Ghost Mannequin

What is ghost mannequin photography?

Ghost mannequin (also called invisible mannequin or hollow man) is a product photography technique where a garment is photographed on a mannequin, then the mannequin is digitally removed. The result shows the clothing holding its three-dimensional shape, as if worn by an invisible figure.

It sits between two other standard formats: flat lay (garment laid flat, no volume) and on-model photography (worn by a person, but tied to that model's look).

How the effect is made

1. Main shot: the garment is photographed on a mannequin.
2. Inner shot: a second photo captures hidden areas (inside the collar, back panel) on a foam board or inverted garment.
3. Compositing: the mannequin is masked out and the two shots are merged, reconstructing the inner edges so the garment appears hollow.

Use in e-commerce and try-on

Ghost mannequin photos are common in apparel catalogs because they show shape and construction consistently across a product line without model costs. They are also a usable input for garment transfer: the garment's silhouette and texture are clearly visible and unobstructed, which helps an AI model re-render it onto a person's photo in a virtual fitting room.

FAQ

Questions, answered.

Ghost mannequin vs flat lay: what's the difference?↓

A flat lay is shot from above with the garment lying flat, showing no volume. A ghost mannequin shot preserves the worn, three-dimensional shape of the garment while keeping the frame free of any model or mannequin.