: Isometric with or without a grid in Illustrator? So I'm doing this isometric thing. I started using a grid and thought I was well on my way. Loving it and understanding it. Until disaster

@Gail6891361

In essence drawing in isometric is the same as drawing in 2D. With the exception that you need to move each time in 3 directions instead of 2. This means that you need to artificially move in one direction more than your used to. Books could be written about this.

Isometric drawing is usually introduced by drawing on a grid. This is because it is conceptually easy to explain. The problem with the grid is that you easily end up with a situation where you end up needing to draw off grid. However if you really want to restrict yourself to a grid then its a ok.



Image 1: If you truly want to draw with a grid consider this tip

An astute reader would quite quickly draw the conclusion that the grid is not really needed. Just as you can use alternate ways to such as s ruler sticks and numeric input, just like in 2D, it also works in isometric 3D too. So if you all ways draw with grid snap in 2D then do so in isometric 3D also if not consider numeric input.

Consider following example of a 4 x 2 x 1 box. We could draw it in isometric with grid like follows:



Image 2: Using grid

On the other hand a grid is restrictive, if you later find out you need to divide the object into 5 what then? Well you could draw the primary lines with numeric input, remember your primary axes are the angles: 90, 210 and 330. The line tool pops up a dialog asking for either Cartesian or polar coordinates when you alt click.



Image 3: Not using grid, but same result.

So by not using a grid you can in fact do the same your just not restricted to a predefined division. So no need for the grid to follow your scaling just work without one.

--Work in progress more to come--

But there are ore powerful strategies. You can use SSR methods to transform a planar non-isometric image to isometric plane. This is handy for simple cases, but it also works on arbirary projections so theres no reason why you need to restrict yourself to the 3 standard planes.

Also something you rarely see advocated is isometric nudge, you know like the arrow keys. We can make the same nudge as a recorded action. And have ctrl + alt arrow keys or numeric keys for example bound to isometric nudge directions.

Sorry i'm a bit busy need to continue to morrow

Further reading


Illustrator: how to add isometric shadows

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@Dunderdale640

medium.muz.li/creating-isometric-illustrations-made-simple-with-the-geometric-technique-1a58bb2bb41e .This explains isometric shapes clearly. I can't explain it to you cause I'm lack of vocabularies. Sorry for my bad English.

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