Mannequin to practice lighting techniques at DVinfo.net

Natan Pakman · August 18th, 2009, 10:59 AM

I am looking for a simply and fairly inexpensive mannequin head and/or upper torso to use to practice different lighting arrangements.

1. What materials most accurately reflect like human skin?

2. What manufacturers are recommended?

Perrone Ford · August 18th, 2009, 11:53 AM

I went to the local beauty supply and got some wig heads. You might want to contact a special effects shop, or a magic shop and see if they have anything you can use.

Nino Giannotti · August 18th, 2009, 02:31 PM

Try Ebay, about $120 a few years ago. Unfortunately I had to pay for the whole thing, the bottom half is still in the box.

Guy Cochran · August 18th, 2009, 04:57 PM

I often use a mannequin before a real person enters the set. It really helps with adjusting backlights and kickers especially. I found ours on the local craigslist. She was from the 60's. I wound up dropping about $200 for the mannequin and $100 for the fancy wig. I can't count how much she has saved us in time as I can pre-light the set by myself before anyone else even arrives. I can't say that the flesh tone and reflectivity is anything like a human, but it gets me 90% there.

Natan Pakman · August 18th, 2009, 05:03 PM

Thanks for the responses. Does anybody have a suggestion as to the material, and whether that matters for imitating human skin tones and the way light reflects off of them?

David Ruhland · August 18th, 2009, 05:26 PM

theres a place in NYC that sells manniquins for 75 bucks

William Wilson · August 24th, 2009, 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David Ruhland

theres a place in NYC that sells manniquins for 75 bucks

Any chance you can narrow our search down a bit more than just NYC? Might take me awhile to ask every store in town :-)

Seriously though . .. that is a great price and I would love to know where it is.

Thanks!

Bill

Charles Papert · August 24th, 2009, 10:25 PM

You guys need to get yourselves some more crew...!!

David Ruhland · August 25th, 2009, 04:05 AM

http://www.aafiber.com/mannequins/Female-Mannequin.php

Here you go!!! So glad i can finally contribute!

William Wilson · August 30th, 2009, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David Ruhland

http://www.aafiber.com/mannequins/Female-Mannequin.php

Here you go!!! So glad i can finally contribute!

Thanks for the link. I am ordering two of them for use in the studio!

Bill

David Ruhland · September 2nd, 2009, 02:16 PM

What will thier names be? Mine is named Molly. Im thinking that maybe someday we can have a reunion. Im sure Molly would love to see her relatives!

I have had lots of fun with Molly, when she is not busy helping me in the studio with lighting, she often participates in my hijinx around the home... Put one in a closet fully assembled for an unsuspecting colleauge, or spouse! Have your video camera going because the reaction as they say is well....PRICELESS!

Sometimes Molly will sit in my car seat all night long while parked on the street....

Okay u see where im going with this!

On a serious note i have found the color of the maniquin to be pretty close to flesh tone for lighting practice

Shaun Roemich · September 2nd, 2009, 03:11 PM

Nino: if I read your file name right on the attached mannequin photo, that's single point lighting? VERY nice. I WAS going to suggest more "rim" backlight but for traveling ultra light with one light, that's pretty nice. Great "subject" too.

August 18th, 2009, 10:59 AM	#1
Natan Pakman Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 196	Mannequin to practice lighting techniques I am looking for a simply and fairly inexpensive mannequin head and/or upper torso to use to practice different lighting arrangements. 1. What materials most accurately reflect like human skin? 2. What manufacturers are recommended?

August 18th, 2009, 11:53 AM	#2
Perrone Ford Inner Circle Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Tallahassee, FL Posts: 4,100	I went to the local beauty supply and got some wig heads. You might want to contact a special effects shop, or a magic shop and see if they have anything you can use. __________________ DVX100, PMW-EX1, Canon 550D, FigRig, Dell Octocore, Avid MC4/5, MB Looks, RedCineX, Matrox MX02 mini, GTech RAID, Edirol R-4, Senn. G2 Evo, Countryman, Moles and Lowels.

August 18th, 2009, 02:31 PM	#3
Nino Giannotti Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Tampa-Orlando, FL Posts: 124	Try Ebay, about $120 a few years ago. Unfortunately I had to pay for the whole thing, the bottom half is still in the box. Attached Images __________________ NinoMedia Productions - EFPLighting.com Advanced Lighting and Gripping Workshops

August 18th, 2009, 04:57 PM	#4
Guy Cochran DVCreators.Net Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 892	I often use a mannequin before a real person enters the set. It really helps with adjusting backlights and kickers especially. I found ours on the local craigslist. She was from the 60's. I wound up dropping about $200 for the mannequin and $100 for the fancy wig. I can't count how much she has saved us in time as I can pre-light the set by myself before anyone else even arrives. I can't say that the flesh tone and reflectivity is anything like a human, but it gets me 90% there. Attached Thumbnails __________________ Guy Cochran DVinfo Sponsor, Cool Gear - DVeStore!

August 18th, 2009, 05:26 PM	#6
David Ruhland Major Player Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Madison WI Posts: 340	theres a place in NYC that sells manniquins for 75 bucks __________________ Vegas 8.0c (Build 260)-(Upgraded to Sony Vegas 10 pro)Canon GL2, Canon HV30, HF200, HF20-Sony UWP Wirelesss Mic Kit, Intel Core 2 CPU-6600@2.40GHz-3.00GB Ram

August 18th, 2009, 05:03 PM	#5
Natan Pakman Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 196	Thanks for the responses. Does anybody have a suggestion as to the material, and whether that matters for imitating human skin tones and the way light reflects off of them?

August 24th, 2009, 10:25 PM	#8
Charles Papert Wrangler Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 6,810	You guys need to get yourselves some more crew...!! __________________ Charles Papert www.charlespapert.com

August 25th, 2009, 04:05 AM	#9
David Ruhland Major Player Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Madison WI Posts: 340	http://www.aafiber.com/mannequins/Female-Mannequin.php Here you go!!! So glad i can finally contribute! __________________ Vegas 8.0c (Build 260)-(Upgraded to Sony Vegas 10 pro)Canon GL2, Canon HV30, HF200, HF20-Sony UWP Wirelesss Mic Kit, Intel Core 2 CPU-6600@2.40GHz-3.00GB Ram

September 2nd, 2009, 02:16 PM	#11
David Ruhland Major Player Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Madison WI Posts: 340	What will thier names be? Mine is named Molly. Im thinking that maybe someday we can have a reunion. Im sure Molly would love to see her relatives! I have had lots of fun with Molly, when she is not busy helping me in the studio with lighting, she often participates in my hijinx around the home... Put one in a closet fully assembled for an unsuspecting colleauge, or spouse! Have your video camera going because the reaction as they say is well....PRICELESS! Sometimes Molly will sit in my car seat all night long while parked on the street.... Okay u see where im going with this! On a serious note i have found the color of the maniquin to be pretty close to flesh tone for lighting practice __________________ Vegas 8.0c (Build 260)-(Upgraded to Sony Vegas 10 pro)Canon GL2, Canon HV30, HF200, HF20-Sony UWP Wirelesss Mic Kit, Intel Core 2 CPU-6600@2.40GHz-3.00GB Ram

September 2nd, 2009, 03:11 PM	#12
Shaun Roemich Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Vancouver, British Columbia (formerly Winnipeg, Manitoba) Canada Posts: 4,088	Nino: if I read your file name right on the attached mannequin photo, that's single point lighting? VERY nice. I WAS going to suggest more "rim" backlight but for traveling ultra light with one light, that's pretty nice. Great "subject" too. __________________ Shaun C. Roemich Road Dog Media - Vancouver, BC - Videographer - Webcaster www.roaddogmedia.ca Blog: http://roaddogmedia.wordpress.com/