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Spherical Perspective

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Handbook of the Mathematics of the Arts and Sciences

Abstract

We survey the present state of spherical perspective, regarding both mathematical structure and drawing practice, with a view to applications in the visual arts. We define a spherical perspective as the entailment of a conical anamorphosis with a compact flattening of the visual sphere. We examine a general framework for solving spherical perspectives, exemplified with the azimuthal equidistant (“fisheye”) and equirectangular cases. We consider the relation between spherical and curvilinear perspectives. We briefly discuss computer renderings but focus on methods adapted to freehand sketching or technical drawing with simple instruments such as ruler and compass. We discuss how handmade spherical perspective drawings can generate immersive anamorphoses, which can be rendered as virtual reality panoramas, leading to hybrid visual creations that bridge the gap between traditional drawing and digital environments.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. CIAC-UAb, Center for Research in Arts and Communication, Universidade Aberta, Lisbon, Portugal

    António B. Araújo

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  1. António B. Araújo
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Correspondence to António B. Araújo .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mathematical Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, MT, USA

    Bharath Sriraman

Section Editor information

  1. Department of Mathematical Sciences, The University of Montana, Missoula, MT, USA

    Bharath Sriraman

  2. Department of Mathematics Education, College of Education, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea

    Kyeong-Hwa Lee

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Araújo, A.B. (2021). Spherical Perspective. In: Sriraman, B. (eds) Handbook of the Mathematics of the Arts and Sciences. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-70658-0_100-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-70658-0_100-1

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  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-70658-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-70658-0

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