Expand or Shrink Shapes 2

So far, any method for expanding or shrinking a shape always assumed that you wanted to expand it in all directions- that is, make it a larger or smaller version of what it is.

This part is about expanding a shape in one dimension only- to lengthen OR widen a square or rectangle, for example.

The secret here is this: the center of any such expanded or shrunken shape will have the same center as the original did. That is the very core of this method.

In Fig. 4, we decided to expand this shape left and right only. So, the first thing to do is lengthen the line from VP1 through the front corner point a ways, and put a point on it where you want the front corner of the new shape to be.

Once you've done this, simply draw a line from VP2 through it, and lengthen the other line from VP1, as shown.

There you are- you are halfway there!

Now you have two new corners, and these will be used for the other extension- all you have to do is draw lines from the new corners through the center of the original shape- which is the center of the new one, too!- through the lines from VP1.

Draw a line from VP2 and there you are- the other part. Just as in Fig. 5.

Now, if it's too "close" to use one or the other lines, one will do. Using both simply helps verify that this was done right, that's all.

And that's it. It's that easy.

But take a moment to think about what you can do with this. What you did, in effect, was add extensions to the original shape. You could just as easily have stopped at one, if you wished.

Or- you could have built a sort of skyscraper, as in earlier parts of this tutorial, and then added one, two, three, or even four extensions to the bottom block. If you draw lines from the bottom corners of the extensions to the corners of the original shape, you can add ramps to the structure.

Do that upwards, and you'd have fantastic "wings."

Or add ramps and extensions perpendicular to the extensions themselves...

Remember, even the most complex picture is made of many simple parts. Don't limit yourself, use the things here in any way you'd like, this only covers a small part of what can be done!


Fig. 6 shows how to draw four "even" extensions. One look at it, and it's plain to see what to do: draw an expanded shape around the original, and then extend lines from the two vanishing points through the corners of the original shape. Leave in the darkened areas here, and you have your "+."

Of course, you COULD draw lines upward from the corner squares so formed...for corner towers on a fortress? Or, maybe pyramids?

Or draw those lines downward, so you have a platform with four legs?

It's up to you.