The last few days, I've been teaching myself how to do isometric views in 2D. I thought I'd start with something relatively easy, the Type 15 shuttlepod, and slowly work up to more complex shapes. It's not completely accurate, but that wasn't the point here. Personally, I'm loving the amount of information this conveys as compared to our standard 3-views. I just need to practice my shading techniques a little more. What do you think?
B.J.
Posted by The Mighty Monkey of Mim (Member # 646) on :
Very nice!
Posted by Axeman 3D (Member # 1050) on :
It's a damn fine start, no doubt about it, but I think you need to pick a couple of vanishing points for your perspective. Right now it looks like somethings wrong with the shuttle. It's almost like an Escher drawing, parts appear bigger as they get 'further away' because your using parallel lines instead of vanishing points. At least if I was drawing it in pencil that's how I'd do it.
Posted by Cartman (Member # 256) on :
"because your using parallel lines instead of vanishing points..."
Which is the point of an isometric projection.
Posted by Jason Abbadon (Member # 882) on :
Looks good so far but the aft roof (the topmost line in your drawing) is not quite in perspective when matched against the shuttle's nose. You wouldnt use the same vanishing point for the aft of the shuttle's roof as for it's nose: those would be close paralells but would use a second vanishing point (one located somewhere northwest of your drawing).
Aside from that small detail (and the fact that I hate hate shuttlepod design) it looks really great.
Posted by Reverend (Member # 335) on :
As Cartman pointed out, Isometric drawing doesn't include vanishing points. It's a purely technical way of drawing an object in three dimensions based on a set of three to six view schematics.
Posted by Jason Abbadon (Member # 882) on :
Well it still makes an otherwise nice illustration look odd!
Posted by Reverend (Member # 335) on :
It does indeed, but since it's essentially a technical drawing the focus in on accuracy, not aesthetics.
Posted by B.J. (Member # 858) on :
Thanks for backing me up, Reverend. Some of you guys really need to go look up the definition of "isometric". Incidentally, all those interior illustrations from the magazine and Fact Files (bridges, engineering, sick bay, etc.) are done the same way. I don't know if they're isometric or trimetric, but there's no vanishing points in those, either. Eventually I might try a perspective drawing, but I think it would be a lot easier just doing that by hand.
B.J.
Posted by machf (Member # 1233) on :
To put it simply, an isometric view, as well as a top/bottom/front/back/side view, is not a perspective drawing but a parallel projection, and their purpose is to establish the form and dimensions of the represented object.
Posted by StarCruiser (Member # 979) on :
quote:Originally posted by Axeman 3D: It's a damn fine start, no doubt about it, but I think you need to pick a couple of vanishing points for your perspective. Right now it looks like somethings wrong with the shuttle. It's almost like an Escher drawing, parts appear bigger as they get 'further away' because your using parallel lines instead of vanishing points. At least if I was drawing it in pencil that's how I'd do it.
Isometric projection is an "olde" illustration technique that does not use any form of perspective. Technically speaking, it's unrealistic, but is intended to be used for purely technical illustrations - as it does provide clarity in the shape/proportion of the object... Sorry for the long winded statement, but I was trained in "Technical Illustration" many moons ago and remember that quite well.
Posted by machf (Member # 1233) on :
Oh, and B.J., I'd suggest you also do the isometric of the opposite sides, to get the whole picture.
Posted by Jason Abbadon (Member # 882) on :
quote:Originally posted by B.J.: Eventually I might try a perspective drawing, but I think it would be a lot easier just doing that by hand.
B.J.
It'sa minor tweak if you decide to go perspective.
Posted by Masao (Member # 232) on :
That looks good. Just a bit of a darker shading on the underside of the hull. Also I'm not so sure I like the strong white line of the windows so much though.
Posted by Manticore (Member # 1227) on :
Something about that upper hull looks wrong...like the lines aren't parellel or something. It could just be that that's not how I'm used to looking at it I guess...
Posted by jesus X (Member # 1201) on :
To make a perspective drawing out of an isometric schematic, just invert the polarity, and then send a phased pulse though the main deflector and create a static warp shell. Simple!
Posted by TSN (Member # 31) on :
"Something about that upper hull looks wrong...like the lines aren't parellel or something."
No, your problem is that the lines are parallel, in the 2D plane of the image. It's because, as has been repeated over and over in an amazingly small space, this is not a perspective drawing. It's not supposed to look like it would really look if you had the object in front of you. It's supposed to look wrong.
Posted by Reverend (Member # 335) on :
quote:It'sa minor tweak if you decide to go perspective.
Actually adding two disappearing points would require realigning just about every single vector node this diagram has, not exactly a minor tweek.
quote:That looks good. Just a bit of a darker shading on the underside of the hull. Also I'm not so sure I like the strong white line of the windows so much though.
Agree. For the reflection I'd use a light or medium grey, something that doesn't contrast so harshly. One option is to loose the gradient in favour of a solid colour on a seperate object that you lay over the top of the black window. Like so...
quote:Something about that upper hull looks wrong...like the lines aren't parellel or something. It could just be that that's not how I'm used to looking at it I guess...
Ok, some people here are obviously haveing trouble grasping what an isometric drawing is, so I've prepared a simple demonstration. Where I'm from they teach this stuff to twelve year olds, so it shouldn't pose too much of a challenge to anyone here.
Posted by Manticore (Member # 1227) on :
TSN, I realized (and thought I said) that that was probably the reason.
It still looks good!
Posted by StarCruiser (Member # 979) on :
quote:Originally posted by Reverend:
quote:It'sa minor tweak if you decide to go perspective.
Actually adding two disappearing points would require realigning just about every single vector node this diagram has, not exactly a minor tweek.
quote:That looks good. Just a bit of a darker shading on the underside of the hull. Also I'm not so sure I like the strong white line of the windows so much though.
Agree. For the reflection I'd use a light or medium grey, something that doesn't contrast so harshly. One option is to loose the gradient in favour of a solid colour on a seperate object that you lay over the top of the black window. Like so...
quote:Something about that upper hull looks wrong...like the lines aren't parellel or something. It could just be that that's not how I'm used to looking at it I guess...
Ok, some people here are obviously haveing trouble grasping what an isometric drawing is, so I've prepared a simple demonstration. Where I'm from they teach this stuff to twelve year olds, so it shouldn't pose too much of a challenge to anyone here.
Yep - good idea to show what it's actually about. Isometric is meant to aid in understanding the basic actual design of the object being drawn, not to convey a realist image of it, just "illustrate" the proper shape and alignment of joints/angles etc...
Posted by Wes1701J (Member # 212) on :
For whatever reason, isometric drawing is HARDER for me then Perspective.
Posted by Balaam Xumucane (Member # 419) on :
Nice job, BJ. Listen to Reverend he is very smart.
quote:Originally posted by Jason Abbadon: It'sa minor tweak if you decide to go perspective.
Someone here is a really good sculptor, but maybe not so much technical illustrator.
Posted by B.J. (Member # 858) on :
Thanks for the compliments, guys. Due to my severe lack of free time, I'm very slow at generating updates or new stuff, so I thought I'd direct you to one person's work that I find VERY impressive. Unfortunately, I don't read German, but that shouldn't matter. Go to this link and click on the various menu items at the left. You won't be disappointed.
BTW, no updates tonight, either. I've got a Sweet Sixteen game to go to tonight! Go Jackets!
B.J.
Posted by TSN (Member # 31) on :
Oh, I just love sites that use Java applets to accomplish something that requires nothing but a simple line of HTML/Javascript and a couple extra images.
Posted by machf (Member # 1233) on :
Amen to that...
Posted by Kazeite (Member # 970) on :
quote:Originally posted by B.J.: Thanks for the compliments, guys. Due to my severe lack of free time, I'm very slow at generating updates or new stuff, so I thought I'd direct you to one person's work that I find VERY impressive. Unfortunately, I don't read German, but that shouldn't matter. Go to this link and click on the various menu items at the left. You won't be disappointed.
Oh. My. God. B.J., you are my new personal god. How often you would like to receive animal sacrifices? Posted by B.J. (Member # 858) on :
Hmmm.... No animals, but how about the heads of my neighbors across the street who leave crap strewn across my lawn after their parties?
So I take it you liked what this guy can do?
B.J.
Posted by B.J. (Member # 858) on :
Nothing special here - just wanted to see what it would look like in a Galaxy-esque shuttlebay.
B.J.
Posted by Wes1701J (Member # 212) on :
ok, what program are you using? I cant find a good isometric grid for illustrator. I really want to take a crack at this.
Posted by Nim (Member # 205) on :
Just out of curiosity, those bridge drawings they used to do, from that same 3/4ths birds eye view, has one been made of the "Enterprise"-Enterprise bridge? They are isometric drawings too, aren't they?
Posted by Reverend (Member # 335) on :
Yes and yes.
Posted by B.J. (Member # 858) on :
Wes - I use Corel DRAW 8, but I don't use any sort of grid. If I was home I could show you the technique I use easily. It involves drawing the standard 3 views and then skewing and rotating everything to provide a base to start from. I'll see if I can get something up tonight.
B.J.
Posted by Wes1701J (Member # 212) on :
Gridless eh? Leet indeed kind sir. Fucking brilliant work, btw. I really want to learn some of this as I am working on a big... big project soon. Im talking published work. And if I have to delay it a year or so to include detailed isometric drawings, so be it.
Posted by Reverend (Member # 335) on :
Or you could just use this as a pattern fill and set it as the bottom layer.
Posted by B.J. (Member # 858) on :
You could use that, Rev, if the density is set high enough. With my luck, nothing would end up on a vertex. Leet? Hardly. Anyway, here's a very simplistic explanation of what I do, using a very generic workbee-like shape: I should also explain that I put most of the details into the 3-views before doing this, so that it is as accurate as possible before everything gets deformed. Also, step 9 is probably the most confusing: I'm using the different views copied and snapped into the proper plane. An example would be the side view was copied and snapped to a vertex on the front view so that I had a reference line for the bottom.
Dang. I'm confusing myself here. I should probably explain this part further later.
[ April 02, 2004, 09:37 PM: Message edited by: B.J. ]
Posted by Baloo (Member # 5) on :
Amateurs! Isometric projection is a drafting technique. It is not intended to portray an object, but to convey information to the machinist (or other technician) who uses the information to create the object in three dimensions. Perspective drawings are useless design tool. They are used primarily to let a customer know what the product will look like when its built.
Having said that, I'm sure many of you have played computer games that use isometric projections to convey a sense of three-dimensioniality (it's easier for the computer to render the two dimensions of an ISO projection than to render three actual dimensions). Some examples: Civilization II (possibly Civ III as well, but I haven't seen screen caps), Sim City 3000, the Sims, and many others.
--Baloo
Posted by Baloo (Member # 5) on :
Oog! I hate it when I fail to notice that the conversation has progressed far beyond the point I was eager to make.
Never mind.
--Baloo
Posted by Harry (Member # 265) on :
Ooohh.. I have to try this sometime.
Posted by Axeman 3D (Member # 1050) on :
Good grief, it's easier to make the thing in a 3D model package! Then you've got all the views you need at your finger tips. Posted by B.J. (Member # 858) on :
Well, that would be easier if I could *afford* a decent 3D package. I do have POVRay and Moray (freeware and shareware, respectively), but they're not the best at doing complex shapes. I also find myself getting mired in the intricasies of trying to decently texture and light the thing. Besides, this is something I can do fairly quickly and get good results with. (And getting a good drawing package for free [came with my dad's computer, who didn't need it] certainly helps.)
To each his own, I suppose.
B.J.
Posted by Wes1701J (Member # 212) on :
Thanks for the tips BJ, im gonna fire up illustrator and see what i can do.
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