Shirts, mannequin and neckline advice

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 ED

01/14/2008 07:40:35 PM · #1

Hi

I'm looking for a little advice please on a business project I'm working on.

I am looking to photograph images of shirts for a brochure. I have a mannequin but the neck protrudes and obscures the neckline of the shirt.

Are there any special mannequins or busts without a neck? I've searched and can't seem to find anything commercially available.

As a last resort I may have to clone and rebuild the neck in photoshop but as there are almost 80 shirts it would be very time consuming to do so.

Advice from anyone with this experience would be greatly appreciated.

Regards,

Bub

BeeCee

Nikon D40

01/14/2008 07:52:58 PM · #2

I've seen them but I can't find them online now. I'd suggest checking out a better men's wear store. They might even let you borrow/rent one?

Prof_Fate

01/14/2008 08:00:06 PM · #3

just a thought - use one of these to behead your mannequin.
Or paint it green and select in in PS by color for removal.

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

01/14/2008 08:07:42 PM · #4

haha.. good idea, only problem is the neck of my mannequin is attached to the stand.

If I crop out the neck in photoshop I will have to redraw and some of the shirts have a complex checked pattern which may be difficult to replicate.

I've been searching hard and it looks like a wire mannequin may be the way to go. Still can't find a good commercial one. I may have to construct one from chicken wire.

Regards,

bub

Beetle

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

01/14/2008 08:09:36 PM · #5

If you use your existing one as a mold, you should be able to "copy" the shape in two parts (probably front and back) out of something like chicken wire.

RKT

Canon EOS-60D

Sigma 85mm f/1.4 for Canon

01/14/2008 08:12:41 PM · #6

I don't know what sort of shirt you will be photographing but try checking out ebay for "bust forms". Bust forms are just a torso, usually made of Styrofoam so the garment can be pinned. If you go to a store, they will most likely turn you down if you were to ask for one, even just to borrow one. They can be quite expensive to replace. Full body new mannequins cost thousands of dollars. But check out Ebay, you should find something there for sure.

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 ED

01/14/2008 08:21:57 PM · #7

Thank you, just searching ebay now.

I like the ideal of styrofoam to enable pinning. My current mannequin is hard plastic and I'm getting creases.

If I can find one I should be able to cut the neck of.

BeeCee

Nikon D40

01/14/2008 08:25:53 PM · #8

Found some cheap enough to butcher if necessary (well, depends on your budget, but the shipping is more than the forms!).various forms

RKT

Canon EOS-60D

Sigma 85mm f/1.4 for Canon

01/14/2008 08:30:53 PM · #9

Check these out...if you can't find anything on Ebay for less. A bust form would be a good investment if you plan on doing more of this sort of work...and you shouldn't need to do any cutting. : }

ETA: The first four listed are foam. You won't be able to tailor the fit easily on a hanging plastic shirt form, they have no back.

Message edited by author 2008-01-14 20:33:50.

Art Roflmao

Canon EOS-6D Mark II

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

01/14/2008 08:42:24 PM · #10

Be careful not to leave the male and female mannequins alone together for very long...

01/14/2008 08:49:02 PM · #11

Thank you for all your help.

I'll take a good look through and make a choice. I'm looking towards the bendable wire frame bust form. It will be easy to cut the head off or remove the foam, shoot and replace thin wire section in photoshop.

Glad I don't have the daunting task of redrawing 80 full necklines...

Regards,

bub