Passport photo at home 16 June 2022 at 12:39PM in Techie Stuff 13 replies 468 views

Lostintheclouds

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.

gefnew

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

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

IIRC the passport application process specifies an unedited image.
Whether it knows or not is a different matter.

EssexExile

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.

bob_a_builder

The computer has said Yes then - So no one would dare question the computer

forgotmyname

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.

Lostintheclouds

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).

k_man

Lostintheclouds said:

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

Surely you can find a plain painted wall somewhere. Friend, relative or neighbour's house? Shopping centre? Leisure centre? Library?

Norman_Castle

As above, find a plain light coloured wall to stand in front of. Plain white doors are quite common.

https://www.idphoto4you.com/