My Somatotype Home

Definition & Measurement of Somatotype

Sports & Somatotype

Weight & Somatotype

Personality &  Somatotype

Measuring the Really "Big" Things

Significance of the Midrange Types

Interpreting Somatotypes

How Can I Discover MY Somatotype?

Somatotypes of the Famous

Somatotype and Other Theories

After you’ve taken your digital picture and have downloaded it to your computer you need to open it in a Photo Image Editing program.

Here are some common programs that will enable you to convert your picture. The steps refer to features on the top tool bar in each program.

MICROSOFT PHOTO EDITOR  (Usually included in Microsoft Office Suite)

1. Select [EFFECTS]  2. Select [EDGE]  3. Select [THICK EDGE]

Paint.NET (Free program)

1. Select [EFFECTS]  2. Select [STYLIZE]  3. Select [OUTLINE]

PhotoFiltre (Free program)

1. Select [FILTER]    2. Select [EDGES]   3. Select [BLACK PENCIL]

Once you have completed your conversion be sure to save the photo as a JPEG file.

A LESS TECHNICAL OPTION

Mail in a photo.  If you don’t want to deal with Photo Imaging Software feel free to use conventional mail to send in either an actual photograph or an accurate tracing of a photograph.  Make sure to carefully trace the adhesive strips that mark the bottom of the rib-cage and the top of the hip.  Include the information about height and weight. Also, remember to include your Email address so you can be notified when the assessment of your somatotype has been completed.

HEIGHT AND WEIGHT INFORMATION

Please include the following information when you Email the photograph as an attachment.

1. Email the address you want to use for this communication.  
2. Your height (inches or centimeters) including fractions to the nearest ¼ ½, or ¾ of the units you are using (inches or centimeters).
3. Your current age and weight.
4. Your maximum weight by the age of 20
5. Your maximum weight by the age of 30
6. Your maximum weight by the age of 40
7. Your maximum weight by the age of 50
8. If you are 20 or less please include any information about your weight for the previous two years so we can estimate a rate of weight increase.

Email information to:   service@mysomatotype.com

Conventional Mail:    John Danzer

                              Mysomatotype

                             4063 W Mangold Ave

                             Greenfield WI 53221

After you send in the photograph and height/weight information we will notify you when our assessment is complete. At that time simply click on the PayPal Button at the top of this page.

HOW CAN I DISCOVER MY SOMATOTYPE

Although there are some instructions that need to be followed carefully this is not a difficult process.  It’s no harder than completing an E-Bay transaction.

Here is a brief outline of the process.

1. Have a picture taken of yourself according to simple instructions.

2. Convert the picture to a “tracing” format”.

3. E-mail the picture as an attachment.

4. On the same E-mail include height and weight information.

That’s it.  We will notify you when your somatotype has been determined and is available for your access.  After you complete the payment we will release your Somatotype Report.

We prefer to have your somatotype evaluated FIRST because there may be situations where we will have to request a redo of a photo.  You pay only after the work has been done and it is ready for release to you.

IF YOU HAVE SENT IN YOUR INFORMATION AND HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED BY E-MAIL THAT YOUR SOMATOTYPE REPORT IS READY, PLEASE CLICK ON THE PAY PAL BUTTON TO ARRANGE TO PAY THE $10.00 FEE.  AFTER PAYMENT YOU WILL RECEIVE YOUR REPORT WITHIN THREE DAYS.

THE ROLE OF DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY

Mysomatotype.com would not be possible without the invention of digital photography.  It is understandable that most people are “creeped-out” about being photographed nude.  One of the biggest obstacles to the widespread use of Sheldon’s somatotyping method was the need for a nude photograph taken from the front, side, and back.

Perhaps this was necessary when Sheldon started his research and he needed to accumulate as much information as possible to establish the essential elements of the physical structure of the human physique.

But, now we no longer need all of that information.  A single dorsal (back) pose is sufficient.  Furthermore, the subject can have enough clothing to maintain their sense of modesty.  And now digital cameras have eliminated even more objections.  A close friend can take the picture or the camera can even be set up in the automatic mode so no one else needs to be involved - not even film developers. After the picture has been taken it can be loaded into a photo editing program that eliminates even more unnecessary details.  Below is an example of how you can easily convert your digital photo (left) into a traced photo (right).

FROM THIS

TO THIS

POSING FOR THE PHOTOGRAPH  

Hands should be about 18 inches out from body

Bottom edge of Band-Aid* should be even with top of hip

Top edge of Band-Aid* should be even with bottom of Rib Cage

Feet should be spread apart about the width of the shoulders

Crotch angle should be visible as marker of bottom of torso

Any clothing should conform to body shape

Hair should be off of neck so the neck is completely visible

TAKING THE PICTURE

The camera should be located at least ten feet from the subject.  It also should be even with the subjects waist.  This means the person taking the picture should be in a kneeling position as shown below.

THIS

NOT

THIS

LANDSCAPE ORIENTATION

PORTRAIT ORIENTATION

Don’t Point Down Toward Feet

Don’t Point Up Toward Head

Hold Straight Toward Waist

Holding The Camera

Line of Sight = Waist High

First of all, you don;t have to use Band-Aids.  Any adhesive strip with a straight edge will be adequate.  Some may prefer adhesive address labels.  The purpose of the adhesive strip is to mark two very important parts of the physique that aren’t always easy to see on every person.

A. (See illustration below) We need to know the location of the bottom of the rib cage.  Usually there is a narrowing of the trunk at that location but depending on the amount of fat tissue this might not always be obvious.  Simply feel where the hardness of the ribs end at the bottom of the rib-cage.  Place the strip in a straight horizontal position so that the TOP of the strip clearly marks the bottom of the rib-cage.  From a distance it will probably line up perfectly with the narrowing of the waist. If a person has a lot of fat in that area it may take several attempts to make sure the adhesive strip is in the right position.  If you are applying the strip to yourself use a couple of mirrors so that you can get the proper view of the placement of the strip.  If we have any doubts about the way way the adhesive strip was applied  we will have you re-do it. Remember, there is no charge until we have a picture that enables us to make an accurate determination of your somatotype.

B

A

B (See illustration above) The second strip is used to mark the top of your hip or pelvis.  We prefer you place this strip on the opposite side of the first strip.  With you fingers follow the hard top of your hip around to your back and apply the strip so that the BOTTOM of the strip lines up horizontally with the top of your hip.  Again, please remember to keep the strip in a straight horizontal position.  It shouldn’t tilt up or down.  If you have scoliosis (curvature of the spine) you should place markers for each side.

CONVERTING YOUR DIGITAL PHOTO TO A DIGITAL TRACING