One-point drawing perspective drawing is the type of technical or engineering drawing produced from linear perspective projection in which a set of construction rules are used to ensure that the lines of sight or projectors diverge away from their point of convergence (or vanishing point) as they approach an object’s plane of projection; but the same projectors (or imaginary lines or lines of sight) converge/meet at only one vanishing point. As a result, any one-point perspective drawing consists of only one vanishing point.
In one-point perspective drawing, the drawn object is oriented in such a way that two sets of the object’s principal edges are parallel to plane of the drawing (i.e., any imaginary flat surface parallel to the plane of the drawing) and a third set of principal edges is at right angle (i.e., perpendicular) to the plane of the drawing.
But the third set which is at right angle to the plane of the drawing also consists of parallel lines that would converge at a single vanishing point in perspective. Figure 1 shows an object drawn with one of its faces parallel to the plane of the drawing which is also known as the picture plane (PP) of the object. Depending on the type of drawing that needs to be produced, the chosen face can be placed perpendicular or at right angle to the plane of the drawing (PP), instead of being parallel to it.
Figure 1: One-point perspective drawing
As indicated by some of the straight blue construction lines that run from the lower to the upper part of the drawing, as shown in Figure 1, the piercing points of eight main edges (of the drawn object) perpendicular to the picture plane (PP) are located by extending them to PP and thereafter projecting them downward to the level of the lines projected over from the elevation view.
To locate the vanishing point (VPR) of the lines, draw an imaginary line of sight or visual ray from the station point (SP) and make it parallel to the lines. The center of vision (CV) is the location of the vanishing point of all lines that are perpendicular to the picture plane (PP). The eight piercing points of the drawn object can be easily connected with the vanishing point (also known as “the center of vision”) in order to locate or find the focal point or directions for the perspective lines of the eight edges.
Horizontal lines have to be constructed from the endpoints of one of the drawn object’s edges in the top view and at any chosen angle (for example, 45°) in order to construct the actual lengths of the edges of the object along the perspective lines.
Steps for creating one-point perspective drawings using the Plan View Method
In the Plan View Method, the depth dimensions of the drawn object are defined or illustrated by projecting construction lines from the plan view (or top view) to an essential point called the station point. The following steps should be taken to create any one-point perspective drawing using the Plan View Method:
Step 1: First, construct or draw a thin long horizontal line across the center of the whole width of the drawing area or paper, and proceed to draw two other thin long horizontal lines across the width and somewhere around the upper and lower parts of the drawing area or paper. These lines are the locations of the picture plane (PP) near or around the top, the horizon line (HL) around the middle, and the ground line (GL) near or around the bottom of the drawing area to produce a view of the object from above. Each line should be labelled as shown in Figure 2.
Figure 2: Step 1
Step 2: Draw the top or plan view of the object on the PP (picture plane) line to create a perspective view that will as be as close to the full size of the object, as possible. Then proceed to draw the profile view or right side view near the right edge of the drawing area/paper, with the base of the right side view positioned on the GL (ground line). Set the location for the station point (SP) by constructing a distance that is beneath the PP and is two or three times the width of the object, and closer to the right of the center as shown in Figure 3.
Figure 3: Step 2
Step 3: Project the width of the object’s top or plan view vertically downward to the GL (ground line) in order to construct or draw the front face of the one-point perspective drawing or view. Then, project the height dimensions of the object from the right side view horizontally across the drawing area. Since the object’s front plane is parallel to the picture plane (PP), its true size can be drawn with the aid of the width dimensions projected from the plan view. Construct a vertical line from the SP (station point) upwards to the HL (horizon line) to define and set up the position of the vanishing point (VP) as shown in Figure 4.
Figure 4: Step 3
Step 4: To define and position the object’s depth distance(s) in the perspective view, go to the plan view and project all the object’s rear or back corners to the SP (station point). Notice the points where the projectors from the rear corners cross the PP (picture plane). Drop vertical lines downward from those points to the GL (ground line). Move to the front view and draw lines from the object’s corners to the VP (vanishing point) on the HL (horizon line). The front view forms part of the one-point perspective drawing as shown in Figure 5.
Figure 5: Step 4
Step 5: The depth points for any completed one-point perspective drawing is defined and positioned with the help of the intersections formed when vertical projectors from the PP (picture plane) line intersect with projectors from the front view to the VP (vanishing point). As illustrated in Figures 6 and 7, draw a line between points A and B, B and C, C and D, and D and E, to produce the rear or back plane of the object which can be clearly seen.
Figure 6: Step 5
Figure 7: Completed one-point perspective drawing
To complete the one-point perspective drawing of the object as shown in Figure 7 above, draw lines from the front corners to the back corners of the object along the projectors to the VP (vanishing point). It may be important to note that in perspective drawing, dash lines do not have to be included for hidden features, except to enhance visualization.
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