In anthropometry surveys, measurements are generally taken of people wearing only underwear, or light shorts and a vest, and no shoes. The raw data in PeopleSize are to this baseline. The Clothing Settings allow you to adjust the data for other clothing which might affect how they fit your design.
Once you have "dressed" your users, these adjustments are added to or subtracted from the 'Result' measurements automatically. Each body dimension is adjusted intelligently for the relevant items, for example:
Underside of Elbow Height, Sitting is increased by Trousers thickness but reduced by Sitting Slump and Jacket thickness.
Hand Breadth Across Finger Knuckles is increased by TWICE the glove thickness.
Knee-to-Knee Breadth, Sitting is increased by FOUR times Trouser thickness
Buttock to back of Knee length, Sitting is increased by Trouser thickness behind the Buttock but reduced by Trouser thickness behind the Knee - result: no adjustment.
Circumferences are increased by 6.3 (2pi) times the material thickness.
These adjustment factors are shown as data are displayed, e.g.:
"-2x3" means the totalled dimension has been reduced by twice the material thickness of 3 mm.
"0x2" means that the garment is relevant, but if the thickness is constant it cancels itself out.
Generally, you only need to enter Jacket and Trouser adjustments for heavy outdoor clothing.
Headgear is calculated for dimensions above the ears, in all planes.
The calculated figures are necessarily simplistic. Treat them as approximate, or use them as a prompt for more precise calculation or trialling.
You can make different allowances for your Largest and Smallest users. Use this to increase the range of circumstances you allow for. For example, you might add a hat to the Large User for clearance, and gloves to the Small User for minimum hand-grip diameter.
It can be useful to buy items which will affect your design. Clothes such as large shoes, boots, safety helmets or gloves are cheap, and can be offered up to your design or worn by testers. Consider this especially if it is the clothing item that the design has to accommodate, rather than the body inside it - e.g. boots on pedals.
See also: Fitting Trials