Inverted/reverse perspective in Illustrator

[Mason_Creative]

I'm trying to figure out if I can set up the perspective tool to like in the attached image. Basically, inverting the initial perspective. I've tried messing around with the horizon line, planes, etc. but can't seem to get a setup that looks like this. I know I can do it by creating 2 perspective grids and doing each side of the building on its own, but that becomes difficult to line up etc. and I'm wondering if there is an easier way? Any advice is greatly appreciated, thanks!

[rcraighead]

Build it in SketchUp and import as vector. Or just do the whole project in Sketchup.

I realize I don't know your goal, I just wonder why do something in AI that is better suited for another tool.

[Mason_Creative]

Thanks rcraighead,

That's a good point, but there are a number of reasons I want to do this in AI, not the least of which being that I don't have a license for SketchUp, which looks like a great program btw.

1) I am not looking to re-create this exactly, all I really need to do is create a very simplistic skeleton so I can use it for a sort of 3D map, but it only needs to be a simple perspective drawing.

2) I am a graphic designer and rarely have a need to do any 3D perspective drawings like this, so it doesn't really make sense for my company to buy a license for something like SketchUp for a one-off project.

3) I am most comfortable working in Adobe products, and I'm sure AI will be plenty sufficient for what I'm trying to do with this, I just need to know how to set up the perspective tool in the right manner, or to know if it is is indeed possible (at default the perspective comes at the viewer, sort of like if you were on the other side of the building in the photo, I'm trying to flip that inward if that makes sense?)

Thanks again for your comment, maybe someone else will have an idea of how to setup the perspective this way?

[Doug A Roberts]

i don't really enjoy wrestling with the perspective grid. what i'd do is make my own vanishing points and do it the old fashioned way.

[Monika Gause]

I started with a bunch of guidelines I drew along the buildings in that image and then came up with this:

[Mason_Creative]

Nice work Monika,

So that is all done by hand then? I'm not sure that I'm familiar enough with perspective to come up with something like this, hence why I'm trying to setup the perspective grid to help me. Is there some way to plug in these coordinates using the perspective grid tool? Otherwise, thanks so much for doing this, it helps me visualize how I can do it by hand. Can you send me the template? lol

[Doug A Roberts]

monika has extrapolated vanishing points from lines off the buildings in the image, then dragged the perspective grid around to match it to those points. then you could just delete the guidelines and exclusively use the grid if you want.

of course you could do it all without the grid. what do you know about x-point perspective drawing?

[Mason_Creative]

Thanks Doug,

That makes sense, I'll see if I can get it set up based on this. I know very little about x-point perspective drawing, save little bits I learned way back in school and have since forgotten over the years. Trying to give myself a crash course for this and future projects. Anything you can point me to that might be helpful? Thanks again!

[Myra Ferguson]

Here is some info on the perspective tool  - How to define perspective grids in Illustrator  and more on perspective drawing -  How to draw artwork in perspective in Illustrator

[Mason_Creative]

Thanks Myra,

I took a course on Lynda.com that taught me the ropes on the tool, I just couldn't wrap my head around how to set the various points to achieve the perspective for this particular shape. I'm still not sure that I get it completely, but Monika's image helps a lot.

[Monika Gause · Accepted solution]

There are tutorials available here:

Illustration tutorials for technical and automotive illustrators and art students

That's about perepctive drawing theory, not particularly about Illustrator's perspective grid, which is a kind of different thing working with.

And then there's this book:

https://www.gregmaxson.com/store/the-complete-technical-illustrator-pdf

[rcraighead]

Understood.

Sketchup Make is a free, fully functional version of Sketchup. Worth considering.

Monika has given you a good roadmap to using the perspective tool.

You might find tracing your reference easier than bothering with the perspective tool though. Or distorting Symbols with "Envelope Distort".

[Mason_Creative]

Thanks again,

I will definitely check out the free version of Sketch. I think the distort option is good for super simple things, but it seems that it would be difficult to keep the various sides of the buildings in perfect perspective by using that method. At least for now I need some sort of grid to keep me honest