A vanishing point is where parallel lines that move off into the distance seem to converge. It's an artifact of perspective. The vanishing point for any set of lines that are parallel to one of the principal axes of an object is referred to as a principal vanishing point. To put forward an example, if you stand on a road on a flat surface and look up or down the road into the distance, the sides of the road appear to touch at the farthest distance that you can see it. The vanishing point in this example is where the road is so far away that it appears to "vanish". We control the number of principal vanishing points (one, two, or three) with the orientation of the projection plane, and perspective projection are accordingly classified as one- point, two- point, or three- point projection. The number of principal axes intersecting the view plane. Vanishing points can also refer to the point in the distance where the two verges of a road appear to converge. This is often used to help assess the upcoming curves in the road; to judge the radius and therefore the entry speed and optimum line. If the vanishing point moves towards you or to your sides, the curve is tightening. If the vanishing point moves away from you or come to center, the curve is straightening. The concept was first used by Renaissance artists such as Donatello, Masaccio and Leonardo da Vinci.

* Linear perspective is a drawing with 1-3 vanishing points.

* curvilinear perspective is a drawing with 4 or 5 vanishing points, in 5 point perspective the vanishing points are mapped into a circle with 4 vanishing points at the cardinal headings N, W, S, E and one at the circle origin.

* Reverse perspective is a drawing with vanishing points that are placed outside the painting with the illusion that they are "in front of' the painting.