an apparatus and method for forming a plastic container is provided . the method includes disposing a preform into a primary mold cavity and applying pressurized air to urge the preform to conform to the shape of the primary mold cavity to form a primary article . the primary article is then permitted to shrink to a predetermined volume . the method can further include exposing the primary article to an internal vacuum to facilitate shrinking to a predetermined volume . the method further includes disposing the primary article into a second mold cavity and applying pressurized air to urge the primary article to conform to the second mold cavity to form an intermediate article . finally , at least a portion of the intermediate article is trimmed off to form a final container .