DIY RU Russia Seaman’s book 3x4 cm Photos: Equipment and Setup

Requirements

• Camera: Use a digital camera with at least 8 MP resolution to ensure enough detail for a 3×4 cm print at 600 dpi
• Lens: Fit a 50–85 mm (full-frame equivalent) portrait lens to minimize distortion and keep facial proportions natural
• Tripod: Mount the camera on a sturdy, height-adjustable tripod with a built-in spirit level to maintain a perfectly horizontal frame
• Background: Set up a matte white backdrop free of wrinkles, marks, or texture to guarantee uniform, shadow-free background
• Lighting: Position two daylight-balanced (5500 K) softboxes or diffused flashes at 45° angles from the subject to eliminate harsh shadows
• Distance: Place the subject 1–5 m from the camera and at least 1 m away from the backdrop to prevent background shadows
• White balance: Use a grey card to perform a custom white balance in-camera under your chosen lighting for accurate skin tones
• Remote shutter: Employ a wired or wireless shutter release (or camera’s self-timer) to avoid shake and capture razor-sharp detail
• Framing guides: Activate grid lines or use an external viewfinder overlay to ensure the head occupies 70–80% of the 3×4 cm frame and eyes sit 2 cm from the top edge
• Test shot & calibration: Include an 18% grey or color-checker card in a test image, then verify exposure and color accuracy before shooting final portraits

Step-by-Step Process

Content about DIY RU Russia Seaman’s book 3x4 cm Photos: Equipment and Setup - process

Tips and Best Practices

• Camera selection: use a high-resolution DSLR or mirrorless camera (or 12 MP+ smartphone with a fixed 50 mm-equivalent lens) to capture sharp detail and avoid wide-angle distortion, ensuring official examiners can clearly verify facial features and reducing the risk of photo blur rejections
• Background preparation: set up a plain, wrinkle-free white backdrop (foam-core sheet or professional background paper) at least 1 m behind the subject to prevent shadows and color casts, because uneven or colored backgrounds are a common cause for automatic digital rejections
• Lighting arrangement: position two softbox lights at 45° angles from the subject’s face with 5500 K daylight bulbs and no direct flash, providing even illumination that eliminates harsh shadows and skin-tone discrepancies which often lead to inconsistency under embassy scrutiny
• Framing and positioning: mount the camera on a tripod 5 m away at eye level, instruct the subject to look straight with neutral expression, and ensure the face occupies 70–80% of the 3×4 cm frame (head top to chin bottom) to meet Russian Seaman’s Book proportions and avoid cut-off or size-mismatch errors
• Printing and cropping: output the image at 600 dpi on matte, high-quality photo paper using ICC-calibrated settings, then precisely trim to 3×4 cm with a guillotine cutter, because inaccurate printing resolution or manual cutting often results in dimension deviations that lead to application delays

Conclusion

In conclusion, following the DIY RU Russia Seaman’s Book 3×4 cm photo guidelines ensures a compliant, high-quality image ready for official use:

• Camera: use a digital camera or high-resolution smartphone (minimum 8 MP) set to maximum image quality
• Background: plain, light gray with no shadows or patterns, evenly lit
• Lighting: two soft light sources at 45° angles to eliminate shadows on face and background
• Subject position: face centered, neutral expression, eyes open and clearly visible, head covering only for religious reasons and without obscuring facial features
• Framing: head height 70–80 % of image, from crown to chin; shoulders squared and fully visible
• Distance and focus: camera 5–2 m from subject, autofocus locked on eyes for crisp detail
• Image size and format: 3 × 4 cm JPEG or PNG, 600 × 800 px at 300 dpi, uncompressed, high–contrast
• Color and printing: true-to-life skin tones, glossy or matte photo paper, no border or watermark
• Verification: compare printed photo against template overlay to confirm correct dimensions and head placement before submission