You’ve probably noticed that some eCommerce websites have apparel images that appear to float in midair as if worn by an unseen mannequin or model.
These photos, called ghost mannequin or invisible mannequin photos, are a terrific way to show your apparel and are easy to achieve if you have a little photo editing experience using programs like Adobe Photoshop.
Today, we’ll talk to you more about what this effect is, when you should use it, and how you can achieve this photography editing effect for your eCommerce store or website.
The ghost mannequin effect is when the photographer shoots clothing on a mannequin, then uses photography editing software to erase the mannequin from the photo. This gives the image its floating clothing effect.
eCommerce stores love using this photo technique because it lets retailers demonstrate how apparel might look and fit on the wearer.
It can reveal more shape and fit in a way apparel shot flat on a table cannot. It also makes it easier for viewers to see clothing’s details: stitching, seams, neckline, zippers, buttons, sleeve fit, and other details. They can visualize how something might look on them.
As often is the case with product photography, you’ll want to get the lighting right before taking a shot. You have many lighting options to choose from, but you’ll notice that a lot of eCommerce photography uses flat, bright lighting with apparel and/or products on a white background.
This is the style for much of eCommerce since you want buyers to be confident enough about the product they’re seeing to hit “buy.” Think of eCommerce websites like Shopify. Many sellers on Shopify use brightly lit photos, with no shadows, especially on their product list or product item pages.
Surprisingly, the easiest part of the process is taking the photos themselves.
Take lots of shots from different angles. If you’re using a digital camera, you can always delete what you don’t want.
FYI: If you want your floating ghost mannequin photo to have that true 3D quality, you’ll need to take some photos of your clothing placed on the mannequin inside/out. This is so when you delete the mannequin, you can add a second layer behind it to give more depth, neckline, etc.
You will need to know a little bit about photo editing, but if you have basic knowledge, this will be easy.
This example will use Adobe Photoshop, but you may have another program you plan to use.
If so, just make sure you use one that lets you Select, Isolate, Copy, and Paste images, has Cloning capabilities, Layers, and some basic editing tools like Blur, Dodge, and Sharpen.
Choice #1 - If you want, you can stop here. You’ll have the front of your clothing image on a white background without the mannequin. All you have to do is use Blur, Sharpen, and other photo editing tools to get the photo looking how you want it. You can delete Layer #2 at this time. Then merge the remaining Layer #3 (ghost mannequin) with Layer #1 (the white background.) Done.
Choice #2 - If you want a more 3D look, you’ll create one more layer.
On this layer (Layer #4), place the inside/out photo. If there is text or images on your clothing, you can erase it, and anything else that doesn’t look right, using Photoshop’s Clone tool. (This tool is also found in some other photo editing programs.)
Now you can Save. Print. Done.
That’s it. You’ve created a ghost mannequin effect.
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