Requirements for a Digital Image for US Passports

• This lighting won't do for your passport photo. ballyscanlon/Stockbyte/Getty Images

  The requirements for a digital image for a United States Passport are very similar to the requirements for images taken on old-fashioned film. The primary difference is that the digital image must not be pixelated. All applicants must still submit their images in printed form, however, and the Department of State recommends that you have your photograph taken and printed by a professional photographer.

Equipment

• The most important difference between the requirements for a film image and the requirements for a digital image relate to the quality and sharpness of your photograph. You must submit a pair of two-inch by two-inch identical photos, completely free from visible pixels. To take these photos, you should use a camera that has at least one megapixel. The computer that you store these images on must have adequate memory and storage capacities for high resolution images. The computer should also have high-speed interfaces to the camera and printer and a fast CPU to control the image processing. Your photographs can be printed on any type of printer as long as the images are high-quality and photo-like in appearance. Inkjet and dye sublimation printers are recommended for printing on the thin photographic paper required for your pictures.

Taking the Shot

• If you plan on taking your own passport photographs with a digital camera, you must recreate a photo studio in your house. Your picture must be taken in front of a white or off-white background. You must be facing forward, lit on either side to prevent shadows from forming on your face. The white background also must be lit. The camera should be at your eye level. The picture must present your full head from the top of your hair to the bottom of your chin. Your head should measure between one inch to one and 3/8 inches tall and must be centered within the frame. Your eye level should be from one and 1/8 inches to 1 and 3/8 inches from the bottom of the picture. You also must have a natural expression, with nothing obstructing your face. You can wear your glasses, but only if they don't cause a glare.

Printing the Photograph

• Once you've taken your shot, you need to ensure that it is a good one. There must be no shadows, either on your face or the background behind you. The contrast has to be even and the exposure must be medium. The color should reproduce your natural skin tone. The photograph must be in sharp focus, with no visible pixels. You are not allowed to alter the photograph with programs like Photoshop. You can print on any kind of printer, but the print must exhibit a continuous tone quality. The photographs must be printed on photographic paper. If you don't have this paper, save your images on a disk and take them to a professional printing service.