Perspectives - Game Artist Toolkit

In this blog post, I will talk about what I have learned about perspectives, what they are, what is the different terminology and drawing shapes in linear perspective.

Basic Terminology

In perspective, we have 3 axes (X, Y, Z).

X = Width, Y = Height, Z = Depth.

Linear perspective is a technique using an oriented space to create the illusion of 3 Dimensional objects.

The Horizon Line in perspective is the line that dictates where the ground and sky separate. This can also represent the eye level of the viewer.

Anything drawn over the horizon line will be viewed from below, meaning you can see under the object. Anything drawn below the horizon line will be viewed from above, meaning you can see the top of the object.

The higher the horizon line, the higher the camera/eye level. The lower the horizon line, the lower the camera/eye level.

The Vanishing Point is the point on the horizon where a specific axis converges. This is a key to creating the 3D illusion.

Orthogonal Lines are guide lines from the vanishing point which helps create a 3D space.

Diminution is the concept of objects appearing smaller the further away they are.

Primitives are shapes in which you can use to refine and create details.

2D Primitives include: Squares, circles, triangles.

3D Primitives include: Cubes, Spheres, Cylinders, Prisms.

Perspective Exercises

Here is a pdf attached with all of my perspective sketches using mostly 2 vanishing points to create cubes, chairs, extrusions and translation.

I have also attempted to create a rocking chair with 1 vanishing point as a challenge as I would like to include a rocking chair in my project.

I struggled a lot with these exercises and think I could use a lot more practise as well as try create a building and bricks in perspective. I will definitely keep trying until I understand it thoroughly. The part I found the easiest was drawing the cube in 3D, it took me some time to understand how to do it, but once I understood, I could draw one easily and quickly. The bit I struggled with the most was scaling in perspective, I didn't completely understand it but I slowly followed the step by step process and eventually figured it out, however I definitely need more practise on it.

I have not yet gotten around to rotation in perspective as it took me a little longer to get my head around this first. Once I get the hang of scaling, I will update this blog post with my attempts at rotation. 

I will also showcase videos of how I complete these drawings to look back on as references and to show the process.