Ratios and Body Proportions

Special Makeup Effects for Stage and Screen

The male and female figures in the following two drawings illustrate standing, sitting, and kneeling relationships. Both are standing at eight head heights (eight male and eight female, respectively), with kneeling height at % standing height and sitting height slightly more than W of standing height. You’ll notice that the female is a bit more than the male sitting height, since women mature physically earlier than men.

Ratios and Body Proportions

Подпись: FIGURE 2.45 Leonardo da Vinci's Vetruvian Man, illustrating human proportion. Image reproduced by permission of Luc Viatour. Ratios and Body Proportions
The long bones of female legs (the femur) usually don’t grow as long as those in males.[29]

The shoulder width of a grown man is equal to % of his height (stature) and also equals two head heights. The span of that same man’s arms outstretched from third fingertip to third fingertip is equal to his height and also equal to eight head heights.

Подпись: FIGURE 2.46 The male figure of eight heads is illustrated with kneeling height at % and sitting height a little more than half of standing height. In the male figure the shoulders are two head heights wide. The female figure is also illustrated with stature at eight head heights. Kneeling height is also % standing height, but sitting height is slightly greater than half of standing height, since maturation is earlier in females. The long bones of the legs usually don't grow as long as males. The shoulder width in females is two face heights. Images reproduced by permission of Eugene F. Fairbanks, MD.
By dividing a design in half or into thirds, it could seem to lose some of its subtlety. Not so. Halves and thirds appear to be quite prevalent in studies of the human figure and of the face. The head is 1/8 of the total figure; the hair above the fore­head is 1/8 of the whole of the (vertical) head. The figure minus the head is divided into thirds to reach leg length. This process establishes three main lengths: the lower leg, sole of foot to knee; the knee to the ilium crest (pelvis); and the body from the crest of the ilium to the chin.[30]

The head from chin to vertex is equal to the length of the foot from heel to tip of foremost toe. The face is equal to the length of the hand; from wrist to tip of middle finger equals the distance from the chin to the hairline. The neck, from chin to sternal notch, is equal to % the head height.

Подпись:

Подпись: FIGURE 2.48 FIGURE 2.49 Body proportions are divided into thirds. Images The male head compared to a hand and a foot. Image reproduced reproduced by permission of Eugene F Fairbanks, MD. by permission of Eugene F. Fairbanks, MD.

There are also differences between the male figure and the female figure; to establish vertical measurements for a typical figure, the only measurement needed to begin modeling is the overall anticipated height of the figure. You can then determine what the body proportions will be. However, when measuring peo­ple, you’ll quickly see that there are loads of individual variations. Not everyone’s body will conform to a measurement norm; some people have long necks, some short. Some people have long legs and a short torso, or the like. The drawing and descriptions of human proportions shown and described in this chapter are to be considered guidelines for assistance only and should not be considered for precise measurements.

Updated: June 20, 2015 — 4:18 am