SSC Photo and Signature Size: How to Resize for CGL, CHSL, MTS and GD

Oct 24, 2026 · 4 min read · Exams

Every year many SSC applications are held up by a photo or signature that is the wrong size. The portal checks the file size in KB and the format, and a photo straight from a phone fails both. This guide covers the sizes SSC usually asks for and how to get your files right in one step.

The usual SSC sizes

• Photo: JPG or JPEG, 20 to 50 KB, about 3.5 cm wide by 4.5 cm tall. Our preset uses 350×450 pixels, which has that shape.
• Signature: JPG or JPEG, 10 to 20 KB, about 4.0 cm wide by 2.0 cm tall. Our preset uses 400×200 pixels.

Recent SSC forms also take a live photo with your webcam or phone camera during the application. The rules for that photo, such as plain background and no cap or glasses, apply to any photo you upload as well.

Resize your SSC photo in one step

1. Open the SSC photo preset in our image tool.
2. Add your photo. A clear, front-facing photo with a plain light background works best.
3. The tool crops it evenly from the centre to 350×450 pixels, saves it as JPG and keeps it between 20 and 50 KB.
4. Look at the preview and the size line, then click Download.

For the signature, choose SSC signature in the preset menu, or open the SSC signature preset directly, and add a scan or photo of your signature.

Tips for the photo

• Frame it first. The tool crops from the centre. If your face is near the edge of the picture, crop roughly around your head and shoulders in your phone's photo editor before you add it.
• Plain background. Stand in front of a white or light wall. Avoid patterns, other people and strong shadows.
• Face the camera. Eyes open, no cap, no dark glasses, and your full face visible from forehead to chin.
• Use a recent photo. Most notices ask for a photo taken within the last three months.

Tips for the signature

• Sign with a black or dark blue pen on plain white paper. Thin pens can disappear when the file is made small, so use a slightly thick pen.
• Take the photo in good daylight, straight from above, so the paper looks white rather than grey.
• Leave only a small margin around the signature. A tiny signature in a big white area becomes hard to read at 400×200 pixels.
• Sign the way you will sign in the exam hall. Your signature is compared on the day.

Common upload errors and fixes

• "File size should be between 20 KB and 50 KB": use the preset, which keeps the file inside that range. If your notice gives a different range, keep the preset and type the new upper limit into Target size (KB).
• "Invalid file format": the portal wants JPG. Files saved by the preset are always JPG.
• "Image dimensions are not correct": some notices give exact pixels. Compare them with 350×450 and 400×200, and tell us through the contact page if SSC has changed them.
• The photo looks stretched: the tool never stretches a photo. It crops the edges instead. If your head is cut off, crop the original first so your face is in the middle.

Frequently asked questions