Airbrushing a helmet – part one

Airbrushing a helmet: We've all thought about it, or almost, at least once. Give vent to your imagination, Having a unique object, replicate the graphics of a now unobtainable helmet, or simply renew it, giving it a new look, even if in reality, given the costs it doesn't make much sense to use an old helmet as a starting point. There can be many reasons, certainly personalizing a helmet with one airbrushed graphics makes it something different from a “normal” helmet. It becomes a special object, it doesn't even mean that it has to be used on a motorbike, because it could also become a beautiful piece of furniture. Studying graphics, even before seeing the project realized, is an original way to express your personality. Those who deal with airbrushing, like the Koro Design of Milan (www.aerografie.com) who collaborates with us for the project we are telling you about, does not only work on helmets, because it can also be created on tanks and fairings of a motorbike, or create "works of art" cars, usually the basis is the vintage Made in USA, but recently the doors to the world of fashion have opened, with leather jackets and clothing items that are airbrushed with specific paints for leather and fabrics. However, today we are interested in helmets, because the project was born precisely from the need of a girl who wanted to buy a new one, but she couldn't find anything that could fully satisfy her. For many, a standard color is enough, others love visible carbon, still others (less so in recent years) want to show off the graphics of the rider they support. But she wanted something different. That she is a little outside the lines, with the right amount of desire to remain distant from the stereotype of a "precise" career woman can be seen from the tattoo of a skull that appears under the sleeve of the t-shirt she is wearing.

A mix of contrasts, which she obviously also wants to be represented on her helmet. The first time she asked us for advice we thought she wanted something related to that tattoo, something in a dark or horror style. But no, the question she asked us was: "where can I find a helmet with Snow White?". Obviously our reaction was one of amazement, she made us smile, but after a moment the answer was already served. Only airbrushing can solve such an extravagant need. Or, if you are lucky, someone might have a ready-made industrial product in their catalogue. But even this might not be enough, because there is a helmet and a helmet. Maybe there is something close to what you have in mind, but made based on a Jet, or a type of product that doesn't meet your needs. You need a full-face helmet, or we suggest a well-made modular one, which guarantees high safety, combining it with a little more practicality. Having established that nothing of the kind exists, the direction is to find someone who deals with airbrushing, to create the graphics based on the precise indications of our "Snow White". The choice is easy because, by chance, one of the most established businesses in this sector has its headquarters in the area. It all starts with a phone call to tell us our idea and collect the necessary information preliminary step: purchasing the helmet.

In reality there are no major constraints, other than that of avoid opaque colours, or "matt" if you prefer, because they are usually made with a sort of rubber coating (in fact the weight of these colors is a few tens of grams more) which makes the preparation phase for painting more complex and therefore expensive. At this point the choice is based on a few rules, but which still narrow the field: solid color and high-end, because it wouldn't make sense to dedicate so much effort to customizing a cheap helmet that doesn't last over time. For the same reason, it is better to move towards fibre, given that polycarbonate ones have a 5-year expiry date (even if no law prohibits using them for a longer period), but it is not a mandatory constraint. The brand doesn't matter. Many also choose a product for the brand's coat of arms (which is absurd in itself, because since the helmet is a safety device, the aspects linked to the technical characteristics should count more, together with comfort and aesthetics). In this case the "appearance" is completely lost, because the logos must be removed. If you really want, you can also make the manufacturer's logo part of the design. The advantage of not having to take graphics and color into account translates into the possibility of saving something on the price of the helmet, partially offsetting the cost of customization with airbrushing. In the end the choice falls on a fiber modular, a truly very interesting high-end product.

At this point there is only one step left, deliver the helmet and, more importantly, define the design. You can already arrive with a very specific idea or build step by step the result you want to achieve together with whoever will achieve it. Years and years of experience help us understand which direction to go, as best adapt the customer's wishes to the helmet that you want to customize. In our case, for example, the chosen image was replaced by one suggested by Mirko, which everyone liked better. As well as the positioning of the drawing, based on the type and shape of the helmet, has been modified to be able to give the right emphasis on the main image.

Once the choice is complete, you can begin processing, normally takes 15 days to get it all done. We start with disassembly of the external parts of the shell, visor and everything that can be removed without damaging it. They come stickers also removed, both the manufacturer's logo and the various labels on the outside of the shell. The rest, including the interior, is wrapped and protected. At this point the helmet is ready for the next steps, but these will be the subject of another episode of our story...

The photographs are taken with a Sony A7 Full-Frame Mirrorless camera with Vario-Tessar T FE 24-70 mm F4 ZA OSS lens