Expand Your Horizon with Perspective Scaling!

Once you learn how to put things in perspective, the next thing to learn is how perspective scaling works. Basically, it’s how an object looks like given a particular distance from the viewer.

Most of the scaling comes from one point perspective combining with multiple perspectives. Remember the lesson that we learned concerning how to measure consecutive shapes in perfect scale in one point perspective?

Well, you’re going to put it to good use now!

Let’s start out by understanding scale.

1. The features of perspective scaling

Do you remember what the vertical axis in a Cartesian plane is used for? If you’ve forgotten, take a step back and look at the one point perspective lesson. Just as a refresher, this vertical axis is what we need to measure scaling.

To illustrate this point, start up a new digital canvas.

From there, divide it into four quadrants. This is where perspective scaling happens. Like I said before, the square and the cube will be the measuring point of all shapes and scaling.

Start with the lower left quadrant. You’ll see what I mean.

2. Scaling in one point perspective

From the bottom left, create a square that will close that quadrant into a square. Now, draw two diagonal lines inside the box perpendicular to one another. You will get a large ‘X’ shape inside the square.

Then, from the middle of the Cartesian plane, divide the walls of the square into halves by linking from the center to the middle of each side of the square. You should only need to do this twice as there are only two walls.

From there, draw a vertical line that intersects one of the diagonal line wit the line that divides the side walls in half. Then, you will need to repeat the process all throughout the box.

The important thing to know is that the lengths of each of the sides of the square are equal. And each square is divided by the vertical and horizontal line. The diagonal line only serves as a means to measure the next square.

As you approach the center, it becomes harder to get a good feel as to what the side of the cube will look like because of the compression due to perspective. Of course, we’re not done just yet!

3. Creating a one point perspective hallway

The quickest way to do this is to duplicate the guide line layer. Then, manipulate it, usually flipping it vertically or horizontally, to get it to fit one of the quadrants. Normally, I copy the guide line layer three times and manipulate it all individually.

Then, I would merge the individual layers into one. This is how you use your layers effectively in a situation like this.

When everything is said and done, you should see the guide lines of a hallway. The more lines you draw, the closer you will arrive to the center of the Cartesian plane. Thus, the walls of the hallway will seem to disappear from view.

Obviously, as you multiplied the Cartesian plane into four quadrants, each side becomes one larger square. Therefore, each second division will be the perfect measurement for the perfect square.

As for your picture plane, it would fit somewhere inside the large square. It can’t exceed the large square because it is the absolute defined area. If you expand it outwards indefinitely, you will discover it will have the exact same boundaries!

4. Two point perspective scaling

To measure the cube outside of the hallway, we need to use two point perspectives. And to utilize perspective scaling perfectly, we need to understand how it relates to the two vanishing points.

Again, take out your canvas and do the two point perspective grid. Once you have done that, start a one point perspective vanishing point anywhere on the horizon. It may look like a three point perspective in the making, but it’s not!

It’s still two point perspectives with the one point perspective as a guide for scaling!

End the one point perspective by closing it off with a horizontal line. Then, draw two perspective lines heading towards the two vanishing points. After that, you can close off the square that you have formed.

From there, continue to construct the cube.

The end result will be a perfect cube as it should look in perspective. Moreover, constructing additional cubes are done in the exact manner. That ‘X’ from crossing the two vanishing points will be your guide to rendering it correctly.

You always need to remember that the cube is the measurement of all things. Put the object in the cube and you will get the right perspective of the object no matter how complicated it is.

Also, stay within the picture plane area so you don’t distort the cube in perspective scaling!

In the end, what you have done is just applying the same concepts that we have learned into new possibilities. With a little motivation and practice, perspective scaling will become easy in no time!

Return from Perspective Scaling to Drawing Perspective.
Return from Perspective Scaling to the 2d Digital Art Guide.