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  • Connect the Dots: Isometric Drawing and Coded Plans

Hands-on Activity Connect the Dots: Isometric Drawing and Coded Plans

Grade Level: 7 (7-9)

Time Required: 1 hour

This activity requires some non-expendable (reusable) snap cubes; see the Materials List for details.

Group Size: 2

Activity Dependency: Let’s Learn about Spatial Viz!

Subject Areas: Geometry, Problem Solving

Activities Associated with this Lesson Units serve as guides to a particular content or subject area. Nested under units are lessons (in purple) and hands-on activities (in blue). Note that not all lessons and activities will exist under a unit, and instead may exist as "standalone" curriculum.

  • Seeing All Sides: Orthographic Drawing
  • Let’s Take a Spin: One-Axis Rotation
  • New Perspectives: Two-Axis Rotations

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Engineers help shape a safer future

Spatial visualization is an essential skill in taking ideas that initially only exist in the mind to something that can be communicated clearly to other people and eventually turned into products, structures and systems. As such, it is an important skill for professionals within the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields—particularly engineering. Engineers use spatial visualization skills whenever three-dimensional concepts, devices and ideas are being discussed. For example, chemical engineers use spatial visualization when studying three-dimensional molecules, while mechanical engineers use spatial visualization when designing prosthetic limbs that require multiple motors, gears, linkages, bearings and shafts to fit within a single assembly.

After this activity, students should be able to:

  • Draw a coded plan from an object made of cubes.
  • Use a coded plan to build an object made of cubes.
  • Define and explain the meaning of isometric.
  • Draw a shape on isometric triangle-dot paper.

Educational Standards Each TeachEngineering lesson or activity is correlated to one or more K-12 science, technology, engineering or math (STEM) educational standards. All 100,000+ K-12 STEM standards covered in TeachEngineering are collected, maintained and packaged by the Achievement Standards Network (ASN) , a project of D2L (www.achievementstandards.org). In the ASN, standards are hierarchically structured: first by source; e.g. , by state; within source by type; e.g. , science or mathematics; within type by subtype, then by grade, etc .

Common core state standards - math.

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State Standards

Colorado - math.

Each group needs:

  • 10 snap cubes (interlocking cubes); a set of 100 for $10-13 at https://www.amazon.com/Learning-Resources-LER4285-Mathlink-Cubes-100/dp/B000URL296 or https://www.amazon.com/Learning-Resources-LER7584-Snap-Cubes/dp/B000G3LR9Y
  • pencil with eraser, for each student
  • Blank Triangle-Dot Paper , two sheets per student
  • Isometric Drawing Worksheet , one per student
  • (optional) computer with Internet access, to practice using the NCTM online isometric drawing tool at http://illuminations.nctm.org/Activity.aspx?id=4182

To share with the entire class:

  • (optional) computer with projector to show examples as provided in the Spatial Visualization Presentation , a PowerPoint® file; alternatively, draw or print out the examples for students

Before taking part in this spatial visualization activity, students should have taken the Spatial Visualization Practice Quiz and learned about spatial visualization in the associated lesson, Let’s Learn about Spatial Viz!

(Have the slide presentation up and displayed to the class, starting with slide 3.) Spatial visualization is useful for practicing engineers, has been shown to be a significant predictor of success for students in engineering, and is also a learned skill. That means we can improve our spatial visualization skills by practicing. Today, we are going develop our skills in drawing three-dimensional objects. Spatial visualization skills help you in many subjects and hobbies that require the imagination of three-dimensional shapes, such as geometry, chemistry, physics, athletics (like tennis and gymnastics) and various computer games. Practicing spatial visualization enables you to understand three-dimensional figures and representations more readily and perform better in these subjects and hobbies.

Part 1: Isometric Drawings

In the planning phase of any engineering project, an engineer needs to be able to take the vision of a new design from inside their head and illustrate it on a piece of paper or a computer screen. This process—visualizing the item as a three-dimensional object—includes the dimensions of depth, width and height. Without spatial visualization skills, engineers would be unable to envision new ideas and communicate these ideas to others.

Isometric views are useful for displaying three-dimensional objects on a two-dimensional piece of paper. More specifically, we use triangle-dot paper to draw objects isometrically. (Display slide 4, which is the same as Figure 1.) This image shows a 3-D cube depicted in two different ways. On the left, the cube is drawn non-isometrically in that the angles in the corners are not equal and the sides each have different areas. However, on the right, the cube is drawn such that the sides of the cube connect at a “corner,” making equal angles of 120°. We call this an isometric view of the cube. Also notice that in the illustration on the right, all the sides of the cube are the same size. During this activity, we are going to practice drawing shapes isometrically. (Slide 5, same as Figure 4, shows a house depicted isometrically using AutoCAD.)

Line drawing of two cubes. The one on the left is drawn non-isometrically with varying corner angles and three different side areas; one of the cube’s sides faces the viewer, straight on. The cube on the right is drawn isometrically with equal corners angles and three cube sides; one of the cube’s vertical corners faces the viewer, straight on.

Part 2: Coded Plans

Next, we are going to learn about coded plans. Before explaining coded plans, let’s do an activity that demonstrates the importance of using coded plans. First, team up with a person next to you.

(Direct the class through the following exercise: Have partner #1 close their eyes. Show all partner #2 students the left image in slide 6, which is the same as Figure 2. Inform partner #1 to keep their eyes closed while partner #2 describes the image. Let the object description continue for a couple of minutes. When finished, have partner #1 draw the object as accurately as possible.)

Two drawings of the same object composed of six cubes. The left image is an isometric drawing that shows the object’s multi-height configuration, oriented with its vertical y-axis facing the viewer, straight on. The right image shows three squares next to each other making a right angle, with the numbers 1, 2 or 3 inside the squares, and in the four corners outside of the three squares are the letters W, X, Z, Y.

For such a simple-appearing object, that was pretty challenging, right? Perhaps you described the object using phrases like these:

  • It is made of six cubes.
  • Three cubes are stacked, one on top of the other. Next to that are two cubes, also stacked one on top of the other. Next to that stack is one single cube.

Even with this explanation, it is possible that your partner incorrectly envisioned the object. Imagine if you were an engineer who needed to design a much more complicated object than the one you tried to describe—it would be even more difficult! This is precisely why we use coded plans in engineering drawings. Coded plans are a type of tool used by engineers to express three-dimensional objects on two-dimensional surfaces. A coded plan defines the shape of a structure or object composed of blocks. (Click to reveal the right side of slide 6, which is the same as the right side of Figure 2—a coded plan of the same image just described and drawn by students.) For instance, a coded plan is shown here. Notice that the corners of the object are labeled by letters. Notice also that the numbers inside the squares represent the number of cubes that are stacked on top of each other. Next, we will do some activities to practice making coded plans and isometric drawings.

The term “isometric” literally means “equal measure.” In other words, when we isometrically draw an object composed of multiple cubes, the cube faces are all the same area and the corner angles are all equal and 120°. Triangle-dot paper is useful because the dots are situated 120° from each other, which facilitates drawing 3-D objects. For students just starting to practice spatial visualization, it is beneficial to use toy blocks with the ability to interlock and form larger shapes composed of the cubes (such as the recommended “snap cubes” in the Materials List; see Figure 3.)

Four different shapes composed of four to 12 snap cubes.

Engineers use computer-aided drafting software programs such as AutoCAD® to create blueprints and design plans. Figure 4 (also on slide 5) shows a house that was depicted isometrically using AutoCAD.

A line drawing shows a two-story house that was drawn isometrically using AutoCAD in order to accurately depict building blueprints and design plans.

Before the Activity

  • Gather materials and make copies of the Blank Triangle-Dot Paper and Isometric Drawing Worksheet .
  • (optional) Decide if you want to incorporate having students practice with the NCTM online isometric drawing tool that enables them to draw their own isometric objects and rotate the objects around the x-, y- and z-planes.) If so, arrange for and set up computer and Internet access to do so.
  • Prepare to project the Spatial Visualization Presentation , a PowerPoint® file, and use its content to aid in your instruction, as makes sense for your class. Slides 3-11 support this activity. The slides are animated so a mouse or keyboard click brings up the next graphic or text.

With the Students: Introduction

  • Present to the class the Introduction/Motivation content, supported by slides 3-6. Also ask the pre-assessment question, as described in the Assessment section.
  • Divide the class into groups of two students each.
  • Hand out two pieces of triangle dot paper to each student and 10 cubes to each pair. Explain that students are to share their interlocking cubes with their partners, primarily work independently on their drawings, but feel free to share their drawings and troubleshoot with their partners. Instruct students to work on one piece of triangle-dot paper until it is full.

Part 1. Basics of Drawing Cubes on Triangle-Dot Paper

  • As a class, direct students to each put one cube on the desk in front of themselves. Ask the students to draw their cubes on isometric paper (individually). To begin with, direct them to move sequentially through the drawing using the following steps. (As makes sense, also show the drawing tips on slide 7.)
  • Draw a dot representing a corner of the cube.
  • Draw lines that represent the edges of the cube that connect to that corner.
  • Draw a single surface of the cube.
  • Complete all other surfaces of the cube.

Four different images of cube shapes drawn on triangle-dot paper. From left to right: a single cube, a tall stack of three cubes, and then two images that show two different angles of a three-cube tower with its long side down.

Have students stack two blocks on top of the original block to form a three-cube “tower.” Ask them to draw the stacked cubes on isometric paper and then share with their partners. Expect their drawings to resemble the center image in slide 8 (same as Figure 5-center; click the mouse/keyboard to reveal it).

Finally, have students turn their towers on their sides so that three cubes are touching the desk/table surface. Now, ask the students to draw the stacked tower at this angle on isometric paper. Expect their drawings to resemble one of the two images on the right side of slide 8 (same as Figure 5-far right; click the mouse/keyboard to reveal it), depending on which way they oriented the object.

At this point, stop and make sure that all students are getting the hang of drawing on isometric triangle-dot paper. If students are struggling, spend more time on the first three steps. If necessary, display the answers for the class and/or demonstrate how to draw each of the three images. Notice how the faces in between the cubes and the backside/bottom of each cube are not drawn directly; we know that those sides are part of the cubes, but the isometric drawing cannot depict all details of a 3-D object.

Part 2. Drawing Shapes of Increased Complexity on Triangle-Dot Paper

  • Direct the students to each use four blocks to make a shape of their choosing.
  • Ask the students to individually draw the shapes of their objects on isometric paper.
  • Have partners switch objects and draw the shape of their partners’ objects.
  • Once both partners are finished drawing the objects they created, as well as the objects created by their partners, have them cross-check their drawings to make sure that they are correct.
  • Have students repeat the four previous steps, adding one more block to their shapes for each iteration. Permit students to continue working for about five minutes. If they are working through these steps quickly, see the Extension Activities section for ways to challenge them further.
  • Assign students to complete the worksheet. Observe and assist as necessary.

(optional) Part 3. Drawing Isometric Views from Coded Plans

As an optional/extra credit assignment, present to students the following peer teach exercise:

  • Still in pairs, show students the drawing tips on slide 9.
  • Then show students the coded plan shown to the far left on slide 10 (same as Figure 6-far left. Ask them to draw two different isometric views of the coded plan. It may be necessary to rotate a sample cube shape to help students to understand this challenge. Click on slide 10 to reveal the solutions to the four possible isometric views.
  • Once each student has drawn two isometric views, have student pairs explain to each other how they produced their drawings.

On triangle-dot paper to the right of a coded plan are four different isometric view drawings, labeled W, X, Y, Z, of the coded plan’s cube object, a shape composed of seven cubes.

coded plan: A spatial visualization term that refers to a method of describing a three-dimensional shape two-dimensionally.

isometric: Of or having equal dimensions. The isometric view of an object is the angle at which an equal angle (120°) exists between all axes (such as looking down a corner of the object).

spatial visualization: The ability to mentally manipulate two- and three-dimensional objects. It is typically measured with cognitive tests and is a predictor of success in STEM fields. Also referred to as visual-spatial ability.

triangle-dot paper: A grid of dots arranged equidistant from one another. Used in making isometric sketches. Also called isometric paper.

Pre-Activity Assessment

Question/Answer: Ask students: Why are isometric drawings important to engineers? (Point to make: Isometric drawings represent three-dimensional objects on a two-dimensional surface. By doing this, engineers can depict complicated 3-D objects in a way that is easy to share and describe. Without isometric drawings, engineers would require 3-D models of each idea/concept, which would be costly, cumbersome and inconvenient.)

Activity Embedded Assessment

Worksheet: After completing the classroom instruction on isometric drawing, assign students to complete the Isometric Drawing Worksheet . Observe whether students are able to draw the rotated objects or if they are struggling. Assist them if necessary. Review their answers to gauge their depth of understanding.

Post-Activity Assessment

Discussion: Ask students to explain and describe their drawings with specific focus on the isometric concept. What strategies did they use to draw their cube shapes? What were the limitations they experienced, if any? How did students solve any drawing challenges? Since everyone has worked through the same exercises, group sharing of their challenges and approaches informs the teacher of students’ depth of understanding and provides their peers with relevant ideas and tips.

  • Have students rotate one of their snap block objects to see how many new angles they can draw it from. Show slide 11 (same as Figure 7) as an example.

Four isometric drawings (on dot paper) of one three-cube shape from different perspectives.

  • Have students rotate a shape in their minds and draw it on triangle-dot paper without physically rotating any cubes/shapes.
  • Have each partner use four cubes to make a shape and place the object under their partners’ chairs without showing the shape. Then, have students reach under their chairs and feel the objects (without looking at them) and draw the shapes they felt. Once finished, have them compare their drawings to the objects.
  • Have students draw the capital letters E and T in isometric view; show slide 11 as an example (same as Figure 8). 

A drawing of the capital letters E and T on triangle-dot paper. They look like “block” letters. The “T” is a line of three cubes placed horizontally on top of a stack of four cubes.

  • Ask students to calculate the volume and surface area of one of the shapes they drew. To help with the challenge, tell them that the length of one side of a cube is 5 cm.
  • For lower grades, guide students through drawing the cube shapes by using an overhead projector. Depending on how much guidance is needed, repeat Part 1 for other very simple shapes.
  • For higher grades, challenge students to conduct all the Activity Extensions.

Have students practice with the NCTM online isometric drawing tool to draw isometric objects and rotate the objects around the X, Y and Z planes: http://illuminations.nctm.org/Activity.aspx?id=4182 .

isometric drawing assignment

Students learn how to create two-dimensional representations of three-dimensional objects by utilizing orthographic projection techniques. They build shapes using cube blocks and then draw orthographic and isometric views of those shapes—which are the side views, such as top, front, right—with no de...

preview of 'Seeing All Sides: Orthographic Drawing' Activity

In this lesson, students are introduced to the concept of spatial visualization and measure their spatial visualization skills by taking the provided 12-question quiz. Following the lesson, students complete the four associated spatial visualization activities and then re-take the quiz to see how mu...

preview of 'Let’s Learn about Spatial Viz!' Lesson

Students learn about one-axis rotations, and specifically how to rotate objects both physically and mentally to understand the concept. They practice drawing one-axis rotations through a group exercise using cube blocks to create shapes and then drawing those shapes from various x-, y- and z-axis ro...

preview of 'Let’s Take a Spin: One-Axis Rotation' Activity

Students learn about two-axis rotations, and specifically how to rotate objects both physically and mentally about two axes. Students practice drawing two-axis rotations through an exercise using simple cube blocks to create shapes, and then drawing on triangle-dot paper the shapes from various x-, ...

preview of 'New Perspectives: Two-Axis Rotations' Activity

Contributors

Supporting program, acknowledgements.

This activity was developed by the Engineering Plus degree program in the College of Engineering and Applied Science at the University of Colorado Boulder.

This lesson plan and its associated activities were derived from a summer workshop taught by Jacob Segil for undergraduate engineers at the University of Colorado Boulder. The activities have been adapted to suit the skill level of middle school students, with suggestions on how to adapt activities to elementary or, in some instances, high school level.

Last modified: October 21, 2020

Isometric drawing: a designer's guide

Everything you need to know about creating an isometric drawing.

What is isometric drawing?

Isometric drawing vs one-point perspective, how to draw an isometric cube, the benefits of isometric drawing.

Isometric drawing, sometimes called isometric projection, is a type of 2D drawing used to draw 3D objects that is set out using 30-degree angles. It's also a type of axonometric drawing, meaning that the same scale is used for every axis, resulting in a non-distorted image. Since isometric grids are pretty easy to set up, once you understand the basics of isometric drawing, creating a freehand isometric sketch is relatively simple.

This post explains all you need to know about isometric drawing. You'll learn exactly what defines an isometric drawing, how it differs from one-point perspective , what to do to get started creating your own isometric projection, and even more. Elevate your art skills further by following the tutorials in our how to draw guide (which will teach you how to draw pretty much anything).

An isometric drawing is a 3D representation of an object, room, building or design on a 2D surface. One of the defining characteristics of an isometric drawing, compared to other types of 3D representation, is that the final image is not distorted and is always to scale. This is due to the fact that the foreshortening of the axes is equal. The word isometric comes from Greek to mean 'equal measure'. 

Isometric drawing: 30-degree angles

Isometric drawings are a good way to show measurements and how components fit together, and is used in technical drawing, often by engineers and architects. They differ from other types of axonometric drawing, including dimetric and trimetric projections, in which different scales are used for different axes to give a distorted final image.

In an isometric drawing, the object appears as if it is being viewed from above from one corner, with the axes set out from this corner point. Isometric drawings begin with one vertical line along which two points are defined. Any lines set out from these points should be constructed at an angle of 30 degrees.  

Both isometric drawings and one-point perspective drawings use geometry and mathematics to present 3D representations on 2D surfaces. One-point perspective drawings mimic the human eye, so objects appear smaller the further away they are from the viewer. In contrast, isometric drawings use parallel projection, which means objects remain at the same size, no matter how far away they are.

Isometric drawing: one-point perspective

Basically, isometric drawing doesn’t use perspective in its rendering (i.e. lines don’t converge as they move away from the viewer). Isometric drawings are more useful for functional drawings that are used to explain how something works, while one-point perspective drawings are typically used to give a more sensory idea of an object or space. 

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The limitation of isometric drawings compared to 3D models is that you can't change your vantage point, you have to see the drawing from the top viewpoint.

various shapes drawn using isometric drawing

The most common isometric drawing is that of a cube, and drawing a cube using isometric projection is very easy. You will need a piece of paper, ruler, pencil and protractor (or for the shortcut version, using gridded paper, jump to the next section).

Using the ruler, draw a vertical line on the page, and mark three equally spaced points along it. Draw a horizontal line through the lowest point, and using the protractor, mark out a 30 degree angle up from the line on either side. Draw a line back through the lowest point from the 30 degree angle on each side. 

Repeat this step through the middle point and the same through the top point, but with the top point, mark out the angle downwards. The lines from the second and third point will cross at a certain point, and from this intersection, draw a vertical line down towards the angled lines coming from the bottom point. You should be able to see the form of the cube where all of the lines intersect. 

Using an isometric grid

For all the cheats out there who don’t have the necessary tools (or inclination) to create an isometric projection, there is a foolproof way to bash out your axonometric drawing: simply use an isometric grid. The pattern can be downloaded online, and will save you lots of time and effort, or you can have a play with the grid using this isometric drawing tool .

Alternatively, learn how to set up your own grid in Illustrator or Photoshop by following the video tutorial below. 

Once your eyes become accustomed to the trickery of the triangular pattern, you will immediately notice how the isometric works. The super handy thing about the grid is that it already has all of the 30 degree angles set up for you.  This tutorial walks you through how to draw a cube using an isometric grid. 

Isometric drawings are very useful for designers – particularly architects, industrial and interior designers and engineers, as they are ideal for visualising rooms, products, and infrastructure. They're a great way to quickly test out different design ideas. They also illustrate the 3D nature of an object, without being drawn in 3D software , and measurements can be made to scale along the principal axes.

There are a number of other situations in which isometric projection is useful. In wayfinding systems, for example in museums or galleries, isometric wall maps can show visitors where they are in the building, what is going on elsewhere, and how to get to get around. 

Some of the best infographics use isometric projection to enable them to show more information than would be possible in a 2D drawing. Some of the best logos also use this approach to create impact.

Isometric drawing: Representations

Exploded isometric drawings are useful for revealing parts of a product that might be hidden or internal. They're used by architects, engineers and product designers the world over to better explain the intricacies of a design. To create an exploded isometric, you need to know the detailed inner workings of whatever you are drawing, so they're are usually used at the final design stage for presentations to clients. 

Isometric drawing examples

Isometric drawing: Spectrum

Illustrator and art director Mauco  created this isometric map to represent the areas surrounding the SPECTRUM building in London. It shows just the main roads and landmarks to help people orientate themselves. 

Isometric drawing: Slack

Jing Zhang is an illustrator working mainly with clients in the advertising industry. She's built a particular reputation for her detailed exploded isometric designs, including this creation for Slack. It's part of a series to accompany the brand's stories, focusing on elements such as a happy mobile workforce (above). 

Isometric drawing: Silicon Valley

This design was created for an article in the The California Sunday Magazine, entitled The Tech Revolt and exploring political activism in the tech industry. In it, illustrator Tim Peacock uses isometric projection as a way of revealing the inner workings of a Silicon Valley office block. 

Isometric drawings: Cycle

MC Escher was perhaps the king of using isometric projections in his artworks. His use of parallel geometries to depict mind-bending staircases that go nowhere will be familiar to most. In Cycle (1938), shown above, is it clear how isometric projection comes into his work, from the pattern on the ground to the use of cubes that turn into steps. 

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  • Rosie Hilder

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  • Mastering Isometric Projection: 5 Common Drawing Techniques for Your Assignments

5 Techniques for Stunning Isometric Projection Assignment Drawings

Dr. Vivienne Sterling

Isometric projection is an effective drawing technique for representing three-dimensional objects on a two-dimensional surface. It depicts the shape, size, and dimensions of an object clearly and exactly. Understanding and implementing isometric projection will substantially improve your technical drawing skills, whether you're a student working on an assignment or a professional designer. This blog from Architecture Assignment Help will go over five typical isometric projection sketching approaches that you can use in your isometric assignments .

Isometric Grid Method:

An essential approach for creating isometric drawings is the isometric grid method. It entails drawing an equilateral triangle grid on your paper to represent the three axes of an isometric projection. Each grid point corresponds to a certain coordinate in the three-dimensional space of the object. You may precisely sketch the item in isometric projection by connecting these points. This method is very beneficial for novices because it provides a systematic approach to making isometric drawings.

Stunning-Isometric-Projection-Assignment

Box method:

Another popular technique for making isometric projections is the box method. Visualizing the thing as a series of interlocking boxes is required. Begin by creating a rectangle box to represent the object's base or front face. Then, extend lines at a 30-degree angle from each corner of the box to form the object's sides. Complete the isometric projection by connecting the matching corners. By breaking complex structures down into simpler geometric forms, the box approach simplifies them.

Offset Technique:

The offset method is a versatile technique for drawing objects that are not parallel to the isometric axis. It entails sketching the object in a slightly rotated position with one of the three basic axes highlighted. To utilize this method, first, identify the object's orientation relative to the isometric axes. The item should then be drawn with small offsets from the isometric grid lines. When designing things with oblique angles or unusual shapes, the offset approach comes in handy.

Complexity to Isometric Drawings Using the Offset Method

The offset method in isometric projection is a versatile approach that allows you to create objects that are not aligned with the usual isometric axes. It allows you to portray objects from various angles or orientations, giving your isometric drawings depth and intricacy. You can make isometric projections of objects with oblique angles, unusual forms, or non-standard orientations using the offset approach. Let's look at the essential features and advantages of the offset method in isometric projection.

Understanding Object Orientation:

In isometric projection, objects are normally aligned at 120-degree angles with the three principal axes (x, y, and z). The offset approach, on the other hand, permits you to stray from this usual alignment. It necessitates a thorough understanding of object orientation and its relationship to the isometric axes. The offset method can be used to precisely describe an item by displaying its location and rotation relative to the isometric axes.

Drawing with Slight Offsets:

To begin, determine the orientation of the item you wish to draw about the isometric axes. After you've determined the position of the object, draw the isometric projection with small offsets from the isometric grid lines. These offsets represent the divergence of the object from the standard alignment. You can generate an isometric projection that precisely portrays the object's orientation by connecting the matching points and lines.

Depicting Oblique Angles and Irregular Shapes:

When sketching objects with oblique angles or irregular shapes that do not fit cleanly with the isometric axis, the offset approach comes in handy. For example, if you want to draw a cube with an angle or a polygon with sides at non-orthogonal angles, you can use the offset approach to precisely represent these orientations. You may find the proper offsets and make a believable isometric projection by carefully observing the object's angles and proportions.

Adding Depth and Complexity:

The offset approach adds depth and complexity to your isometric drawings by creating perspective changes. The offset method allows you to introduce alternative viewpoints and orientations rather than depending simply on the traditional 120-degree angles. This results in a more dynamic portrayal of the item, which improves the visual intrigue and realism of your isometric drawings. Using the offset method, objects appear more three-dimensional and visually appealing.

Increasing Visual Appeal:

Using the offset method, you may break free from the stiffness of typical isometric projections, giving your designs a unique and creative touch. You may make isometric drawings that stand out and attract attention by varying the orientation and perspective. The offset method fosters experimentation and creativity, allowing you to experiment with multiple perspectives and create visually interesting compositions for your isometric drawings.

Experimentation and Practice:

Mastering the offset approach in isometric projection necessitates practice and experimentation. To become acquainted with the approach, begin by drawing small things with slight offsets from the isometric grid lines. As your confidence grows, try drawing more complicated things with varied angles and orientations. Examine how offsets affect the overall look and depth of your isometric drawings. You will improve your skills and have a solid understanding of object orientation in isometric projection as you practice.

Method of freehand drawing:

While the grid and box methods are both exact and structured ways of isometric drawing, the freehand method is more artistic and expressive. This method entails sketching isometric projections without using grids or boxes. Instead, you rely on your ability to appropriately visualize and represent the item. Freehand sketching takes practice and a good understanding of perspective, but it allows for more creativity and freedom in your work.

Let's look at the essential features and advantages of the freehand method in isometric projection.

Three-Dimensional Visualization:

The freehand method requires you to see items in three dimensions without the use of guidelines or frameworks. It necessitates a firm grasp of perspective and spatial relationships. With practice, you will be able to mentally rotate and move things, allowing you to depict them precisely in isometric projection. The freehand method improves not only your technical drawing skills but also your spatial awareness and visual perception.

Expressive Interpretation:

In contrast to the organized grid or box systems, the freehand method allows for more interpretation and personal style. It enables you to add creative flair to your isometric drawings. You can draw attention to specific aspects, exaggerate proportions, or experiment with various line weights and styles. Because of this creative freedom, you may use your isometric drawings to portray a specific mood, ambiance, or narrative, making them genuinely distinctive and intriguing.

Developing Observation Skills:

The freehand method requires you to attentively observe and comprehend the topic matter. You must research the object's shapes, angles, and dimensions, as well as how light interacts with it. You may accurately represent these elements in your isometric drawings by carefully observing and evaluating them. This exercise improves your observational abilities and attention to detail, which you can then apply to other parts of art and design.

Spontaneity and fluidity:

The freehand style promotes a more spontaneous and intuitive approach to drawing. You may make isometric drawings with a sense of flow and movement depending on your intuition and aesthetic senses. This method enables fast, expressive strokes that capture the spirit of the thing. The freehand method's fluidity and spontaneity can result in lively and energetic isometric drawings with their charm and personality.

Emphasizing creative Interpretation:

In freehand isometric drawings, the emphasis switches from technical precision to creative interpretation. While precision is still required, the goal is to capture the spirit and character of the thing rather than to achieve mathematical exactness. This artistic interpretation allows you to express your unique viewpoint and point of view, changing your isometric drawings into a form of creative expression.

Practicing and Improving Skills:

Mastering the freehand method in isometric projection necessitates regular practice and experimentation. Begin by drawing simple objects and work your way up to more complex subjects. Take note of proportions, angles, and perspective. Experiment with various approaches, line weights, and shading patterns to establish your distinct style. The more you practice, the more comfortable you will be sketching freehand isometric figures.

The isometric projection freehand method allows a world of artistic freedom and creativity. You may make isometric drawings that are not only technically precise but also infused with your distinct artistic touch depending on your visualization skills, observation, and personal flair. Accept the openness and spontaneity of the freehand method and utilize it to explore new ideas and push the limits of your creativity. You will build a distinct style and produce intriguing isometric drawings that stand out from the crowd with effort and practice.

Rendering and shading:

Once you've mastered the fundamentals of isometric projection, you can improve your drawings by using shading and rendering techniques. Shading your isometric drawings helps to create the illusion of depth and volume. To represent the direction and intensity of light on the object's surfaces, use techniques like hatching, cross-hatching, or stippling. Rendering techniques like adding textures and gradients improve the realism of your isometric designs.

Techniques for Shading: Shading is an important part of generating realistic isometric drawings. It entails applying ways to convey the direction and intensity of light on the object's surfaces, providing a sense of depth and volume. Here are three commonly used shading techniques:

Hatching is the process of drawing parallel lines or strokes in a specified direction to represent areas of shadow or darkness on the surface of an item. You can change the strength and gradient of the shadows by varying the spacing and thickness of the lines. Hatching works well on flat surfaces or regions with a uniform texture.

Cross-Hatching:

Cross-hatching extends the concept of hatching by adding a second set of parallel lines that intersect the first set of hatch lines. You may build more complicated shading patterns and textures by adjusting the angle and density of the intersecting lines. Cross-hatching works well for illustrating curved surfaces or areas with intersecting planes.

Stippling is the process of generating shading using a sequence of little dots or stippled patterns. You may achieve different tones and textures by adjusting the density and size of the dots. Stippling is useful for expressing rough or textured surfaces and can give your isometric drawings a distinct aesthetic appeal.

Techniques for Rendering:

Rendering techniques enhance the appearance, texture, and realism of your isometric designs by complementing shading. Here are two common rendering strategies you might try:

Textures may bring your isometric drawings to life and offer a more immersive experience. By carefully observing and copying the patterns and qualities of various textures, such as wood, metal, fabric, or stone, you can create your own. Textures can be created using precise hatching, cross-hatching, or stippling techniques, as well as by combining different line weights and patterns.

Gradients are used to create a progressive change in value over a surface by gently transitioning from one hue or tone to another. Gradients are particularly useful for things with curved or rounded surfaces because they allow you to imitate the dance of light and shadow. To accomplish seamless transitions between tones, use blending techniques such as blending stumps, brushes, or even digital tools.

Experimentation and application:

To perfect shading and rendering techniques, practice and experiments are required. Begin by investigating real-world objects and watching how light interacts with various surfaces and materials. Take note of the light's direction, intensity, and quality, as well as the way shadows are cast. This insight will help you make better shading decisions and create more realistic isometric graphics.

It is also necessary to experiment with various tools and materials. To apply shading and rendering techniques, you can use pencils, pens, markers, or digital tools, depending on your inclination. Each medium has its own set of possibilities and effects, so experiment with several mediums to see what works best for you.

The use of shading and rendering techniques is critical for increasing the realism and visual impact of your isometric designs. You may bring life and interest to your drawings by mastering hatching, cross-hatching, stippling, and applying textures and gradients. To improve your talents, remember to practice, examine real-life items, and experiment with new tools and materials. You may take your isometric drawings to new levels of aesthetic expression with effort and imagination.

Conclusion:

Isometric projection is a useful ability for everyone who works in technical drawing or design. You can make accurate and visually appealing isometric drawings for your assignments by knowing and applying the five typical strategies covered in this article. Whether you prefer the rigidity of grid and box approaches or the artistic freedom of freehand, practice and experimenting will help you improve your skills. So, take out your pencils and begin exploring the world of isometric projection - the possibilities are limitless!

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Mastering isometric projection: 5 common drawing techniques for your assignments submit your assignment, attached files.

Browse Course Material

Course info, instructors.

  • Prof. Daniel Frey
  • Prof. David Gossard

Departments

  • Mechanical Engineering

As Taught In

  • Robotics and Control Systems
  • Mechanical Design

Learning Resource Types

Design and manufacturing i, design handbook: engineering drawing and sketching.

To see an animated version of this tutorial, please see the Drawing and Drafting section in MIT’s Engineering Design Instructional Computer System. (EDICS)

Drawing Handout Index

Isometric drawing.

Orthographic or Multiview Drawings

Dimensioning

Drawing tools.

Assembly Drawings

Cross-Sectional Views

Half-sections.

Sections of Objects with Holes, Ribs, etc.

More Dimensioning

Where to Put Dimensions

Introduction

One of the best ways to communicate one’s ideas is through some form of picture or drawing. This is especially true for the engineer. The purpose of this guide is to give you the basics of engineering sketching and drawing.

We will treat “sketching” and “drawing” as one. “Sketching” generally means freehand drawing. “Drawing” usually means using drawing instruments, from compasses to computers to bring precision to the drawings.

This is just an introduction. Don’t worry about understanding every detail right now - just get a general feel for the language of graphics.

We hope you like the object in Figure 1, because you’ll be seeing a lot of it. Before we get started on any technical drawings, let’s get a good look at this strange block from several angles.

isometric drawing assignment

Figure 1 - A Machined Block.

The representation of the object in figure 2 is called an isometric drawing. This is one of a family of three-dimensional views called pictorial drawings. In an isometric drawing, the object’s vertical lines are drawn vertically, and the horizontal lines in the width and depth planes are shown at 30 degrees to the horizontal. When drawn under these guidelines, the lines parallel to these three axes are at their true (scale) lengths. Lines that are not parallel to these axes will not be of their true length.

isometric drawing assignment

Figure 2 - An Isometric Drawing.

Any engineering drawing should show everything: a complete understanding of the object should be possible from the drawing. If the isometric drawing can show all details and all dimensions on one drawing, it is ideal. One can pack a great deal of information into an isometric drawing. However, if the object in figure 2 had a hole on the back side, it would not be visible using a single isometric drawing. In order to get a more complete view of the object, an orthographic projection may be used.

Orthographic or Multiview Drawing

Imagine that you have an object suspended by transparent threads inside a glass box, as in figure 3.

isometric drawing assignment

Figure 3 - The block suspended in a glass box.

Then draw the object on each of three faces as seen from that direction. Unfold the box (figure 4) and you have the three views. We call this an “orthographic” or “multiview” drawing.

isometric drawing assignment

Figure 4 - The creation of an orthographic multiview drawing.

isometric drawing assignment

Figure 5 - A multiview drawing and its explanation.

Which views should one choose for a multiview drawing? The views that reveal every detail about the object. Three views are not always necessary; we need only as many views as are required to describe the object fully. For example, some objects need only two views, while others need four. The circular object in figure 6 requires only two views.

isometric drawing assignment

Figure 6 - An object needing only two orthogonal views.

isometric drawing assignment

Figure 7 - An isometric view with dimensions.

We have “dimensioned” the object in the isometric drawing in figure 7. As a general guideline to dimensioning, try to think that you would make an object and dimension it in the most useful way. Put in exactly as many dimensions as are necessary for the craftsperson to make it -no more, no less. Do not put in redundant dimensions. Not only will these clutter the drawing, but if “tolerances” or accuracy levels have been included, the redundant dimensions often lead to conflicts when the tolerance allowances can be added in different ways.

Repeatedly measuring from one point to another will lead to inaccuracies. It is often better to measure from one end to various points. This gives the dimensions a reference standard. It is helpful to choose the placement of the dimension in the order in which a machinist would create the part. This convention may take some experience.

There are many times when the interior details of an object cannot be seen from the outside (figure 8).

isometric drawing assignment

Figure 8 - An isometric drawing that does not show all details.

We can get around this by pretending to cut the object on a plane and showing the “sectional view”. The sectional view is applicable to objects like engine blocks, where the interior details are intricate and would be very difficult to understand through the use of “hidden” lines (hidden lines are, by convention, dotted) on an orthographic or isometric drawing.

Imagine slicing the object in the middle (figure 9):

isometric drawing assignment

Figure 9 - “Sectioning” an object.

isometric drawing assignment

Figure 10 - Sectioning the object in figure 8.

Take away the front half (figure 10) and what you have is a full section view (figure 11).

isometric drawing assignment

Figure 11 - Sectioned isometric and orthogonal views.

The cross-section looks like figure 11 when it is viewed from straight ahead.

To prepare a drawing, one can use manual drafting instruments (figure 12) or computer-aided drafting or design, or CAD. The basic drawing standards and conventions are the same regardless of what design tool you use to make the drawings. In learning drafting, we will approach it from the perspective of manual drafting. If the drawing is made without either instruments or CAD, it is called a freehand sketch.

isometric drawing assignment

Figure 12 - Drawing Tools.

"Assembly" Drawings

An isometric view of an “assembled” pillow-block bearing system is shown in figure 13. It corresponds closely to what you actually see when viewing the object from a particular angle. We cannot tell what the inside of the part looks like from this view.

We can also show isometric views of the pillow-block being taken apart or “disassembled” (figure 14). This allows you to see the inner components of the bearing system. Isometric drawings can show overall arrangement clearly, but not the details and the dimensions.

isometric drawing assignment

Figure 13 - Pillow-block (Freehand sketch).

isometric drawing assignment

Figure 14 - Disassembled Pillow-block.

A cross-sectional view portrays a cut-away portion of the object and is another way to show hidden components in a device.

Imagine a plane that cuts vertically through the center of the pillow block as shown in figure 15. Then imagine removing the material from the front of this plane, as shown in figure 16.

isometric drawing assignment

Figure 15 - Pillow Block.

isometric drawing assignment

Figure 16 - Pillow Block.

This is how the remaining rear section would look. Diagonal lines (cross-hatches) show regions where materials have been cut by the cutting plane.

isometric drawing assignment

Figure 17 - Section “A-A”.

This cross-sectional view (section A-A, figure 17), one that is orthogonal to the viewing direction, shows the relationships of lengths and diameters better. These drawings are easier to make than isometric drawings. Seasoned engineers can interpret orthogonal drawings without needing an isometric drawing, but this takes a bit of practice.

The top “outside” view of the bearing is shown in figure 18. It is an orthogonal (perpendicular) projection. Notice the direction of the arrows for the “A-A” cutting plane.

isometric drawing assignment

Figure 18 - The top “outside” view of the bearing.

A half-section is a view of an object showing one-half of the view in section, as in figure 19 and 20.

isometric drawing assignment

Figure 19 - Full and sectioned isometric views.

isometric drawing assignment

Figure 20 - Front view and half section.

The diagonal lines on the section drawing are used to indicate the area that has been theoretically cut. These lines are called section lining or cross-hatching . The lines are thin and are usually drawn at a 45-degree angle to the major outline of the object. The spacing between lines should be uniform.

A second, rarer, use of cross-hatching is to indicate the material of the object. One form of cross-hatching may be used for cast iron, another for bronze, and so forth. More usually, the type of material is indicated elsewhere on the drawing, making the use of different types of cross-hatching unnecessary.

isometric drawing assignment

Figure 21 - Half section without hidden lines.

Usually hidden (dotted) lines are not used on the cross-section unless they are needed for dimensioning purposes. Also, some hidden lines on the non-sectioned part of the drawings are not needed (figure 12) since they become redundant information and may clutter the drawing.

Sectioning Objects with Holes, Ribs, Etc.

The cross-section on the right of figure 22 is technically correct. However, the convention in a drawing is to show the view on the left as the preferred method for sectioning this type of object.

isometric drawing assignment

Figure 22 - Cross section.

The purpose of dimensioning is to provide a clear and complete description of an object. A complete set of dimensions will permit only one interpretation needed to construct the part. Dimensioning should follow these guidelines.

  • Accuracy: correct values must be given.
  • Clearness: dimensions must be placed in appropriate positions.
  • Completeness: nothing must be left out, and nothing duplicated.
  • Readability: the appropriate line quality must be used for legibility.

The Basics: Definitions and Dimensions

The dimension line is a thin line, broken in the middle to allow the placement of the dimension value, with arrowheads at each end (figure 23).

isometric drawing assignment

Figure 23 - Dimensioned Drawing.

An arrowhead is approximately 3 mm long and 1 mm wide. That is, the length is roughly three times the width. An extension line extends a line on the object to the dimension line. The first dimension line should be approximately 12 mm (0.6 in) from the object. Extension lines begin 1.5 mm from the object and extend 3 mm from the last dimension line.

A leader is a thin line used to connect a dimension with a particular area (figure 24).

isometric drawing assignment

Figure 24 - Example drawing with a leader.

A leader may also be used to indicate a note or comment about a specific area. When there is limited space, a heavy black dot may be substituted for the arrows, as in figure 23. Also in this drawing, two holes are identical, allowing the “2x” notation to be used and the dimension to point to only one of the circles.

Where To Put Dimensions

The dimensions should be placed on the face that describes the feature most clearly. Examples of appropriate and inappropriate placing of dimensions are shown in figure 25.

isometric drawing assignment

Figure 25 - Example of appropriate and inappropriate dimensioning.

In order to get the feel of what dimensioning is all about, we can start with a simple rectangular block. With this simple object, only three dimensions are needed to describe it completely (figure 26). There is little choice on where to put its dimensions.

isometric drawing assignment

Figure 26 - Simple Object.

We have to make some choices when we dimension a block with a notch or cutout (figure 27). It is usually best to dimension from a common line or surface. This can be called the datum line of surface. This eliminates the addition of measurement or machining inaccuracies that would come from “chain” or “series” dimensioning. Notice how the dimensions originate on the datum surfaces. We chose one datum surface in figure 27, and another in figure 28. As long as we are consistent, it makes no difference. (We are just showing the top view).

isometric drawing assignment

Figure 27 - Surface datum example.

isometric drawing assignment

Figure 28 - Surface datum example.

In figure 29 we have shown a hole that we have chosen to dimension on the left side of the object. The Ø stands for “diameter”.

isometric drawing assignment

Figure 29 - Exampled of a dimensioned hole.

When the left side of the block is “radiuses” as in figure 30, we break our rule that we should not duplicate dimensions. The total length is known because the radius of the curve on the left side is given. Then, for clarity, we add the overall length of 60 and we note that it is a reference (REF) dimension. This means that it is not really required.

isometric drawing assignment

Figure 30 - Example of a directly dimensioned hole.

Somewhere on the paper, usually the bottom, there should be placed information on what measuring system is being used (e.g. inches and millimeters) and also the scale of the drawing.

isometric drawing assignment

Figure 31 - Example of a directly dimensioned hole.

This drawing is symmetric about the horizontal centerline. Centerlines (chain-dotted) are used for symmetric objects, and also for the center of circles and holes. We can dimension directly to the centerline, as in figure 31. In some cases this method can be clearer than just dimensioning between surfaces.

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Mastering the Art of Isometric Drawings: A Complete Introduction for Beginners

Mastering the Art of Isometric Drawings: A Complete Introduction for Beginners

Introduction

Building drawing services are improved using isometric drawings , which give a precise or in-depth illustration of three-dimensional objects. Architects, engineers, and contractors may better convey their ideas, enhance the perception of space, and speed up the building procedure by adding isometric drawings within the conceptualization and planning stage of building assignments. This article is going to introduce isometric drawings, go over some of their main advantages and characteristics, describe how to make them, look at many of their application throughout the building sector, and emphasize how these drawings might be used within   Construction Drawing Services for bettering the results of projects.

Definition and Purpose of Isometric Drawings

Drawings that depict an object with three dimensions or regions in a two-dimensional perspective are known as isometric drawings. Such conventional orthographic drawings properly and proportionately portray the finished product by using an exact dimension and geometric relation to describe items.

Key Features and Benefits of Isometric Drawings

1)  Visual Representation in Three Dimensions

In contrast to conventional 2D drawings, isometric drawings offer a three-dimensional visualization of objects or locations, enabling stakeholders to better visualize concepts. Isometric drawings offer an integrated view by concurrently displaying multiple perspectives of an object, assisting designers and clients in better comprehending the result.

2)  Clear Communication of Design Intent

Designers can express their concepts using simplicity and accuracy using isometric drawings. Since these designs seem more logical and aesthetically pleasing, they aid in bridging the knowledge that separates technical drawings and laypersons. Isometric drawing allows designers to call attention to specific characteristics, dimensions, or intricate details, guaranteeing everyone working on the project is aware of the design purpose.

3)  Improved Spatial Understanding

Isometric drawings offer a thorough overview of a building or area, allowing participants to understand spatial connections clearly. Drawings like this assist in detecting the possible disputes or impediments beforehand and additionally assist in avoiding mistakes throughout the construction by demonstrating how many different elements corresponded properly as well as engage.

Creating Isometric Drawings

1)  Tools and Techniques

It is possible to create isometric drawings manually with a pen and paper or digitally with CAD software. Traditionally, drawing tools, rulers, as well as specialised isometric grids were used. Orthographic Projection

The basis for producing isometric illustrations is orthographic projection. In order to accurately translate the object into an isometric format, it includes portraying the object through various perspectives (front, top, and side).

2)  Isometric Scale

To achieve accuracy, isometric drawings employ a particular scale. Common ratios used to describe the isometric scale are 1:1, 1:2, and 1:10. The correlation that exists between the object’s true size, as well as its portrayal on the drawing, is established by the scale used.

3)  Drawing Guidelines

There are various rules that must be observed in order to produce exact isometric drawings. These involve employing appropriate dimensioning procedures, ensuring constant line weights or styles, and fixing an angle across the vertical and horizontal axes at 30 degrees .

Isometric Drawing Applications in Construction

1)  Architecture and Structural Design

Architecture and structural design make heavy use of isometric drawings , which allow architects to present their thoughts to customers as well as other stakeholders. These illustrations assist in communicating the general layout, spatial layouts, and practical features of structures, helping well-informed decision-making throughout the design phase.

2)  Mechanical and Industrial Engineering

Isometric drawings are used within the design of equipment, machinery, and processes for manufacturing in mechanical and industrial engineering. Engineers may identify probable design defects, examine spatial linkages, and improve the overall aesthetic and performance of mechanical systems by visualizing complicated assemblies.

3)  Interior Design and Space Planning

Space planning and interior design both greatly benefit from the use of isometric drawings . Designers might utilize these drawings to demonstrate off-furniture placements, lighting schemes, and spatial interactions inside an interior or structure. The atmosphere, usefulness, or flow of a space can be visualized when it is built using isometric drawing.

Integrating Isometric Drawings into Construction Drawing Services

1)  Improved Visualization for Clients

The use of isometric drawing in construction drawing services allows experts to give customers a deeper idea of the finished product. Customers may view the endeavor in three dimensions, which makes it simpler to allow them to offer input while making defensible choices.

2)  Enhanced Collaboration Among Project Stakeholders

Effective communication between architects, engineers, contractors, and other stakeholders is made possible by isometric drawing. These illustrations serve as a universal language of visuals, facilitating clear communication as well as minimizing misconceptions. Stakeholders may engage about design components, spot possible problems, or collaborate together to discover remedies.

3)  Streamlined Construction Documentation

Construction documentation benefits from the addition of isometric drawing. Professionals give contractors precise and thorough information by incorporating precise isometric drawings within building drawing sets. The following speeds up the building process cut down on interruptions and lessens the chance of mistakes or reworking.

Construction drawing services can be improved with the use of isometric drawing. They enable efficient communication, enhanced teamwork, as well as expedited construction procedures by providing an accurate and thorough visualization of buildings and environments. Construction drawing specialists may assist clients in better-comprehending designs, encourage thoughtful choices, and reduce mistakes and modification, among other benefits by including isometric drawing within their services.

isometric drawing assignment

Isometric drawings

Put information in your drawings and diagrams into perspective with an isometric drawing. Create an isometric drawing from scratch, incorporate basic shapes, or use three-dimensional shapes and templates.

In this article:

Create an isometric drawing from scratch

Use basic shapes in isometric drawings, create an isometric drawing with a template, create an isometric drawing with a block diagram with perspective template.

In Visio, on the File menu, click New , and then click Basic Drawing .

Choose between Metric Units or US Units, and click Create .

Click the View tab, and then click the check box next to Grid in the Show area.

Click the Home tab, and then click the arrow next to the Rectangle shape in the Tools area, and select Line .

In the Tools area, select Line.

Draw the shape manually using the line tool.

Draw the shape manually using the line tool.

Top of Page

Click the Home tab, and then click More Shapes > General > Basic Shapes .

Select Basic Shapes.

Drag a shape from the Basic Shapes stencil onto the drawing pane.

Drag a shape from the Basic Shapes stencil onto the drawing pane.

Select the shape, and click the connection points to reshape and resize.

Tip:  You might need an exact replica of the shape to use elsewhere in the drawing. Press CTRL + C to copy the selected shape, and drag the copied shape to the side of the drawing until you are ready to use it.

Drag any other shapes that you need to build your drawing from Basic Shapes .

On the Home tab, click the arrow next to the Rectangle shape in the Tools area, and select Line .

Draw lines manually to complete the shape.

Draw lines manually to complete the shape.

Click the File tab, and then click Options .

Click Customize Ribbon .

On the Visio Options screen under Main Tabs, click the check box next to Developer .

Tip:  The Developer tab appears on the Visio ribbon.

Click the Home tab, click Select in the Editing group, and click Select All in the list.

Click the Developer tab.

In the Shape Design group, click Operations , and then click Trim .

Right-click the part of the shape or the line that you want to remove, and then click Cut .

Remove part of the shape.

Repeat Step 17 until the drawing or diagram is complete.

Complete the drawing.

If desired, remove the grid by clicking the View tab, and then click the check box next to Grid in the Show area.

The instructions below use the Block Diagram With Perspective template. Microsoft Visio has several three-dimensional templates. To find them, on the File tab, click New , enter “3D” into the search field, and choose the template that best fits your needs:

Block Diagram

Directional Map 3D

Block Diagram With Perspective

Work Flow Diagram – 3D

Detailed Network Diagram – 3D

Basic Network Diagram – 3D

(This template is not available in Visio for the web.)

In Visio, on the File menu, click New > General , and then click the Block Diagram With Perspective template.

From the Blocks with Perspective stencil, drag a shape onto the drawing page.

From the Blocks with Perspective stencil, drag a shape onto the drawing page.

Double-click the shape and type to add text.

Click the shape, click Fill in the Shape Styles area, and select a color.

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  • PowerPoints

Isometric Drawing and 3D Cubes

The above picture is a brilliant piece of computer art by Adobe Flash Programmer Ben Swift.

Go to the following link to see this artwork running, and changing colour in Flash on your computer. (Does not work on iPad).

http://benswift.com/2011/11/pretty-colors/

Isometric Cubes can be used to create a variety of 3D shapes, and are a great tool for learning how to visulaise in 3D.

Isometric drawing with cubes is often covered as part of Geometry topics in Mathematics.

In this lesson we take a quick look at drawing Isometric Cubes, as well as looking at some great online tools for working with 3D using cubes.

   

Isometric Drawing with Cubes

Making these 3D drawings involves using Isometric Dot Grid Paper, which can easily be obtained from Google Images.

If you want some lined grids then click the following link:

http://mathforum.org/workshops/sum98/participants/sanders/IsomGrid.html

Once we have the Grid Paper we can draw and colour in cubes like those shown above.

This type of drawing is also called “Orthographic Projection”.

Isometric Drawing Videos

Here is a nice short video which introduces the concept of Isometric Drawing.

This next short video shows how to make Isometric Alphabet Letters.

The following video shows how to make an Isometric Cubes Drawing when provided with a Front View, a Side View, and a Top View.

Isometric Drawing Worksheets

The links below are to worksheets we found on the Internet for Isometric Drawing.

Isometric Worksheet 1

Isometric Worksheet 2

Isometric Worksheet 3

Isometric Cubes Drawing Tool

The above online tool is great for drawing Isometric cubes.

it even has a 3D Rotatable Viewer which can be opened in a new window once you have placed a few blocks onto the grid.

It can be accessed at the following link:

http://illuminations.nctm.org/ActivityDetail.aspx?ID=125

Included are full instructions and a lesson on using this Isometric Cubes Drawing Tool at the following link:

There is also a ready made lesson about drawing the top view mat for Isometric shapes at the following link:

http://illuminations.nctm.org/LessonDetail.aspx?ID=L611

Isometric Cubes Counting Game

This is a fun game with a timer to count how many cubes are in each random isometric shape.

Play it at the following link:

http://www.mathplayground.com/cube_perspective.html

Building with Cubes Puzzle

There are ten puzzles to be solved.

On the main entry page, go to “Building with 3 Sides” and then choose the figures to do (there are 10 puzzles). You can move the grey grid square around to help you do views.

Once you play around and get used to how build mode works, it is a lot of fun.

Important tip for beginners – Build the top view onto the base mat first, and then work upwards from there.

Click the link below to go to the web page.

http://www.fisme.science.uu.nl/toepassingen/00724/

Related Items

Classifying Triangles Angle Sum in a Triangle Exterior Angle of a Triangle Angles in Parallel Lines GeoGebra Interactives at Mathwarehouse Jobs that use Geometry

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IMAGES

  1. How to draw ISOMETRIC PROJECTIONS

    isometric drawing assignment

  2. the diagram shows how to draw an object in three different ways

    isometric drawing assignment

  3. Isometric Drawing

    isometric drawing assignment

  4. Isometric Drawing in Autocad

    isometric drawing assignment

  5. What is an Isometric Drawing? Types And Step To Draw

    isometric drawing assignment

  6. Beginner Isometric Drawing Tutorial

    isometric drawing assignment

VIDEO

  1. Isometric Drawing Exercise No. 23 Bracket

  2. ISOMETRIC PROJECTION TECHNICAL DRAWING ENGINEERING DRAWING #wiselinkacademy

  3. #153 Isometric Drawing

  4. Isometric drawing chapter from my #procreate course ✨ #digitalart

  5. Isometric Drawing Practice: Mar 25, 2024 11:25 AM

  6. Isometric view projection

COMMENTS

  1. Connect the Dots: Isometric Drawing and Coded Plans

    Drawing Isometric Views from Coded Plans. As an optional/extra credit assignment, present to students the following peer teach exercise: Still in pairs, show students the drawing tips on slide 9. Then show students the coded plan shown to the far left on slide 10 (same as Figure 6-far left. Ask them to draw two different isometric views of the ...

  2. Isometric Drawing Tool

    Isometric Drawing Tool. Grade: 3rd to 5th, 6th to 8th, High School. Use this interactive tool to create dynamic drawings on isometric dot paper. Draw figures using edges, faces, or cubes. You can shift, rotate, color, decompose, and view in 2‑D or 3‑D. Start by clicking on the cube along the left side; then, place cubes on the grid where ...

  3. PDF UNIT 2.2: TECHNICAL DRAWING (ISOMETRIC)

    The word "isometric" is from the Greek, meaning "equal measure." Depth is shown by slanting the edges up at 30° angle from the horizontal. This type of drawing is especially useful to engineers because it shows depth, and each line is drawn to scale. How to Make an Isometric Drawing To make an isometric drawing, start with an ...

  4. Isometric drawing: a designer's guide

    An isometric drawing is a 3D representation of an object, room, building or design on a 2D surface. One of the defining characteristics of an isometric drawing, compared to other types of 3D representation, is that the final image is not distorted and is always to scale. This is due to the fact that the foreshortening of the axes is equal.

  5. Common Drawing Techniques for Isometric Projection Assignments

    Shading your isometric drawings helps to create the illusion of depth and volume. To represent the direction and intensity of light on the object's surfaces, use techniques like hatching, cross-hatching, or stippling. Rendering techniques like adding textures and gradients improve the realism of your isometric designs.

  6. Isometric Drawings: Part II

    All Lesson Plans Isometric Drawings: Part II Overview and Objective. In Isometric Drawings: Part 1, students will construct the side views of the three-dimensional objects and then, they will construct the 3D objects whose side views are given.. Before starting this activity, you may want to check the Isometric Drawings Part I Task.. Warm-Up

  7. Design Handbook: Engineering Drawing and Sketching

    Isometric Drawing. The representation of the object in figure 2 is called an isometric drawing. This is one of a family of three-dimensional views called pictorial drawings. In an isometric drawing, the object's vertical lines are drawn vertically, and the horizontal lines in the width and depth planes are shown at 30 degrees to the horizontal.

  8. Isometric Drawings: Part I

    Isometric Drawings: Part I Overview and Objective. In this lesson, students will construct three-dimensional figures using unit cubes on the isometric grid to generate the isometric views of the figures. Warm-Up. It is not easy to draw 3D objects on paper. To do this, we create a view of the object on the paper (the 2D plane) This is called a ...

  9. Isometric Design for Beginners

    Assignment. Create an isometric design of an object from around the house. ... For your sketch, my recommendation is that you use an isometric grid to draw onto. I've provided a resource that you can download, print off, that will allow you just to draw onto a grid. Or you can always do things digitally, just like I am doing right now in Photoshop.

  10. How to draw ISOMETRIC PROJECTIONS

    Learn to draw isometric projections using these simple steps provided. Isometric drawings are easy once you learn the basic Techniques.

  11. Isometric Drawing Lesson Plan

    Each student should have one sheet of isometric drawing paper, a protractor, and a pencil. Each group should have a set of markers (red, green, and blue), scissors, tape, and a large piece of art ...

  12. Isometric view drawing example 1 (easy). Links to practice files in

    For better images of the practice, download from the links below:Orthographic views (please don't make changes on my drive):Example 1: https://drive.google.c...

  13. Isometric Drawing Overview, Diagrams & Examples

    Isometric Drawing & 3-D. The purpose of an isometric drawing is to represent a three-dimensional item on a two-dimensional surface. When looking at an isometric drawing, three views are evident ...

  14. How to Construct an Isometric View of an Object

    Learn how to create stunning isometric views of objects using orthographic projections with this easy-to-follow tutorial. Our step-by-step guide with animati...

  15. Art of Isometric Drawings: A Complete Introduction for Beginners

    Introduction. Building drawing services are improved using isometric drawings, which give a precise or in-depth illustration of three-dimensional objects.Architects, engineers, and contractors may better convey their ideas, enhance the perception of space, and speed up the building procedure by adding isometric drawings within the conceptualization and planning stage of building assignments.

  16. Isometric drawing

    The isometric is one class of orthographic projections. (In making an orthographic projection, any point in the object is mapped onto the drawing by dropping a perpendicular from that point to the plane of the drawing.) An isometric projection results if the plane is oriented so that it makes equal angles (hence "isometric," or "equal measure") with the three principal planes of the ...

  17. Isometric drawings

    Create an isometric drawing from scratch. In Visio, on the File menu, click New, and then click Basic Drawing. Choose between Metric Units or US Units, and click Create. Click the View tab, and then click the check box next to Grid in the Show area. Click the Home tab, and then click the arrow next to the Rectangle shape in the Tools area, and ...

  18. Isometric Hand Drawing Walkthru

    In this video, I show you how to layout your drawings for the 1-3.1 Orthographic and Isometric Drawing assignment

  19. PDF Unit 8-Isometric Drawings

    An isometric projection is a representation of a view of an object at 35o 16' elevation and 45o azimuth. The principal axes of projection are obtained by rotating a cube through 45o about a vertical axis, then tilting it downward at 35o 16' (35.27o) as shown in Fig. 9.1a. A downward tilt of the cube shows the top face while an upward tilt ...

  20. PDF Isometric Drawing

    proficient at isometric drawing or whether it was a struggle for them, they all improved quickly and dramatically. Even the students who initially said the assignment was difficult were genuinely engaged in the activity within a few minutes. Our next step was to try to sketch block letters (Figure 3). Some letters are simple while

  21. PDF Chapter 7

    Chapter 7 - Isometric Drawings. In this assignment, we are going to look at creating isometric drawings with AutoCAD. These drawing appear to be three dimensional but they are not. An AutoCAD isometric drawing is a 2 dimensional drawing just like a paper drawing. AutoCAD provides some tools to aid us in creating the drawing, but not very many.

  22. Isometric Drawing and 3D Cubes

    Isometric Cubes can be used to create a variety of 3D shapes, and are a great tool for learning how to visulaise in 3D. Isometric drawing with cubes is often covered as part of Geometry topics in Mathematics. In this lesson we take a quick look at drawing Isometric Cubes, as well as looking at some great online tools for working with 3D using ...