3 Point Perspective sketching
Everything you see throughout every day is in full perspective. This means that your eyes can see even more than 3 point perspective. There are actually an unlimited amount of points at any one time but your brain is so advanced that it simplifies what you see so that you understand it without being confused by what your eye are actually seeing.
Q. Does this building have parallel sides or is it actually getting narrower towards the top.
A. Actually this one does narrow slightly. There are some indicators to prove this. Can you spot them?
The two sections (arrows) are not parallel, showing that the building does actually narrow.
Look carefully and you can see that these two columns meet at the top of the building.
The other side is the same so the building does narrow gently.
However, at a quick glance most people would not see this.
How about this one?
Are the sides parallel?
Are the sides vertical?
If they are vertical, then why don’t they line up with the edge of the photo?
All these lines will meet in one place........... eventually!
This image just goes to show that this issue isn’t just confined to large buildings or big objects.
The viewpoint is raised so you are looking down on the phone, just as you would if this phone was on a desk below your eye level.
This makes it look much more realistic as we rarely see objects straight on.
The phone has 3 vanishing points.
However, because the transmitter has been photographed slightly out of line to the phone, it clearly has a further 2 vanishing points.
To sketch fluently and realistically you should try to understand the concept and practice sketching in 3 point perspective.
Here again you can see the 3rd perspective point or vanishing point.
Again the dock would have different vanishing points because the phone is inclined (vanishing point 2 would be shared).
NOTE: None of the construction lines will actually meet on the page.
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Even by greatly reducing the size I can still only get 1 vanishing point to meet on the page. Vanishing point 2 is close but point 3 should always be imagined off the page.
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SO: what have you learnt?
If you use A3 paper and include your first 2 vanishing points on the paper you will end up with a very small drawing.
There are 2 possible solutions.
The second idea will take time to master; so until then just practice with small drawings on A3 or use A2 if you have the space.
As you can see in the sketch above, the perspective looks too exaggerated and extreme when you try to limit all the vanishing points onto the page.
It doesn’t look like a parallel sided box and it isn’t realistic or convincing.
So the 3rd vanishing point should be imagined.
The easiest way to do this is to imagine it about 30cm behind your spine when you are sitting down sketching.
Ok, lets get some paper and put the theory into practice......................
If you are using A2 paper you can sketch a horizon line and add your 1st and 2nd vanishing points at either end.
If you are using A3 then imagine both are about 15cm out from your 2 top corners. To practise you can place an item or a spot of masking tape in the location to act as a reference point. In time you will not need this tip.
Start by sketching a short upright crate in the centre, using your 3 vanishing points.
This is what it should look like if you are using A3 paper. Your crate should appear smaller if you are using A2 paper.
Vanishing Point 3 will be just behind you
This is what it should look like if you are using A2 paper and the top 2 corners as vanishing points 1 and 2.
Now extend the height by adding another short section.
Working around the base of the first crate, add a flattened crate which will become the dock for the phone.
Sketch in the sectional shape onto any flat sections of crates.
This will help you understand the shape and show you where the back meets your crate (its spine).
Now you can sketch in the spine of the phone for construction purposes.
Using the first crate as a reference point start to add shape and curve the edges from where the first box meets the extension.
Where the spine meets the top should be the centre of your curved top.
Next you can sketch in the edge line that you would actually see, this �is the further left point of the 2 profile sketches.
You will now have your 3D shape.
Round the front edge of the dock starting from a point level to the bottom of the handset.
Move these lines back to create an overhang.
Now you have the basic shape you can start to add some details of your own to personalise your work.
Remember: Every detail will also be on a path to a vanishing point.
Add a screen and buttons on the dock.
Draw on some square buttons.
Find the centre of each button by lightly sketching in diagonal lines, corner to corner.
Now make another mark on each button, slightly right and down from each centre.
Check these new marks are in line with the others.
Use construction lines to gauge and plan where sockets and plug holes will go.
Draw a line from each corner to the new centre, this will create pyramid shaped buttons.
If you wanted concave pyramid buttons you would place the new centres on the left and down from the original centres.
Add detail to other buttons and your screen.
Highlights like the ones arrowed should always be drawn..........
vertically if they are on a flat plane. This always looks the most convincing and is easy to remember.
A quick and easy way to stop your product from looking like it is floating in space is to add a simple shadow line.
Just imagine the light source and think where the light beam will travel and land.
Thicken the correct lines or correct lines with a heavier line or even a pen. Add a little shading but be careful not to over do it. Remember this should be a quick process if it is a sketch idea.
If it is the starting point for an accurate rendering then spend more time and use a ruler.
The End