Skip to main content
tweakmyfile.com
0 file bytes uploaded • 100% browser-only

PAN Card Photo & Signature Kit (Protean NSDL & UTIITSL) in your browser

India's two PAN registrars enforce distinct image rules — Protean (NSDL) requires a 197×276 px photo (≤20 KB) and 354×157 px signature (≤10 KB) at 200 DPI, whereas UTIITSL requires a 213×213 px photo (300 DPI, <30 KB) and a 600 DPI grayscale signature (1063×472 px, <60 KB) — and this page formats all 4 slots in your browser. Phone exports fail validation because they omit print DPI headers, miss pixel geometry, or cast grey shadows on signature paper. Pick the pair of slots for your registrar below to crop, stamp JFIF DPI tags, and whiten paper backgrounds. Zero bytes leave your device.

Protean (NSDL) Photograph (3.5×2.5 cm, 200 DPI, ≤20 KB)

Select or drop a JPEG, PNG, WebP, or HEIC photo. Processing runs 100% locally in your browser.
Target: 197×276px • ≤20 KB

Drop your portrait photo here, or click to browse

Accepts JPEG, PNG, WebP, or HEIC. Your image stays in browser memory and is never uploaded to any server.

Select Photo From Device

Compliance Checklist

  • Dimensions

    Required: 197 × 276 px

    pending

  • File size

    Required: ≤ 20 KB

    pending

  • Format

    Required: JPEG

    pending

  • Color space

    Required: sRGB

    pending

  • Metadata stripped

    Required: EXIF & XMP removed

    pending

Upload a portrait photo first to enable cropping and automatic binary-search JPEG compression under 20 KB.

Protean (NSDL) Signature (2×4.5 cm, 200 DPI, ≤10 KB)

Select or drop a JPEG, PNG, WebP, or HEIC photo. Processing runs 100% locally in your browser.
Target: 354×157px • ≤10 KB

Drop your signature image here, or click to browse

Accepts JPEG, PNG, WebP, or HEIC. Your image stays in browser memory and is never uploaded to any server.

Select Photo From Device

Compliance Checklist

  • Dimensions

    Required: 354 × 157 px

    pending

  • File size

    Required: ≤ 10 KB

    pending

  • Format

    Required: JPEG

    pending

  • Color space

    Required: sRGB

    pending

  • Metadata stripped

    Required: EXIF & XMP removed

    pending

Upload a portrait photo first to enable cropping and automatic binary-search JPEG compression under 10 KB.

UTIITSL Photograph (213×213 px, 300 DPI, <30 KB)

Select or drop a JPEG, PNG, WebP, or HEIC photo. Processing runs 100% locally in your browser.
Target: 213×213px • ≤30 KB

Drop your portrait photo here, or click to browse

Accepts JPEG, PNG, WebP, or HEIC. Your image stays in browser memory and is never uploaded to any server.

Select Photo From Device

Compliance Checklist

  • Dimensions

    Required: 213 × 213 px

    pending

  • File size

    Required: ≤ 30 KB

    pending

  • Format

    Required: JPEG

    pending

  • Color space

    Required: sRGB

    pending

  • Metadata stripped

    Required: EXIF & XMP removed

    pending

Upload a portrait photo first to enable cropping and automatic binary-search JPEG compression under 30 KB.

UTIITSL Signature (600 DPI B&W, <60 KB)

Select or drop a JPEG, PNG, WebP, or HEIC photo. Processing runs 100% locally in your browser.
Target: 1063×472px • ≤60 KB

Drop your signature image here, or click to browse

Accepts JPEG, PNG, WebP, or HEIC. Your image stays in browser memory and is never uploaded to any server.

Select Photo From Device

Compliance Checklist

  • Dimensions

    Required: 1063 × 472 px

    pending

  • File size

    Required: ≤ 60 KB

    pending

  • Format

    Required: JPEG

    pending

  • Color space

    Required: grayscale

    pending

  • Metadata stripped

    Required: EXIF & XMP removed

    pending

Upload a portrait photo first to enable cropping and automatic binary-search JPEG compression under 60 KB.

Official Protean (NSDL) & UTIITSL PAN Upload Specifications — Protean (NSDL) Photograph (3.5×2.5 cm, 200 DPI, ≤20 KB)

Single source of truth rendered directly from verified portal rules (PAN Photograph — Protean (NSDL)).

Last verified:
Parameter Official Requirement Compliance Notes
Target Output Dimensions 197 × 276 px Physical size: 25 × 35 mm at 200 DPI (Exact pixel dimensions required)
Aspect Ratio 0.71:1 Proportional 197:276 frame
Maximum File Size <= 20 KB (20,480 bytes) Strictly enforced per-file upload ceiling
File Format JPEG (.jpg / image/jpeg) Standard JFIF header with EXIF/XMP camera metadata stripped
Color Space sRGB 24-bit full-color sRGB (CMYK and grayscale profiles rejected)
Background Plain white or light Uniform lighting without harsh facial or wall shadows
Output Filename pan-nsdl-photo.jpg Clean ASCII filename safe for government upload portals
Official Portal Rules — Tax Information Network Form 49A Guidelines (Protean/NSDL): Photograph — "Resolution: 200 DPI", "Type: Color", "File type: JPEG", "Size: Max. 20 KB", "Dimension: 3.5X2.5 cms." (25 mm width x 35 mm height at 200 DPI = 197 x 276 px).
Official Portal Rules — Protean (formerly NSDL e-Gov) and UTIITSL enforce incompatible PAN image specifications; use the two Protean (NSDL) slots for tin.tin.proteantech.in / onlineservices.nsdl.com and the two UTIITSL slots for pan.utiitsl.com.
Official Portal Rules — Protean/NSDL Form 49A: Photo 3.5x2.5 cm @ 200 DPI (197x276 px, <= 20 KB) and Signature 2x4.5 cm @ 200 DPI (354x157 px, <= 10 KB). UTIITSL: Photo 213x213 px @ 300 DPI (< 30 KB) and Signature @ 600 DPI black-and-white (< 60 KB).
Verified directly against the primary government specification bulletin.
View official PAN photo and signature upload rules View official source bulletin

Official Protean (NSDL) & UTIITSL PAN Upload Specifications — Protean (NSDL) Signature (2×4.5 cm, 200 DPI, ≤10 KB)

Single source of truth rendered directly from verified portal rules (PAN Signature — Protean (NSDL)).

Last verified:
Parameter Official Requirement Compliance Notes
Target Output Dimensions 354 × 157 px Physical size: 45 × 20 mm at 200 DPI (Exact pixel dimensions required)
Aspect Ratio 2.25:1 Proportional 354:157 frame
Maximum File Size <= 10 KB (10,240 bytes) Strictly enforced per-file upload ceiling
File Format JPEG (.jpg / image/jpeg) Standard JFIF header with EXIF/XMP camera metadata stripped
Color Space sRGB 24-bit full-color sRGB (CMYK and grayscale profiles rejected)
Background Plain white paper with black ink Plain white unruled paper, dark ink, no shadows
Output Filename pan-nsdl-signature.jpg Clean ASCII filename safe for government upload portals
Official Portal Rules — Tax Information Network Form 49A Guidelines (Protean/NSDL): Signature — "Resolution: 200 DPI", "Type: Color", "File type: JPEG", "Size: Max. 10 KB", "Dimension: 2X4.5 cms" (45 mm width x 20 mm height at 200 DPI = 354 x 157 px).
Verified directly against the primary government specification bulletin.
View official PAN photo and signature upload rules View official source bulletin

Official Protean (NSDL) & UTIITSL PAN Upload Specifications — UTIITSL Photograph (213×213 px, 300 DPI, <30 KB)

Single source of truth rendered directly from verified portal rules (PAN Photograph — UTIITSL).

Last verified:
Parameter Official Requirement Compliance Notes
Target Output Dimensions 213 × 213 px Exact pixel dimensions required
Aspect Ratio 1:1 (Square) Width must equal height exactly
Maximum File Size <= 30 KB (30,720 bytes) Strictly enforced per-file upload ceiling
File Format JPEG (.jpg / image/jpeg) Standard JFIF header with EXIF/XMP camera metadata stripped
Color Space sRGB 24-bit full-color sRGB (CMYK and grayscale profiles rejected)
Background Plain white Uniform lighting without harsh facial or wall shadows
Output Filename pan-utiitsl-photo-213x213.jpg Clean ASCII filename safe for government upload portals
Official Portal Rules — UTIITSL PAN Scanning Guidelines: "3. Photo Scanning 300 dpi , color ,213 X 213 px (Size less than 30 KB) in JPEG format."
Verified directly against the primary government specification bulletin.
View official PAN photo and signature upload rules View official source bulletin

Official Protean (NSDL) & UTIITSL PAN Upload Specifications — UTIITSL Signature (600 DPI B&W, <60 KB)

Single source of truth rendered directly from verified portal rules (PAN Signature — UTIITSL).

Last verified:
Parameter Official Requirement Compliance Notes
Target Output Dimensions 1063 × 472 px Physical size: 45 × 20 mm at 600 DPI (Accepted range: 354 × 157 px to 1400 × 650 px)
Aspect Ratio 2.25:1 Proportional 1063:472 frame
Maximum File Size <= 60 KB (61,440 bytes) Strictly enforced per-file upload ceiling
File Format JPEG (.jpg / image/jpeg) Standard JFIF header with EXIF/XMP camera metadata stripped
Color Space grayscale 8-bit grayscale luminance profile
Background Plain white paper with black ink Plain white unruled paper, dark ink, no shadows
Output Filename pan-utiitsl-signature-600dpi.jpg Clean ASCII filename safe for government upload portals
Official Portal Rules — UTIITSL PAN Scanning Guidelines: "4.Signature scanning 600 dpi –black and white (less than 60 KB) in JPEG format." (Form 49A 45 x 20 mm signature box at 600 DPI = 1063 x 472 px).
Verified directly against the primary government specification bulletin.
View official PAN photo and signature upload rules View official source bulletin

How to Prepare PAN Photo and Signature Files

  1. Choose Protean (NSDL) or UTIITSL slots

    Match your portal tab: Protean uses 200 DPI (197×276 px and 354×157 px), while UTIITSL uses 300 DPI photo (213×213 px) and 600 DPI grayscale signature (1063×472 px).

  2. Crop portrait and black-ink signature

    Frame your portrait on a plain white wall in the photo slot, and crop your black-ink signature closely on unruled white paper in the signature slot.

  3. Download DPI-verified JPEGs

    Click Generate Compliant Photo in both slots for your registrar to save JPEGs with JFIF DPI headers and verified kilobyte caps.

Why PAN Card Photo and Signature Uploads Fail Validation

Online Form 49A, Form 49AA, and PAN correction portals inspect pixel dimensions, JFIF DPI headers, color mode, and byte ceilings before accepting uploads.

Why Protean (NSDL) and UTIITSL Need Separate Slots

A file built for Protean (197×276 px, 200 DPI, ≤20 KB) fails on UTIITSL, which checks for a square 213×213 px portrait (300 DPI, <30 KB) and a 600 DPI grayscale signature (1063×472 px, <60 KB). Dedicated registrar slots avoid compromise boxes that fail validation.

Missing 200/300/600 DPI Headers and Shadow Smudging

Smartphones leave JFIF density headers blank or at screen defaults, triggering "Invalid DPI" errors even when pixels match. Indoor shadows also turn paper grey, wasting kilobytes under 10 KB or 60 KB unless paper whitening runs first.

Avoiding Physical PAN Card Print Issues

  • Black ink on unruled white paper: Notebook lines or coloured ink reduce contrast when printed onto the PAN card.
  • JPEG only for photo and signature: Use .jpg/.jpeg in photo and signature fields; PDFs belong only in the proof-of-identity/address slot.
  • Even front lighting without dark glasses: Face daylight against a white wall so both eyes and ears stay clearly visible.

PAN Card Photo & Signature FAQs

Protean vs UTIITSL differences, DPI errors, and local privacy.

Should I use the Protean (NSDL) or UTIITSL slots?

Check your application URL: proteantech / tin-nsdl forms use the 200 DPI Protean slots (197×276 px photo ≤20 KB; 354×157 px signature ≤10 KB), while pan.utiitsl.com uses the 300/600 DPI UTIITSL slots (213×213 px <30 KB; 1063×472 px grayscale <60 KB).

Why did the PAN portal reject my JPEG for wrong DPI when pixels matched?

Most crop tools resize pixels without updating the JFIF density header. Every slot here stamps the exact 200, 300, or 600 DPI header required.

Why did my signature look grey or blurry after compression?

Camera shadows create grey gradients across paper that consume your kilobyte cap. Paper whitening turns near-white background pixels pure white so ink stays sharp.

Are my PAN photo and signature uploaded to any server?

No. Cropping, DPI stamping, whitening, and JPEG encoding run locally in your browser.