Guidelines for the Compression of Passport Photos

Compression is a technique used in digital imaging to reduce the size of an image file, which helps to save storage space and speed up data transmission. There are several file formats used for digital images, including JPEG, JPEG 2000, and GIF, which use different compression methods to achieve varying degrees of compression and quality.

Types of Compression

There are two main types of compression techniques used in digital imaging:

• Lossy compression: This technique involves reducing the file size by discarding some of the data, resulting in a loss of quality. Lossy compression is commonly used for digital images and audio, as it can significantly reduce file sizes without affecting the overall visual or auditory experience.
• Lossless compression: This technique reduces file size without any loss of data, resulting in a file that is an exact copy of the original. Lossless compression is commonly used for text documents, spreadsheets, and other file types where data accuracy is crucial.

Rules for Compression of Passport Photos

When it comes to passport photos, specific guidelines exist for photo quality, but there are no specific rules regarding whether a passport photos can be a compressed image.

However, it is important to ensure that the photo meets the minimum resolution of 400 dpi, as this is necessary for the photo to be used in black and white on the document and stored in color on the chip.