Preparing Your Head Shot for Your SDA Profile

Step 1. CROPPING YOUR HEAD SHOT PHOTO

In Photoshop or Photoshop Elements, OPEN A COPY OF your photo file
- do NOT make changes on your original photo file.

A. Figure out the Crop. It is likely that the photograph of you is in rectangular format whether vertical  or horizontal. You will have to decide how best to crop your photo to fit the square 190 x 190 pixel format for your SDA profile. To figure this out, click on the select tool (aka the “marching ants” ). NOTE: You may upload a file larger than 190 x 190 pixels and let the SDA web program re-size your head shot for you. However, you may not have control over cropping it just the way you want it. It is your choice.

To prepare your own image: Start at the upper left corner of your photo and drag a selection to create a square. For example:

If your photo is currently a vertical say 8″w x 12″h select a square that is 8″ x 8″ In other words make width of your selection be the current width of the photo you are working on.  Once the square selection is created, drag the selection around your photo to see how it will frame your head and shoulders or whatever suits.

If your photo is a horizontal, say 4″ high x 6″ wide make a selection that is 4″ x 4″.  In other words make width of your selection be the current width of the photo you are working on. Once the square selection is created, drag the selection around your photo to see how it will frame your head and shoulders or whatever suits.

B. Once the square selection is in the place where you want it, go to IMAGE on the top tool bar and drop down to CROP.

Step 2.   SIZING YOUR HEAD SHOT PHOTO

190 x 190 pixels

72 resolution

RGB color.
NOTE: You may upload a file larger than 190 x 190 pixels and let the SDA web program re-size your head shot for you. If you want ultimate control over how your photo appears on the SDA site you may choose to size it yourself using the instructions below.

A. Go to IMAGE and drop down to IMAGE SIZE

B. First check to see that the resolution is 72, and if not, change it to 72 now.

C. Next, look at the Pixel Dimensions in this drop down box and check the pixel height of your photo.

Change it to 190 pixels.

Step 3. CHECK THE MODE OF YOUR HEAD SHOT

Under IMAGE on the tool bar, drop down to MODE and be sure your file is 8-bit. If not, change it now.

Step 4.   SAVING YOUR FILE CORRECTLY

IMPORTANT: Following this method of saving your file will make it readable on both MAC and Windows operating systems. Otherwise it may not be viewed on different computers.
A. Select FILE on the toolbar and drop down to SAVE AS. A dialog box will appear.
B. Choose the location where you will save your file – desktop, whatever you choose.
C. GIVE YOUR PHOTO A USEFUL FILE NAME. Put your first and last name at the beginning of the file name. Putting a “dot” to separate your name makes it easier to read. If your files get confused then your name will help others to find it. Example: JANE.SMITH-Head Shot.jpg
D. Next to FORMAT select jpg or jpeg or gif or png as a file format.
E. Check to see that the type of file you chose now appears after your file name.
F. If it does, hit SAVE.

If the file type does not appear at the end of the file name hit Cancel and try “FILE > SAVE AS” rather than FILE> SAVE
or other method.

Step 5. CHECK THE SIZE OF YOUR FILE

Your SDA Head Shot file may be up to 8 mg or even larger. It is likely that you are working on a photo file that is much less than 8 mg and that is fine.

To know how big a file is on a MAC: Save and Close the file onto your desktop. Then, highlight the file without opening it and go to FILE on the tool bar and drop down to GET INFO. The accurate file size is listed here. This is generally different from the file size you see on the lower left of an open art file as you are working on it.

To know how big a file is in WINDOWS: Right click on the file and go to PROPERTIES.

If your file is way too small or way too large seek help to do what is necessary to obtain a better size.

CONGRATULATIONS ! You are ready to UPLOAD YOUR HEAD SHOT PHOTO

Go to: Create Your SDA Profile

Return to: HOW TO