# Change background color on photo **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 29, 2016, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/change-background-color-on-photo/747494 "2016-02-29T13:23:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dauerbach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c2a13f/32.png) [@dauerbach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dauerbach)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2016, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/change-background-color-on-photo/747494/1 "2016-02-29T13:23:04Z")
I have a photo I want to use for a passport. However, rules say the background must be white or off white, and this is that blue with cloud like background from a professional photo studio. Assuming the government would reject it, I would like to redo it with a white or off-white background. I do not have Photoshop so I need an alternative method to do this. Does anyone have an easy to use/access alternative? ---
**Author:** ![Ex\_Bubblehead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ex_bubblehead/32/3397_2.png) [@Ex\_Bubblehead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ex_Bubblehead)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2016, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/change-background-color-on-photo/747494/2 "2016-02-29T13:47:59Z")
You could try The GIMP ([www.gimp.org](http://www.gimp.org)). It’s an opensource alternative to Photoshop. ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2016, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/change-background-color-on-photo/747494/3 "2016-02-29T13:50:18Z")
I have no idea if the authorities would be happy with a re-touched photo? It’s a risk though. Surely the $5 or whatever it costs is worth it for another, acceptable, photograph? ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2016, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/change-background-color-on-photo/747494/4 "2016-02-29T14:00:06Z")
If you are a member of AAA they will do passport photos for free. I’ve heard that credit unions will also of they are one that use photos on their ATM cards. If it’s a good hi resolution photo GIMP will do it. Part of the problem is hair. What I mean by that is it’s hard to remove the background if the hair style includes lots of loose hair sticking out. I do this a lot and love photos with hair plastered down. ---
**Author:** ![dauerbach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c2a13f/32.png) [@dauerbach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dauerbach)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2016, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/change-background-color-on-photo/747494/5 "2016-02-29T14:18:51Z")
Believe it or not, it is not the cost. The person I am going with loves this picture, and wants it on her passport, so I am trying to oblige. I have already ordered my own crappy picture from Walmart. They actually have a good service, photo’s in one hour, $7.44. I always thought it was a dumb idea, and I thought of the fact it might get rejected for being altered. ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2016, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/change-background-color-on-photo/747494/6 "2016-02-29T14:25:33Z")
If the editing is done by someone why know what they are doing they won’t be able to tell. Particularly when printed as a 2" square photo. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2016, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/change-background-color-on-photo/747494/7 "2016-02-29T14:38:07Z")
This approach has a few things to consider. The bottom line is that she should just get a standard passport photo to avoid a lot of hassle and send you off on a project that may not succeed. On the plus side, you are giving them two copies of a hard-copy 2" x 2" photo, not a wall poster. If done well, a change in background will be unnoticeable. I have done that on a passport photo and it was no problem although I changed the color cast and did not completely replace the background. As noted, hair is the big problem here. But because the person is a female, if she has long hair then it’s likely this will be hard to get right. Also, this photo must be “[Taken in full-face view directly facing the camera](https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/passports/photos/photos.html).” If this is a 3/4 studio photo [like most of these](https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&ved=0ahUKEwjX1LLfl53LAhVFWz4KHZWmCNMQjRwIBw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fheadshotsplano.com%2F&psig=AFQjCNE2H1QQ0hYw8RQfsM5FOm-Qj5Rx3g&ust=1456842599492766) then it will not be acceptable regardless of background. A passport photo is not a modeling portfolio. It will be seen about four times each time you make an international trip and the people who look at it won’t give a shit how gorgeous you look. (Post another thread in IMHO and we’ll talk about the pitfalls of vanity 😉 ) ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2016, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/change-background-color-on-photo/747494/8 "2016-02-29T15:13:24Z")
They are pretty strict with their regulations regarding PP photos. I don’t think an altered photo will cut it. Still I’m willing to give it a shot, if you are interested PM me. ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2016, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/change-background-color-on-photo/747494/9 "2016-02-29T15:22:19Z")
Who was it said _“If you look like your passport photograph, you’re too ill to travel.”_ 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2016, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/change-background-color-on-photo/747494/10 "2016-02-29T15:30:21Z")
> [@dauerbach](#): > > The person I am going with loves this picture, and wants it on her passport, so I am trying to oblige. You’re not supposed to smile, or do anything to look interesting in a passport photo. I’m a little perplexed that someone would be so attached to a photo that qualifies for a passport, since by definition they need to be as neutral as possible. ---
**Author:** ![voltaire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voltaire/32/313_2.png) [@voltaire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voltaire)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2016, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/change-background-color-on-photo/747494/11 "2016-02-29T21:07:51Z")
GIMP can certainly do the job, but it’s overkill, specially for a rookie. Assuming Windows, I’d recommend [paint.net](http://www.getpaint.net/download.html) and following [this video tutorial](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hl_3sWEfKVQ). (muted) ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2016, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/change-background-color-on-photo/747494/12 "2016-03-01T00:05:34Z")
I changed the background color in my photo, also the color of my shirt. Since I’m a graphic artist, I was able to do it in Photoshop without it being detectable.