104 Chapter 5
Three-Point Perspective.
Three-point perspective is a development of two-point perspective and is usually used for buildings seen
from above or below. Like two-point perspective it has two vanishing points somewhere on the horizon
and a third somewhere above or below the horizon line toward which the verticals converge (Figure
5.30). This means that the object is either tilted to the picture plane or the spectator’s central axis of vi-
sion is inclined upward or downward and the picture plane is tilted. Three-point perspectives usually in-
dicate that the spectator is very close to the object or that the object is very large. It is best used for draw-
ing tall objects such as buildings, although this form of perspective is not widely used in architectural
presentations. Its best use may be to show a particular viewpoint of a tall object such as a skyscraper.
This type of drawing is sometimes called an oblique perspective drawing, as the vertical lines are drawn
to the third vanishing point not located on the horizon line.
Four-, five-, and six-point perspective drawings are more complex and challenging and require con-
siderable understanding and skill to execute.
In general, most designers create drawings with a vanishing point far below the horizon so that the
depth added to the verticals is only slight. In many cases the vanishing point isn’t even on the paper.
Learning how to apply vertical perspective will make your drawings more and more realistic.
Figure 5.25A A. Illustration of an interior using normal-view one-point perspective.