How to Show Perspective When Drawing Anime

Getting things into perspective when drawing is one of the greatest challenges that an artist faces. Learning how to use cross-lines and vanishing points are a great help, but perspective never ceases to be tricky.

Things You'll Need

• Drawing pencil
• Ruler
• Protractor
• Drawing paper
• Pencil eraser

Instructions

Understanding Horizon

1. 

   Look at the image. The character is standing on the horizon. This scene is shot as if the imaginary camera is pointing at the character's feet. This is possible if the character is standing on the edge of a cliff, standing in front of a hole in the ground, or standing on the top of a slope, as the character in the image is.

2. 

   Look at the image.Now the horizon is not shown at all. The way that the road slants, it looks as if the imaginary camera is flying over the character, looking down at her.

3. 

   Look at the image.Now the horizon is shown above the character. Now the camera is held by a cameraman standing at the bottom of the hill.

4. Experiment with placing the horizon in different places to create different perspectives.

Different Sizes, Different Perspectives

1. 

   Look at the hallway. This simplified hallway has the roof ripped off.

2. 

   Look at the three girls. They are all the same height.

3. 

   To determine the height of each girl in proportion to distance, place each girl between the two top and bottom lines on the left.

4. 

   Move each girl to the right so that they are not embedded in the wall. This creates the illusion of distance.

One-point Vanishing Point

1. 

   Draw your horizon and your vanishing point. Draw your horizon high up on the page.

2. 

   Draw three different boxes to represent hallways at different angles.

3. 

   Connect the corners of each box to the vanishing point using lines.

4. Erase everything.

5. 

   Draw a horizon across the middle of the page. Place the vanishing point on the horizon.

6. 

   Draw boxes with the horizon line going through the middle.

7. 

   Connect the corners of each box to the vanishing point.

8. 

   Draw only one box with a line going through and a vanishing point in the center.

9. 

   Connect the opposite corners of the box with lines to form an X.

10. 

    Draw a box with each corner of the box touching a part of the X

11. 

    Erase the X that is within the smaller box.

12. 

    Add a character or object in the room.

Two-point Vanishing Point and How to Turn a Photo into a Drawing

1. 

   Find a picture that you want to turn into a drawing.

2. 

   Determine the two vanishing points by continuing the lines in the picture to see where the lines intersect.

3. 

   Continue extending the lines in the picture to the vanishing points. You will notice that all the lines eventually reach the vanishing point.

4. 

   At the end of each line extending away from the vanishing point, draw a line that extends to the ground. Draw other lines extending down to complete the buildings.

5. 

   Erase all unnecessary lines. Now you have the beginning of a drawn city.

Tips & Warnings

• Add details to your 3D drawings.