Printing passport or ID photos at home or through a photo lab should be simple.
In reality, many people struggle with sizing, cropping, spacing, and print quality. Photos end up too large, too small, or incorrectly arranged, which can lead to reprints or rejected applications.
This guide explains how to correctly turn one passport-style photo into print-ready A4 and 4x6 layouts, without uploading your image or using design software.
What a passport photo layout actually does
A passport photo layout is not the same as cropping a photo.
It involves:
- Cropping the photo to the correct dimensions
- Repeating the photo evenly across a sheet
- Applying correct spacing and margins
- Preparing the file at print-ready resolution
A proper layout ensures the printed photos can be cut cleanly and meet standard photo size expectations.
Step 1: Start with one clear photo
You only need one image.
The photo should:
- Be clear and in focus
- Have good lighting
- Show the face fully within the frame
- Be as high resolution as possible
Larger images always print better. Very small files can look soft when printed.
Step 2: Set the exact photo dimensions
Passport and ID photos are defined by physical size, not pixels.
That is why this tool lets you enter dimensions using:
- Millimeters
- Centimeters
- Inches
You can adjust width and height to match local or application-specific requirements.
Common examples include square photos or rectangular formats, but the tool works with any size you enter.
Step 3: Crop with the correct aspect ratio
Once the size is set, the crop area automatically matches that ratio.
This ensures:
- No stretching
- No unexpected trimming
- Consistent proportions across all prints
You can zoom and reposition the crop to keep the face properly centered.
Understanding print quality and DPI
Print quality depends on dots per inch (DPI).
This tool estimates DPI automatically based on:
- The cropped image resolution
- The physical photo size you selected
As a general guideline:
- 300 DPI is excellent
- 200 DPI is usually acceptable
- Below 200 DPI may look soft in print
If the DPI is too low, the tool will warn you so you can reduce the size or use a higher-resolution image.
Step 4: Generate printable layouts
After cropping, the tool builds two layouts:
A4 layout
- Designed for home printers
- Fits multiple photos on one sheet
- Optimised for standard paper size
4x6 layout
- Designed for photo labs
- Fits fewer photos with precise spacing
- Ready for standard photo printing
The tool automatically:
- Centers the photos
- Applies margins
- Limits the number of photos to avoid overcrowding
Step 5: Preview before downloading
Before downloading anything, you preview each layout.
This step is important because it lets you confirm:
- Photo positioning
- Spacing between photos
- Overall balance on the page
You can go back and adjust the crop or size if something does not look right.
Step 6: Download ready-to-print files
Once confirmed, the tool generates:
- A4 JPG
- A4 PDF
- 4x6 JPG
All files are bundled into a ZIP, with optional individual downloads for mobile devices.
These files are ready to print without additional editing.
Privacy and local processing
Everything happens inside your browser.
- Your image is not uploaded
- No files are stored
- Nothing is sent to a server
This makes the tool suitable for personal documents and sensitive photos.
Common mistakes this avoids
This workflow prevents the most common passport photo problems:
- Incorrect photo size
- Low print resolution
- Uneven spacing
- Cropping after layout instead of before
- Using the wrong paper format
By handling size, crop, and layout together, the final output stays consistent.
Important note on official requirements
Always confirm the exact photo requirements for your application.
Different countries and organisations may specify:
- Exact dimensions
- Background colour
- Head positioning
- Facial expression rules
This tool helps with layout and printing, but compliance depends on your source photo.
Create your passport photo layouts now
If you want to build printable A4 and 4x6 passport photo sheets in minutes, you can use the tool below.
Use our Passport Photo Layout Tool:
Create printable passport photo sheets
No signup, no uploads, and everything stays on your device.