- To edit your photo to the proper dimensions and composition, head to the U.S.' S own photo-editing tool. Upload the photo to the site, then zoom in or out, and move the photo around until your.
- A passport photo has to be 2 inches by 2 inches, and your face should take up most of it, measuring between 1 inch and 1 3/8 inches from the bottom of your chin to the top of your head.
- Photos processed with this template have been accepted for use in U.S. Passport applications. How to Use (Click on screenshots for larger versions) Tutorial Version 1.1. Open PassportTemplate_v1.psd in Photoshop. Open photo to be used as passport photo in Photoshop.
- Passport Photo Maker (ID Photo Maker Studio) is the best passport size editor app among free passport photo maker, editor and photo print apps. This app lets you save money by combining standard passport, ID or VISA photos into single sheet of 3x4, 4x4, 4x6, 5x7 or A4 paper.
- After uploading the photo follow the instructions under „Editing the photo” to create a passport photo that both suits you and the standards. Features Easy to use tool to create passport, visa and ID photos.
Drugstores will charge you as much as $10-15 for a measly photo, adding insult to injury when you're tied up in a long and expensive passport application process.
If you're willing to pay the price for convenience, so be it, but if you like to 'DIY,' you'll be happy to hear that taking your own passport photos is actually pretty simple.
You'll need:
- A digital camera (or smartphone)
- Computer
- A photo printer (or local photo printing center)
After uploading the photo follow the instructions under „Editing the photo” to create a passport photo that both suits you and the standards. Features Easy to use tool to create passport, visa and ID photos.
Easy enough, right? Now follow the steps to take your passport photos, DIY-style.
Step 1: Set up your shot
Get yourself in front of a white or cream-colored background, like a wall or posterboard. That's the easy part. Now, with the help of a friend, adjust the lighting so that there aren't any shadows or glare on your face or around your head and body. This could mean getting near natural daylight, or turning on/off household lights.
Step 2: Make yourself presentable
The U.S. government has a pretty strict set of guidelines that address what you should look like in your photo. In a nutshell, you should look like your everyday self. (That might vary if you've got your headphones glued to your ears all day.)
Abide by these rules to get your passport photo accepted:
- Wear your everyday clothing and hairstyle. This is not the time to get creative or try that new electric green eyeshadow. Uniforms and costumes are unacceptable, unless they're worn daily for religious reasons.
- No electronics can be in the photo, so take of your headphones, Bluetooth devices, and 3D glasses before hitting the shutter.
- Hats, sunglasses, and tinted glasses are forbidden, but if you wear prescription glasses, you can sport those.
- Pose with a neutral face. A smile or straight face are OK, but no goofy expressions!
- For a complete list of guidelines (which you should review) go to the U.S. Department of State's Web site.
Step 3: Shoot, edit, print
If the lighting looks good and you're sporting a government-approved look, frame the shot that there's plenty of headroom and room around your arms. You should be cropped out just below the shoulders. It's better to be too zoomed out than too zoomed in, since you'll be able to crop later.
Snap a few shots and transfer your photos to your computer.
To edit your photo to the proper dimensions and composition, head to the U.S.'s own photo-editing tool (link). Upload the photo to the site, then zoom in or out, and move the photo around until your face is aligned with the outline. It's imperative that it's lined up as close as possible, or else your photo may be rejected.
Save the photo to your desktop, and you're ready to print. The program will save it as a 2-inch-by-2-inch photo, which will be the final printed size. If you're printing at home, use your photo printer to print your headshot on matte or glossy photo paper. Otherwise, go through a service like Shutterfly to print it out at your local drugstore.
You should attach only one photo to your passport application, and finally, pat yourself on the back for a job well done.
Note: | This article only applies to Western Digital external hard drives. It does not apply to Western Digital network hard drives like the My Cloud. |
All WD external drives function as storage devices that you can use on either the Windows or Mac Operating System without any additional software. Some WD drives come with backup software, but you are not required to use this software in order to use the drive effectively with your computer.
Data can be moved or copied on and off the drive with or without software. The tips below describe how to locate your data and copy it to an external hard drive. Also, these tips go over creating and maintaining backups, both with and without backup software.
There are 5 topics detailed in this answer:
- Topic #1 - Locating your data (Pictures, Videos, Music, Documents, etc.)
Topic #1 - Locating your data(Pictures, Videos, Music, Documents, etc.):
Before you can copy any data to an external drive, you need to locate your data first. Installed programs can store their data in a variety of locations. If you want to backup data from your programs like iTunes or financial software it is recommended that you check with the manufacturer or documentation for the software and find out where it stores the data and what the recommended procedure is to back it up.
Windows typically stores its data in locations accessible through the side bar within the File Explorer folder. When you have an open File Explorer folder, you’ll see a list of documents, pictures, music, and videos on the left side.
The macOS typically stores its data in locations accessible through the side bar within the Finder. When you have an open Finder window, you’ll see a list of documents, pictures, music, and videos on the left side.
Another way to find your files is to use the search function built into the Windows and Macintosh Operating Systems. Please see the links below for instructions on using the search function in these Operating Systems.
Topic #2 - Transferring files using copy and paste or drag and drop:
Both Windows and the Mac Operating Systems incorporate a feature called “drag and drop” or “copy and paste”. There are several options for moving, copying, and backing-up files from one drive to another:
Windows:
The most common method of moving files or folders from one hard drive to another would be to right-click on the source file or folder and choose copy or cut from the menu. The file or folder is now ready to be transferred. Go to the destination where you want to put the file and then right click in the windows and choose paste. Make sure that you are not right-clicking on another file or folder. The data should then be transferred from the source to the destination.
Note:If you choose the copy option, the original file or folder will remain on the source drive and a copy of the file will be created on the destination drive when you paste it there.
If you choose the cut option, the original file or folder from the source will be moved to the destination when you paste it there.
Macintosh:
The most common method of moving a file or folder from one location to another on a Macintosh computer would be to open both the source and destination so they are both visible on the desktop.
To move the file or folder from the source to the destination, click and hold the mouse button on the file or folder. The Operating System will highlight the file or folder. You then drag the file or folder from the source window to the destination window and let go of the mouse button. The file or folder will disappear from the source and will now exist exclusively on the destination.
To copy the file or folder from the source to the destination, click and hold the mouse button on the file or folder. The OS will highlight the file or folder. You then press and hold down the Option Key while you drag the file from the source window to the destination window. Let go of the mouse button and option key and the file or folder will copy to the source window.
Topic #3 - What is a backup and how do I back up data to a WD external hard drive?
One of the most important things to know is what a backup is and what it is not. A “backup” by its definition is a duplicate copy of data. A backup is not a backup if the data is stored only in one location. Moving data from a computer system to an external hard drive is not a backup, unless there is already a duplicate of the file on a different storage location.
Western Digital recommends that best practice is to keep a backup of your important data at all times. Maintaining a valid backup protects against: computer viruses, data corruption, hardware issues, or environmental hazards.Always remember that backup means that the data is stored in at least two (2) locations. If you have a backup of your data and one of the devices fail, you will have the data stored in a second location that you can access and no data is lost.
A backup can be created by copying or drag and dropping a file from one location to another. With this method, you manually keep your files up to date by re-copying the new data to the destination. This is covered in Topic #2 above. Another way to backup your data is to use software. Software will copy the data to the destination on its own after you setup what is usually called a backup plan. This method is covered in Topic #4 below.
Topic #4 - Using Backup Software built into the Operating System:
Both Windows and the Macintosh Operating System have built in backup capability. In many cases, you can back up your data files or the entire Operating System. See the links below for instructions on using the backup software built into both operating systems.
Note: Western Digital does not support any third party software. The backup software will be supported by the OS manufacturer.
Topic #5 - Using the software that came with the WD external hard drive:
Passport Renewal
The listings below are for backup or synchronization software that may have come with your WD drive. Not all Western Digital drives come with software or the same software. The drive that you purchase is only supported with the software that it comes with, and is mentioned on the product package.
WD SmartWare
WD SmartWare allows users to set scheduled backups in addition to the continuous backup option. WD SmartWare is a Windows only software. It is recommended using the built-in utility from Apple for backing up a macOS computer. Please see Answer ID 18952: Starting macOS Time Machine Backups to My Passport and External USB Drives for more information.
WD Backup
WD Backup can create scheduled and immediate backups. However, it is not designed for full system backups. WD Backup is a Windows only software for WD DAS (Direct Attached Storage).It is recommended using the built-in utility from Apple for backing up a macOS computer. Please see Answer ID 18952: Starting macOS Time Machine Backups to My Passport and External USB Drives for more information.
Topic #6 - Safe Connection and Disconnection of the external hard drive:
Both Windows and Mac Operating Systems will read and write data to the drive, even if you are not using your computer. If you want to leave your computer on and disconnect the drive, you will need to safely remove ('eject' on Mac) the drive before you unplug it. Otherwise, you will need to turn off the computer before disconnecting the drive. Please see Answer ID 12792: How to physically connect, disconnect, and install a WD external / easystore drive on a Windows PC or Mac for directions on how to safely remove an external hard drive.