How to Make a Three-Dimensional Drawing in Illustrator

Use a low horizon line to create the effect of looking up at a 3D object.

To draw three-dimensional objects in Illustrator, use the Perspective Grid to first determine where the vanishing points of your drawing will be. Drawing a three-dimensional object the first time, use a basic shape like a box or building to get a feel for how the grid works and the results you can achieve with it. You can then progress to more complicated shapes. You have three choices in how many vanishing points will be in the drawing -- from one to three -- which you can find by clicking on "Perspective Grid" in the "View" menu.

Instructions

Creating Perspective

1. Create a new document in Illustrator. Press "Shift-P" on the keyboard to activate the Perspective Grid. A three-dimensional grid appears. Click the "Zoom" menu and zoom out to 50 percent to see the entire grid. This grid has two vanishing points, on the left and the right of the document. Vanishing points do not need to be confined to the borders of a document.

2. Move the vanishing points by clicking the circle widgets on the left or right of the grid, and dragging them to a new location.

3. Adjust the ground line and horizon line as needed by clicking the diamond widgets at the far end of each line. Drag the widgets up or down to adjust the perspective of the grid. The lower the horizon line is, the more it appears like you are looking up at the object.

4. Adjust the height of the grid by clicking the diamond widget at the top of the grid. Drag it up or down to make the grid higher or lower.

5. Adjust the left, right, or ground panes of the grid by clicking on the three circle widgets at the bottom center of the grid. The left circle controls the right pane and the right circle controls the left pane, while the bottom circle controls the ground pane.

6. Increase the number of lines in the grid for a more detailed drawing by dragging the diamond widget located in the middle of the ground pane upwards. Drag it downward to reduce the number of lines in the grid.

7. Click the "View" menu, then "Perspective," then "Define Perspective Grid." A new panel opens. Make the grid more translucent by reducing the Opacity setting to "30" percent.

Placing Objects Over Perspective Grid

1. Click the Left Pane Widget to select the left pane. Select the "Rectangle Tool" in the Toolbox and draw a rectangle on the left pane. The rectangle will take the shape of the grid, automatically being drawn in perspective.

2. Click the Right Pane Widget to select the right pane. Draw another rectangle over the right pane, lining it up with the first rectangle so their sides are joined. The drawing appears to be in three dimensions, as if you were looking at the corner of a box, or the corner of a building.

3. Draw a smaller rectangle on the right pane, like a window on a building. It snaps to the perspective grid as well.

4. Draw additional features to the building or add additional buildings to complete your three-dimensional drawing.

References

• Adobe TV: Learn Illustrator CS5: Defining Perspective Grids
• Adobe Help: Adobe Illustrator CS5: About Perspective Grid
• Adobe; Inside Adobe Illustrator: Drawing in Perspective Using AiCS5; May 2010