Capture Standard

Use the SDKs whenever possible

For optimal performance of the IDCloud platform's capabilities, we recommend using our SDKs (Web, Android, iOS, Flutter). They ensure the best functioning of the product as a whole, both in terms of drop rate and in validating the Liveness.

To achieve better results in image capture, a capture standard has been defined. The image should be clear with sufficient frontal lighting. The face should be straight, facing the camera, free from objects or obstructions, and with a neutral expression.

The most common reasons for capture rejection or low scores are:

• Lighting behind the client
• Overexposed lighting
• Face too close to the camera
• Blurry images
• Shaky images
• Client wearing glasses

How to obtain a good image capture

The platform follows the ICAO standard (International Civil Aviation Organization). The requirements below apply to selfie captures.

Face positioning

• Frontal — the subject looks directly at the camera, head upright, face centered.
• Shoulders — aligned and parallel to the camera's image plane.
• Eyes — naturally open, pupils and irises visible.
• Expression — neutral. No smiling, raised eyebrows, squinting, or frowning.
• Hair — must not cover the visible eye area.
• Coverings — no glasses, hats, caps, or masks.

Lighting and background

• Background — light, smooth, no texture. No spots, lines, curves, people, furniture, patterns, or plants. Light blue or white work well, provided there is sufficient contrast between the face/hair and the background.
• Lighting — adequate and uniform, equally distributed across the face. No shadows behind the face.
• Brightness and contrast — good contrast between hair, face, and background.
• Color — images must be in color. No grayscale.

Image formats

Accepted formats: JPEG, PNG, JWT.

Sizes and proportions

Selfies

Property	Value
Recommended aspect ratio	1920×1080 or 1080×1920
Orientation	Portrait
Maximum size	800 KB (compress to JPEG quality 92 if needed)

Documents

Property	Value
Recommended size	HD — 1280×720 or 720×1280
Minimum size	VGA — 640×480 or 480×640
Orientation	If OCR is used, capture in reading orientation
Maximum size	800 KB (compress to JPEG quality 92 if needed)
Framing	Avoid excessive empty space around the document. Large unused borders degrade document classification.

Examples of standard and non-standard photos

A compliant photo:

• Is in color with proper framing.
• Is sharp and clearly focused, free of ink marks or creases.

• Shows the subject looking directly at the camera with natural skin tone.
• Has appropriate brightness and contrast.

• Has a neutral expression with eyes clearly visible — no hair covering them.
• Is face-on: not over the shoulder, not tilted, both edges of the face visible.
• Has a simple, light-colored background — preferably white.
• Has even lighting — no shadows, no flash reflections, no red-eye.
• Has no colored contact lenses and no makeup that significantly alters appearance.

Glasses

The photo should be captured without glasses. If the subject must wear them:

• Eyes must be clear in the photo, with no flash or ambient-light reflections on the lenses.
• Frames must not cover any part of the eyes.
• No colored lenses.

Reference

Image quality guidelines are derived from ICAO MRTD Photo Guidelines (Annex A).

Tips

Add pre-capture instructions

Show the subject, in plain language, what they need to do before the camera opens — remove glasses, find good lighting, maintain a neutral expression. A short instruction screen drastically reduces retries.

Use capture frames

Display a guide overlay that helps the subject position their face or document correctly within the frame.