Characteristics of a Good Perspective

The least distortion will be directly in front of the viewer or

sight point. This will be the focus of your perspective.

Characteristics of a Good Perspective

It is usually best to have at least one vanishing point off of the
paper. If both vanishing points are on the paper you will have
more distortion.

Characteristics of a Good Perspective

Move your sight point (viewer) far enough back from the focus
to see most of the interior space.

Characteristics of a Good Perspective

Your sight point (viewer) must be
inside the space. The viewer cannot
be on the other side of a wall or at a
horizon level that would be
impossible to attain within the
illustrated space. If this done, it
gives the client a false impression of
the interior space. In most cases, it
makes the space seem much larger
than it is.

Characteristics of a Good Perspective

The common interior horizon line is 5 but you could have a
higher horizon line if you were in a balcony looking down into
the space. Or, you could have a lower horizon if you wanted to
portray the room as seen at a lower vantage point, such as
from a wheel chair.

Characteristics of a Good Perspective

Your perspective is much more appealing if you include 3 walls
or some sort of an indication of a third wall. This could be a
piece of furniture that is placed perpendicular to one of the
walls or possibly a plant.

Characteristics of a Good Perspective

The perspective should include most of the furnishings relating
to the purpose of the room. For example, a perspective of a
living room must include most, if not all, of the furniture in the
conversation area.

Characteristics of a Good Perspective

Perspectives are always more meaningful if they include
people. You can trace people from entourage books, but they
must look like they belong in the space.
place the eyes of all adult
figures on the 5 horizon line
children would, of course, be
below the horizon line
male figures are 7 heads high
a 6 tall male would have his
chin on the horizon line
female figures are often drawn
shorter with their eyes on the
horizon line

Characteristics of a Good Perspective

Characteristics of a Good Perspective

A good perspective includes accessories to make the space
appear realistic.

Characteristics of a Good Perspective

Draw an indication of the exterior as seen through windows to
enhance realism.

Characteristics of a Good Perspective

This drawing is a selling tool. It must give the client as much
information about the space as possible. Drawing one table
with one chair in a restaurant and then telling the client to
imagine 20 tables with 80 chairs just like the one you drew will
not sell the design.

Characteristics of a Good Perspective

Include background, middle-ground, and foreground. Overlap
furniture for depth.

Characteristics of a Good Perspective

Consider the design of the space above the horizon line.
Extend furnishings, accessories, plants, etc. above 3-5 level.

Lockard: Direct Perspective Method

Spatial Interest

partially revealed spaces & overlapping creates spatial interest

profile lines used to accentuate the overlap of furniture & spaces

Principles of Perspective

Principles of Perspective

Principles of Perspective

Principles of Perspective

1-point perspective assumes the viewers line of sight

is level and axially aligned with the space or object
being drawn.

Principles of Perspective

2-point perspective assumes the viewers line of sight is held

level but free to turn at any angular relationship to the space or
object being drawn.

Principles of Perspective

3-point perspective assumes the viewers line of sight is tipped

upward or downward, resulting in a third vanishing point above
or below eyelevel

Direct Perspective Method

direct perspective method employs two vertical planes to

measure the width and depth of the space or object
it requires the approximate dimensions and the selfconfidence to guess an initial 10 square

Direct Perspective Method: diagonals

diagonals can be used geometrically to extend or subdivide any

rectangular unit

Direct Perspective Method: diagonals

2 ways of using diagonals for extension

1: finding a VP for diagonals on the vanishing line (VL)
for the plane in which they lie

Direct Perspective Method: diagonals

2 ways of using diagonals for extension:

2: by using diagonals through the bisectors of
successive 10 squares.
best done in 5 increments so that all the spatial units remain square and all the
diagonals are 45

Direct Perspective Method: width plane

the width plane is a vertical plane across the spaceback wall

usually the most interesting wall of an interior space

Direct Perspective Method: width plane

measuring is done by first guessing a 10 square standing in the

plane and then extending and subdividing the space along the width
plane using diagonals
widths needed in front of or behind the width plane must also be
measured off on the width plane and then pulled forward from, or
pushed backward toward the near VP

Direct Perspective Method: depth plane

the depth plane is a vertical plane placed along the side of a space as
a way of measuring the depth and heights
the plane should be placed along the most distant side wall to allow for
a more accurate measurement of depth

Direct Perspective Method: depth plane

measuring is done by first guessing a 10 square in the plane, and then

extending and subdividing the space along the depth plane using
diagonals
depth needed at other places in the perspective must all be measured
off along the depth plane and then pulled out into the space from the
far VP

Laying Out the Direct Perspective

draw a Horizon Line (HL) at 5

choose the most interesting wall - back wall
choose the next most interesting wall - side wall
place the corner so the back wall will extend across the back of the
drawing
this corner will be called the Wide Side Limit (WSL)

Laying Out the Direct Perspective

extend the line for the WSL equal distance above and below the HL
10 high
extend 2 lines from the WSL toward the Far Vanishing Point which is
located off the paper (FVP)
divide this plane into 5 increments by diagonal divisionthis is called
the Width Plane
place a Near Vanishing Point (NVP) within the first 10 square from the
WSL
the opposite corner is called the Hinge

Laying Out the Direct Perspective

guess a 10 square in the plane coming out from the Hinge

divide this plane into 5 increments by diagonal division
this plane is called the Depth Plane
floor grid can be made by pulling depth lines across the floor and
extending to the FVP

Laying Out the Direct Perspective

footprints of furniture and architectural elements can then be

placed

Laying Out the Direct Perspective

corners of the various footprints are pulled up vertically

vertical dimensions can be easily determined because it is always 5
from any point on the floor to the HL and that distance is easily
subdivided or extended to the height needed

Laying Out the Direct Perspective

the HL or ceiling line can be changed by moving the floor or

ceiling line to the desired height on the grid

Laying Out the Direct Perspective

Step 1

draw Horizon Line (HL) at 5

extend a line equal distance above the HLthis line is now 10 high
and the Wide Side Limit (WSL)
extend lines from the top and bottom of the WSL to a selected Far
Vanishing Point (FVP) off of your paper
these lines should be almost parallelconverging slightly to the FVP

Laying Out the Direct Perspective

Step 2

this is the width plane

guess a 10 square on the width plane (back wall )from the WSL
use diagonal division to extend the wall to or passed the desired
width of the back wall

Laying Out the Direct Perspective

Step 3

place a line at the far corner of the back wallthis is the hinge
place the Near Vanishing Point (NVP) within the first 10 square, no
more than 5 from the WSL

Laying Out the Direct Perspective

Step 4

create the side wall (depth plane) by extending lines from the NVP
through the top and bottom of the hinge
guess a 10 square in the depth plane extending from the hinge
use diagonal division to extend the wall to or passed the desired length

Laying Out the Direct Perspective

Step 5

establish the third wall by extending lines from the NVP through the top
and bottom of the WSL

Laying Out the Direct Perspective

Step 6

divide the back wall (width plane) and side wall (depth plane) into 1
incrementsextend lines from floor to ceiling on back and side wall
extend the 1 increment lines across the floor to meet the third wall
these lines go to the FVP
extend these lines up the third wall

Laying Out the Direct Perspective

Step 7

divide the WSL line into 1 incrementsextend these lines to the hinge
through the FVP
to complete the grid on the floor and walls, extend lines from the NVP
to the points where the 1 increment lines touch the floor and corner
lines
ceiling grid can be constructed the same as the floor grid

Laying Out the Direct Perspective

ASSIGNMENT #7A
IN CLASS:
create a grid for a direct perspective
drawing of the living room in your
SketchUp modeluse this model as
your guide

HOMEWORK:
if necessary, collect magazine images
of all the items used in the space
furniture & accessoriesand bring them
with you to class next week
these images or the fleshed out
SketchUp model are CRUCIAL to
helping you to visualize what is
happening in the space while you learn
how to build a direct perspective drawing
44

Laying Out the Direct Perspective

Step 8

find the footprints of furniture and architectural features

corners of the various footprints are pulled up vertically
vertical dimensions can be easily determined because it is always 5 from any point
on the floor to the HL and that distance is easily subdivided or extended to the height
needed

Laying Out the Direct Perspective

Step 8

draw cubes for all furniture as done in the previous method

draw furniture within the cubes
refine drawing

Sources
Lockard, William Kirby, Design Drawing Experiences,
Pepper Publishing,Tucson, Arizona, 1987.