Passport photo: glossy paper vs matte paper – wrap up Ultimately, the choice of photo paper finish for your passport pic is entirely yours, since both glossy and matte photos are accepted by the US State Department.
Photos must be high resolution, not blurry, grainy, or pixelated. The photo must be printed on matte or glossy photo-quality paper and cannot be digitally changed — so no photoshopping out blemishes or fixing red eye.
Printed pictures to be submitted with the passport application should be on glossy or matte paper.
Printed on matte or glossy photo quality paper.
Glossy: glossy paper has a thicker, shiny finish that allows the colors to stand out better. Usually, this is the go-to printing paper for photographers and is a good option for passport photos.
As well as scattering light, matte finishes absorb more light (refracts it) making the photo images easier appreciate in highly lit conditions. If you are planning on displaying your photo prints behind glass, a matte finish is definitely the best choice.
In addition, the smooth surface of glossy prints makes them easier to scratch. Matte paper, by contrast, is full of small indentions. It's both scratch-resistant and smudge-resistant.
Matte photo paper is less likely to show smudges when handled and gives off no glare, so the paper is a great choice for scrap booking. Black-and-white portrait photographs look very professional printed on matte paper. Remember: you don't have to print all your photos on the same paper.
With its shiny nature, the finish enhances colors and contrast. Many people choose glossy paper for the professional look it lends to images. You'll get deep blacks and increased sharpness in your photos. The glossy print is a great way of printing photos if you're aiming to show off.
You can smile slightly in a U.S. passport photo. However, opening your mouth and showing your teeth is forbidden. The recommended facial expression for a passport photo is neutral. Applicants need to relax the muscles and look into the camera, without closing their eyes or frowning your forehead.
The main difference between lustre and glossy photos is reflectivity. Glossy paper is very shiny, while a lustre finish is semi-shiny. Colors are more vibrant in glossy prints. But a lustre finish shows more accurate skin tones.
Do glossy or matte photo prints last longer? Longevity depends on the care and quality of the surface covering the paper. Since glossy finishes are prone to fingerprints and smudges, they're more likely to have a shorter lifespan. In most cases, matte photos last longer.
In the list of passport photo requirements given by the Department of State, there are no specific restrictions on makeup.
The most common types of paper for printing photos are glossy, luster, and baryta paper.
Choosing a matte finish for your images also means no glare and no fingerprints, so if you want to display your photos in rooms with bright overhead lighting or you think your images will be handled a lot, you will definitely want to choose this over a print with a glossy finish.
Without that extra gloss, the matte photo isn't as susceptible to shine and fingerprints. In general, though it's not always the case, professional photographers tend to choose matte over glossy because of the lower likelihood of glare and fingerprinting.
Matte paper is particularly suited to photo books which are viewed, passed around and handled by hand. If you want to exhibit your photos, matte paper is ideal since it doesn't create any reflection. It looks like real paper and light will not be reflected on its surface.
Disadvantages To Matte Finish
As we mentioned before, the matte finish absorbs light which means it won't help to make small spaces feel bigger, unlike glossy finishes that reflect light. Therefore, for kitchens that are very small, a matte finish may not be the best option.
Matte finishes absorb light rather than reflect it. This means they will hide bumps and other little flaws in your walls rather well. These type of finishes are not very durable, but they make for rather easy touch up jobs. Experts recommend matte finishes for bedrooms and studies.
Matte makeup tends to photograph better, whereas dewy makeup looks the most natural face to face.
There are many reasons why a passport photo may come out 'ugly'. It could be caused by bad lighting, feeling and looking tired, wearing the wrong makeup, or just simply being too tense and unable to relax in the photography studio.
The photograph should measure 2″ square (roughly 50 mm square) with the head centered in the frame. The head (measured from the top of the hair to the bottom of the chin) should measure between 1 to 1 3/8″ (25 to 35 mm) with the eye level between 1 1/8 to 1 3/8″ (28 and 35 mm) from the bottom of the photo.
Smiling alters facial proportions, making it harder for machines to compare 3D faces with 2D pictures. They need to pinpoint and measure the users' facial features. It includes the distance between the pupils, ears, nose and mouth, the mouth's and the eyes' width, and many others.