Are your product shots a little unprofessional?
You may have beautiful garments, but when they are shot flat and boring on a hanger, it does not help your sales. Or you may have a mannequin, though this may detract buyers from the clothing. This issue is common in the fashion industry and among anyone selling online.
Don’t worry, because the big brands have a hidden secret weapon for this. It’s known as Invisible Ghost Mannequin Services. It is a type of photo editing that gives the illusion of clothing being worn by an invisible person. It is a cool effect that is sometimes referred to as the “hollow man.”
In the following guide, you will understand how it only makes your photo look better and improves your sales or hourly fees, but also how to hire someone to do it for you!
What Exactly is the Invisible Ghost Mannequin Services Effect?
So what is this magic trick?
The ghost mannequin effect (also called the hollow man effect) is a really clever photo editing technique. It is simply a matter of taking a few different pictures of your product. For example, taking a picture of a dress or jacket while it is resting on a mannequin. When the clothes are fully filmed, a photo editor will take the images and put them into special editing software.
Some even use apps, where they can screen share what they are doing for you. The photo editor will remove the mannequin from the picture, while leaving the clothing piece, keeping its shape. This creates and leaves a professional look as if you had someone wearing it, but no one is. This gives your clothing piece a very realistic, life-like look.
Why is it so popular?
Online shoppers can’t touch or feel your products. They can’t try it on. They want to see the fit of the clothing and what shape it has. A 2-dimensional, flat picture isn’t helpful, nor is using a mannequin, because it can be distracting.
Using the Ghost Mannequin Effect solves both of these problems. The Ghost Mannequin Effect allows your customers to see the fit of the clothing and the details while shopping online. This gives them more confidence to shop from you and makes the shopping experience significantly better.
With that said, let’s take a look at how the editing work will be done to see how powerful this is. The editing work is one of the more fun parts of the post-production process.
The Post-Production Process
Creating an ideal ghost mannequin effect involves expertise and attention to detail. It’s not simply one button click. It is a process, involving multiple steps handled by an expert photo editor, that can bring your product photos to life.
Here are the simple steps of the process.
Step 1: The Foundation – Perfect Clipping Paths
First and foremost, the editor will use a technique called a clipping path to cut out the clothing from its original background. The editor will use the pen tool in Adobe Photoshop to go around the entire product, drawing a line. It needs to be done with precision so every edge is clean and smooth. This is a lot like when you use scissors to cut something out of a magazine, but requires much more precision.
Once the path is complete, the clothing will be ideally isolated. This is the base for all that follows. A good clipping path is the most critical aspect of producing results that look professional.
Step 2: Combining the Images – The Neck Joint
This is where the real magic happens.
To depict the idea of “hollow”, you have to show the inside of the clothing, such as the back of the collar. But, how do you accomplish that with the mannequin obstructing the view? Simple. You just photograph the garment and turn it inside out, revealing the neck label area. This photograph of the garment, instead of the mannequin’s neck area, is what we refer to as the “neck joint” photograph.
The photo editor will then take that piece (the inside) and stitch it digitally onto the photograph of the main image. They will place it where the mannequin’s neck originally was. The same process works for the bottom of a shirt and the cuffs of long-sleeve shirts and whatever else. This is what gives the image its realistic and three-dimensional characteristics that exist in the final composite image. This is an essential part of composite images in fashion.
Step 3: Refining the Details – Photo Retouching
Once the main components have been joined together, it’s time to perfect the image. This phase is called photo retouching. The editor will zoom in on the image and fix any little problems. They will take away any dust, spots, or wrinkles in the garment. They’ll make sure the color in the image is matched up perfectly to the real product color. This is referred to as color correction.
They will also check for perfect symmetry and alignment, examining to make sure that the garment looks its best. A little retouching goes a long way to improve the final quality.
Step 4: Adding Realism – Natural Shadow Creation
Editors will add a soft, natural shadow directly underneath the clothing to create depth. This is known as shadow creation.
This one small edit adds depth to the product, providing a more realistic three-dimensional effect. It tricks the eye and allows the consumer to see it as a real object. This is the distinction between a good edit and a great edit.
Once again, seeing all of the detail that goes into it also helps establish the value of this service. Now let’s move on to the really exciting part – the amazing benefits it will have for your online store.
Choosing the Right Partner for Your Photo Editing Needs
You are now sold on the idea that your organization can benefit from this service. You simply need to determine who the right provider is. Much of your success will be influenced by the quality of work you pay for, so you should be careful in your selection. There are a few important things to consider when seeking a service partner.
Important Things to Be Considerate Of All editing services are not equally proficient. These are what to look for:
- Quality and attention to detail: The most important factor is the quality of work. You will want to see their portfolio. Look closely at their before and after. Are the edges clean? Are the shadows natural? Was the apparel photo editing executed well? Do not accept anything less than perfection.
- Turnaround Time: eCommerce progresses very quickly. You will need a partner who offers quality images delivered fast. Ask them what their turnaround time is and if they can handle big batches of photos, especially during busy seasons of the year.
- Pricing: Your price matters. It is best to find a company that has clear, transparent pricing. Many companies have a price per photo and offer discounts for a large number of photos. You want to find a good value, but do not go too low in price and sacrifice quality for a better price.
- Free Trial: The best companies have confidence in their final work. They often will offer a free trial where you can send them one or two photos, and you have the chance to see the quality of their editing firsthand. This is probably the easiest and safest way to inspect their service without the cost of trying it.
Why Outsource?
You might be thinking, “Isn’t this something I could just do myself with Adobe Photoshop?”.
And while you certainly could try, there are some significant advantages to outsourcing this work. A world of experience comes into play. There are many ways to complete a task in Adobe, and it takes time and practice to be good at it. Outsourcing your invisible Ghost Mannequin Services to a specialist partner like UK Clipping Path is worthwhile.
It saves you a huge amount of time, so you can focus on other aspects of your business like marketing and customer service. It is less expensive since you are not hiring an in-house editor and don’t have to pay for software. Most importantly, you will get a professional end product that is consistent every time from editors with years of experience.
Conclusion
When it comes to online fashion, your product photos are everything. They are the initial impressions that your customers see that can either drive a sale or kill a sale.
The ghost mannequin effect is one of the most versatile items that you have in your post-production toolbox. It is the best way to show off your garments. It turns flat and boring images into exciting 3D product displays that build trust. They get customer questions about fit, and make an online store look beautiful and professional.
By using a professional invisible ghost mannequin service, you are cleaning up your clothing photography. You are also providing a better shopping experience for your customers while building a stronger and more successful brand.
Ready to take your apparel photography to another level? Contact UK Clipping Path today to get a free quote and see how our expert team can take your apparel to stand out.
FAQs
- What is the invisible ghost mannequin service?
Invisible ghost mannequin service is a photo editing effect that takes the mannequin out of your clothing photographs. The clothes appear to have a real shape, as if an invisible person is wearing them, with a 3D effect.
- Why is it the “hollow man” effect?
It’s called the hollow man effect because, while the clothing still appears to be filled out and 3D, there is no body wearing it after the editing. The effect leaves the body area seen-through, creating a hollow effect.
- How is this service beneficial to sales?
It allows the consumer to see the true shape & fit of your clothing. When shoppers feel confident in a purchase, they are more prone to make that purchase. When consumers feel confident in their purchase, it will show itself in higher sales and higher conversion rates.
- Will it assist with reducing returns on products?
Yes definitely. When exhibiting an accurate and realistic image of the fit of a product, it reduces the customer’s surprise or dissatisfaction with their final purchase, which equates to fewer returns for your business.
- What software is being used for this?
A professional will almost exclusively use Adobe Photoshop for this service. Photoshop has all of the advanced tools, such as the pen tool and/or layer masks, that are necessary to complete this properly and produce a high-quality outcome.
- What does it cost to perform ghost mannequin service?
The price is usually determined by the complexity of the image itself. Most companies charge based on a per-image basis. It is almost always very reasonably priced, and many services will provide discounts based on larger batches of photos.
- What should I look for in a service provider?
As a first step, look for a strong portfolio with good reviews. The provider should have a fast service turnaround time and clear pricing. The best service providers may offer free sample edits so you can see their level of quality.
- How is a ghost mannequin service different from background removal?
Background removal just removes the product from the background; ghost mannequin service doesn’t just cut the product out of the background – it is much more than that. It combines many images into a 3D-like effect and layers that show you the inside of the garment, and it is much more advanced.
- Do you fix wrinkles and fix colors?
Yes, a ghost mannequin service usually includes some basic photo retouching with the images. That being said, we also fix wrinkles, dust, and color problems, etc., which makes your final product image look perfect.
