Perspective - What is Perspective?

Definition: Linear Perspective is the apparent diminishing of scale as the distance from object to viewer increases. Each set of horizontal lines has its own vanishing point. For simplicity, artists usually focus on correctly rendering one, two or three vanishing points.

In one-point perspective, the horizontals and verticals which run across the field of view remain parallel, as their vanishing points are at 'infinity', with horizontals which are perpendicular to the viewer vanish towards a point near the center of the image.

In two point perspective, the viewer is positioned such that objects (such as boxes or buildings) are viewed from one corner, so that two sets of horizontals diminish towards vanishing points at the outer edges of the picture plane, while only verticals remain perpendicular.

In three point perspective the viewer is looking up or down so that the verticals also converge on a vanishing point at the top or bottom of the image.

Atmospheric perspective attempts to duplicate the visual effect of near objects being crisp and clear, while distant objects may be less distinct and muted.