Perspective Research Centre

The Perspective Research Centre (PRC) unifies knowledge of perspective across art, optics, geometry, architecture, photography, film, computer graphics, virtual reality and artificial intelligence within a single interdisciplinary resource.

For centuries, perspective has occupied a central place in human knowledge, yet its principles, terminology, types and phenomena remain scattered across disciplines, while important relationships remain poorly documented or incompletely understood. PRC brings this knowledge together by resolving conflicting terminology, correcting errors and misconceptions, and organising the field through its Perspective Category Theory, supported by a research corpus exceeding five million words and comprehensive subject indexes spanning related fields. Establishing perspective as a distinct field.

WHAT IS PERSPECTIVE?

Perspective extends far beyond the familiar method of linear perspective drawing. It concerns how objects, spaces, views and images are seen, formed, measured and represented using natural, graphical, mathematical, instrumental, simulated and digital means.

Its principles extend across art, optics, geometry, architecture, astronomy and surveying, and remain fundamental to photography, cinema, cartography, scientific imaging, computer graphics, visual perception, virtual and augmented reality, artificial intelligence and other technologies of vision. Perspective underpins art, science and technology.

PERSPECTIVE STUDIED AS A WHOLE

Perspective provides an intellectual prism through which to explore vision, projection, perception and representation. Presented here is a comprehensive new theory of the entire field of visual and optical perspective, developed through more than 40 years of research. It introduces many new concepts while remaining grounded in established principles and known scientific theory. A unified framework for the whole field of perspective.

PRC’s Perspective Category Theory organises the field through systematic terminology, classification and navigation. It enables readers to consult individual resources, follow connected pathways or explore the subject in depth to uncover new relationships, meanings and solutions. Making perspective connected, navigable and discoverable.

Start Your Journey

Choose where to begin.

🧭 New to PRC?

Read our quick orientation guide to learn how our corpus of 300+ articles is structured.

How to Use This Site →

📖 New to Perspective?

Start with the basic definitions, history and essential concepts of perspective.

Start with the Basics →

🎓 Research & Archives

Explore 15,000+ bibliographic titles, 1,200+ classified types and forms, specialist research resources and the Kim Veltman Archive.

Explore Research & Archives →

🔍 Common Errors & Misconceptions

Understand key historical and technical errors commonly found in teaching, textbooks and explanations of perspective.

View Common Errors & Misconceptions →

Explore by Audience

Find resources tailored to how you use perspective.

For Researchers

Access specialist theory, classifications, databases and archival resources for advanced study.

Open the Research Hub →

For Educators

Access teaching resources, study materials and structured introductions to the principles of perspective.

Open Education Resources →

For Artists

Explore perspective across drawing, painting, photography, film and other forms of visual practice.

Explore Art & Perspective →

For Explorers

Follow connected concepts, images and unexpected pathways through the world of perspective.

Browse the Knowledge Catalogue →

For Young People

Discover perspective through clear explanations, visual examples, activities and accessible introductions.

Explore Perspective for
Young People →

For Digital Creatives

Perspective for 3D modelling, CGI, VFX, animation, games, virtual environments, digital imaging and AI.

Explore Digital Perspective →

Featured Projects

Explore major PRC projects and research resources.

Dictionary of Perspective

The first-ever Dictionary of Perspective offers a new understanding of what perspective is, how it works and why it matters across the visual arts, science and technology. With more than 4,000 entries, approximately 1,200 perspective types and forms and over 333,000 words, it is both an encyclopaedic reference and a theoretical map of perspective. The Dictionary is available to purchase as a printed edition, or to access online as a subscription-based, searchable Digital Edition.

Search the Digital Dictionary →About the Digital Edition →About the Printed Edition →

Kim Veltman Archive

Explore the legacy archive of Professor Kim H. Veltman, including publications, research materials and interdisciplinary resources connecting perspective, media, culture and the history of knowledge. Includes SUMS and a digitally searchable collection of books and papers from the Kim Veltman Archive. The archive contains more than 400 publications, with the rights to the complete collection held by the Perspective Research Centre.

Explore in Downloadable Format →Explore as a Collection →About Kim Veltman →

Bibliography of Perspective

Search a specialist bibliography of more than 15,000 titles spanning perspective in art, optics, geometry, architecture, imaging, science and technology, developed as a comprehensive research guide to the field. Built through some 80 years of bibliographic research and collaboration, it maps perspective literature across disciplines. The Bibliography is available as a printed book, a free PDF download and a searchable open-access Digital Bibliography database.

Search the Digital Bibliography →Access the Bibliography in Downloadable Format →

SUMS Perspective Database

SUMS was Professor Kim H. Veltman’s lifetime project to create a universally accessible, interconnected system of knowledge. Designed to link books, people, subjects, artworks, places and research across disciplines, the surviving system preserves 113,247 records and relationships, including 14,948 books and titles linked to 8,747 people. PRC is now restoring and rebuilding SUMS, bringing this knowledge system back to life as a searchable digital research resource.

Open SUMS Perspective — BETA →

PRC Library of Perspective

Explore the Perspective Research Centre’s specialist Library of Perspective, assembled over decades to support research across art, science, history and technology. The complete eight-volume library catalogue is available as a free PDF download. PRC is also building an open-access collection of searchable books and papers through its Multi-Search system. Works authored by Professor Kim H. Veltman are being assembled within the Kim Veltman Archive Collection.

Explore the Library →Explore the Kim Veltman Archive Collection →

Encyclopedia of Perspective

Explore Kim H. Veltman’s eight-volume, approximately three-million-word Encyclopedia of Perspective, a major reference bringing together sources, literature and bibliography across art, science, technology and visual knowledge.
A landmark interdisciplinary synthesis of perspective. It is available in three editions: a free open-access PDF download, a printed edition through Amazon, and an open-access Digital Edition for online consultation.

Explore the Printed Editions →Search the Digital Collection →