Placing People in Perspective
The fastest way to place people correctly is to use the horizon. If the viewer and the figures stand on the same flat ground and are similar in height, every figure's eyes land on the horizon line — near or far.
In short
- Standing viewer: standing adults' eyes are on the horizon.
- Seated viewer: the horizon crosses every standing adult at the same point (around the chest).
- Children and seated people are measured relative to an adult standing beside them.
Why it works
The horizon is at the viewer's eye height. Any point at that same height above the ground — anywhere in the scene — appears on the horizon. So if everyone is the same height and on the same ground, their eyes all sit on that line, regardless of distance.
Placing a figure anywhere
- Draw one reference figure. Draw a person at the correct size somewhere in the scene, eyes on the horizon if the viewer is standing.
- Pick the new location. Mark where the new figure's feet touch the ground.
- Run lines to a vanishing point. Draw lines from the reference figure's feet and head to any point on the horizon.
- Transfer the height. Draw a horizontal line from the new feet position to the foot line; at that spot, measure up to the head line. That vertical is the new figure's height. Move it back across horizontally.
Special cases
- Different ground levels: a person on a stage or a hill is raised; measure from their actual ground point.
- Looking up or down: in three-point perspective, figures also lean toward the third vanishing point.
- Crowds: place a few key figures accurately, then fill in; small variations in height look natural.
Frequently asked questions
What if the viewer is a child?
The horizon drops to the child's eye height, so adult figures' heads appear well above the horizon.
Does this work in two-point perspective?
Yes. It depends only on eye height, not on the number of vanishing points.