Cutting Photos to correct dimensions

[LauraDP 10]

We all had our photographs taken at a Max Spielman place this past weekend in order to be ready to submit our I130s. For each of us, the photos were printed out on one sheet and the woman said that staff there were not permitted to take the responsibility of cutting them so we have to do that ourselves Fair enough but now I am nervous about getting it precisely correct. I know they photos have to be 2"x2" but are there other rules I have to follow? Do I have to make sure the top of the head, for instance, is a certain number of millimetres from the top of the photo? I was thinking about making a little 2"x2" aperture to place over each image to then mark where I need to cut so as to keep things as precise as possible - is that a hair-brained scheme? I would welcome the experience of others who have cropped their own photos to know the best possible method.

Thanks in advance

Laura

PS We are holding off on submitting our I130s until we get back some of the stuff relating to my husband's potential employment but we are keen to have all the paperwork for each stage of the process more or less good to go so as to avoid any other delays once we properly embark on this. I, therefore, might be prone to over-thinking some of the details. I am one of life's over-thinkers.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Oh man, it's not clear where to cut? It's just floating heads? That's not good service! lol

Here are all the requirements: http://travel.state.gov/passport/pptphotoreq/pptphotoreq_5333.html

[JoannaV 174]

Your plan sounds good. The exact particulars can be found through a link on the link above: http://travel.state.gov/passport/pptphotoreq/photocomptemplate/photocomptemplate_5297.html

Don't drive yourself too crazy over it.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

That's crazy that they don't give you the proper sized photo with a paid service and leave you a bit of a DIY which you were trying to avoid.

[LauraDP 10]

Excellent! Thanks, everyone. I thought I had seen somewhere that the eye line had to be at a specific point in the photo but just could not find where I had seen it so thanks very much for the links.

I was a bit taken aback that the service did not include cropping of the photos but I guess they have been stung by people asking for refunds when photos are rejected so have taken the route of not cutting at all and leaving it to the customer. As they are on a bright white background the photos blend in to the paper completely so there is no indication of where to cut whatsoever. Thankfully I am an artist and, as such, have a steady hand when it comes to fiddly jobs so I should be able to make a decent fist of cutting them according to the rules. Still, it's going to be a bit of a fankle and one I would rather have avoided.

Cheers for once again helping me out.

Best wishes

Laura

PS Fankle is a really useful word we Scots use for something that is a confusing muddle.

[Holly2234 66]

Thats crazy! I used Max Speilmann only two weeks ago for my daughters US passport photos and they cut them for me. It was also clear where to cut because the background was slightly off white. They did have to re-take them because there was a shadow on her face and i didnt want to risk it but he cut the second lot for me too.

Thats really bad service there!

[GlobeHopperMama 95]

We always take ours ourselves with high-resolution and proper lighting, and then we use this site, which also should hopefully help you select the correct area to cut on the photos you've been given.

http://epassportphoto.com/

Edited August 30, 2012 by GlobeHopperMama

[LauraDP 10]

Thats crazy! I used Max Speilmann only two weeks ago for my daughters US passport photos and they cut them for me. It was also clear where to cut because the background was slightly off white. They did have to re-take them because there was a shadow on her face and i didnt want to risk it but he cut the second lot for me too.

Thats really bad service there!

That is interesting that the policy must be specific to that one store and not the whole chain. How annoying that we got one that won't do the cutting. I would have had something to say about it had I been there but I took the kids into a different shop while my husband waited for the printing to be done - and he is much nicer than me, too nice in some cases. I wonder if I hold the photos under a certain light if I will be able to see where to cut, maybe a slight change of gloss/mat. Failing that, I will make myself a wee aperture and go the whole DIY route.

Best wishes

Laura

[LauraDP 10]

We always take ours ourselves with high-resolution and proper lighting, and then we use this site, which also should hopefully help you select the correct area to cut on the photos you've been given.

http://epassportphoto.com/

Thanks for your reply, GlobeHoppaMama. We are going to have a crack at DIY photos in future but the timescales were a bit too tight for experimentation this time. I am a pretty competent photographer as it is one of my hobbies so I should be able to manage the portraits OK with the correct lighting etc so long as I can find a plain white background.

Cheers

Laura

[Holly2234 66]

That is interesting that the policy must be specific to that one store and not the whole chain. How annoying that we got one that won't do the cutting. I would have had something to say about it had I been there but I took the kids into a different shop while my husband waited for the printing to be done - and he is much nicer than me, too nice in some cases. I wonder if I hold the photos under a certain light if I will be able to see where to cut, maybe a slight change of gloss/mat. Failing that, I will make myself a wee aperture and go the whole DIY route.

Best wishes

Laura

You can probably see where the bottom of the photo is due to the colouring of clothing so that part wont be too difficult. They cut two of mine and i did the rest myself (by choice) and they were in rows of two and 3 columns. So i folded (not a harsh fold, just so i could pinch one edge) and cut in a straight line. Will that be possible with yours? Or measure 2 inches and do a tiny dot in pen in the corner of each picture and just cut up to the dots. They will disappear with the cut anyway.

Did you tell your parents of your intentions yet? (if i remember right you said you were planning it when you visited and got photos) I hope they took it ok if you did!

[LauraDP 10]

You can probably see where the bottom of the photo is due to the colouring of clothing so that part wont be too difficult. They cut two of mine and i did the rest myself (by choice) and they were in rows of two and 3 columns. So i folded (not a harsh fold, just so i could pinch one edge) and cut in a straight line. Will that be possible with yours? Or measure 2 inches and do a tiny dot in pen in the corner of each picture and just cut up to the dots. They will disappear with the cut anyway.

Did you tell your parents of your intentions yet? (if i remember right you said you were planning it when you visited and got photos) I hope they took it ok if you did!

Thanks, Holly. I am going to make a 2x2 aperture, line the bottom up with the clothing and then put a mark in each corner to aid me in cutting correctly. I had thought I was going to have to have a second measurement with the eye line but you are right that the clothing line will tell me where to start the two inches from. Doh!

Yes, I did tell my parents last weekend. Thanks for asking. We chose not to tell my siblings (and told my parents not to do so) as both my sisters in particular are rubbish at keeping secrets and we need to keep our plans to move on the down low just in case our US plans don't come to fruition. They actually took the news far better than I anticipated. I am not entirely sure my Mum fully absorbed it as she got caught up in side issues (such as where we could move in the UK if the US plan doesn't work out) but my Dad was positively enthusiastic about the idea of us having - potentially at least - more opportunities and also about the possibility of visiting us (neither of my parents has ever been to America). So that allayed some of my worries since at least I know now they would be motivated to come and visit as frequently as they could afford.

Cheers

Laura

[beejay 123]

Thankfully I am an artist and, as such, have a steady hand when it comes to fiddly jobs so I should be able to make a decent fist of cutting them according to the rules. Still, it's going to be a bit of a fankle and one I would rather have avoided.

Wish you would have been around to cut ours! We printed them out ourselves and I had a go at cutting them and even with the guidelines it took a few times before they didn't turn out all wonky.

[Holly2234 66]

Im glad they took it well! Thats really nice that they are looking forward to visiting. There will be loads to see and do that you cant at the moment or have already seen dozens of times so there is plenty to look forward to all around.

Now... If only i could figure out a way for my mum to feel the same as your dad does

[LauraDP 10]

Wish you would have been around to cut ours! We printed them out ourselves and I had a go at cutting them and even with the guidelines it took a few times before they didn't turn out all wonky.

Well watch this space because I have not actually braved cutting them yet (since we are not ready to send in the I130s quite yet) and they may yet end up all wonky. All that artistic experience might just count for nothing.

[beejay 123]

Well watch this space because I have not actually braved cutting them yet (since we are not ready to send in the I130s quite yet) and they may yet end up all wonky. All that artistic experience might just count for nothing.

I'm pretty confident you'll fare better than I did - even if it takes you more than one try

But I will be watching for the update on how flawlessly you were able to cut the photos and how you will now be offering your services to other vjers in a similar predicament...for a small fee