How Do You Add Perspective Points In Photoshop?

There are two main methods to add perspective points in Photoshop:

the Perspective Warp tool for non-destructive, full-control adjustments and the Vanishing Point filter, ideal for compositing images and applying textures to existing planes.

Method 1: Using the Perspective Warp Tool

The Perspective Warp tool gives you the most flexibility, allowing you to define the planes of your image and then warp them independently. This is perfect for correcting lens distortion in architectural photography or for dramatically changing the point of view of an object.

Step 1: Prepare your layer

First, open your image and select the layer you want to adjust. To work non-destructively, which is highly recommended, convert your layer into a Smart Object. This allows you to make changes without permanently affecting the original pixels and to re-edit your settings later.

• Right-click the layer in the Layers panel and choose Convert to Smart Object.

Step 2: Access the Perspective Warp tool

Navigate to Edit > Perspective Warp from the top menu. This will open a specialized workspace with two modes: Layout and Warp.

Step 3: Define your perspective planes (Layout mode)

In the initial Layout mode, you will create a quad (a four-sided grid) to define the perspective of a flat plane in your image.

• Click and drag to draw a quad over a surface in your image, like the side of a building or a floor.
• Use the corner handles of the grid to align the quad with the natural perspective lines of your object. As you drag, Photoshop's smart guides will help you snap to parallel lines.
• For multi-sided objects, like a box, draw additional quads and snap their edges to the sides of the first quad. Photoshop will automatically create a seamless transition.
• You can also hold Shift and click on a line to make it perfectly vertical or horizontal.

Step 4: Adjust the perspective (Warp mode)

Once you have defined your planes, switch from Layout mode to Warp mode in the options bar at the top.

• Click and drag any of the corner points to freely adjust and change the perspective of the planes you created. For instance, you can shift a building's apparent angle to make it seem like it was photographed from a different spot.
• Hold Shift while dragging a corner point to constrain the movement and maintain straight lines, or click on the horizontal and vertical alignment icons in the top bar to straighten lines automatically.

Step 5: Finalize and clean up

• When you are satisfied with the changes, press Enter or click the checkmark icon in the options bar to apply the warp.
• Since warping can cause the edges of your image to become transparent, you may need to use the Crop Tool to trim the canvas or use the Clone Stamp or Healing Brush tools to fill in the missing areas.

Method 2: Using the Vanishing Point Filter

The Vanishing Point filter is the classic compositing tool for placing text, images, or logos onto a perspective plane. It's especially useful for mocking up designs on objects within a photo.

Step 1: Prepare your content

First, open your image and create the content you want to place in perspective.

• For text, create a new text layer, then use the Selection Tool to select the text and copy it (Ctrl + C or Cmd + C). Hide the original text layer.
• For an image, simply copy the layer or a selected portion of it.

Step 2: Access the Vanishing Point filter

Create a new, empty layer to house your perspective content. Then go to Filter > Vanishing Point.

Step 3: Define the perspective plane

In the Vanishing Point dialog box, select the Create Plane Tool (the icon looks like a grid or press C).

• Click on the four corners of the surface you want to place content on. As you connect the points, a perspective grid will appear. If the grid is blue, the perspective is valid. If it's yellow or red, you need to adjust your points until it turns blue.
• You can adjust the anchor points by clicking and dragging them until the grid perfectly aligns with the surface.
• To create a new plane that extends from an existing one, hold Ctrl (Windows) or Cmd (Mac) and drag a corner point outwards.

Step 4: Paste and place your content

• Paste your copied text or image by pressing Ctrl + V (Windows) or Cmd + V (Mac). The pasted content will appear as a floating selection.
• Drag the pasted content onto the perspective grid you created. It will automatically snap and conform to the grid's perspective.
• You can then use the Transform Tool (accessible by pressing T) to resize, rotate, or reposition your content within the grid. Hold Shift while dragging to maintain proportions.

Step 5: Blend the content (optional)

• For a more realistic blend, click OK to exit the filter.
• In the Layers panel, change the blending mode of your new layer to one that works well with the background, such as Multiply or Soft Light.
• For advanced blending, you can double-click the layer to open the Layer Style dialog box and use the Blend If sliders while holding Alt (Windows) or Option (Mac) to create a smoother transition between the image and the surface texture.

Method 3: Manually Creating a Perspective Grid

For artists or anyone needing a custom guide for drawing or compositing, you can manually create a perspective grid using the Polygon Tool.

Step 1: Prepare a new layer

Create a new layer to serve as your grid guide.

Step 2: Use the Polygon Tool

• Select the Polygon Tool from the toolbar.
• In the options bar at the top, change the settings:
  • Set the number of Sides to a high number, like 100.
  • Click the gear icon and check Star, and set the Indent Sides By percentage to a high value like 99%.
• Click on your canvas and drag out a star shape. It will appear as a series of converging lines, forming a perspective grid.

Step 3: Customize your grid

• For a one-point perspective, simply place the center of the star where you want your vanishing point.
• For a two-point perspective, you can create two of these grids, moving the center of each to act as separate vanishing points on a single horizon line.
• Adjust the layer's opacity and blending mode to make it easy to see while you work. You can then use this grid as a guide for drawing or placing objects in perspective.