How to Use Perspective in Illustrator

Create realistic perspective in your artwork using Illustrator's Perspective Grid.

Adobe Illustrator CS5 allows you to create realistic perspectives using the Perspective Grid. Once you have set up the grid, your artwork automatically snaps to the grid layout. You can select how many vanishing points your grid has by using a one-point, two-point or three-point grid. The default setting is a two-point grid with vanishing points on the left and right. The grid is divided into three colors: the left plane is blue, the right plane is red and the bottom plane is green. Adjust the ground pane by moving the ground line; adjust the other two panes by moving the horizon line.

Instructions

1. Open Illustrator and create a new document. Open the Perspective Grid by either pressing "Shift" and "P" at the same time on the keyboard, clicking on "Perspective Grid" in the Tool Panel, or clicking the "View" menu, then "Perspective Grid," then "Show Grid." This opens the default two-point grid. You can also select a one- or three-point grid from the Perspective Grid option in the View menu.

2. Click the "Zoom" menu at the bottom of the window and zoom out to see the entire grid, if needed. The grid often extends beyond the edges of the document.

3. Adjust the horizon line by dragging the diamond-shaped widgets on the right or left of the horizon line. Dragging them up gives the image a higher perspective, while dragging them down creates a lower perspective. Adjust the ground line in the same way. These widgets are located below the horizon line widgets.

4. Adjust the vanishing points by dragging the circle-shaped widgets on the left and right of the grid as needed.

5. Locate three circles with dots at the center bottom of the grid. Drag the left dot to move the right plane; drag the right dot to move the left plane; drag the top circle to move the ground plane.

6. Click the diamond-shaped widget located in the center of the ground plane to increase or decrease the number of lines in the grid. Dragging it up increases the number of lines, while dragging down decreases the number.

7. Reduce the opacity of the grid by clicking on the "View" menu. Select "Perspective" and click "Define Perspective Grid." Change the opacity as needed by clicking on the "Opacity" menu.

8. Save the grid for future projects by clicking on the "View" menu. Select "Perspective," then click "Save Grid as Preset." Once saved, it is visible in this same drop-down menu. You can also hide the grid, or lock it from future changes from this same menu.

9. Begin drawing artwork on the document. As you create a new object, it automatically snaps to the Perspective Grid.

References

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