How to Draw Prisms

Knowing the shapes that comprise a prism makes drawing one simple.

A prism is a solid figure in which the top and bottom bases are the same shape, and all other shapes are rectangles. For example, a rectangular prism will have rectangles as both its base and face. All other shapes within a rectangular prism are also rectangles, but they may vary in size. Triangles make up the base and face in a triangular prism, while all other sides are rectangles. Drawing a prism can be simplified by drawing the base and face, and then connecting the two by adding the appropriate rectangles.

Things You'll Need

• Paper
• Pencil
• Ruler

Instructions

1. Draw a rectangle on the lower third of a piece of paper. Use a pencil and a ruler to make your lines straight and even. You can size the rectangle as you like.

2. Draw a second rectangle higher up and to the left of the original, such that the lower-right corner of your second triangle lies in the middle of your first. Make it the same size as your first rectangle.

3. Make your connecting rectangles by drawing straight lines to connect the corners of your two rectangles. Connect the lower-right corner of your first triangle to the lower-right corner of your second. Connect the upper-right corner of your first triangle to the upper-right corner of your second, and so on.

4. Refine your prism by erasing the back lower horizontal line, the right lower horizontal line and the right back vertical line if desired. This will enhance the 3D look of your prism.

5. Draw a triangular prism by drawing two triangles, the second with its lower-right corner in the center of the first. Connect the two triangles with rectangles by connecting the two lower-left corners with a line, the two lower-right corners with a line and the top corners with a line.

References

• Learner: 3D Shapes, Prisms