The Third Dimension for Apparel Designers: Visual Assessment of Hat Designs for Sun Protection Using 3-D Body Scanning

Abstract

The three-dimensional (3-D) body scanner is an imaging tool with advantages for functional apparel designers. Images of garments can help assess the function of apparel as it is worn, especially images of wearers in active positions. We evaluate 3-D body scanning as a visualization tool for designers by comparing 3-D images and printed images from a digital camera to assess benefits and limitations of 3-D images.

We used images of hats worn by female golfers to assess their effectiveness for sun protection. Data were collected from six female golfers in three different stances. Multiple 2-D images (using a digital camera) and a 3-D body scan were made of each participant for comparison.

As a baseline we first compared printouts from the digital camera images to printed two-dimensional (2-D) images made from the 3-D body scan data. We then compared the printouts from the digital camera to 3-D scan images as viewed and manipulated on the computer screen. Printouts from the digital camera provided better information than the 2-D printed images from the body scan data, as the printed scan images had missing areas, a comparatively lower resolution, and lacked color and texture information. However, viewing and manipulating 3-D scan images on the screen showed the relationship between the hat and the wearer clearly. The 3-D images viewed on the screen were ultimately more useful than images from the digital camera for judging the effectiveness of the hat designs.