How to photograph your signature properly
Signature photo for online forms: paper, ink, light, angle — and why scanning is not required.
What you'll need
- Phone with rear camera
- Plain wall or white sheet
- Even front light
Step 1: Prepare the background
Use a plain light wall. Stand one arm's length away to reduce shadows.
Step 2: Frame the shot
Rear camera at eye level. Leave headroom — see Signature rejected on an exam form — the real causes for face-height rules.
Step 3: Light from the front
Face the window or lamp. Avoid overhead-only light.
Step 4: Export to spec
Crop, resize, then compress — see Indian passport photo size — 35×45 mm (2026 rules). Wrong order causes blur.
Common mistakes at each step
- HEIC from iPhone — convert to JPG
- Compress before crop — loses quality
- Ignoring minimum KB — over-compression fails too
Do it automatically
Signature specs vary by exam — pick yours and we will set the exact dimensions.
Choose your examFAQ
Can I use the front camera? Rear camera is sharper; front works if the lens is clean.
Where is the full spec? See Signature rejected: the seven reasons and how to fix each and the official notification.
See also
Related guides
More PhotoFix articles on the same problem or document type.
- How-toP0How to make the UPSC three-signature imageUPSC needs three signatures in one image. Paper, ink, spacing, and capture — step by step.
- How-toP0How to add your name and date onto an exam photoNEET and SSC require name and date on the photo. Placement, legibility, and format — without getting rejected.
- TroubleshootingP0Your exam form won't accept the photo: a full troubleshooting walkthroughPhoto not uploading in your exam form? Check format, dimensions, KB range, filename, and browser — in the order that actually finds the problem.