Introduction to 3D Sketching

After successfully completing this exercise, students will be able to sketch 3D rectangular and cylindrical objects.

I use this as a preliminary exercise to assess students' 3D sketching skills and to help prepare them to sketch more geometrically complex geological objects and features, such as 3D ripples or geologic block diagrams.

I tell the students that sketching 3D objects is a tool for spatial visualization, and that this exercise is designed to help them become comfortable sketching simple 3D objects.

Part 1:

On a single piece of paper, students sketch

1. A cube
2. A long, narrow, flat box
3. A long, narrow, skinny box
4. A short, wide cylinder
5. A tall, thin cylinder

Students upload a photo of these sketches before proceeding with the exercise.

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Photograph of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline, showing the effects of the 7.9 magnitude earthquake of 3 November 2002, Alaska, USA. View south along the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System in the zone where it was engineered to cross the fault (the pipeline rests on sliders rather than rigid pillar supports). The fault trace passes beneath the pipeline between the 2nd and 3rd slider supports at the far end of the zone. A large arc in the pipe can be seen in the pipe on the right, due to shortening of the zigzag-shaped pipeline trace within the fault zone.

Provenance: U.S. Geological Survey employee
Reuse: This item is in the public domain and maybe reused freely without restriction.

Part 2:

Students watch How to Sketch Boxes and Cylinders (MP4 Video 11.7MB Apr30 14), as many times as they like.

Part 3:

On one piece of paper, students sketch

1. A transparent box
2. An opaque box (one that you cannot see through)
3. A flat, wide box (transparent or opaque)

On a second piece of paper, students sketch

1. A long, thin cylinder
2. A cylinder with an oval cross-section
3. A curved cylinder

I use a Classroom Management System and have students upload photos of their sketches for each question before they can proceed to the next. Alternatively, you could simply have students turn in their initial sketches (part 1) before assigning the remainder of the exercise.

This exercise was developed as part of a set of exercises to support 3D visualization skills. These exercises had an intended order. Instructors can pick and choose the exercises, but the order we intended was as follows:

1. Introduction to 3D sketching
2. Sketching block diagrams
3. Sketching 3D Ripples and Dunes
4. Slicing cylinders
5. Slicing channels
6. Slicing fruit
7. Slicing rocks
8. Slicing fossils

I look through student sketches to make sure they draw something recognizable as a box or cylinder.

How to Sketch Boxes and Cylinders (MP4 Video 11.7MB Apr30 14)