If you want to send us some pictures and measurements of a hat you would like a block making for or even pictures of a block for us to copy, there are a few things that make our job easier. Of course there may only be one photo available and that can always be a starting point, but if you do have access to the hat or block then a few simple steps will help us a lot.
Photographing a block.
Place the block on a flat table which has space around it. Hold your camera at the same level as the table rather than looking down on the block at all. Take photos of front, back, left and right sides. This gives us accurate views of all the profiles. Place the block on the floor and standing over it, take a photo of the top and bottom. If there are any distinctive features for example on the inside of an upturned brim, then take pictures of these as well.
Photographing a hat
Similar to above, it is important if possible to have the camera at the same height as the hat. Views can be very distorted if the camera angle is from below or above. Take pictures from both sides as well as front and back and again place the hat on the floor and take one from above.
Measurements
When measuring blocks, the most useful measurements are vertical and horizontal rather than around curved surfaces. For example if you had two domed crown blocks, one very pointy and the other much fuller, the measurement over the top would be very different on each even though they could be the same size and vertical height. In this case the vertical height and a good photo will suffice.
For brim blocks the best way to get horizontal measurements is by turning the block over and measuring the length and width of the bottom rather than measuring over the top and around the curves.
If in doubt, take plenty of measurements and photos. The more we have the more likely it is we can get an accurate reproduction of your hat or block.
