Perspective drawing handbook

Perspective Drawing Handbook Yingxue Wu

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Perspective Drawing Glossary

Table of Contents

Part One: One-Point Perspective The Cube in One-Point Perspective Duplicate a Cube Cubes with different Sizes Inclined Roofs Ellipse & Cylinder Cone Arch & Inclined Plane

Part Two: Two-Point Perspective The Cube in 30o/ 60o Perspective The Cubes at Other Angles Vertical & Horizontal Reflection Angular Reflection Vertical Trace Method Cast-Shadow & In-shadow Sunlight Shadow of an Inclined plane and a box Sunlight Shadows Towards the Viewer Artificial Light Shadow

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5 6 7 8 9 10 11 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21

Part Three: Three-point Perspective The Cube in Three-Point Perspective Duplicate and divide a Cube Inclined Vertical Reference Method Shadows Horizontal Ellipse & Vertical Reflection Verticle Ellipse & Circular Rotation

Part Four: Freehand Application

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Perspective Drawing Glossary Angle Line: A line from the light source towards an end point of an object’s edge, showing the path of the light.

Auxiliary Vanishing Point (AVP): A vanishing point that locate lines at an angle to the picture plane, always located

on

the CRV.

Central Ray of Vision (CRV): A line from the station point, the position of the observer, to the center vanishing point.

Central Vanishing Point (CVP): A point on the eye level, directly in front of the viewer. It is also where lines per-

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pendicular to the picture plane disappear.

Common Ground: Planes facing the light source.

Cone of Vision (COV): The visual region displayed by a drawing that relates to a person’s vision without his/her peripheral vision, showing the area of sight or the angle of sight.

Diagonal Measurement: By using the principle that the two diagonal lines of a square or a rectangular plane intersect at the midpoint, lines or planes in perspective can be added, extended or duplicated.

Diminishing: The apparent size of objects become smaller when the distance between the object moves further away from the viewer.

Direction Line: A shadow edge appearing across the ground of other surfaces as a result of a vertical edge of an object.

Distortion: The difference between the drawing and the way the objects depicted on it would look if it was real.

Ellipse: A plane curve such that the sums of the distances of each point in its periphery from two fixed points, the foci, are equal.

Eye Level (EL): A horizontal line within the picture plane at the same height as the eye of the observer, showing the height of station point.

Foreshortening: The apparent reduction in the length or width of a subject due to the angle from which it is viewed.

Frame of Reference (FOR): A system of geometric axes in relation to which measurements of size, position, or motion can be made.

Gradient: An increase or decrease in spacing due to foreshortening.

Grid: Organized lines on different planes which guide drawing in perspective.

Ground Line (GL): The intersection of the ground plane and the picture plane.

Ground Plane: The plane representing the ground.

Horizon: Same as eye Level.

Inclined Plane: A flat surface tilted at an angle, with one end higher than the other.

Linear Perspective: A system for drawing 3-D space on a 2-D surface by following the guidelines that all parallel and receding lines converge to vanishing points.

Major Axis: The longest distance across the ellipse.

Measuring Line (ML): Lines parallel to the picture plane Minor Axis: The shortest distance across the ellipse.

One-Point Perspective: A type of linear perspective where the sides of the object that are facing the viewer are parallel to the picture plane and the parallel lines that recede from the viewer converge to a single vanishing point.

Overlap: Extend over so as to cover partly.

Parallel: Extending

in the same direction, equidistant at allpoints, and never converging or diverging.

Perpendicular: Meeting a given line or surface at right angles.

Picture Plane (PP): An invisible plane, infinite in size, located between the object and the viewer.

Position: Condition with reference to place or other objects.

Primary Vanishing Point: The vanishing point of all the orthogonals.

Receding Lines: Lines moving away from the viewer.

Reference Point (RP): Projecting a point to a certain plane as a reference.

Scale: The dimensions at a specific ratio relative to the actual size of the object.

Size: The overall dimensions or magnitude of an object.

Special Vanishing Point (SVP): Located on a horizontal line. All lines at a certain angle to the picture plane are converged at this point.

Station Point (SP): This is the position of the observer. It is also the place to measure the cone of vision.

Sun’s Banishing Point (S’VP): The point where all sunlight paths converged.

Three-Point Perspective: A type of linear perspective where the sides of the object that are facing the viewer are at an angle to the to the picture plane and the parallel lines that recede from the viewer converge to three vanishing points.

Two-Point Perspective: A type of linear perspective where the sides of the object that are facing the viewer are at an angle to the picture plane and the parallel lines that recede from the viewer converge to two vanishing points.

Value: The lightness or darkness of a color Vanishing Point 3: A vanishing point where all vertical, parallel lines appear to be converging.

Vanishing Point Left (VPL): A vanishing point located on the eye level and the left of the objects. All horizontal parallel lines towards the left appear to be converging at this point.

Vanishing Point Right (VPR): A vanishing point located on the eye level and the right of the objects. All horizontal parallel lines towards the right appear to be converging at this point.

Vertical Trace: A vertical line drawn from a vanishing point to locate the corresponding AVP. Volume: The amount of space that an object occupies, or that is enclosed within a container.

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One-Point Perspective

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The Cube in One-Point Perspective

STEP 1. Draw two horizontal lines, the upper one as the eye level (EL), the lower as the ground line (GL).

STEP 2. Draw a vertical line as the central ray of vision (CRV). The intersection of EL and CRV is the central vanishing point (CVP). Set the scale of this drawing as 1/4” = 1’-0”. The bottom end of CRV is the station point (SP), 5” from the CVP in this drawing, representing a length of 20’.

STEP 3. Draw a square on the picture plane (PP) with a height of 1.25”. Extend the bottom line as the ground line (GL).

Connect all the corners of the square to the CVP. Locate the special vanishing point (SVP), 5” from CVP on the EL. STEP 4. Using the diagonal line towards the SVP to locate the back of the cube.

5" CVP

EL

5" 1.25"

GL

1.25" CRV

SP

Scale:1/4” = 1’-0”

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STEP 1.

STEP 2.

STEP 3. ing two STEP 4. the new

Duplicate a Cube

Draw a diagonal line from the CVP intersecting the GL at point a.

Locate point b which is 1.25” form point a. Locate point c which makes bc=ab. Connect point b, c to CVP. Draw a horizontal line from the intersection of the 450 diagonal line and the diagonal line in step 1, interactother diagonal lines on the right at point e, f. Line ef is the bottom edge of a new cube with same size.

Draw a horizontal line from the intersection of line eb and the 450 diagonal line. Line gh locates the back of cube.

5" EL

CVP

5"

g

1.25"

d

e

a

1.25" CRV

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SP

h f b

1.25"

c GL

1.25"

Scale:1/4” = 1’-0”

STEP 1.

SVP are STEP 2.

STEP 3.

Cubes with different Sizes

Create perspective grids based on the measurements on the GL and the location of SVP. All lines converging at at 45o angle from the PP. Using the grids to draw two base planes for two cubes with different sizes.

Draw vertical lines of the cubes. The heights match with the neighboring horizontal lines.

To CVP To SVP

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

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12

13

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Scale:1/4” = 1’-0”

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Inclined Roofs

STEP 1. Locate EL, CRV and CVP. Draw a circle, CVP as its center. Locate two auxiliary vanishing points (APV).

STEP 2. Draw a rectangular on PP as the front wall of a house (right). Draw the base plane and the back wall.

STEP 3. Connect the upper corners of the front wall to the upper AVP. Connect the upper corners of the back wall to the lower AVP. Extend the lines from the lower AVP, intersecting the ones from the upper AVP, which determines the top.

STEP 5. Measure line cd = ab. Extend the upper wall edge to the left. The front wall of the left house is determined.

STEP 6. Using SVP method to locate the back wall. Using the two AVPs to locate the roof of the house on the left with a same size.

AVP

CVP

SVP EL

c

8

d

a

AVP

b

ML/GL

STEP 1. tangent STEP 2.

STEP 3. ways in STEP 4.

Ellipse & Cylinder

Draw a square on PP and locate a circle using the 8 key points (point a-h); points a-d are where the circle to the square; points e-h are where the diagonals hit the circle.

Project the square to ground plane, using CVP and SVP. Locate the 8 key points.

Draw minor axis first and then measure the center of the minor axis to locate the major axis.(Major axis is alfront of perspective center where the two diagonals meet.)

Shift the ellipse to the right and project the 8 key points up to locate the top plane of the cylinder.

Minor Axis Major Axis

ML

a e

f

d

b g

h c

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STEP STEP STEP axis

Cone

1. Using AVP and CVP to locate the bottom plane of the cone which is shifted to be at 600 to the PP. 2. Locate the 8 key points to draw the bottom border.

3. The top of the cone is located by drawing an equilateral triangle from the line which parallels with the major and cross the perspective center.

AVP

CVP

600

EL

300

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STEP 1. viewer.

STEP 2.

STEP 3.

Arch & Inclined Plane

Draw horizontal lines from where the left door frame intersects the two diagonal lines of the wall facing the In this way, the right door with the same size can be located.

Estimate 2/3 length from the center approximately to be the diameter of the arch.

Use AVP or SVP method to locate the door.

SVP

CVP EL

CRV

To AVP

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Tow-Point Perspective

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The Cube in 30o/ 60o Perspective

STEP 1. Establish the scale and draw the Eye Level and Ground Line apart from each other. Draw a line perpendicular to these two lines to represent the CRV. STEP 2. Locate the two VP so that VPR is three tines the distance from the CRV as VPL. Estend a line down 600 from VPL and 300 from VPR until they meet at the SP. STEP 3. Place a square so that its sides are parallel to the two lines drawn and so that it touches the EL at the CRV. Connect the 3 corners of the square that do not touch the EL to the SP. STEP 4. Place the front vertical along the CRV. Connect both ends of it to both VP. Where these lines intersect the tops and bottoms of the cube, draw another set of receding lines to the opposite vanishing points to complete the cube.

600

VPL

900

300

EL

600 To VPR

900 SP

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STEP cube STEP cube

The Cubes at Other Angles

1. Rotate the top square 150 counter-clock wise at the center of the square and use the similar method to draw the in 45o/ 45o Perspective. This new cube is located on the top of the cube in 30o/ 60o Perspective 2. Rotate the top square 150 counter-clock wise at the center of the square and use the similar method to draw the facing the viewer. This new cube is located at the bottom.

VPL

EL

To VPR

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SP

STEP 1. mirror.

STEP 2.

STEP 3. tions.

STEP 4.

Vertical & Horizontal Reflection

One the ML, draw Line OA = Line OA’, Line OB = Line OB’. Use SVP method to locate the reflection in the right Use the diagonal method to locate the election in the left mirror.

Draw down a vertical line from Point o with the same length of the cube’s edge to locate the vertical reflecUse the diagonal method to locate the mirror’s reflections.

SVP

Mirror

A

B

O

B’

A’

ML

Ground Mirror Plane

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STEP STEP STEP STEP

1.

2.

3.

4.

Angular Reflection

Estimate a square around the cube. The edges of the cube should either parallel or perpendicular to the mirror.

Duplicate the square in the mirror with diagonal method. (The front becomes the back.)

Locate the reflection of the base of the cube. Shortcut method: Draw Angle a = Angle b.

Draw vertical lines along the four corners of the cube and locate the top using VPR.

Mirror

a b

Angle a = Angle b

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STEP cube STEP cube

Vertical Trace Method

1. Rotate the top square 150 counter-clock wise at the center of the square and use the similar method to draw the in 45o/ 45o Perspective. This new cube is located on the top of the cube in 30o/ 60o Perspective 2. Rotate the top square 150 counter-clock wise at the center of the square and use the similar method to draw the facing the viewer. This new cube is located at the bottom.

S’VP

EL

VPR

AVP

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STEP STEP STEP STEP STEP STEP

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

Find Draw Draw Find Find Find

Cast-Shadow & In-shadow

the four common grounds, plens facing the light source. angle line and direction line from the key points. corresponding direction line from the bottom of the verticals. reference points on initial common ground. cast shadows along the vertical lines of the key points, using shortcut method. in-shadows using reference points.

To S’VP

To VPR

Direction lines

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STEP 1.

STEP 2.

STEP 3.

STEP 4.

STEP 5. hit the corners

Sunlight Shadow of an Inclined plane and a box

Draw the cast shadow of the box using direction lines and angle lines.

Find the shadow inside of the box.

Project the top corners of the inclined plane to the ground plane as reference points.

Draw angle line from the top corners and draw angle line from the reference points.

Draw vertical lines from the intersection of the direction lines and the bottom edge of the box until the lines corresponding angle line. Connect the top of the lines with the intersection of the box edge and the bottom of the inclined plane. Locate the in-shadows of the inclined plane.

To S’VP

To AVP

RP RP

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Sunlight Shadows Towards the Viewer

STEP 1. Draw direction lines and angle lines to find shadows along vertical lines of the key points.

STEP 2. Using VPR and VPL to locate the other border of the shadows.

Light Source

VPL2

VPL1

VPR2

EL

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CRV

VPR1

Artificial Light Shadow

STEP 1. Draw direction lines and angle lines to find shadows along every vertical lines of the key points.

STEP 2. Connect all the intersections of angle lines and corresponding direction lines.

STEP 3. Using reference points to draw the shadow of the vertical stick, following the arrows.

Artificial Light Source

EL

RP

RP

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Three-Point Perspective

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STEP STEP gle.

STEP STEP

The Cube in Three-Point Perspective

1. Draw the EL and locate VPR and VPL. 2. Locate VP3 at the bottom. The El, the Right Wall Horizon and the Left Wall Horizon forms an equilateral trian3. Use VP3 to draw the verticals.

4. Use VPR and VPL to draw the horizontals.

VPL

600

EL

600

VPR

Right Wall Horizon (RWH)

Left Wall Horizon (LWH)

600

VP3

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STEP STEP STEP STEP STEP STEP

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

Duplicate and divide a Cube

Draw a cube in three-point perspective.

Draw a horizontal ML1 and measure two lines with same length (1�).

Use SVP method to locate the right cube.

Draw a second measuring line, ML 2, from point a. This line parallels to the LWH. Use ML2 to divide the cube into thirds horizontally.

Use diagonal method to locate the vertical dividing lines.

SVP

ML1

Left Wall Horizon (LWH)

ML2

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STEP STEP STEP STEP

1.

2.

3.

4.

Inclined Vertical Reference Method

With two different scales, create inclined verticals as reference.

Reproduce squares with diagonal method.

Using the “2/3 diagonal method“ to produce the arcs.

Follow the arrows to locate the edges of the flaps of the box.

VPL

EL

Towards VP3

VPR

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Sunlight Shadow

Use the similar methods as in Two-perspective perspective to locate all the sunlight shadows.

The only difference is all the verticals here should be drawn from VP3.

The line between the AVP and VP3 should be horizontal.

VPL

VPR

EL

Horizontal Direction Lines

Angle lines towards AVP

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VP3

Artificial Light Shadow

Use the similar methods as in Two-perspective perspective to locate all the artificial light shadows.

The reference point of the light source can be arbitrarily picked.

The only difference is all the verticals here should be drawn from VP3.

VPL

EL

VPR

Artificial Light Source

RP Radiate Direction Lines

Wall

Ground Plane

VP3

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STEP STEP STEP STEP STEP STEP

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

Horizontal Ellipse& Vertical Reelection

With two different scales, draw points with numbers as reference.

Draw an ellipse on the ground plane using the 8 key points method.

Estimate the verticals and draw the cylinder.

Using diagonal method to locate the vertical reflection.

Locate the RWH with the scales and draw the shadows using direction lines and angle lines.

Draw the shadow inside the cylinder by drawing the shadow of verticals on the cylinder front surface.

EL

Right Wall Horizon (RWH)

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Vertical Ellipse& Circular Rotation

STEP 1. Draw the vertical ellipse by locating the key points and reference squares.

STEP 2. Draw a horizontal ML from the bottom corner of the square on the ground.

STEP 2. Locate the horizontal reflection with SVP.

EL

Mirror

A

B

O

B’

A’

Ground Plane

Towards VP3

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Freehand Applications

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