Knightly Perspective: From Experience

Cavalier perspective, also known as orthogonal perspective, is a technical drawing technique used to represent three-dimensional objects on a plane. Today, I come to talk to you about it with the same enthusiasm it aroused in me the first time I used it. Yes, we are talking about a world where dimensions and angles have a prominence that few understand until they see it reflected on paper.

What is the Knight Perspective?

This perspective is an axonometric projection in which the lines representing the width and height of the object are drawn in their true magnitude, while those of depth are reduced by a coefficient. There are no optical tricks here: we do not use vanishing points, and instead use a fixed angle, usually 135 degrees with respect to the other axes. This makes that, although there is some distortion, you can appreciate all dimensions instantly. It is something between an orthogonal view and a perspective that allows you to work without changing the scale of each dimension, simply by reducing the axes that "go to the bottom" of the drawing.

Why Use It? Advantages and Applications

This technique has been a valuable tool in areas of engineering, architecture and industrial design. The advantage of the cavalier perspective is its clarity: it allows the proportions of an object to be represented without complex deformations, and is ideal for showing the internal structure and connections of components. In the Middle Ages, this method was already popular, and was used to represent buildings and landscapes in murals and frescoes, as can be seen in works by the Italian painter Giotto.

How to Draw in Knight Perspective: Step by Step

2. Configure your Axes: Start by placing the three axes (X, Y, Z) on the paper. The X and Z axes usually form an angle of 90 degrees, and the Y axis is projected at 135 degrees.
4. Apply the Reduction Coefficient: In many cases, a reduction coefficient of 0.5 is used for the Y-axis, which helps to give depth and maintain proportion in three-dimensional objects.
6. Draw the Object in True Magnitude on the front plane (XZ axes) and apply the reduction only on the Y-axis.

The key is simplicity, but also accuracy. Here, depth is represented only by lines, without altering too much the basic design of the object.

Practical Example: Drawing a Staircase in Horseman Perspective

One of the first exercises I ever did was a staircase in horseman perspective. Imagine a simple staircase, seen from the side, projected on the X and Z axes in its actual size. On the Y axis, with the reduction applied, I could see how that simple structure became three-dimensional. In a short time, the flat sheet of paper was transformed into a volume, into a space. You don't need optical tricks, just a good technique, and of course, knowing how to apply the angles and reduce dimensions strategically.

Horizontal or Isometric Perspective? Key Differences

Key differences

Knight perspective is often confused with isometric perspective, but the two are quite different. While in the cavalier the Y axis is presented at 135 degrees, in the isometric all axes are at 120 degrees to each other. Isometric is ideal when you need to measure and compare directly, since all three axes have the same scale. On the other hand, the cavalier is more flexible and allows you a better visualization when you want the object itself to be appreciated in all its dimensions without losing proportion.

Applications and Common Cases

The cavalier perspective is widely used in architectural plan and military representations. This is because, thanks to its clarity, it is easier to interpret quickly and offers a complete view of the dimensions and spatial relationships of each element.

The ease of applying technical drawing with this perspective has led to its use in 3D modeling software and tools. Currently, it is common to find applications in architecture and video game design, where space is represented intuitively and rigid angles do not limit the representation.

Conclusion: The Magic of the Knight Perspective

We could say that the Knight perspective is the ideal way to represent the world without overcomplicating it too much. It is direct, clear and allows an "honest" representation of the object. It is a technique that is not only limited to technical drawing but has gained its space in the visual world for its clarity and simplicity.