&KDSWHU
11-2
Draw Three-Dimensional Figures
Objective To interpret and create isometric drawings • To interpret and create
orthographic drawings
Computer game designers often use drawings
to help them design game figures. How can a
three-dimensional figure be represented by a
two-dimensional drawing?
To represent a three-dimensional figure by a
two-dimensional drawing, you can use isometric
and orthographic drawings.
An is a pictorial view created
on an isometric dot grid of a three-dimensional
figure. It is made by three types of lines:
- vertical lines
- 30° lines going to the right
- 30° lines going to the left
The drawing at the right shows an isometric drawing
of a cube. The 90º angles in the faces of the cube are
drawn as 120º and 60º angles.
Do you see a regular hexagon in the drawing?
An isometric drawing of a cube is a regular hexagon,
but you imagine a cube when you look at it!
When making an isometric drawing, it is helpful to
refer to a model. To draw a prism, first use cubes to
build a 5 2 2 rectangular prism. Have the prism
rest on a 5 2 face. Turn the prism so you are looking
at one of the vertical edges.
Now follow the steps below. Each step is associated with
a number in the drawing.
Draw a 2-unit vertical line segment for the height.
From the bottom of the vertical line segment, draw
a 30º line segment to the right that is 5 units long.
From the bottom of the vertical line segment, draw
a 30º line segment to the left that is 2 units wide.
From the endpoints of the connected line segments,
draw two vertical line segments, each 2 units tall.
Connect the endpoints of the vertical line segments.
Draw the length and width parallel to the length
and width you drew in step 5.
isometric drawing
VLGH
WRS
IURQW
120°
30° 30°
60°
isometric drawing