How to Draw One Point Perspective!

One point perspective takes 3d objects and gives it depth based on the relationship in space to its environment. This is something all artists will need to know.

Like I mentioned, a perfect 3d object does not exist in real life unless perspective is acting on it. How can we begin to understand perspective?

To answer this question, we will use the perspective cube as it is the building blocks upon all shapes are derived from. With the perspective cube, we will start with one point perspective and how it is measured correctly.

But first, we need to set up the basics of measurement.

1. Using the Cartesian plane

Does this sound familiar? It should as it's something that you have learned in math class. But just to refresh your memory, the Cartesian plane is the intersection between the horizontal (x) axis and the vertical (y) axis to form a coordinate system.

From the intersecting lines, this 2d coordinate system is what you need to measure the object in 3d space.

How?

Well, the horizontal (x) axis of the Cartesian plane becomes the horizon of any painting whereas the vertical (y) axis becomes the mode of perspective measurement for the third (z) axis (which brings 2d objects into the 3d realm).

To understand this in a practical manner, I want you to fire up your graphics program of choice and draw the perspective cube anywhere in one of the four quadrants. Preferable, I would like it to be done below the horizon line.

2. Introducing the z axis!

If you look at how the horizon is situated, you can probably guess that one point perspective involves how the object meets the horizon.

First, take the edges of the perspective cube that you have drawn and extend the imaginary line. Notice how they are situated when they reach the Horizon.

Next, I want you to take the corners of the front measuring square of the perspective cube and align it to the center of the Cartesian plane. Compare them.

Now, if you look at the cube, you can see the difference right away! The second one looks a lot better as it is showing simple one point perspective.

This leads to what I am talking about. Basically, the line that connects to the center of the Cartesian plane is known as the z axis, or the third dimension. But we're still not done yet!

So far, we've included the x and the z axis. What about the y axis and what role does that play in one point perspective?

3. The full 1 point perspective!

Measurement becomes the most important aspect of a one point perspective. Specifically, we want to know how draw objects to scale. This idea is called linear perspective.

In other words, how do we make sure that the object farther away from us has the exact dimensions as the object right in front of us in this single point perspective view?

The answer lies within the y axis and its link with the z axis! Basically, the y axis becomes the vertical horizon where scale is measured in one point perspective.

Let me explain.

Taking your perspective cube, draw a few diagonal perspective lines. But this time, instead of targeting the center intersection of the x and y axis, I want you to just target the vertical y axis.

You do this by drawing diagonal lines from the bottom of the measuring cube to a vanishing point, on the y axis, located above the center of the Cartesian plane.

Then, draw vertical and horizontal lines to close off the cube based on the intersections between the diagonal lines and the z axis of the perspective cube. From there, repeat the same process to get the next scaling dimensions. Here is an illustration I did for your reference:

Take a few minutes to absorb where the diagonal lines meet the y axis and how it intersects with the z axis of the perspective cube. I've even circled the important intersections that will allow you to judge where to begin measuring for the next unit in succession.

If you haven't guessed yet, each time the diagonal lines intersect with the perspective cube, the dimensions that define the perspective cube are accurately measured in perfect one point perspective in relationship to each other!

This is a wonderful technique for drawing repeating objects, like fences and floor designs, in perfect perspective.

4. Exceeding the canvas boundaries!

You might be wondering about the gray area in the last example. Well, that is the area that extends beyond the digital canvas. It is an area where you can't draw on. That is why the diagonal lines connecting the z axis and the y axis seems to break off.

If so, then what are those lighter blue lines that you see? Good question! They are not actual drawn lines! Those are actual guidelines that I retrieved from the guides function in Photoshop. You can do this by ‘pulling' the guides from the horizontal and vertical rulers.

What I'm trying to say is that every digital arts program has a way to extend its guide lines beyond the boundaries of the canvas. For example, Painter's perspective grid tool does that automatically whereas Photoshop uses the guides function.

Other programs may even use a different tool or function altogether! That is why you need to play around with the options so can make the proper guide lines for your digital painting.

As always, motivation is the key factor of learning one-point perspective and 2d digital art correctly!

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