Vanishing point

A vanishing point is a point in a perspective drawing where parallel lines seem to converge into. The number and placement of the vanishing points determines which perspective technique is being used.

• linear perspective is drawing with 1-3 vanishing points.
• curvilinear perspective is drawing with 5 vanishing points mapped into a circle with 4 VPs at the cardinal headings N,W,S,E and one at the circle origin.
• reverse perspective is drawing with vanishing points that are placed outside the painting with the illusion that they are "in front of" the painting.

Other uses of the phrase "vanishing point" include:

• Vanishing Point, a 1971 movie starring Barry Newman and remade for TV in 1997 starring Viggo Mortensen.
• Vanishing Point, a 1997 album, named for the film, by Scottish rock group Primal Scream.