Volume and Space

Fig.1 Linear Perspective

In order o create depth of field or volume with the help of color one has to apply tint, shade and tone. Depth of filed or volume may be created with the help line. However, if one desires to create volume and depth field with the help color, tint, shade and tone has to be applied in right proportion.

Creating the illusion of 3D space on a 2D surface is an important aspect in design. In 2D flat surface plane we try create illusion of space. Perceiving space and recreating on 2D surface needs to create volume with the help of mass. In order to create a perceptual space in design, particularly in architecture, ancient Green and Roman civilization invented principles of linear horizontal-vanishing point perspective.

“Perceptual space is the view of things at a particular time and from a fixed position. This is the stationary window view recorded by the camera and represented in the later periods of ancient Greek and Roman paintings and in most Western schools of painting since the Renaissance. Illusions of perceptual space are generally created by use of the linear perspectival system, based on the observations that objects appear to the eye to shrink and parallel lines and planes to converge as they approach the horizon, or viewer’s eye level.”
Ref. http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/438588/painting/60793/Volume-and-space ; May 25, 2012

Mass (or volume)

Plate11.A. Michelangelo	11.B Rubens	11.C Picasso

Source:
11.Ahttp://www.google.co.in/search?hl=en&q=michelangelo%20paintings&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.,cf.osb&biw=1272&bih=577&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=e2XAT7qPEcH5rAfUhK2vCQ ; May 26, 2012
11.B. http://www.google.co.in/search?hl=en&q=rubens&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.,cf.osb&biw=1272&bih=577&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=D2bAT_CNHonUrQe8q8DQCQ ; May 26, 2012

The above are the excellent examples of creating volume and depth of filed with the help of color tint, shade and volume along with other principles of perspective. The above three 2D paintings (plate 11 A,B & C) by the great masters show the use of technique of foreshortening that helped to create the linear perspective in 2D space. Foreshortening is the fundamental technique in creating illusion of 3D space on a 2D surface place. Along with the principles of perspective artists have applied tint, shade and tone to create the desired balance of mass and void to create volume. Thus volume has helped to create the illusion of depth of field (3D).