Mailing or over-nighting individual electronic photo files larger than 5
MB is one option. Another is to send it to us digitally via the a special
upload site. The Fort Sill FTP site on the internet can handle
large/multiple file uploads without special software. Please contact us
for instructions on uploading your files. The files being pasted must be
zipped and password protected prior to posting or they will be
automatically deleted from the FTP site. Then notify us of your
posting and the password you locked the files with.
2. Download the photo in raw data. When downloading the file from
your camera or its removable storage card to another drive, save the
image in raw data. Do not manipulate the data (resize or try to edit the
image). Let us take care of that.
Do not shoot a small photo on a low-resolution setting so you can
save data space on your camera�s storage capacity. Shooting small
images at low-resolution will allow you to take more photos per
shooting, but we won�t be able to publish any of them.
However, if you must take and send us electronic photos, please read
on.
1. Shoot the Picture. When taking a picture, set the camera on the
largest image size and the highest quality resolution settings the camera
will allow. Set the image size at the largest your camera allows, usually
�Full� or �XGA.� The highest resolution settings usually are called
�High,� �Super Fine� or �Ultra-High.� (Cameras set at �Standard� or
�Basic� quality settings produce images only good enough for web
sites.)
Avoiding Photo Printing Problems
Using digital photography to produce high-quality passport and visa
photos is dependent on the condition and proper use of the digital
camera, computer, display monitor, and digital printer. Maintaining the
digital printer in good working order however, can be the single most
important aspect of producing quality photos. Regardless of how
much attention is paid to capturing, storing, and displaying an image,
image quality will be poor if printers � including inks and ribbons �
are not properly maintained.
In addition, they come with printer-specific device driver software
that converts the stored image pixel data in the computer into the
actual printer output to be printed onto the photographic paper. Just
as with display monitors, printers have their own unique color profile
that should be taken into account before the image is printed. The
combination of proper printer settings and photo-quality paper
determines whether high-quality photos can be obtained.
If necessary, use the monitor''s control panel to fine-tune its color
adjustments; for instance, to set the monitor''s color temperature to
6500 �K to approximate daylight. For even greater color accuracy,
the stored image can be converted to and displayed in a device-
independent color space by using standard image display software.
This removes the color bias of the specific display monitor and will
more accurately represent the way the image should actually appear.
Interfaces: High-speed interfaces to match your camera and printer,
such as Firewire or USB 2.0
Display Monitor
Most display monitors today are capable of displaying images in
various screen resolutions, all of which are suitable for viewing
passport and visa images. These monitors also display images in a
wide variety of colors. However, an image can look quite different
when viewed on various display monitors, in terms of both screen
resolution and image quality. For this reason, it is important to set the
monitor''s settings to the manufacturer''s default values to view the
image in the most appropriate manner. For more accurate color-
matching, check that the calibration of your monitor is correct.
No matter what improvements occur in camera technology, though,
some photographic processing tasks will still require skillful manual
treatment. Moreover, not all consumers will want to invest in the
software. Job opportunities will be best for individuals with
experience using computers and digital technology.
