How to take a palm photo that actually works.

The five-second checklist

• Use the palm side, not the back of the hand.
• Keep the entire hand visible from wrist area to fingertips.
• Leave a small border around the hand; do not fill the frame edge to edge.
• Use soft, even light and avoid a bright lamp directly behind the hand.
• Hold still and wait for the palm lines to look sharp before pressing capture.

Distance matters more than zoom

Move the phone far enough away that all fingertips and the base of the palm fit naturally inside the frame. If the camera starts too close, extend your arm or place the phone on a stable surface and step back. Digital zoom usually removes useful detail, so keep zoom at its normal setting where possible.

Use broad light, not dramatic light

A window in daytime or a well-lit room works well. Strong side light can create shadows that look like extra lines. Direct flash can flatten texture or create glare. If the palm is too dark, turn toward the light rather than moving the lens closer.

Relax the hand

Open the hand naturally and separate the fingers slightly. Do not force the fingers as wide as possible; tension can change the way the skin folds in a photograph. Face the palm toward the lens and keep it roughly parallel to the camera.

Give the camera time to focus

On many phones you can tap the center of the palm on the preview to set focus. Hold the pose for a moment after tapping. Clean the lens if the whole image looks hazy. If someone else is available, asking them to take the photo can make distance and stability easier.

Before you continue

Check that the frame contains only what you want to submit. Avoid including another person, a visible document, a computer screen or identifying objects in the background. Palmuse needs one open palm, not the rest of the room.

Submitted palm photos are processed temporarily and deleted within 24 hours. Read the full photo lifecycle before using the service if you want more detail.

If the image is rejected

Read the reason before retaking it. “Cropped” means more of the wrist or fingertips needs to be visible. “Too blurry” means add light, stabilize the phone or wait for focus. “Lines not visible” usually improves with even front light and a palm that is parallel to the lens.