<p>The distortion discussed in the Drawbox article are related to using a two point perspective in a manner that makes the object in the drawing look distorted.</p>
<p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perspective_(graphical)#Limitations" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Wikipedia has a nice article</a> on the limitations of the two point perspective.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Perspective images are calculated assuming a particular vanishing point. In order for the resulting image to appear identical to the original scene, a viewer of the perspective must view the image from the exact vantage point used in the calculations relative to the image. This cancels out what would appear to be distortions in the image when viewed from a different point. These apparent distortions are more pronounced away from the center of the image as the angle between a projected ray (from the scene to the eye) becomes more acute relative to the picture plane.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>The wiki article has this picture to illustrate misusing
<a href="https://i.sstatic.net/BGaxX.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/BGaxX.png" alt="enter image description here" /></a></p>
<blockquote>
<p>The work shows a scene that provides many deliberate examples of confused and misplaced perspective effects. Although the individual components of the scene seem self-consistent, the scene itself can be classed as an example of an impossible object.</p>
<p>Partial list of &quot;errors&quot;</p>
</blockquote>
<ol>
<li>The man in the foreground's fishing rod's line passes behind that of
the man behind him.</li>
<li>The sign is moored to two buildings, one in
front of the other, with beams that show no difference in depth</li>
<li>The
sign is overlapped by two distant trees.</li>
</ol>
<p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satire_on_False_Perspective#Summary" rel="nofollow noreferrer">The wiki article</a> goes on to list many more errors in the picture - these are all examples of distortion</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-02-10T20:40:28.690Z
2022-02-10T20:40:28.690Z
David D
<p>Linear perspective tutorials like <a href="https://drawabox.com/lesson/1/7/distortion" rel="nofollow noreferrer">drawabox</a> often mention distortion, but never define it.  Wikipedia defines distortion for <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perspective_distortion_(photography)" rel="nofollow noreferrer">photography</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distortion_(optics)" rel="nofollow noreferrer">optics</a> and they seem related, but I want a definition specifically for drawing.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-02-09T06:19:07.963Z
Hi d_iv, can you cite a few references? What distortion exactly are you talking about? The visual distortion in the links you give can be applied to perspective construction, but why do you want a definition, specifically?
Joachim
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-02-09T17:06:35.323Z
Added a link to a relevant tutorial.  I want a definition because supposedly distortion is bad.  Without knowing the definition I can't identify it, and if I can't identify it, I can't correct it.
d_iv
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-02-09T17:42:06.473Z
Do you have any reason to believe there's a special definition separate from the dictionary definition? https://www.dictionary.com/browse/distort
Allison C
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-02-09T19:00:29.067Z
I agree with Allison C.  It seems like if the author meant something different from the common definition, they would have been more explicit in defining and explaining it.  When the term is used in different specialties, the meaning doesn't change, just how it commonly manifests in that application or medium.
fixer1234
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-02-09T22:05:22.817Z
I think the word "distortion" is misleading and incorrect. In the article you linked, it's a limitation of a system we have invented to recreate apparent visual depth/volume. It's neither a distortion within that system nor of what it represents (if this is something you'd consider an answer, I can elaborate this comment as an answer).
Joachim
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-02-09T23:18:28.197Z
@Joachim Please do
d_iv
<drawing><terminology><linear-perspective>
What is distortion?
d_iv
# What is distortion?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2022-02-09)

Linear perspective tutorials like [drawabox](https://drawabox.com/lesson/1/7/distortion) often mention distortion, but never define it. Wikipedia defines distortion for [photography](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perspective_distortion_(photography)) and [optics](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distortion_(optics)) and they seem related, but I want a definition specifically for drawing.

**Tags:** drawing, terminology, linear-perspective

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Hi username_0, can you cite a few references? What distortion exactly are you talking about? The visual distortion in the links you give can be applied to perspective construction, but why do you want a definition, specifically?  
> **username_0**: Added a link to a relevant tutorial.  I want a definition because supposedly distortion is bad.  Without knowing the definition I can't identify it, and if I can't identify it, I can't correct it.  
> **username_2**: Do you have any reason to believe there's a special definition separate from the dictionary definition? https://www.dictionary.com/browse/distort  
> **username_3**: I agree with username_2.  It seems like if the author meant something different from the common definition, they would have been more explicit in defining and explaining it.  When the term is used in different specialties, the meaning doesn't change, just how it commonly manifests in that application or medium.  
> **username_1**: I think the word "distortion" is misleading and incorrect. In the article you linked, it's a limitation of a system we have invented to recreate apparent visual depth/volume. It's neither a distortion within that system nor of what it represents (if this is something you'd consider an answer, I can elaborate this comment as an answer).  
> **username_0**: @username_1 Please do  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_4 on 2022-02-10. Score: 2

The distortion discussed in the Drawbox article are related to using a two point perspective in a manner that makes the object in the drawing look distorted.

[Wikipedia has a nice article](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perspective_(graphical)#Limitations) on the limitations of the two point perspective.

> Perspective images are calculated assuming a particular vanishing point. In order for the resulting image to appear identical to the original scene, a viewer of the perspective must view the image from the exact vantage point used in the calculations relative to the image. This cancels out what would appear to be distortions in the image when viewed from a different point. These apparent distortions are more pronounced away from the center of the image as the angle between a projected ray (from the scene to the eye) becomes more acute relative to the picture plane.

The wiki article has this picture to illustrate misusing
[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/BGaxX.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/BGaxX.png)

> The work shows a scene that provides many deliberate examples of confused and misplaced perspective effects. Although the individual components of the scene seem self-consistent, the scene itself can be classed as an example of an impossible object.
>
> Partial list of "errors"

1. The man in the foreground's fishing rod's line passes behind that of
   the man behind him.
2. The sign is moored to two buildings, one in
   front of the other, with beams that show no difference in depth
3. The
   sign is overlapped by two distant trees.

[The wiki article](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satire_on_False_Perspective#Summary) goes on to list many more errors in the picture - these are all examples of distortion


---

