One, two or three points?
- One-point perspective: one vanishing point on the horizon. Lines going away from you meet there; lines facing you stay horizontal and vertical. Roads, hallways, rooms seen from the front.
- Two-point perspective: two vanishing points on the horizon. Used for objects seen from a corner, like the outside of a building or a box.
- Three-point perspective: a third vanishing point above or below for tall buildings and dramatic views; vertical lines lean toward it.
How to use the grid
The horizon line is at the viewer's eye level: raise it for a view from above, lower it for a worm's-eye view. Draw your object's front edge, then follow the grid lines toward the vanishing points for the sides. Put a sheet of paper over the printed grid on a light box or window to keep your final drawing clean.
For 3D drawings without vanishing points, use isometric paper.
Printing tips
- Print at 100% (Actual size), not Fit to page, so squares and line spacing keep their exact size.
- Light lines (gray or light blue) are easy to write over and fade into the background of a scan or photo; use darker lines for drawing practice or when the paper will be photocopied.
- Need a stack? Set the number of pages and print the PDF once, or print one page and photocopy it.
- Thicker paper (24 to 32 lb or 90 to 120 gsm) takes ink pens and markers without bleeding through.