How do I resize for a passport photo,please
 

Can anyone advise as to how I can resize an ordinary photo for passport regulations,please.I have downloaded the criteria from the web page and the size is 45mm high and 35mm across (cannot translate into cm's).I have tried to fill in the correst settings using Elements 2.0.But every time I type 45mm into one box,and then go to put 35mm into the across(width box) the first box changes.
Some friends have asked me to take their photos for their passports but I need to adhere strictly to the sizes as specified.
I only use Elements 2.0 and Picasa 2 for editing,and of course the Windows XP printing prog.
If anyone could help I would be very grateful.I have asked on BF,but so far no takers.
Many thanks,
Christine

Christine, resize to a slightly larger image than required, then use the crop tool. This is how I do it.

I assume you have downloaded the latest criteria for passport photo and also seen the very high percentage of home "processed" images that have been returned as unacceptable.

Having said that all recent photo's of my family where accepted without any problem.

http://www.passport.gov.uk/news/news...ntelement=1008

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main...passport14.xml

Harry

Wolfie,thanks,I will go and have a try,(using the dog's photos as a test at the moment),then will return .Yes I have downloaded the 2 pages which show the actaul photos.I guess,satin type paper,as opposed to high gloss?.

No,I have had another try,it is impossible to obtain the precise measurements .

Okay, how about this: File - New - Blank file to open the dialog box and type in 45 and 35mm at 200 dpi (or whatever dpi you desire to print at) for the dimensions. That gives you a white canvas background the desired final size. Open your passport photo, do a Ctrl-A & Ctrl-C to copy it at full size to the clipboard, and then paste that atop your white 35X45 Canvas. It will be too big, obviously, but then you can select the Move Tool Icon, put your cursor on one of the corners and while holding down the Shift key to keep the passport photo layer proportional, reduce its size until the portrait is centered on the canvas. Then flatten image, and any part of the passport portrait that fell outside the 35X45mm canvas will go away. You'll be left with a 35X45 picture.

Attachment started life as a 1600X1984 jpg, and is now a 34X45mm (within a half a millimeter, which I suspect is within tolerances) at 200 dpi or, 276X354 pixels at 200dpi.

If I remember correctly Elements has a Print Preview dialog where you can specify any print size you want. You don't have to resize the image. Just go to the Print Preview and pick the print demensions you want. You can also pick the position on the paper.

Almost all powerful image manipulation programs (Elements, Paint Shop Pro, even Irfanview, etc) have print dialogs where you can pick the size you want to print at. Again, you do not have to resize.

It's extremely doubtful that any method other than using the crop tool will work, as you will finish up with either a distorted image or the file size being incorrect on one side.
Also another point to watch http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main...passport14.xml
Which I consider to be a disgrace, unless a vist to certain countries is intended.

Harry

Are you still having problems Christine? I have produced some satisfactory pictures for my son, daughter-in-law and grand-daughter earlier this year. I believe the secret is to use the crop tool in PS Elements to start off with a picture in the proportions of 4.5 by 3.5 (e.g. 90mm by 70mm as just one example). To achieve this I measure the crop-size on the PC screen, which gives a fairly accurate size proportion, whatever the actual picture size. Then go to "print preview" and enter 45mm by 35mm sizes in the "Scaled Print Size" box, then print off the picture. If the size is not completely accurate, just trim to suit.
Hope this is clear and helps.

Roger

thanks,everyone for replies.After spending around 2hrs trying to resize shots,I phoned the guy,and suggested it perhaps be better if he went to a proper booth.It would have taken me ages to sort out the sizing,and then if he sent it up to the passport office and it was rejected ,then that really would have been a disaster!!!.
But,having read the replies.I will have a practise.

Many thanks,but this does look a tad complicated.I guess it involves layers!!!.But again thankyou for your help and detailed explanation. I am not very good with layers.

This is the perfect way to do it, as far as I can see. I did forget about the fact that you need to get the image into the proper aspect ratio, and yes, using the crop tool as Roger describes is the way to go. Then just print it with the print preview dialog as we both described.

Thanks again folks for your advice.Yes ,I did try measuring on the screen,but the image did seem much larger than the size displayed.,and yes,I did do to the re-size box and type in the measurements,but everytime I typed one into one box,the other one changed and vica-versa.I guess one has to have the crop almost perfect.But i was not going to risk taking a photo for them and then it being returned,so they have gone off to the photo booth-much quicker than waiting for me to keep re-sizing on the pc!!!!!.
But again,many thanks for the helpful tips and advice.