Can I print the passport photo by myself?
What is the fastest way to get a high-quality printed passport photo?
Is there a way to print it for free?
How to have a passport photo printed online?
If you’re asking yourself such questions, you’ve come to the right place!
This guide will provide you with different ways to print your passport photo, and you can choose one of them according to price, time, and so on.
Different types of passport photo paper
Printing on high-quality passport photo paper results in bright colors and high-definition image. Therefore, it’s important to choose the optimal passport photo paper.
Please pay special attention to the thickness, weight, and coating of the passport photo paper. High-quality passport photo paper seldom deforms as it is thick enough, which contributes to reducing the risk of rejection because of being damaged. As for weight, it should be at least 200 GSM(grams per square meter). However, to avoid surprises, check whether the government requires other special weight for the paper. A passport photo paper covered with a finish or coating can absorb the color properly and show a brighter color.
Matte paper and glossy paper will be recommended. Matte paper is the regular-based paper that has been covered with an inkjet-receiving coating. It is accepted as a viable passport photo paper by most authorities in the world and it can reduce glare and fingerprint. Compared with glossy paper, it’s cheaper, so it will be a good choice for you if you want to buy a more affordable one. As for glossy paper, it has a higher quality than matte paper. It tends to make colors more vibrant and defined. Anyway, both of them are good choices for you. Just choose your preference.
If you are wondering whether you can use plain paper to print your passport photo, the answer is quite simple–absolutely no. Printing on regular paper will result in a darker and more blurry photo that is greatly likely to get rejected, while matte paper and glossy paper are specifically designed for passport photos. They can not only absorb the color to make the photo brighter but have higher thickness than plain paper, which prevents them from deformation.
Where can I get passport photo paper?
You can go out and find a store that stocks the passport photo paper. If you want to print it at home and you have a decent laser or inkjet printer to get the job done, you can buy photo paper and print the passport photo by yourself. This is the most economical way.
Amazon and other e-commerce sites are good choices, too. Someone who doesn’t want to leave their home and is not in a hurry to get photo paper can buy it online. Search for photo paper and ask for the desired weight and coating. You can check buyer’s reviews to know whether that photo paper is good or not. After purchasing, you will receive the delivery after several days.
How can I print the passport photo at home?
Printing passport photos at home is the most economical way, even though it’s a little bit complex. From there the steps to follow are more than simple.
First, snap a qualified passport photo. Please keep the following tips in mind. The size of the passport photo is typically 2×2 inches for U.S. passports and 35×45 mm for UK, Australian, Netherlands passport. The background must be white or off-white, void of any patterns or textures. Try to keep your clothes simple and have a neutral facial expression. What’s more, eyeglasses or headgear are not acceptable.
Then, you can edit your photo to the required dimensions and place multiple copies of the edited photo on a 4×6-inch template by software. By doing so, you don’t need to know the detailed rules on the official website, which costs a lot of time.
Next, print it on photo paper. Before printing, you need to prepare for a qualified passport photo and a decent laser or inkjet printer with color ink. After that, adjust the printer settings and print it on a 4×6 template. Cut it accurately and remember to keep it flat.
OK, let’s make a summary about what you need: a phone or a camera for snapping a photo, software for editing, high-quality photo paper, and a decent printer to print it. Finish the three steps that we mentioned above, and you can print your passport photo by yourself.
How can I print the passport photo online?
Don’t want to buy a new printer for passport photos? It’s a good way to print it online. In this way, you don’t need to choose photo paper and learn how to edit the photo. Pay for the online stores and they will solve all the problems. All you need to do is to provide them with a qualified passport photo. Before you print the passport photo, it’s advisable to check its compliance, or you will waste both money and precious time. Passport-Photo Online and PhotoAid are good choices. You can order the print online and wait for delivery.
Other ways to print the passport photo
If you don’t want to print it by yourself or online, you can go to a store that can professionally print your passport photo, such as Walgreens and CVS Pharmacy. They come with photo taking, editing and printing service. The print will cost you around 25c to 35c. You can look for some guides before going to the store, which saves time and energy. If you have already got a qualified passport photo and just need to print it, it takes only several minutes.
Summary
There is no best option for printing a passport photo. Just choose the one that saves money and time.
As for the photo paper, matte paper and glossy paper must be good choices. While glossy paper is high-quality, matte paper is cheaper. You can print the passport photo at home by yourself, and you can also print it online or at the stores.
FAQ
1.Can I print my passport photo in black or white?
Absolutely no. It should be printed with color ink. Black or white is not acceptable.
2.Do passport photos need to be matte or glossy?
You just need to make sure that the photo paper is “photo-quality” paper. However, matte paper and glossy paper are accepted as viable passport photo paper by most countries. Therefore, if you don’t want to look for other qualified photo papers, they are good choices for you.
Erin Lo