Learn Three Point Perspective for Those Epic Scenes!

It may look complicated at first. But you need to remember everything can be measured with the square and the cube. All you need to do is learn how to set up the perspective points and then put the measuring instruments in it effectively.

Of course, it doesn’t happen on the first try. It takes a lot of practice before you will become proficient in it. So, get out your graphics art application and let’s begin learning about three point perspective!

Like always, start a new canvas and put a new layer on. This layer will be your three point perspective guide lines.

1. A bird’s three point perspective

On your canvas, start with a horizon of where you want the initial starting point to be. I recommend near the top. Then, I want you to create a guide line that separates your canvas into halves.

Then, from the bottom of canvas, and starting from the center, draw a 45 degree line to the horizon point. You will repeat on the other side, thus giving you a right angle triangle which we already explored when looking at two point perspective.

The next step, you have should have an idea what to do next. Basically, I want you to draw guide lines out from the left and the right vanishing points to start the basic two point perspective.

Doesn’t look much different from what you did in two point perspective so far, right?

This time, I want you to draw perspective points going out of the third angle in the right angle triangle.

Doing this will give you the proper vanishing points to create the much needed third perspective when you’re looking down on the scenery from high above.

2. A worm’s three point perspective

The opposite can be done when you want to look from the ground up. To do this, simply put the horizon near the bottom instead of near the top. From there do exactly what you’ve done so far.

That is, you will start by drawing your two point perspective. And when you get the right angle triangle pointing up, use that third angle to start the third perspective point.

Basically, it is the complete reverse of the bird’s eye view. It’s easy, right? Draw as many lines as you feel comfortable before you start your painting. It’s a bit of work, but setting up the correct perspective will save you a ton of frustration later on!

Now that you got the three point perspective you want, the next step is to set up your picture plane.

3. Deciding the picture plane

Just as a refresher, in two point perspective, the picture plane can exists anywhere in the triangle so long as it doesn’t cross over the ‘V’ portion of the right angle triangle (as the 90 degrees of the right angle triangle is the maximum you can go without distorting the shape of the square).

Plus, you can move the canvas so that it shows the horizon.

It’s the same with three point perspective except for one big difference: the objects will never exceed the horizon on your canvas!

See for yourself! In the room that you are in, look straight ahead and pick out the horizon. Then, look down on the floor and then look up at the ceiling. Where is the object in regards to the horizon? Obviously, it will be either above or below the horizon!

Your picture plane will reflect the limitations of what your eyes are capable of seeing at one particular point in time!

4. Using your graphics art program

Perhaps the next biggest challenge, after you learn how to set up three point perspective, is trying to get that onto your canvas.

The exercise that you have done started within the canvas itself where you can see all three perspective points. But like I said before, you shouldn’t be able to! So how do we move those points outside of the canvas?

There are a few ways to do this. The first way is to actually start on a really huge canvas, repeat the exercise to create your perspective guidelines, and then paint within the large canvas. From there, you can cut the canvas down to the right picture plane after you’re done your painting.

The other option is to create guide lines outside of the canvas in the first place. Most graphical programs will give you a generated grid whereby you can judge where the points are.

Another possible option, the one I like to use the most, is to do exactly what we’ve done so far, and then transform the scale of the layer with the guide lines.

Basically, there are many ways to do it. Find out what your program is capable of and what you’re comfortable with doing. Regardless, be motivated and have fun with it!

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