Chapter 7
Mathematics of Projection
Dr. S.M. Mohidul Islam
Associate Professor
CSE Discipline, KU
Chapter 7 Contents
Introduction
7.1 Taxonomy of Projection
7.2 Perspective Projection
7.3 Parallel Projection
Solved & Supplementary Problems
Viewing in 3D
Introduction
There are fundamental differences between the true three-
dimensional world and its pictorial description.
For centuries, artists, engineers, designers, drafters, and architects
have tried to come to terms with the difficulties and constraints
imposed by the problem of representing a three-
dimensional object or scene in a two-dimensional
medium—the problem of projection.
The implementers of a computer graphics system face the
same challenge.
Display device (a screen) is 2D…How do we map 3D objects to 2D
space? (2D to 2D is straight forward. 3D to 2D is more complicated)
Solution: Transform 3D objects on to a 2D plane using projections
(Projection is the representation of 3D scene or object in a 2D medium)
Projection can be defined as a mapping of point P (x, y, z) onto its
image P' (x', y', z') in the projection plane or view plane, which
constitutes the display surface.
The mapping is determined by a projection line called the projector
that passes through P and intersects the view plane.
The intersection point is P'.
7.1 Taxonomy of Projection
We can construct different projections according to the view that is
desired.
Figure 7-2 provides a taxonomy of the families of perspective and parallel projections
7.2 Perspective Projection
Basic Principles
The techniques of perspective projection are generalizations of the
principles used by artists in preparing perspective drawings of
three-dimensional objects and scenes. Perspective Projection
The eye of the artist is placed at the center of projection, and the canvas, or
more precisely the plane containing the canvas, becomes the view plane.
An image point is determined by a projector that goes from an object point
to the center of projection. ❑ visual effect is similar to human visual system. i.e. Most realistic
Parallel Projection
History: Projective geometry originated in the
Renaissance when artists sought a method to introduce
accurate perspective into art. This artistic perspective
assumed that the viewer had a single, point eye and
that the artist's canvas lay between the eye and the
contents of the view. The problem of projective
geometry then consisted of discovering how the
relationships in the view would be transferred onto the
canvas. Projective geometry allowed the creation of
highly convincing pictures.
Mathematical Description of a
Perspective Projection
A perspective transformation is
determined by prescribing a center of
projection and a view plane.
Center of Projection is at a finite distance
from object.
The view plane is determined by its view
reference point R0 and view plane normal
N.
The object point P is located in world
coordinates at (x, y, z).
The problem is to determine the image point
coordinates P' (x', y', z').
Standard Perspective Projection
Using similar triangles ABC and A’OC, we find,
x’ / x = d / (z + d)
y’ / y = d / (z + d)
z’ = 0
So, The standard form of perspective
projection can be represented as
Perspective Anomalies
The process of constructing a perspective view introduces certain
anomalies which enhance realism in terms of depth cues but also
distort actual sizes and shapes.
1. Perspective foreshortening: The farther an object is from the
center of projection, the smaller it appears.
2. Vanishing points: Projections of lines that are not parallel to the view
plane (i.e. lines that are not perpendicular to the view plane normal)
appear to meet at some point on the view plane.
E.g. the illusion that railroad tracks meet at a point on the horizon.
Principal vanishing points are
formed by the apparent intersection of
lines parallel to one of the three
principal (x, y, or z) axes.
There are at most 3 such points and
the number of principal vanishing
points is determined by the number View from Above
of principal axes intersected by the
view plane.
3-Point 2-Point 1-Point
Perspective Perspective Perspective
3. View confusion: Objects behind the center of projection are
projected upside down and backward onto the view plane.
• Difficult to determine exact size and shape of object.
CP
4. Topological distortion: Consider the plane that passes through the
center of projection and is parallel to the view plane.
The points of this plane are projected to infinity by the perspective
transformation.
In particular, a finite line segment joining a point which lies in front of the
viewer to a point in back of the viewer is actually projected to a broken line
of infinite extent.
7.3 Parallel Projection
Basic Principles
used by drafters and engineers to create
working drawings of an object
preserves its scale and shape.
A parallel projective transformation is
determined by prescribing a direction of
projection vector V and a view plane.
View plane is specified by its view plane
reference point R0, and view plane
normal N.
The complete representation often requires
View plane
two or more views (projections) of the
object onto different view planes.
have a fixed direction and the direction of
projection same for all points/projectors N DOP (V)
Center of projection is at infinity R0 Top Side
Taxonomy of Parallel Projection
Parallel
Orthographic Oblique
Cavalier Cabinet
Multiview Axonometric
Isometric Dimetric Trimetric
Mathematical Description of a Parallel Projection
Orthographic Vs. Oblique
If the projection vector V is perpendicular
to the view plane (i.e. has the direction of the
view plane normal N), the projection is
orthographic.
… not perpendicular to the view plane, it
is oblique .
Objects can be visualised better than
with orthographic projections
Orthographic
When the direction of projection is
parallel to any of the principal axes, it is Multiview (this produces the front, top, and side views
of mechanical drawings).
Top
not parallel to any of the principal axes, it is Axonometric
Axonometric
• The direction of projection makes equal angles with
Side
• Isometric—all of the three principal axes
• Dimetric—exactly two of the principal axes
• Trimetric—none of the principal axes
(makes unequal angles with the three principal axes)
Side
Multiview
Standard Parallel Projection
Oblique
The direction of projection is chosen so that
Cavalier—there is no foreshortening of lines perpendicular to the xy plane
Cabinet—lines perpendicular to the xy planes are foreshortened by half their
lengths
Cavalier Cabinet
o o
(DOP = 45 ) (DOP = 63.4 )
tan() = 1 tan() = 2
Perspective vs. Parallel
Perspective projection
+ Size varies inversely with distance - looks
realistic
– Distance and angles are not (in general)
preserved
– Parallel lines do not (in general) remain
parallel
Parallel projection
+ Good for exact measurements
+ Parallel lines remain parallel
– Angles are not (in general) preserved
– Less realistic looking
Problems
Solved Problems: 7.1, 7.3-7.5, 7.7, 7.10-7.13
Supplementary Problems:
Chapter 7 End