Last update: Sept. 19, 2003

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Publications on (technical) Drawing in Perspective :

• Linear Perspective: Its history, directions for construction, and aspects in the environment and in the fine arts, by Willy A. Bärtschi, 1981.
• Drawing, a creative process, by Francis D.K. Chin, 1990.
• Introduction to Architectural Presentation Graphics, 1998, A.W. Griffin & V. Alvarez-Brunicardi.

BibTeX references.

Some web links of interest:

The Art Studio Chalkboard - Drawing

• Focuses on the technical fundamentals of (linear) perspective.
  http://www2.evansville.edu/studiochalkboard/draw.html

The Art of Renaissance Science: Galileo and Perspective

• ToC: http://www.crs4.it/Ars/arshtml/arstoc.html

  Chapter on "From Human Architecture to Architectural Structure" explains the origin of (linear) perspective as an art and science during the Italian Renaissance epoch.
  	Boromini's collonade in Rome.

   

  Theory, History and Practice of Perspective directed by Tomás García-Salgado

  • http://perspectivegeometry.com/

   

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  Linear Perspective: Its history, directions for construction, and aspects in the environment and in the fine arts

  by Willy A. Bärtschi
  1981.

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  Drawing, a creative process

  Francis D.K. Ching
  1990

  

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  Introduction to Architectural Presentation Graphics

  Anthony W. Griffin & Victor Alvarez-Brunicardi
  Prentice Hall, 1998. 326 pages.

  Notes

  Ch.6 Two-Point Perspectives

  

  

  Picture Plane (image plane)

  • Imaginary transparent plane onto which the object is being projected.
  • Any part of an object that "touches" the picture plane will be to scale; hence:
    • It is always to one's advantage to locate the picture plane such that is passes through a corner of the object being drawn.
    • Gives you a true height-line, from which all vertical heights can be measured.

  Direct Line of Vision (principal line)

  • Imaginary line from the Station Point to the Picture plane (perpendicularly).
  • It should be located so as to intersect with some point of interest on the building.

  Station Point (Camera Station)

  • If the station point is too close to the picture plane, the perspective view becomes overly "distorted"; to prevent this, use the "cone of vision".

  Cone of Vision

  • Station Point as vertex. Opening angle usually varies between 30 and 60 degrees.
  • Most of the object of interest should be within the cone to avoid distortions.
  • 3D cone: not only width and depth, but also height of the object of interest should fall within this cone.

  Sight Rays

  • Used to project points from the plan to the picture plane and then down to the perspective.
  • They must always originate from the Station Point.

  Plan View (Floor Plane)

  • This is a floor plane drawn to scale, viewed from above (aerial viewpoint), upon which are plotted points.
  • It can be plotted above or below the actual perspective view.

  Plan Angle (azimuth)

  • Angle between the floor plan and picture plan.
  • This angle determines the emphasis put on each primary sides of the object.

  Ground Line

  • Intersection of the Ground Plane and the Picture Plane.
  • All vertical measurements are taken from the Ground Line.

  Horizon Line

  • Line formed by the intersection of the Horizon Plane and the Picture Plane.
  • The height of the horizon line corresponds to the eye-level height of the observer.
  • The location of the horizon line determines whether you will be looking down or up to the object being drawn.

  True-Height Line

  • Occurs whenever a part of the object touches the picture plane.
  • True-Height Lines can be located at any point in the perspective view simply by projecting a point from the plan to the picture plane (central projection w/r to the Station Point). A perpendicular is then projected from the picture plane down to the Ground Line.

  

  

  

  Ch.7 One-Point Perspectives

  • Plan Angle is always parallel to the picture plane.
  • Objects that touches and are parallel to the picture plane are drawn in a simple orthographic view.

  Ch.8 Alternate Perspective-Plotting Methods

  Perspective Charts

  • Use a pre-defined perspective grid and a vertical unit scale (that scale can always be re-adjusted through multiples).
  • Each chart is identified with an angle value representing the plan position of the object in relation to the picture plane.
  • Most commercially available charts come in:
    • 3 plan angle configurations: 30°/60°, 45° & 0° (the latter corresponds to a 1PtP).
    • 3 view types:
      • normal (distance of 5 to 6 feet between the Horizon and Ground Lines)
      • intermediate (taken from a height of 10 to 15 feet for producing 2nd-floor views).
      • bird's eye view (large height)

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  Photographic Perspective

  • Uses photos or videos of existing buildings.
  • Additions and/or renovations can be drawn using VPs within the photograph.
  • Use a measuring device (tape, rope, ...) to provide accurate scale info. in the photo.

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  Page created & maintained by Frederic Leymarie, 1998-2003
  Comments, suggestions, etc., mail to: leymarie@lems.brown.edu