Re[2]: best view

[Gerald_D._Brown...@ccmail.anatcp.rockwell.com]

Sandy Norman's answer is correct if your eye level is less than or equal to
the top of the painting and greater than or equal to the bottom of the painting.

If not, let T be the top and B be the bottom of the painting and C the point on
the wall at your eye level. Then you should stand at a distance from the wall
which is the geometric mean of TC and BC.

______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: Re: best view
Author: "F. Alexander Norman" <fno...@lonestar.jpl.utsa.edu> at SMTPGTY
Date: 3/6/95 17:29

On Thu, 2 Mar 1995, Dennis Wallace wrote:

> I have a problem
>
> I want to know the best view (angle) to look at a painting.
>
> I am sure most of you have seen it before. I am especially interested in how
> to solve it with only construction tools.
>
>
> |
>
> | painting
>
> |
>
>
> _ me
>
>
> Where do I stand to get the best view (widest angle)
>
>

If you really want the _widest_ angle you should stand with your nose
pressed against the painting's center point :) The _best_ view really
depends on the particular painting. If the painting is a perspective
drawing with vanishing points then one can usually determine one or
more "observation points" -- points from which the drawing appears
most nearly in perfect perspective. (Some paintings with vanishing points
have no observation point.) Suppose A,B, and C are three vanishing
points in the plane of the painting. Construct three spheres with
diameters AB, AC, and BC. The common intersection point (if it exists) in
front of the painting is the observation point.

For non-perspective drawings the best viewing point is a subjective
judgment. Even for some perspective drawings (Andy Warhol, eg) I find
anywhere in a completely darkened room to be an illuminating
vantage point!

Sandy Norman
UT San Antonio