Guide
How to avoid stretching or distorting a portrait
A clear explanation of why document photo tools must never stretch faces, and how to adapt a portrait to a new format safely.
When the target ratio changes, solve it with crop, safe framing, and uniform scaling only. Never squeeze or widen the portrait to fill the frame.
Face distortion is one of the easiest ways to lose trust in a document photo product. It also creates a real rejection risk.
How it works
Lock the target aspect ratio
The output frame should define the crop, not reshape the subject.
Use crop before scaling
Trim the image to the correct composition first, then resize uniformly for export.
Check preview and export together
The on-screen preview should match the final geometry so there is no hidden mismatch.
Treat stretched previews as a bug
Any preview that changes facial proportions should block trust immediately.
Common issues
Squeezed faces
Wide-looking heads
Correct preview but wrong export geometry
CSS containers that visually stretch the canvas
Need a clean background first?
Use a separate background-removal tool first, then come back here to match the crop, size, and final export.
Background cleanup opens on a third-party site. Clean the background there first, then come back here to crop and export.
Remove backgroundOpen the no-distortion workspace
Use the browser checker to crop and export with one shared geometry model instead of separate preview and download math.
Open editorFAQ
Can slight stretching be acceptable if the size looks right?
No. The size can be correct while the face is still distorted, which is exactly what a careful document photo tool must prevent.
What is the safe alternative to stretching?
Crop to the target frame, keep scaling uniform, and use padding only when the workflow clearly allows it.