Create Passport Photos
From Your Pictures
Taking and printing your own passport photo is generally not recommended due to the strict guidelines concerning photo specifications. However, if you follow the guidelines exactly, there is nothing stopping you from creating your own passport photo. It does become more complicated if you wish to create a passport photo from a photo already in your picture collection. The chances of having an appropriate photo are slim. With photo editing software you may be able to adjust components in the photo to comply with regulations, or take a new photo on your own.
Instructions
1. Browse through your pictures until you find a full face frontal shot. Mug shots are not the most common pictures kept on hand. Passport photos must follow specific guidelines; for purposes of passports and visas, the submission of a photo that does not meet the guideline specifications will result in a denial and return of your application. If you do not find a photo that complied with the criteria, you will need to take a photo yourself.
2. Select a photo from your collection that meets the proper requirements. Those include a head shot taken against a white background, the subject is not smiling, and the face is completely exposed with no scarf, hat, or glasses covering it.
3. Open the photo on the computer using a photo editing program, such as Adobe Photoshop. Make sure that you keep the photo in full color, black and white photos are not acceptable passport folders. Crop the photo to form a perfect square just above the head and slightly below the shoulders.
4. Scale the photo to the correct size. The photo must be exactly 2 x 2 inches. To resize in Photoshop, select "image size" on the drop down bar from the "image" tool bar. Using the grid rulers (found under "ruler" on the drop down bar from "view"), make sure that the head space or area from the chin to top of the head takes between 1 and 1 3/8 inches of the entire photo.
5. Tile the photo. If you wish to print more than one copy of the passport photo, select the image and paste it to the side (on the same canvas) as many times over as you desire. If the canvas is too small, change the canvas size by selecting "image" and then "canvas size."
6. Print the photo on semi-matte or glossy photo paper. Make sure to set the print settings to print actual size. Let the photos dry, and cut exactly on the lines. Do not leave why border space.
