Want to draw with impact and depth? Discover how to use “killer perspective” by placing vanishing points close and low, creating powerful, eye-level views. Learn tricks used by top designers and photographers to make your sketches stand out. Ready to master perspective? Begin your journey now!
Secrets of Killer Perspective

A thorough understanding of perspective is indispensable for a solid foundation in drawing. Remember:

A. Distort Reality with Perspective to Communicate your Ideas

Perspective establishes a 3D image, representing volume in space by simulating the way a human eye sees. As with a camera, perspective can be manipulated or skewed to distort reality. This is a trick that photographers and designers use to highlight a specific subject.


B. Everything is a Question of Viewpoint

Regular perspective vs Distorted perspective

perspective-far
A- REGULAT PERSPECTIVE:
The vanishing points are higher up in the image and distant from the subject. The scene is neutral and appears descriptive.


perspective-closed
B- DISTORTED PERSPECTIVE:
The vanishing points are close up and low in the image. The same simple cube now appears more imposing. It is this effect that we’ll aim for in strong designs.


The Secret of a Killer Perspective in 3 steps

Puma-sneakers-high-tongue-ankle-strap-Chou-Tac-Chung2 feat
STEP 1

Instead of drawing something the way you see it posed on a table, place it or imagine it straight in front of your eyes.

STEP 2

If necessary, skew the perspective so that neither the top nor the bottom sides of the object can be seen. Focus on the “body” of the object.

STEP 3

A 2/3 perspective is often the best profile to use. It generally covers the maximum information of both the face and sides of an object.

Puma-sneakers-high-tongue-ankle-strap-Chou-Tac-ChungChou-Tac Chung – Puma High tongue ankle strap sneaker

The shoe seems gigantic, but also remains light.
The perspective used in this shoe design is similar to that of the previous “B” example image in which the vanishing points are close and low and the viewer appears to be facing the subject head-on.


Transportation designers currently use this effect.

According to you, which has the most impact and appeal, A or B?

citroendia03
AUDI_Q7

A – Citroën VISA or B – Audi Q7 TDI

B, of course.


Imagine yourself in front of that car. To attain that point of view, imagine kneeling on the ground and raising your eyes to stare at the headlights.
AUDI_Q7 perspective line

The blue line represents the height of your gaze, and becomes the horizon line. The top and bottom of the car are not visible.

This perspective is often used in luxury car advertisements.
The image of the car exudes a feeling of power and confidence, imposing a form of authority that seems to tell the viewer, “You don’t take care of this car; this car takes care of you.”


We’ll explore in further detail the rules of eye-level perspective, vanishing points, and fisheye perspective in a separate comprehensive tutorial.

If you enjoyed this article, let me know!


Master Perspective with Basic Tutorials

Learn Basic perspective to draw from imagination
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Boost your product design sketching skills by mastering the Y-axis. This tutorial shows how understanding X‑Y‑Z axes helps designers visualize …
How to draw a cube with 1-point perspective
Master the basics of 1-point perspective and how to draw cubes clearly and confidently. This relaxing, stroke-by-stroke video guide helps …
TIP 268 How to start drawing in perspective with this New drawing tool: The MICRODOT®
Starting perspective drawing can be intimidating. The MICRODOT® tool simplifies this by guiding you through isometric cube construction, boosting your …
How to draw a cube-2 point perspective design sketching
Struggling with drawing 3D cubes? This beginner-friendly guide breaks down 2-point perspective into clear, easy steps. Learn to create cubes …
TIP 251 Perspective Made Easy: How to Draw 3D Planes to Set Up Your Sketch
Struggling with perspective? Start your sketches by drawing simple 3D planes. This tutorial helps beginners set up perspective quickly and …

Chou-Tac

Hello! I'm Chou-Tac, a Product Designer from France.

If the sketching methods I’ve acquired aid me in my life and in my industrial design career, I believe that they can also help you reach your dream goal as a student or professional designer.

Leave a comment in the blog or send me an email at choutac@thedesignsketchbook.com : )

Chou-Tac

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2 comments

Leave a Reply to Mohiuddin Cancel reply

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  • Hi Chou Tac!!! Thanks a lot for your AMAZING work. I’m learning through your site, the Designer Starter Kit and ALL the Tips from the very beginning and I just only can say THANK YOU!!!! The world is for the GIVERS and not for THE TAKERS, and YOU are a SUPERLATIVE GIVER (and a stunning motivator). All the best, Pablo.

  • Sir,
    I would like yo know details about 3d show drawing with vanishing points.I hardly understand the perspective lines you stated above.

    Would you plz clear me again with another illustration as I am a shoe developer of puma shoes in a multinational shoe industry.

    Best regards
    Mohiuddin Choudhury
    Bangladesh

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  • Chou-Tac: “Sure you can find perspective tutorials in the designer starter kit with videos 🙂Nov 1, 21:59
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