Perspective & Orthographic Projections

Comparing orthographic parallel projection volumes against perspective frustum structures.

Perspective Frustum

A frustum is a truncated pyramid representing the visible coordinate space. In Perspective Projection, objects undergo perspective division (dividing coordinates by $Z$), making distant objects appear smaller. This matches how biological eyes and photographic cameras perceive the physical world.

Orthographic Volume

In Orthographic Projection, the viewing volume is a rectangular box. Projecting lines are parallel to the viewing axis, meaning depth ($Z$) has no effect on screen scale. This is ideal for precision design applications like CAD and engineering drawings.

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