Using the Vanishing Point Filter in Photoshop

The vanishing point is an interesting concept that applies to both art and photography. By definition, the vanishing point is the point on the horizon where parallel lines seem to converge and create an impression of depth. You may also hear the term "convergence point" used, but it means essentially the same thing: a place on the horizon line in a painting or drawing where parallel lines seem to come together.

Artists use the vanishing point concept to create realism by making objects appear three-dimensional even though they are painted or drawn on a flat surface. The vanishing point concept isn't new, first emerging during the Renaissance. However, it grew into prominence in the art world in the 19th century as a tool to convey perspective in artistic works.

A work of art can have more than one vanishing point, depending on the artist's vision. Artists can select a vanishing point and compose the picture along diagonal lines that appear to vanish at the chosen point.

To visualize a vanishing point, imagine you are looking at train tracks that disappear over the horizon in the distance. At the place where they disappear, it will look like the two rails of the track come together. That's the vanishing point.

Want to learn more? A basic art class often covers the concept of vanishing point and you can seek out online photography courses as well.

It's no surprise that the vanishing point concept made its way into the world of photo editing--and into the industry-leading software tool, Photoshop. While Vanishing Point Photoshop tools are still available in older versions of the software, newer releases may not contain the Vanishing Point filter. If you're using newer versions of Adobe Photoshop or other Adobe tools, you should learn about Substance 3D features.

What does the Vanishing Point Photoshop feature do in prior versions? It makes it easy to achieve the correct perspective in images containing perspective planes, such as buildings, floors, walls, and other rectangular objects. The Vanishing Point tool allows you to specify or create planes in an image and apply various edits to enhance your photo.

You can get started using this asset by opening the Vanishing Point filter and using the Create Plan Tool to define a perspective plane. If Photoshop accepts the plane you've created, you'll see a blue grid that you can adjust to define the shape more precisely. You'll be making edits inside of that grid--and all the changes you make will be put into the perspective grid you've defined. Also, you can create multiple planes that may or may not be connected and save and delete planes as needed during the editing process.

By specifying the plane, you ensure that all edits are oriented to the proper perspective. That way, you can retain the look of your original image and make necessary adjustments. All of the tools in the Vanishing Point dialog box operate the same way as they do in the standard Photoshop menu. That means you can use familiar assets—such as the Marquee Tool, Stamp Tool, Transform Tool, and others—without any learning curve.

Even though the Photoshop Vanishing Point feature is not in the newest version, you can still seek out Photoshop tutorials that can help you understand how to use it. There isn't a vanishing point feature in Adobe Lightroom, but building your knowledge and skills with Lightroom tutorials is always a good idea.

There are three types of vanishing point perspectives to know:

• One-point perspective. This perspective approach uses one vanishing point on the horizon line. Typically, images with one point perspective are used in compositions in which viewers look at objects from the front. Lines extending from the foreground to the background come together at a single vanishing point.
• Two-point perspective. As its name implies, two-point perspective features two points of convergence, representing both width and depth. Most often, this perspective approach is relevant in compositions that portray objects at an angle.

Three-point perspective. This perspective approach is applicable in compositions which are looking down from a high vantage point or up at a large object, such as a building. This approach has three vanishing points: depth, width, and height.

Adobe announced in 2021 that it was removing its 3D features, including the Vanishing Point filter, in forthcoming updates. Not to worry: The company recognized that many of its users work with 3D so didn't remove 3D features entirely. Instead of creating a new Photoshop filter, Adobe launched a new Substance 3D collection to offer new and improved 3D tools. The Substance 3D collection is a suite of apps that are available across multiple Adobe software assets.

Here are essential Adobe Substance 3D assets to know:

• Substance 3D Stager: The Stager tool lets you create detailed 3D scenes. You can set up assets, refine materials, and add lighting and shadow effects to create a realistic environment. Smart tools make it efficient to build scenes and access resources developed by the Adobe Substance 3D team.
• Substance 3D Painter: This tool makes it easy to paint your 3D objects and add the vivid colors and textures needed to bring them to life. Featuring advanced brushes and materials, Substance 3D Painter is an industry-leading tool that's widely used in the film, video production, and gaming industries. Since the tool is non-destructive, you can experiment with realistic surface details without overwriting original image data or any concern about not being able to undo your actions. Painter records each stroke so you can make changes at any time.
• Substance 3D Designer: This professional-grade tool is the gold standard for materials authoring in video games and visual effects. You can create materials from scratch or access a library containing thousands of community-created assets. It's effortless to transition materials from Designer directly to Stager and Painter for use in every project.
• Substance 3D Sampler: Sampler lets you use a real-world photo as a base for your 3D creation efforts. You can start with any reference photo or capture one within the Sampler tool and transform it into realistic 3D material. Additionally, you can mix materials to develop more advanced and unique creations.
• Substance 3D: A powerful 3D shaping tool, Substance 3D Modeler lets you create conceptual art, sketches, and prototypes without the technical constraints of traditional 3D modeling. Throughout the design process, you can shift seamlessly from desktop to virtual reality (VR) to support your creative workflow.

These tool options help you create top-quality 3D designs that make an impact.