I have been told that my passport photo is too small. How do I increase it to 20 kb plus?

>>>I have been told that my passport photo is too small. How do I increase it to 20 kb plus?

You can't just create photo data that isn't there. You will need to take a new larger photo.

You didn't specify where you are from but I assume American. The State dept has a minimum size of 600X600 pixels for a cropped photo of the face. I don't know why you are talking about file size.

If you are trying to take your own passport photo you may need a better camera.

Thanks forgetting back to me tofino. I am in the UK. My photo is 23 kbs but our people need a 50kbs plus image.

Ok...so as said, go get a larger picture taken.

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I will but I have been told that it is possible to increase the size. I shall do some research in slower time in case this comes up again. Thank you.

You can increase file size of a JPEG by doing some conversion with Image Magick.

I obviously don't have your picture, so I'll use a file I have lying around. The file sizes will be different than what you see on your system.

First, convert it up to an uncompressed format:

It's definitely bigger:

Now re-compress, with less jpeg compression:

You'll have to play around with the -quality option; the values are from 0 to 100, with 100 being LESS compression (bigger file size) and 0 being MORE compression (smaller file size).

All in all though, taking a new picture is probably the "right" answer.

1 members found this post helpful.

Thank you notKlaatu. I shall have a look at Magicked - I presume I can download it - I am new to this! I will use my camera in the meantime for a new photo. I had forgotten that I still have one!

I ought probably to report this to Her Majesty" Government.
Just take a proper photo -- don't give anyone an excuse to call you a terrorist.

Who do you think you are? If you are going to be rude you should first learn the rules of the apostrophe indicating possession.

Hi 273, perhaps a little less sarcasm and more help.jaydeesank, the report button is the better choice here versus escalation within the thread.

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I missed the apostrophe because I was typing on my phone. I meant it completely, I am not being sarcastic here.
The standards are there so that a government agency can use the photograph for the purposes of border control and law enforcement. To deliberately produce an image with lower resolution is not a good idea.
To attempt to mislead a government agency is not something to be flippant about. Have a government-approved photograph taken in a government-approved place in a government-approved manner. Otherwise it's illegal.

I'm not fan of government but, please, this is serious.

I am not sure I wish to continue as a member of this forum. I ask for honest help and then have to face this completely unfounded accusation of trying to mislead a government agency. In fact, I followed the instructions to apply on line and when I tried to upload the photo I was asked to increase it's size. I know that it is technically possible to do this but as an inexperienced computer person using a new OS I turned to the forum for help. I am amazed that people not known to me should jump to conclusions like this and then decide they have the right to lecture me. With members like this I don't think I want to have anything more to do with it. I reported the earlier uncalled for rant. I shall now report the complete exchange.

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>>>I will but I have been told that it is possible to increase the size

>>>You can increase file size of a JPEG by doing some conversion with Image Magick.

You can increase the file size but you aren't adding any detail that was lost in the original compression. You can't replace what is already gone. Converting from jpeg to uncompressed tiff doesn't add back any image detail that was already lost.

>>>Now re-compress, with less jpeg compression:

This is pointless.

If you had an uncompressed RAW or TIFF original from a DSLR you could choose an initial compression to get the right file size.

It is best to take a new uncompressed original picture and start from there.

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as a photographer !!!

we informed you as to WHAT TO DO

take a better picture that is LARGER!!!!

and will likely require your " RIGHT EAR" in the image

go to any local photographer and get a passport pic taken

there are requirements that MUST be met for some countries

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I think the easiest method that obviously does not improve the image quality is just to append garbage to the end of the jpeg.

Something along the lines of:
Photo is now 20kb of garbage plus the size of original.

Just in case this isn't obvious though - this will do nothing but annoy the bureaucrat that rejected the original :-)

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