How to Make Your Own Passport Photos

I'm a longtime Photoshop user, and own a version of it because I'm also a Web Designer. But if you can't afford Photoshop, a more affordable version is available called Photoshop Elements. If you have any of these two applications, then you can follow this simple do-it-yourself project I found on DPChallenge.

I recently bought a scanner, and it had a free version of Photoshop Elements which leads me to believe that more manufacturers may be doing this.

I love the idea of creating my own passport photos, because I currently need one, and this tutorial gives me the set of instructions I need to do this myself. I'm also really picky about my pictures, so I have the option of choosing the image I like. If I don't like my first take, I don't have to look at it for the next few years.

The U.S. Department of State website provides you with guidelines for digitized images, so begin there. The guidelines require a color photograph that measures two inches by two inches, among other specifications.

Photoshop has some incredible tools, and combined with this tutorial, you'll be producing your passport photos for the whole family in no time.

If you don't have Photoshop, or the time to figure out how to do this project, there's is an alternative. On The Go Soft offers downloadable software for about $10, and looks a lot easier to follow. They have a free trial download if you want to test it out first. Not a bad deal.

Do you know of any other software that does this? Let me know in the comments below. 

Update: FYI: I found this new passport requirement while visiting the U.S. Department of State website. It applies to all US citizens traveling within the Western Hemisphere, even Mexico. Thought I should share.