Perspective Practices
Introduction
As ethereal as perspective drawing may seem, there are some standard
practices that help you construct believable perspective drawings.
Mechanical
Two basic systems are used in the mechanical construction of accurate
construction of
perspective drawings: the plan-view method and the measuring-line method.
perspective
drawings
Many illustrators use a combination of both systems when using mechanical
means to produce drawings in perspective.
Plan-view
The plan-view method of constructing one-point perspective drawings
method in one-
requires that you have copies of orthographic projection drawings drawn to
point
scale.
perspective
To construct perspective drawings from a plan view, use this table:
Step
1
Action
Establish an arbitrary horizon line (HL) depending on the eye level
you wish to portray (figure 5-15, view A).
2
Locate the picture plane (PP) so that it does not interfere with the
drawing. Remember that the picture plane may be the same as the
horizon line.
3
Draw the plan view. You may draw the plan view above or below
the picture plane, but it is easier to draw it resting on top of the
picture plane.
4
Draw the ground line (GL) in an arbitrary location below and
parallel to the picture plane (figure 5-15, view B).
5
Locate the station point (SP) not less than twice the width of the
object (obtained from the plan view) and directly in front of or to
one side of the plan view. You may also place the SP two or three
times the object’s greatest length from the nearest point of the plan
view but if placed any closer, distortion of the perspective will
result.
6
Project the width of the plan view to the ground line.
Continued on next page
5-17
