References / Heads, boxes & cylinders
Cylinders at three heights
Three 0.6 m cylinders 0.4, 1 and 2 m tall from a camera at 1.2 m: ellipse degree by height.
Open in the Perspective Box GeneratorDownload PNGLesson: Ellipses in Perspective: Circles, Cylinders & Wheels
What to look at
The rim nearest eye level is the thinnest ellipse; bases far below it are the roundest.
The tall cylinder's top is above eye level, so you see its underside curve the other way.
Every ellipse's minor axis points at the cylinder's axis, not at the horizon.
The camera
| Lens | 35 mm on full frame |
| Camera height | 1.2 m above the floor (seated) |
| Rotation | 20° to the scene's axes |
| Tilt | level (verticals stay vertical) |
| Objects | cylinder ⌀0.6 × 1 m · cylinder ⌀0.6 × 2 m · cylinder ⌀0.6 × 0.4 m |
| Floor | 1 m squares |
Open the reference in the tool to move the camera, change the lens, or add your own objects at real sizes; the share link keeps your version. Draw over the PNG at 30–50% opacity in any app with layers.