DIY RU Russia International Passport offline, 35x45 mm Photos: Equipment and Setup

Requirements

• Camera: use a digital SLR or mirrorless with at least a 12 MP full-frame or APS-C sensor to capture fine facial detail without noise
• Lens: fit an 85–105 mm portrait lens (or 50 mm on APS-C) to avoid perspective distortion and maintain natural proportions
• Tripod: employ a sturdy, height-adjustable tripod with a built-in spirit level to keep the camera perfectly horizontal at subject’s eye level
• Background: hang a wrinkle-free, matte white or light-gray muslin backdrop at least 2 m wide and 2 m from the subject to eliminate shadows and color casts
• Lighting: position two 5500 K softbox lights at 45° angles to the subject’s face, each 1 m away, to ensure uniform illumination without hotspots or hard shadows
• Reflector: place a white reflector or foam board directly below the chin to fill in under-chin shadows and balance facial lighting
• Distance & Framing: set the subject 5–2 m from the camera so the head and upper shoulders fill 70–80% of the frame, allowing a precise 35×45 mm crop
• Camera Settings: shoot in RAW at ISO 100, aperture f/6–f/8, shutter speed 1/125 s, white balance 5500 K, and disable all in-camera filters or retouching
• Editing Software: use professional software (Adobe Lightroom/Camera RAW) to crop exactly 35×45 mm at 600 dpi, ensure head size 32–36 mm, eyes 19–24 mm from bottom edge, and correct color/exposure
• Printer: use a high-resolution (600 dpi or higher) inkjet or dye-sublimation photo printer with calibrated color profiles for consistent skin-tone reproduction
• Photo Paper: choose ISO-standard 4R (10×15 cm) glossy or matte photo paper with a smooth finish, then cut precisely to 35×45 mm using a guillotine cutter
• Calibration & Verification: calibrate monitor and printer with ICC profiles, print a test image, measure final print dimensions and key facial metrics, and inspect under daylight-balanced lighting for compliance

Step-by-Step Process

Content about DIY RU Russia International Passport offline, 35x45 mm Photos: Equipment and Setup - process

Tips and Best Practices

• Camera selection: use a DSLR or smartphone with a 50 mm-equivalent lens and manual exposure & white balance to avoid wide-angle distortion and color casts, ensuring facial proportions meet Russia’s biometric standards
• Tripod & alignment: mount your camera on a sturdy, height-adjustable tripod set at eye level to prevent tilted or off-center shots, which are a leading cause of passport photo rejections
• Lighting setup: position two diffused light sources at 45° angles from the subject and add a reflector beneath the chin to eliminate harsh shadows and uneven highlights, guaranteeing even illumination across the face
• Background preparation: hang a smooth, matte white or very light gray backdrop at least 1 m behind the subject to avoid shadows or creases, keeping the background uniform as required by Russian regulations
• Framing & distance: place the camera 5–2 m from the subject, use live-view gridlines to center the head, and ensure the head (chin to crown) measures 32–36 mm within the 35×45 mm frame to comply with size tolerances

Conclusion

In summary, creating compliant 35 × 45 mm passport photos for Russia offline requires the right camera and lighting setup, precise framing and measurements, and careful post-processing to meet government standards. By following the equipment checklist, adhering to framing guidelines, and validating print quality, you can produce professional-grade photos at home with minimal risk of rejection.

Key takeaways:

• Camera: Use a digital camera or smartphone with ≥8 MP and manual settings
• Tripod & Distance: Mount on tripod, position 1–2 m from subject for proper field of view
• Background: Even, shadow-free white or light gray backdrop
• Lighting: Two soft light sources at 45° angles to eliminate shadows and glare
• Framing & Measurements: Head height 32–36 mm, eye line 15–22 mm from bottom, central alignment
• Post-processing & Print: Crop to 35 × 45 mm at 600 DPI, correct color/exposure, print on matte photo paper