“ENGINEERING DRAWING IS A UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE”
CHAPTER TWO
THEORY OF PROJECTION
PROJECTION
A projection is a drawing or representation of an entity on an imaginary plane or planes.
It consist four components:
The actual object that the drawing or projection represents
The eye of the viewer looking at the object
The imaginary projection plane ( Viewers drawing paper)
Imaginary lines of sight called projectors
Fig.1 projection of a box
2.1 Classification of projections
Two broad projection types are viable with different further classifications. These are:
1. Parallel projection
2. Perspective projection
Parallel projection:
It is a projection where imaginary projection lines will not converge as a point on the viewer’s eye. This
implies that, all projection lines are either parallel or perpendicular to each other.
There are three main types of parallel projection system elucidated below:
Orthographic projection:
Is a system of views of an object formed by projectors from the object perpendicular to the
desired planes of projection.
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Here we have three principal projection planes. That is to say:
o Horizontal projection plane (H)
o Frontal projection plane (F)
o Profile projection plane (P)
For example:
For the above object we can have orthographic projection as follow:
H
F P
F P
Fig. 2 Orthographic projection (Multi-view drawing)
Oblique projections:
If the observer is considered to be stationed at an infinite distance from the object, and
looking toward the object so that the projectors are parallel to each other and oblique to the
projection, the resulting drawing is an oblique projection.
We have two types of representations of an object. Viz. Cabinet (Half scale) and Cavalier (Full scale).
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From the above object, you easily understand that the shaded face projection lines are 90o. Whereas the
rest are non 90o.
Here we conclude that, oblique projections show the full size of one view and are of two varieties. The
larger angle between the projectors and the plane – the closer the oblique projection approaches the
orthographic projection.
Axonometric projection:
Is a presentation of a design idea that is accurate and scientifically correct and can be easily
understood by persons without technical training.
Is a three dimensional drawing which is named alternatively as Pictorial drawing.
Depending on the angles found between the principal projection planes, we can sub divide it into:
isometric, dimetric and trimetric projection.
If = = it is an isometric axonometric projection
If = it is dimetric axonometric projection
If it is trimetric axonometric projection
Example 1: Isometric axonometric projection
120°
12
0°
12
0°
30°
30°
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Example 2: Diametric axonometric projection
150°
55°
5 5°
Example 3: Trimetric axonometric projection
Perspective projections: (Central projection)
Perspective projections are projections whose receding lines converge to vanishing point. Vanishing
point is where proctors converge to a point.
Perspective sketches are visually accurate in that they look like what we see: objects farther away
appear smaller than those that are closer.
The receding lines of perspective drawings converge to vanishing points that are located on a theoretical
horizon. The horizon is always located at eye level. Objects above the horizon line are appear to be above,
and objects below the horizon appear to be below.
Perspective drawings are often referred to as pictorial drawing. Circles appear as irregular shape instead
of elliptical feature.
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Ordinary photograph we take by photo camera is a typical example of perspective projections.
One point perspective projection:
When drawing using one point perspective all objects vanish to a common point somewhere on the
horizon.
Examples:
Note: all projectors none parallel to each other
Two Point perspective projection:
The object is placed so that one set of parallel edges is vertical
and has no vanishing point, while the two other sets each have
vanishing points.
Three point perspective projection:
The object is placed so that none of its principal edges is parallel to the picture plane. Hence, each of the
three sets of principal edges will have a separate vanishing point.
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Example:
Notice:
The detail explanation will be given in the next chapters. Don’t panic things will come smooth! Keep up!!
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