Photoshop Passport Photo Template v1.1


*Update Feb 2016* 
Due to the popularity of this template, I created a better and easier solution for both travelers and professional photographers. I’m happy to announce the launch of PassportPhotoApp.com. You can create passport photos online for FREE. For professionals, there is also a new updated template and expanded service that automates many photo sizes. Go check it out! https://www.passportphotoapp.com/

Photoshop Passport TemplateIn order to speed up the process of taking and processing passport photos, i created a Photoshop passport template which I’m releasing for free for nonprofit use. The template has been tested and I used it to process photos for my passport. Basic instructions for use are included in the readme.txt file in the archive, or a tutorial with screenshots is available after the jump. This template is not currently working with Adobe Photoshop Elements for most people.

Commercial License
If you are a professional photographer and wish to use this template for commercial uses, please purchase a license for only $20. Though an updated version is available at https://www.passportphotoapp.com/
This secure transaction is protected via Paypal. Click here to learn more about how Paypal protects you.

Personal License (Free)
Click Here to download the Photoshop Passport Template v1.1

Overview
The purpose of this template is to simplify the creation of two 2×2 inch photos required for the U.S. passport application. When used correctly, photos processed with the template meet sizing requirements as denoted by the U.S Department of State. This template was designed to speed up the sizing process, and produces a document that can be printed on your home computer or at a local photo lab. Photos processed with this template have been accepted for use in U.S. passport applications.

How to Use

(Click on screenshots for larger versions)
Tutorial Version 1.1

1. Open PassportTemplate_v1.psd in Photoshop.
Tutorial Image 1

2. Open photo to be used as passport photo in Photoshop. To take a photo that meets background and composition requirements read over the U.S Department of State guide located at http://travel.state.gov/passport/guide/guide_2081.html.
Tutorial Image 2

3. Drag passport photo into the template and position layer directly above GreyBG in the layer group entitled Place Photo in Here Above GreyBG.
Tutorial Image 3

4. The first step is to size the head in the photo using theHead Size Ruler Using Free Transform (CTRL-T), re-size the photo so that the head falls within the confines of the ruler. The ruler is drag-able using Photoshop’s move tool, so if its not positioned in a useful place move it to an area that helps you. When you’re done with the tool, feel free to move it off the image.
Tutorial Image 4

5. Horizontally center the photo using the vertical Face Center Line as a guide. If necessary, rotate your image. The Face Center Line guide should be equally dividing your face.

6. Using the Eye Line as a guide, vertically center the photo making sure that the eyes fall within the middle of the two outside lines, and if possible close to the center eye line.
Tutorial Image 5

7. Duplicate the layer group titled Place Photo in Here Above GreyBG, and drag it to a new position that is not covering the original photo.
Tutorial Image 6

8. Hide the Template layer group.
Tutorial Image 7

9. Save the resulting document. The options are up to you, but .JPG with a compression of 10 will work fine for most purposes. If you wish, you could also save the .PSD so you can make corrections at a later date if required.
Tutorial Image 8

10. Print the photo on 4×6 paper via your inkjet with photo paper (if your printer produces good quality photos), or print it using a photo lab. Any lab that prints 4x6s will work, which is pretty much all of them. These photos are incredibly useful when traveling, you will use them on every thing from visa applications to identification cards. I highly recommend bringing at least 10 extra photos with you for any overseas trip.

11. Cut the photos out.

I hope you find this template and tutorial useful. The template has been downloaded and used by thousands of people. If you compare the amount charged by a typical location such as Kinko’s or USPS, I estimate that the collective savings from everyone using this template is well over $20,000. If you found this template useful, please tell your friends about it. If anyone has questions about how to use the template, please use the comment system below. As I don’t have a lot of time to offer personal support for the non-commercial license, I hope the community of people using this can help each other out. I thank everyone for making this template a success.
-Nic

*Update Feb 2016* 
Due to the popularity of this template, I created a better and easier solution for both travelers and professional photographers. I’m happy to announce the launch of PassportPhotoApp.com. You can create passport photos online for FREE. For professionals, there is also a new updated template and expanded service that automates many photo sizes. Go check it out! https://www.passportphotoapp.com/
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87 responses to “Photoshop Passport Photo Template v1.1”

  1. No wonder that this template is so popular; it’s perfect. Instructions are clear, and the photos come out great. Thanks for taking the time to put this together, and for sharing it.

  2. My final picture is printed slightly less than 2×2 inches. Its more like 1 3/4 square. Does this matter?

  3. Hi — Great tool — but I don’t find the ruler to be dragable (no matter how many times I hit the move tool), and when I drag the photo into the template it goes underneath, not on top of the template. What am I not doing right? Thanks!

  4. […] Photoshop Passport Photo Template v1.1 | Travel Photograhy & Web … Dec 12, 2006 … In order to speed up the process of taking and processing passport photos, i created a Photoshop … […]

  5. When i put my picture on greyBG, everything of pictures appears on the screen other than those area where grey BG has occupied. means grey deosn’t disappear when i put my picture on it.

    any help will be appreciated.

  6. Hi Nic

    How your passport photo template can be modified to suit 35mm x 45mm passport photo?

    Many thanks
    Soroush

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  8. Phew! Thanks so much for this! I was stressin out trying to figure the stupid head size and all that. You saved this new mom a headache! Thanks!!!!

  9. Thanks a lot. This made life so easy. Saved me some $$. I was looking for a donate option for personal use but could not find one.

    So all i could say is you are super generous and awesome. Thanks !

  10. It works. I wasn’t able to follow the specific directions, maybe I have a different version, but it worked and for my husband and myself we just saved $30!!!

  11. Thanks so much for your generosity in providing this template. I would have wasted too much time trying to meet these exact specifications. I hope the state dept accepts mine. I had to mask myself and replace the background with white. (it was a shot I already had)

  12. The state dept DID accept it and I got my visa for China. I’m so happy to have saved the dough for such an Italy bitsy photo. The fellow at Walgreens who printed my 4 x 6’s (15 cents each) told me how particular the gov’t is about these photos and how many times he’s seen ” home made” ones rejected. He did say mine was pretty good compared to all he’s seen. He even cropped them for me with the square punch and put them in an official looking folder for me. My husband still doesn’t know I did the cheap route. He feels most comfortable with a for sure thing, but pays for it.

  13. […] specifications to submit with my visa application. It was then that I found this very helpful Photoshop template that allowed me to take my own picture and compose the final image according to the requirements […]

  14. well this has not worked for me cannot get it to move photo.drag photo into template does not work either.will see if i can find a better template some of your instructions are not clear enough on what you have to do.

  15. thanks for blog! very helpful – though found out that there MUST be white or off white background
    for picture and not my very attractive thunder grey back drop.
    Would like to send a little donation – any way to do that besides the $20/amount?

  16. Thank you so much for your work. May God bless you. I have one request if you could do it, it would be a tremendous help. Could you please create the similar template for Canadian Passport photograph.
    Thanks a ton in advance.

  17. Don’t try this at a USA Walgreens. Just got flagged for fraud for attempting to print too many passport pics of… you guessed it… myself =D
    Save yourself the hassle and just DIY all the way.

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