Perspective Grids in Photoshop

Method 1: Place a generated grid

1. Generate a matching grid. Choose the canvas aspect of your Photoshop document (or Custom with its pixel size) and export a transparent PNG, or an SVG if you want to scale it without blur.
2. Place it. Use File → Place Embedded and fit it to the canvas.
3. Lock and dim it. Lock the layer and reduce opacity to 25–50%.
4. Draw on a new layer. Sketch above the grid and hide it for final export.

Method 2: Polygon "star" lines

Select the Polygon tool, set many sides and a star indent so the shape becomes thin spokes, and drag from the vanishing point outward until the spokes cover the canvas. Duplicate and move it for a second vanishing point. It works, but adjusting the horizon later means rebuilding the shapes.

Method 3: The Vanishing Point filter

For photos and textures, create an empty layer and choose Filter → Vanishing Point. Click four corners with the Create Plane tool to define a plane; Ctrl/Command-drag an edge node to tear off connected planes. To keep the grid visible after closing the filter, choose Render Grids To Photoshop from the Vanishing Point menu before clicking OK — the grid is rendered as pixels on your layer.

The filter is designed for perspective-correct editing (cloning, pasting, painting on planes) rather than freehand drawing guides, which is why many illustrators prefer an imported grid.

Tips

• Put the grid in a group with a low-opacity blend so it never prints by accident.
• Hold Shift and click between two points with a brush to draw straight lines along grid lines.
• Use an SVG grid if you want to rescale it without blur.