Illustrator Advanced: 3D and Perspective

Objectives

General objectives

  • Use Illustrator’s 3D effects
  • Create and edit drawings in perspective

Specific objectives

  • Add and modify extrude, bevel, revolve, and rotate effects
  • Create 3d drawings using the perspective grid
  • Use the perspective selection tool

Outline

Example Hook

Search google images for “Illustrator 3d effects” and “Illustrator perspective” Look at what others are doing with these tools for inspiration and excitement.

Example Activities

Just play around with the 3D tools

Create a new file, put some shapes in it, and apply 3D effects to them (either using the effects menu or the appearance panel). Double-click on the effect in the appearance panel to edit its settings.

Once you’ve created an effect you like, you can select Object > Expand appearance to break it into individual shapes that can be ungrouped and edited manually (doing so makes it no longer editable as an effect).

Create a 3D vase or goblet

Have students work on their own to create 3d shapes as they like. Offer help as needed.

Create shapes in perspective

Here are some simple definitions you will need to know:

  • Horizon Line—this is the level of the earth that you see in a far off distance
  • Ground Level—this is where you would be standing
  • Left/Right Plane—these are the sides that lead off into the vanishing points
  • Vanishing Point—most important point. Is where things head to and disappear off into the horizon

Click on your perspective grid tool. The grid will appear. (alternately, make the perspective grid visible from the view menu, which is also where you can set it to one, two, or three-point perspective).

The little cube up in the lefthand corner is called the Perspective Widget. The colored side of the box is the one you are currently selected on, and you can move between them simply by clicking. You can also move between them by clicking 1,2, 3, and 4. 4 brings you to a regular rectangle that isn’t attached to your Perspective Grid Tool.

Grab your Rectangle Tool, make sure you’re snapped onto the blue side of the box in your Perspective Widget, create a rectangle, and see what happens. The rectangle will “snap” or “fit” to the side of the perspective you are selected on. Next, click to the orange side of the box in your Perspective Widget and create a slightly darker rectangle in the same shade as your previous rectangle. Now you will have a fantastic 3D box, with little effort.

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  1. To continue growing your building taller, simply grab the handle at the top of your Perspective Grid Tool (using your Selection Tool) and drag it upwards as far as you please.

 

 

If you like, you can create more levels and move them behind the bottom levels.

 

If you want to put windows onto the side of the building, you can draw simple rectangles; or, if you want to create more complex windows, turn off the grid or hit 4 to draw outside of it. Create a window and make it a group. Then, reactivate the perspective grid (whichever side you like) and use the perspective selection tool to drag the window to where you want it. The perspective will be applied to it. Resize it if you need to, then create copies of it by holding Alt while dragging it. If you want to repeat at, select Object > Transform > Transform again (or Ctrl/Cmd + D)

Turn off your perspective tool and admire your cool building!

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The perspective grid isn’t anything physical, it’s just a guide. Under your View menu at the top, select Perspective Grid, and then you can select one, two, or three point perspectives, or Define Grid, which gives you a lot more control over what grid you’re using. Keep in mind that you can drag around the grid after you’ve started working on it, but the objects you’ve already drawn in perspective won’t move with it.