Space
| English | Chinese | Pinyin |
|---|---|---|
| space | 空间 | kōng jiān |
| overlapping | 重叠 | chóng dié |
| linear perspective | 线性透视 | xiàn xìng tòu shì |
| vanishing point | 灭点 | miè diǎn |
| atmospheric perspective | 空气透视 | kōng qì tòu shì |
Around and between
- Space 空间 is the area within, around, and between the parts of a work.
- Positive space is filled by the subject; negative space is the empty area.
- Space also includes the illusion of depth on a flat surface.
Creating depth
- Depth is created with overlapping 重叠, size, placement, and detail.
- Nearer objects overlap and are larger, lower, and more detailed.
- These cues let a flat picture feel deep.
Select all ways to create the illusion of depth.
Overlapping, size, and perspective create depth; one flat colour looks flat.
Perspective
- Linear perspective 线性透视 uses a horizon line and a vanishing point 灭点 so parallel lines converge.
- Atmospheric perspective 空气透视 makes distant things paler, bluer, and less detailed.
- The format and cropping of the picture plane shape how space is read.
Linear or atmospheric perspective?
Sort each depth cue as linear or atmospheric perspective.
Parallel lines appearing to meet at a point on the horizon is ____ perspective.
Linear perspective uses a vanishing point and converging lines.
Atmospheric perspective makes distant objects paler, bluer, and less detailed.
Atmospheric perspective suggests distance through fading colour and detail.
In linear perspective, parallel lines converge at the ____ point.
The vanishing point is where parallel lines meet on the horizon.
Match each term to its meaning.
Positive = subject; negative = empty; vanishing point = convergence.
There are two kinds of perspective, and they work together. Linear perspective uses converging lines and a vanishing point for structure; atmospheric perspective uses paling colour and lost detail for distance. A convincing deep space usually needs both.
In a landscape, a road narrows to a vanishing point on the horizon (linear perspective), while distant mountains fade to pale blue with soft edges (atmospheric perspective). Together they make a flat canvas feel like miles of deep space.
Space is the area within, around, and between parts, including the illusion of depth. Overlapping, size, and placement create depth. Linear perspective (a vanishing point) and atmospheric perspective (paling distance) build deep space on a flat surface.