Why forms ask for name and date on the photo
A printed name and date links the photo to one candidate and shows when it was taken. Recruitment bodies use it to discourage old or borrowed photos. In studio prints this is done with a small white slate below the face; online, you need the same look in a digital file with exact pixel dimensions and a KB limit. That is what this tool produces.
UPSC goes one step further: its Civil Services Examination 2026 notice says applicants must upload a photograph and also capture a live photograph while filling the Common Application Form, following the photo instructions on its online portal. If you prepare the uploaded photo here, take the live capture separately on the portal.
What a good name-and-date photo looks like
| Element | Do | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Face | Centred, looking straight, face fills most of the photo area | Tilted head, selfie angle, face too small |
| Background | Plain white or light wall | Patterned curtains, doors, outdoor scenes |
| Name | Exactly as in the form, CAPITAL LETTERS | Nicknames, short forms, decorative fonts |
| Date | The day the photo was taken, DD-MM-YYYY | Date of birth, application date, old photos |
| Strip | White, clearly separated, black bold text | Text over the face or on a coloured band |
Step-by-step on mobile
- Ask someone to take your photo from about 1–1.5 metres, at your eye level, against a light wall near a window.
- Open this page, choose a preset (3.5 × 4.5 cm at 200 DPI is a safe start) and upload the photo.
- Type your name and today’s date (the day the photo was taken).
- Drag the preview so your face is in the centre. Use Zoom so the face and top of shoulders fill the frame above the strip.
- Adjust the strip height if the text looks too small, then press Create.
- Check that the dimensions and KB lines are green, then download the JPG.
Choosing the right size
Most Indian forms describe the photo either in centimetres (often 3.5 × 4.5 cm) or in pixels (for example 200 × 230). Centimetres become pixels through DPI: 3.5 cm at 200 DPI ≈ 276 px wide, 4.5 cm ≈ 354 px tall. If your notification gives different numbers, open “Edit the numbers” in the tool and type them in — the name strip scales automatically. For a plain passport photo without text, use the 3.5 × 4.5 cm photo maker.
Troubleshooting
- Text too small: increase the strip height to 22–26%.
- Long name gets small: the tool auto-fits the text to the width; use initials for middle names only if the form allows.
- File below minimum KB: use the original camera photo, not a WhatsApp-forwarded copy, which is already heavily compressed.
- Face looks dark: raise Brightness a little, or retake near a window.
Sources
- Union Public Service Commission, Examination Notice No. 05/2026-CSE (04-02-2026), section 5, Note 2 “Live Photo Capture” — upsc.gov.in; detailed photo instructions: upsconline.nic.in → Instructions and FAQs → Photos and Signature.
FormTool is not affiliated with UPSC or any commission.