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Isometric Drawing in Affinity Designer

Affinity Revolution

In this course, you will learn how to make isometric art in Affinity Designer. But what is isometric art?

Isometric art is a special type of design, because you make your creations on a diagonal grid. By doing this, you are able to make 2D objects appear 3D. When you look at isometric art, it feels like you're looking at a 3D object from above.

This art style is a lot of fun, because isometric objects don’t have a vanishing point. That means you can place them anywhere on your canvas, and their perspective will always look correct.

Read more

In this course, you will learn how to make isometric art in Affinity Designer. But what is isometric art?

Isometric art is a special type of design, because you make your creations on a diagonal grid. By doing this, you are able to make 2D objects appear 3D. When you look at isometric art, it feels like you're looking at a 3D object from above.

This art style is a lot of fun, because isometric objects don’t have a vanishing point. That means you can place them anywhere on your canvas, and their perspective will always look correct.

To master isometric art, we will start with the basics. That means we will cover things like the isometric grid, snapping, shortcut keys, the pen tool, and lighting.

After that, we will work our way up to more advanced skills. You will learn how to work with rounded edges, off angles, and more.

And just like all of my courses, we will finish by completing multiple start-to-finish projects together. These projects are the perfect way to solidify everything you have learned, so that you can be totally prepared to make isometric art on your own.

By the time you finish this course, you will be an isometric master. :)

Enroll now

What's inside

Learning objectives

  • You will learn how to make isometric art in affinity designer
  • You will learn how to pick the right colors for isometric art
  • You will learn how to customize your lighting in isometric art
  • You will learn shortcuts to speed up your isometric art workflow

Syllabus

Course Introduction
Welcome!
Download the Exercise Files
Isometric Fundamentals
Read more
Document Setup
Isometric Panel
Shortcuts
Snapping
Isometric Skills You Need
Stairs
Understanding Lighting - Part 1
Understanding Lighting - Part 2
The Node Tool
Off Angles
Rounded Objects
Rounded Edges
Create a Room Scene
Isometric Workflow
Sketching
Choosing Colors
Other Grid Settings
Editing Flat vs. Editing in Plane
Select Same
Finishing the Board Game
Dollhouse Project
Outer Space Platform
House Framing
Outer House Details
Windows
Ladder
Upstairs Furniture
Downstairs Furniture
Outdoor Objects
Shadows
Game Platforms Project
Platform Framing
Grassy Platform
Slide
Underwater Platform
Shadows and Gradients
Mountain Campout Project
Base Framing
Mountains and River
Trees
Tent
Grass and Logs
Course Conclusion

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Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Isometric Drawing in Affinity Designer with these activities:
Review Affinity Designer Fundamentals
Strengthen your understanding of Affinity Designer's core tools and interface to ensure a smooth learning experience in isometric design.
Browse courses on Affinity Designer
Show steps
  • Review the interface and basic tools.
  • Practice creating basic shapes and lines.
  • Familiarize yourself with layers and grouping.
Isometric Grid Practice
Practice creating shapes and objects on an isometric grid to develop muscle memory and improve accuracy.
Show steps
  • Set up an isometric grid in Affinity Designer.
  • Draw simple cubes and rectangular prisms.
  • Experiment with different grid angles.
Isometric and Axonometric Graphics Techniques
Study a book on isometric techniques to deepen your understanding of the underlying principles and expand your creative possibilities.
View Putting Knowledge to Work on Amazon
Show steps
  • Read the book and take notes on key concepts.
  • Experiment with the techniques described in the book.
  • Apply the techniques to your isometric art projects.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Mastering Composition: Techniques and Principles to Dramatically Improve Your Painting
Study a book on composition to improve the visual appeal and storytelling of your isometric art.
View Putting Knowledge to Work on Amazon
Show steps
  • Read the book and take notes on key concepts.
  • Analyze the composition of existing isometric art.
  • Apply the principles of composition to your own designs.
Isometric Alphabet Challenge
Design the entire alphabet in isometric form to reinforce your understanding of perspective and form.
Show steps
  • Sketch out each letter in isometric form.
  • Create the letters in Affinity Designer.
  • Add color and shading to each letter.
Design an Isometric City Block
Apply your isometric skills to create a detailed city block with buildings, roads, and other elements.
Show steps
  • Plan the layout of your city block.
  • Create the buildings and roads in isometric form.
  • Add details like windows, doors, and streetlights.
  • Incorporate color and shading for realism.
Isometric Game Mockup
Create a mockup of a game level using isometric art to showcase your skills and understanding of game design principles.
Show steps
  • Design the layout of your game level.
  • Create the environment and characters in isometric form.
  • Add interactive elements and animations.
  • Present your mockup to others for feedback.

Career center

Learners who complete Isometric Drawing in Affinity Designer will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Video Game Artist
A Video Game Artist brings virtual worlds to life, and this course offers a solid foundation for creating visually appealing game assets. Isometric art is frequently used in game development to create engaging environments and user interfaces. This course helps you master the creation of isometric art using Affinity Designer. By learning the basics, such as setting up an isometric grid and understanding perspective, one can build detailed 3D environments within a 2D space. The exploration of lighting, shading, and color techniques in the course is directly applicable to game asset creation, helping one ensure assets are visually cohesive and immersive. The hands-on projects will develop a portfolio showcasing the ability to create game-ready isometric assets.
See salaries and explore the career path for Video Game Artist
UI Artist
A User Interface Artist specializes in creating visually appealing and intuitive interfaces. Isometric art is often used in UI design to create 3D-like elements in 2D interfaces. This course helps you master the creation of isometric art using Affinity Designer. By learning the basics, such as setting up an isometric grid and understanding perspective, one can create detailed UI elements. The exploration of custom lighting, shading, and color customization will help ensure that the user interface is visually intuitive. The hands-on projects will develop a portfolio showcasing the ability to create practical and engaging user interfaces.
See salaries and explore the career path for UI Artist
Freelance Designer
A Freelance Designer provides design services to clients on a contract basis. This course helps one expand the services offered by adding isometric art to skills. Isometric art is a versatile style with various applications, and the skills learned in this course can enhance a freelance designer's ability to create unique and engaging designs. This course helps master the techniques needed to create isometric art using Affinity Designer. The course covers fundamental concepts and provides practical experience through start-to-finish projects. Skills such as the application of lighting, shading, and color customization will help produce freelance designs that stand out.
See salaries and explore the career path for Freelance Designer
Digital Artist
A Digital Artist creates artwork using digital tools and software. This course provides the skills to add isometric art to their repertoire. Isometric art is a versatile style used in various applications, and the skills learned in this course can enhance a digital artist's ability to create unique and engaging artwork. This course helps master the techniques needed to create isometric art using Affinity Designer. The course covers fundamental concepts and provides practical experience through start-to-finish projects. Skills such as the application of lighting, shading, and color customization will help produce high-quality digital art that stands out.
See salaries and explore the career path for Digital Artist
Illustrator
An Illustrator creates visual content for various media, and the skills learned in this course can enhance an illustrator's ability to produce unique and engaging artwork. Isometric illustration is a popular style for creating diagrams, infographics, and visually appealing scenes. This course helps one master the techniques needed to create stunning isometric illustrations using Affinity Designer. The course covers fundamental concepts and provides practical experience through start-to-finish projects. Skills such as the application of lighting, shading, and color customization will help one produce high-quality illustrations that stand out. Taking this course will allow an illustrator to expand artistic skillset and offer a valuable service to clients.
See salaries and explore the career path for Illustrator
Level Designer
A Level Designer creates the environments and layouts for video games. Isometric art is a popular style for creating game environments. This course helps you master the creation of isometric art using Affinity Designer, enabling you to produce detailed and visually appealing game levels. By learning how to set up an isometric grid, use snapping tools, and understand perspective, one can build complex 3D environments within a 2D space. The hands-on projects will develop a portfolio showcasing the ability to create game-ready isometric levels.
See salaries and explore the career path for Level Designer
Graphic designer
A Graphic Designer creates visual concepts to communicate ideas and this course helps expand a graphic designer's toolkit with unique isometric skills. Isometric art is used in logo design, website graphics, and marketing materials to create engaging visuals. This course teaches how to create isometric art using Affinity Designer. The course provides a step-by-step approach, starting with fundamental concepts and moving towards advanced skills. The course's modules on sketching, color selection, and understanding lighting help develop visually appealing and effective designs. The hands-on projects included in the course enhance a graphic designer's portfolio, showcasing proficiency in isometric design.
See salaries and explore the career path for Graphic designer
Technical Artist
A Technical Artist bridges the gap between art and programming in game development. Isometric art is used in game development. This course helps you master the creation of isometric art using Affinity Designer. By learning the basics, such as setting up an isometric grid and understanding perspective, one can build complex 3D environments within a 2D space. The exploration of lighting, shading, and color techniques will help one ensure assets are visually cohesive and perform well in a game engine. The hands-on projects will develop a portfolio showcasing the ability to create game-ready isometric assets.
See salaries and explore the career path for Technical Artist
Animator
An Animator creates moving images using computer software. Isometric art can be used to create unique animations. This course helps you master the creation of isometric art using Affinity Designer. By learning the basics, such as setting up an isometric grid and understanding perspective, one can build complex 3D environments within a 2D space. The exploration of lighting, shading, and color techniques will ensure animations are visually cohesive, and help animations stand out. The hands-on projects will develop a portfolio showcasing the ability to create interesting scenes for animation.
See salaries and explore the career path for Animator
Architectural Visualizer
An Architectural Visualizer creates realistic renderings and visualizations of architectural designs. Isometric art may be used to create stylized representations of buildings and urban environments. This course may be useful in learning to create isometric art using Affinity Designer, which will provide unique and illustrative architectural visualizations. The course covers setting up isometric grids, creating detailed objects, and applying shadows and gradients. The skills learned in this course may be useful to architectural visualizers.
See salaries and explore the career path for Architectural Visualizer
Motion Graphics Designer
A Motion Graphics Designer animates graphic elements to create engaging visuals for videos and multimedia projects. Isometric art is a popular style for creating visually appealing animations and explainer videos. This course may be useful in learning how to create isometric art in Affinity Designer, which can then be imported into motion graphics software for animation. The course focuses on the fundamentals, such as setting up isometric grids, applying lighting, and customizing colors. This course provides a foundation in isometric design that may be useful to motion graphics designer.
See salaries and explore the career path for Motion Graphics Designer
Product Designer
A Product Designer focuses on the user experience and aesthetics of physical and digital products. Isometric art may be used to showcase product features and designs in a visually appealing manner. This course may be useful in learning to create isometric art using Affinity Designer, which will provide the ability to present product designs in a unique and engaging way. The course includes practical experience through start-to-finish projects involving creating rounded objects and off angles. This course may be helpful to product designer wanting to enhance their presentations with isometric visuals.
See salaries and explore the career path for Product Designer
Concept Artist
A Concept Artist creates visual representations of ideas for films, video games, and other media. Isometric art is used to generate unique perspectives and detailed environments. This course may be useful in learning to create isometric art using Affinity Designer, expanding the ability to produce creative and visually appealing concept art. The course focuses on sketching, understanding lighting, and creating detailed objects. The skills learned in this course may benefit a concept artist working on isometric projects.
See salaries and explore the career path for Concept Artist
Web Designer
A Web Designer creates visually appealing and functional websites and this course will help enhance their ability to create unique web graphics. Isometric art may be used in website design to create eye-catching illustrations, icons, and user interfaces. This course may be useful in learning to create isometric art using Affinity Designer, which will help create visually interesting web elements. The course includes practical experience through start-to-finish projects. The skills learned in this course may benefit to web designer wanting to add a unique visual style to their websites.
See salaries and explore the career path for Web Designer
Mobile App Designer
A Mobile Application Designer creates user interfaces and visual elements for mobile apps, and this course can enhance their ability to design unique app graphics. Isometric art may be used in mobile app design to create visually appealing icons, illustrations, and user interface elements. This course may be useful in learning to create isometric art using Affinity Designer. The course covers setting up isometric grids, applying lighting, and selecting colors that would benefit the design of mobile applications. This course provides a basic understanding of isometric design for mobile app development.
See salaries and explore the career path for Mobile App Designer

Reading list

We've selected one books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Isometric Drawing in Affinity Designer.
Cover image
Putting Knowledge to Work
Save
Provides a comprehensive guide to isometric and axonometric projection techniques. It covers the theory behind these projections and offers practical examples for creating technical drawings and illustrations. This book is valuable as a reference for understanding the mathematical principles behind isometric art and applying them effectively in Affinity Designer. It adds depth to the course by providing a theoretical foundation for the practical skills learned.
Putting Knowledge to Work
Paperback
Check
Putting Knowledge to Work
Kindle Edition
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Effort
5.5 total hours
Via
Udemy
Instructor
Affinity Revolution
Language
English
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