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This famous photograph of John Dillinger, rough-sketched above, illustrates some of the characteristics of a NIST-compliant mugshot. Note that, while criticized here as not conforming to the NIST standard, this photograph is very close to the current standard. Considering the fact that the image was captured in 1933, it is extraordinary. In fact, apart from not being in color, its quality exceeds that produced by many current systems.
- The NIST "Best Practice Recommendation" mandates that "[t]he approximate horizontal mid-points of the mouth and of the bridge of the nose shall lie on an imaginary vertical straight line positioned at the horizontal center of the image." To comply, the Dillinger photograph required a clockwise rotation of only 2° (the heavy red line is vertical, while the thinner line is the original orientation);
- Best Practice Recommendation: "An imaginary horizontal line through the center of the subject's eyes shall be located at approximately the 55% point of the vertical distance up from the bottom edge of the captured image." In the original, Dillinger’s eyes are placed approximately 45% of the distance from the bottom of the image. In the sketch, the blue line represents a distance 55% from the bottom of the image;
- Best Practice: "The width of the subject's head shall occupy approximately 50% of the width of the captured image. This width shall be the horizontal distance between the mid-points of two imaginary vertical lines. Each imaginary line shall be drawn between the upper and lower lobes of each ear and shall be positioned where the external ear connects to the head." In the original, the width of Dillinger’s head occupies 78% of the width of the captured image. In the sketch, the pink vertical lines represent the NIST standard;
- Best Practice: "The subject whose image is being captured shall be positioned in front of a background which is 18% gray with a plain smooth flat surface." The light reflectivity value (LRV) of the background in front of which Dillinger was photographed averages approximately 90%. The block in the lower right hand corner of the sketch shows a rough approximation of an 18% LRV;
- Best Practice: "The Width:Height aspect ratio of the captured image shall be 1:1.25." The original Dillinger image aspect ratio is approximately 1:1.4.
Link to:
NIST Best Practices Recommendations
ANSI NIST ITL 1-2000
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