Photos and signatures that pass strict upload limits
Application portals often ask for a JPG under 20, 50 or 100 KB, and some set a minimum too. Graviton finds the sharpest version that fits, and your photo and signature never leave your device.
Recommended settings
Settings for each upload on your form
Start from the linked preset. If your form’s limit is different, type it into Maximum size, and add a minimum size if it has one. “Shrink dimensions if needed” is off by default; if Graviton offers “Shrink dimensions to fit”, accept it unless the form sets exact pixels.
| Image | Format | Goal | Resize | Start from |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SignatureForms often ask for 10–20 KB. Crop close to the signature first; a small one is brought up to the minimum. | JPG | Exact file size: 10–20 KB | Off (shrink to fit if offered) | Compress a signature to 10–20 KB |
| Exam or job application photoLimits of 20–50 KB are common. Graviton lands just under the maximum. | JPG | Exact file size: 20–50 KB | Off (shrink to fit if offered) | Compress a photo for exam and job forms |
| Photo with a 20 KB limitCrop to face and shoulders, so the few kilobytes go into your face rather than the background. | JPG | Exact file size: 20 KB | Off (shrink to fit if offered) | Compress an image to 20 KB |
| US visa photo (DS-160)A square color JPEG. The 20:1 compression limit means about 54 KB or more. | JPG | Exact file size: 54–240 KB | 600 × 600, Crop | US visa photo resizer |
| UK visa photoGOV.UK asks for at least 600 × 750 pixels; a larger photo shows your face more clearly. | JPG | Exact file size: 50 KB to 6 MB | 1200 × 1500, Crop | UK visa photo resizer |
| PAN card photo and signatureSizes in centimeters at 200 DPI. Pick Photo or Signature above the compressor. | JPG | Exact file size: under 20 KB, or 10 KB for the signature | 197 × 276 or 354 × 157, at 200 DPI | PAN card photo and signature resizer |
| IBPS photo, signature, thumb and declarationEach has its own pixels and KB range in the notice. Pick the document above the compressor. | JPG | Exact file size: the document’s range, such as 20–50 KB | The document’s size, such as 200 × 230 | IBPS photo, signature, thumb and declaration resizer |
| Other visa, ID and job portal photosMany portals cap photos at 100 KB, but rules vary. Check the exact limit on your form. | JPG | Exact file size: 100 KB | Off (shrink to fit if offered) | Compress an image to 100 KB |
| Scanned certificates and documentsEnter your form’s limit, then check that small text is still readable before you upload. | JPG | Exact file size: the form’s limit | Off (shrink to fit if offered) | Compress an image to 200 KB |
| iPhone photo, no size limitFor forms that reject HEIC. The size presets above also read HEIC, so you don’t need to convert first. | JPG | Quality 85 | Off | HEIC to JPG converter |
Signature
Forms often ask for 10–20 KB. Crop close to the signature first; a small one is brought up to the minimum.
- Format
- JPG
- Goal
- Exact file size: 10–20 KB
- Resize
- Off (shrink to fit if offered)
Exam or job application photo
Limits of 20–50 KB are common. Graviton lands just under the maximum.
- Format
- JPG
- Goal
- Exact file size: 20–50 KB
- Resize
- Off (shrink to fit if offered)
Photo with a 20 KB limit
Crop to face and shoulders, so the few kilobytes go into your face rather than the background.
- Format
- JPG
- Goal
- Exact file size: 20 KB
- Resize
- Off (shrink to fit if offered)
US visa photo (DS-160)
A square color JPEG. The 20:1 compression limit means about 54 KB or more.
- Format
- JPG
- Goal
- Exact file size: 54–240 KB
- Resize
- 600 × 600, Crop
UK visa photo
GOV.UK asks for at least 600 × 750 pixels; a larger photo shows your face more clearly.
- Format
- JPG
- Goal
- Exact file size: 50 KB to 6 MB
- Resize
- 1200 × 1500, Crop
PAN card photo and signature
Sizes in centimeters at 200 DPI. Pick Photo or Signature above the compressor.
- Format
- JPG
- Goal
- Exact file size: under 20 KB, or 10 KB for the signature
- Resize
- 197 × 276 or 354 × 157, at 200 DPI
IBPS photo, signature, thumb and declaration
Each has its own pixels and KB range in the notice. Pick the document above the compressor.
- Format
- JPG
- Goal
- Exact file size: the document’s range, such as 20–50 KB
- Resize
- The document’s size, such as 200 × 230
Other visa, ID and job portal photos
Many portals cap photos at 100 KB, but rules vary. Check the exact limit on your form.
- Format
- JPG
- Goal
- Exact file size: 100 KB
- Resize
- Off (shrink to fit if offered)
Scanned certificates and documents
Enter your form’s limit, then check that small text is still readable before you upload.
- Format
- JPG
- Goal
- Exact file size: the form’s limit
- Resize
- Off (shrink to fit if offered)
iPhone photo, no size limit
For forms that reject HEIC. The size presets above also read HEIC, so you don’t need to convert first.
- Format
- JPG
- Goal
- Quality 85
- Resize
- Off
Rules differ between forms and change from year to year. Always check the current file type, size and dimensions on your form before you upload.
Workflow
From photo to accepted upload
- 1
Read the form’s rules
Note the file type, the maximum and minimum size in KB, and any required pixel dimensions, print resolution (DPI) or background color.
- 2
Take a clean photo or scan
For a signature, use a dark pen on plain white paper, in daylight and without shadows. For a photo, use a plain, light background and face the camera.
- 3
Open the matching preset
Signature: 10–20 KB. Exam photo: 20–50 KB. US and UK visa, PAN and IBPS uploads have their own tools with the form’s pixels and KB range. iPhone HEIC photos go straight in and come out as JPG.
- 4
Match your form’s numbers
For another limit, type it into Maximum size, and choose Add a minimum size if the form sets one. For exact dimensions, turn on Resize, unlock the width and height, enter them and choose Crop. For sizes in centimeters, also set Print resolution under More options. Leave “Shrink dimensions if needed” off.
- 5
Crop it
Tap Crop above the photo and move the frame onto your face and shoulders, or close around the signature.
- 6
Download and upload
The download button shows the final file size. Sign in with a free account, save the JPG and upload it to your form.
Why applicants use it
Under the limit, and private
Your ID never leaves your device
Photos and signatures are compressed in your browser. Only when you download do Graviton’s servers receive a one-way fingerprint of the file, never the image, and they don’t store it.
Lands just under the limit
Graviton tries several qualities and keeps the sharpest version that fits, instead of making you guess one setting.
Counts KB the strict way
The maximum counts 1 KB as 1,000 bytes and the minimum as 1,024 bytes, so a file between 20 and 50 KB passes forms that count either way.
Reads iPhone photos
HEIC photos from an iPhone are read directly and saved as JPG, the format most forms ask for.
Shrinks only if you let it
Your photo keeps its width and height by default. If fitting would need heavy compression, Graviton offers to scale it down a little instead, which looks better.
Location removed
GPS coordinates, camera data and other metadata are removed from every download by default, so your photo carries no hidden details.
FAQ
Questions about form uploads
My form says 20–50 KB. What should I set?
Set 50 KB as the maximum and add a 20 KB minimum, or open the exam photo compressor, which starts there. Graviton keeps the highest quality under 50 KB. If a JPG would still come out under 20 KB, a comment no viewer shows brings the file up to the minimum. The picture itself doesn’t change, and the result says the file was padded.
The portal says my file is too large, but Graviton says it fits. Why?
Graviton counts 1 KB as 1,000 bytes, the stricter way, so a file under 50 KB here is under 50 KB on any form. If the upload is still rejected, check the file type (most forms want JPG or JPEG) and whether the form also sets pixel dimensions.
My form gives the size in centimeters. What do I set?
Work out the pixels from the DPI the form asks for: centimeters × DPI ÷ 2.54, rounded. A photo 2.5 cm wide and 3.5 cm tall at 200 DPI is 197 × 276 pixels. Set that size under Resize, then set Print resolution under More options to 200; it writes the DPI into the JPG without changing the pixels. The PAN card tool does both for you.
What if my form needs exact pixel dimensions?
Turn on Resize, unlock the width and height and enter them, such as 200 × 230. Under How to fit choose Crop, then tap Crop above the photo and move the frame onto your face. Leave “Shrink dimensions if needed” off, as it is by default, so the photo doesn’t get smaller. Start from a photo at least that large: Graviton can enlarge one, but enlarging adds blur.
Is my ID photo or signature uploaded anywhere?
No. The image is processed in your browser and never leaves your device. Nothing is sent while you compress. When you download, Graviton’s servers receive only a one-way fingerprint of the file, to count and approve the download, and don’t store it. You can confirm it in your browser’s network tab.
Do I need an account?
Not to compress: you can try every size and setting and compare before and after without one. To download, yes, a free one with no card. It covers 3 downloads a day, enough for a photo, a signature and one more file, and downloading the same image again that day on the same device, at another size or quality, doesn’t count twice.
Get your photo under the limit
Pick the size your form asks for. Your photo and signature stay on your device.
Compress a form photo