different matter.
    How unedited though? I have not yet tried the process so do not know if they want a specific size . . as in a probable cropped image (hence edited) or whether they will do that at their end (unlikely).
    Fight the WEF.
  • k_man
    k_man Posts: 1,636
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    edited 16 June 2022 at 3:36PM
    k_man said:
    IIRC the passport application process specifies an unedited image.
    Whether it knows or not is a different matter.
    How unedited though? I have not yet tried the process so do not know if they want a specific size . . as in a probable cropped image (hence edited) or whether they will do that at their end (unlikely).
    https://www.gov.uk/photos-for-passports


    Take a photo using your own device
    You’ll need someone to help you take a photo during your application.

    Rules for digital photos
    The quality of your digital photo
    Your photo must be:

    clear and in focus
    in colour
    unaltered by computer software
    at least 600 pixels wide and 750 pixels tall
    at least 50KB and no more than 10MB


    What your digital photo must show
    The digital photo must:

    contain no other objects or people
    be taken against a plain light-coloured background
    be in clear contrast to the background
    not have ‘red eye’

    If you’re using a photo taken on your own device, include your head, shoulders and upper body. Do not crop your photo - it will be done for you.
  • chrisw
    chrisw Posts: 3,388
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    Surely you can find a plain painted wall somewhere. Friend, relative or neighbour's house? Shopping centre? Leisure centre? Library?
  • Norman_Castle
    Norman_Castle Posts: 11,871
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    edited 16 June 2022 at 8:14PM
    As above, find a plain light coloured wall to stand in front of. Plain white doors are quite common.


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