Your SSC application form is open, the deadline is close, and the portal is refusing your photo or signature. Here is exactly what to do.
To compress a photo for SSC application: resize it to 100 × 120 pixels first, then compress to under 20KB in JPG format. For the signature, resize to 140 × 60 pixels and compress to under 10KB. If the portal still rejects a correctly compressed file, the problem is almost always the pixel dimensions, not the file size.
SSC photo and signature requirements
The table below reflects specifications consistent across recent SSC CGL and CHSL notifications. Requirements can differ for SSC CPO, MTS, and GD Constable, and occasionally change between recruitment cycles. The only authoritative source is the notification PDF for your specific exam — download it from SSC's official website and confirm the numbers before uploading.
| Upload | File size limit | Dimensions (pixels) | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Photograph | 20KB maximum | 100 × 120 px | JPG only |
| Signature | 10KB maximum | 140 × 60 px | JPG only |
Why the portal keeps rejecting your file after you already compressed it
This is the most common failure pattern. You compressed your photo from 4MB down to 17KB — comfortably inside the 20KB limit. You upload it. The portal says "invalid image" or "upload failed." You compress it further, quality gets noticeably worse, and it still fails.
SSC portals check two things, not one: file size and pixel dimensions. Most portal error messages don't tell you which check failed — they say the upload is invalid and leave it at that. When a correctly compressed file keeps getting rejected, the cause is almost always the dimensions.
A photo from a modern smartphone is typically 3,000 × 4,000 pixels or larger, even after you bring the file size down to 17KB. The portal expects 100 × 120 pixels. Your 17KB file at 3,000 × 4,000 pixels will be rejected for its dimensions, not its size. The error message won't say that.
The fix: resize first, then compress. Use the image resizer on our homepage to set the exact pixel dimensions, then pass that resized file through the compressor. Resizing first also means the compressor has far less data to work with, so the output at 20KB looks noticeably better than compressing the original 3,000-pixel file to the same size.
How to compress your SSC photo to 20KB, step by step
- Resize to 100 × 120 pixels. Open the image resizer, set the unit to pixels, enter width 100 and height 120. Download the resized file.
- Compress to 20KB. Upload the resized file to our 20KB compressor. Processing runs entirely in your browser — your photo is never transmitted to a server.
- Check the output size. The file size is shown before you download. Confirm it reads below 20KB. 19.8KB, 15KB, 12KB — all pass a 20KB limit.
- Upload to the SSC portal. If it still fails, re-read your notification PDF for the exact dimensions your exam requires — some SSC exams specify different pixel sizes.
How to compress your SSC signature to 10KB
The signature is harder than the photo. The 10KB target is half the photo limit, and most people scan in colour or greyscale by default, which produces far more data than necessary. A colour scan of black ink on white paper comes out between 80KB and 300KB, because it records every shade of the paper's off-white tones and the slight variation in the ink.
Switch your scanner or scanning app to black-and-white mode — not greyscale, not colour. Black-and-white mode forces each pixel to be pure black or pure white, stripping every intermediate tone. A 140 × 60 pixel black-and-white signature scan typically lands between 3KB and 8KB with no compression applied — well inside the 10KB limit.
If you are using a phone camera rather than a scanner: photograph the signature in good natural light against white paper, then convert to black-and-white in your phone's photo editor. The file size drops sharply before you even open a compressor.
- Resize to 140 × 60 pixels using the same resize tool.
- Compress to 10KB using our 10KB compressor. At 140 × 60 pixels, a black-and-white signature stays legible well below 10KB.
Four mistakes that cause repeated rejections
- Uploading in PNG format. SSC portals accept JPG only. A PNG file, regardless of size or dimensions, will be rejected. Confirm your output file ends in .jpg before uploading.
- iPhone users uploading HEIC files. iPhones save photos in HEIC format by default. If the file was transferred without converting, it may still be .heic. Go to Settings → Camera → Formats → Most Compatible to make your iPhone export JPG from this point forward, or open the image in Windows Photos and save as JPG.
- Compressing before resizing. Compressing a 3,000-pixel-wide photo to 20KB forces the algorithm to discard enormous amounts of data — the output looks blocky. Resize to the required pixel dimensions first, then compress. Quality at the same file size is substantially better.
- Taking the error message at face value. "File too large" can mean the dimensions are wrong. "Invalid format" can mean the colour mode or file extension is incorrect. Check dimensions and format before compressing further.
Once both uploads pass, save your compressed files somewhere accessible before closing the form. Most SSC portals don't allow re-uploads after submission.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the SSC portal still rejecting my photo after I compressed it to under 20KB?
SSC portals check both file size and pixel dimensions. If your correctly compressed file is still being rejected, the problem is almost certainly the dimensions. A smartphone photo is typically 3,000 pixels wide or more. Resize to 100 × 120 pixels first, then compress to 20KB and upload again.
What pixel size is required for SSC application photo?
Recent SSC CGL and CHSL notifications have specified 100 × 120 pixels for the photograph. This can differ for SSC CPO, MTS, or GD Constable. Always confirm the exact dimensions in your specific notification PDF from ssc.gov.in — dimensions occasionally change between recruitment cycles.
How do I get my signature below 10KB for SSC?
Scan or photograph your signature in black-and-white mode, not greyscale or colour. Black-and-white mode forces every pixel to be pure black or pure white, dramatically reducing file size. A 140 × 60 pixel black-and-white signature scan often comes in under 8KB with no compression at all.
Can I upload a PNG photo in the SSC application form?
No. SSC portals require JPG format only. A PNG file will be rejected regardless of its size or dimensions. Make sure your photo and signature files end in .jpg or .jpeg before uploading to the portal.
My SSC photo looks blurry after compression. How do I fix it?
The likely cause is compressing the original large photo without resizing first. Resize to 100 × 120 pixels, then compress to 20KB from that smaller file. The compressor has far less data to work with, and the result at 20KB is noticeably sharper than compressing a 3,000-pixel original to the same size.