Isometric Drawings: A Comprehensive Guide to Creating Stunning 3D Representations on a 2D Surface

Introduction

Isometric drawings are a type of 3D representation that allows artists to depict objects on a 2D surface without distortion. Unlike perspective drawings, which have a vanishing point and a horizon line, isometric drawings have no vanishing point and no horizon line, or its horizon line and vanishing point are set to infinity. This means that lines in an isometric drawing remain parallel and do not converge.

Exonometric Projections

Isometric drawings are a type of exonometric projection, which is a representation where the lines between objects and the picture plane are parallel. There are three types of exonometric projections: dimetric, trimetric, and isometric. Dimetric projections are often used in video games, while isometric projections are often used by engineers, architects, and illustrators.

Characteristics of Isometric Drawings

There are three key characteristics of isometric drawings:

• Lines must be parallel to one another
• Edges must be inclined at an angle of 30 degrees
• Faces should have equal shortening

Starting an Isometric Drawing

Before starting an isometric drawing, it's essential to think about the story you want to tell and the mood you want to convey. This step is often overlooked, but it's crucial to creating a good drawing. Don't worry about making things look isometric at this stage, just focus on getting your idea down.

Finding Inspiration and Developing an Idea

To find inspiration, take a walk, observe people, scroll through old photos, memories, read poems, books, or magazines. Know the overall mood or story you want to tell before starting. Ask yourself:

• What time of day/year is your story taking place?
• What is the weather like?
• Is it happy, scary, mysterious, etc.?
• Who are the characters? What are their names, ages, personalities, and backgrounds?

Developing Your Concept

Take notes to help you remember your ideas. Ask yourself:

• What message am I trying to convey?
• Who is my target audience?
• Be as free and creative as possible when brainstorming

Sketching and Refining Your Idea

Sketch your characters, props, and details to get inspiration. Try not to be too judgmental of your work at this stage. Ask yourself:

• What do I want the focus of my drawing to be?
• What composition tells the story better?
• What kind of angle and shapes convey the emotion better?
• Look at references to make your drawing more accurate
• Pull out inspirations from various sources, such as films, architecture, and nature

By the end of this step, you should have a rough sketch of your final composition.

Transforming Your Sketch into an Isometric Drawing

Keep in mind the basics of isometric drawing:

• Lines must be parallel to each other
• Edges must be inclined at an angle of 30 degrees
• The three faces should have equal shortening

Use methods in Clip Studio Paint or other tools to create an isometric drawing. You can use existing tutorials or methods, or find a simpler approach that works for you.

Setting Up the Drawing Environment

• Turn on the grid to help visualize the drawing
• Go to File > Preferences > Rulers and Units to change grid settings
• Ensure the rough drawing layer is turned on with low opacity and placed at the top of the layer order
• Consider setting the rough drawing layer to "Multiply" to ensure it shows up on top of other layers

Identifying the Dominating Shape

Look at the drawing and identify the dominating shape (e.g., house, floor, building, etc.). This shape will be the base for building the drawing.

The Four-Step Process

Step 1: Set Up the Polygon

• Open the Polygon Tool in the Shape Tool Menu
• In the Tool Properties, set the Aspect Type to ensure all edges of the cube are the same length
• Place the polygon shape on a new layer to fit the dominating shape

Step 2: Place Parallel Rulers

• Create three new layers for each axis (Z, X, and Y)
• Assign a parallel ruler tool to each layer, corresponding to the axis
• Set the Step Angle to 30 in the parallel tool properties for accurate 30-degree angles

Step 3: Trace the Shape

• Use the pen, brush, or pencil tool to build the structural shapes of the drawing
• Go back and forth between the layers to build the shape
• Assign a specific color to each axis for organization

Step 4: Outline the Visible Lines

• Use the Brush Tool to outline the visible lines of the drawing on a new layer
• Hold Shift to create straight lines with the pen tool

Finalizing the Drawing

The structure of the isometric drawing is now set up and ready for painting. Keep details on a rough layer for reference while painting. Use the polyline selection tool to correct mistakes in the coloring process.

Digital Painting Process in Clip Studio Paint

Initial Steps

• Use the Bucket Tool (shortcut: G or Alt + Delete) to fill colors
• Utilize the Clip to Layer Below Tool (found above the Layer menu) to work with overlapping shapes
• Employ the Lock Transparent Pixel Tool (found in the Layer menu) to quickly switch between colors

Blocking in Main Colors

• Create a new layer for each main shape and name it accordingly
• Set the opacity of the structure layer to a low value for reference
• Use the Polyline Tool (or other selection tools like the Lasso Tool) to select the outline of the object
• Choose a color from the color wheel and fill the selection using the Bucket Tool (Alt + Delete)

Adding Details and Textures

• Create a new layer for each detail shape and name it accordingly
• Use the Polyline Tool (or other selection tools like the Lasso Tool) to select the outline of the object
• Choose a color from the color wheel and fill the selection using the Bucket Tool (Alt + Delete)

By following these steps, you can create stunning isometric drawings that tell a story and evoke emotions. Remember to keep practicing and experimenting with different techniques to improve your skills.