DIY RU Russian Fan card (Fan ID) Photos: Equipment and Setup

Requirements

• Camera or Smartphone: use a digital camera with at least 8 MP resolution or a modern smartphone (12 MP+) set to its highest image size and saved as a minimally compressed JPEG
• Lens and Focal Length: employ a 50 mm (35 mm equivalent) lens or standard smartphone lens to avoid facial distortion
• Tripod or Stable Mount: position the camera on a tripod or steady surface at eye level, 5–2 m from the subject, to keep the shot straight and blur-free
• Lighting Setup: arrange two soft light sources (LED panels or softboxes) at 45° angles to the subject with ~5500 K color temperature, ensuring even illumination and no visible shadows
• Background: install a seamless plain white or very light-gray backdrop, free of wrinkles or patterns, and place the subject at least 5 m in front of it to prevent shadows
• Camera Settings: set ISO 100–400, aperture f/6–f/8, shutter speed ≥ 1/125 s, white balance to “daylight” or manual neutral (≈ 5500 K) for accurate skin tones
• Framing and Composition: shoot in portrait orientation, frame so the head (chin to crown) occupies 32–36 mm in the final print and eyes sit 47–53% down from the top of the image
• Release Mechanism: trigger the shutter via a remote control or the camera’s 2–5 s self-timer to eliminate shake and capture a sharp image
• Subject Positioning: seat or stand the person straight with shoulders level, face the camera squarely, maintain a neutral expression with mouth closed and eyes open
• Color Profile and File Handling: use sRGB color space, export at 300 dpi minimum, and keep the file under 1 MB without visible compression artifacts

Step-by-Step Process

Content about DIY RU Russian Fan card (Fan ID) Photos: Equipment and Setup - process

Tips and Best Practices

• Soft, Even Lighting: Use two diffused light sources at 45° to eliminate facial and background shadows, ensuring uniform illumination and preventing shadow-related rejections
• Plain White Background: Hang a seamless white backdrop at least 1 m behind the subject to avoid wrinkles, patterns or color variations that can cause automatic disqualification
• Manual Camera Settings: Set a 50–85 mm focal length, ISO 100–200, shutter 1/125 sec and aperture f/6–8 for sharp, distortion-free shots that meet resolution and clarity standards
• Proper Subject Positioning: Position the subject 1–5 m from the background, centre the head, and keep the eyes within the top two-thirds of the frame to satisfy head-size and cropping requirements
• Accurate White Balance: Use a grey card to set custom white balance or choose 5000–5500 K daylight mode to eliminate color casts and ensure true-to-life skin tones that pass automatic checks

Conclusion

In summary, setting up your DIY Russian Fan ID photo requires attention to equipment quality and proper shooting conditions:

• Camera choice: use a high-resolution DSLR or modern smartphone camera with at least 12 MP
• Background and backdrop: plain light-gray or white surface, no shadows or patterns
• Lighting setup: two soft light sources at 45° angles for even facial illumination
• Subject positioning: stand 5–2 m from the backdrop, head centered and facing straight ahead
• Framing and dimensions: frame head height at 70–80 % of the image, maintain 35×45 mm (±2 mm) size
• Image output and quality: save in JPEG at 300 dpi, minimal compression, accurate color balance

By following these core steps, you’ll produce a Fan ID photo that meets official Russian requirements and avoids processing delays. Always double-check the latest federation guidelines before submission.