2D Toolkit - Digital Perspective Grids

 

2D Toolkit - Digital Perspective Grids

In this session, we went through the process of creating perspective grids, in an industry standard software - Adobe Photoshop.

 For this, we start by creating a new file. After we select the template, we then extend the canvas, and change the extensions colour (This is so we can easily see our vanishing points.) We also add margins using the rulers, to create the lines our vanishing points will sit on.

After this, we then create our measurements on the grid by selecting the polygon tool, and changing the settings. We change the number of faces (the more faces the more measurements) to something high, and then we change the star ratio to 1%, and turn on the from centre option. After this, we change the fill colour (For the sake of seeing what line comes from where I made them different) and removed the outline. Using this, we now have two vanishing points and the measurements required for a two-point perspective grid.

If we want to change it to three-point perspective, then we just add an additional polygon shape somewhere to create that third vanishing point.

This is something I drew within the grid to show off how it works, and how it can be used to draw digitally using the same principles of drawing traditionally within perspective grids.

The next perspective grid was for drawing things that are equidistant from each other. (e.g. drawing fenceposts, streetlamps etc.). This grid uses the law of diminution to work out how far those objects would be away from each other whilst maintaining the same distance. We start this using the same margins as our other grid, and drawing two lines, one above the central vanishing point line, and one below it.

After this, we use a vanishing point somewhere along the margin on the side the lines originate from. We then begin constructing the boxes the same way we do traditionally. Drawing from the vanishing point to the bottom line, creating another line that passes through that one we just made, and doing this repeatedly.

Eventually we end up with something like this, with boxes and measurements in a perspective grid that are an equal distance away from each other.

I plan to use this when drawing cityscapes and other urban/manmade environments in perspective, as this is an accurate way to construct different features, such as the ones previously mentioned, but also things like windows on buildings etc.