Thank you for your interest in NCTM’s Illuminations. Beginning in mid-April, all Illuminations content will be moving to nctm.org/illuminations. Interactives will remain openly available and NCTM members will have access to all Illuminations lessons with new filtering and search options. We hope you will continue to utilize and enjoy these resources on nctm.org.

Pin it!
Google Plus

Isometric Drawing Tool

Grade:
3-5, 6-8, 9-12
Standards:
Geometry
Math Content:
Geometry

Use this interactive tool to create dynamic drawings on isometric dot paper. Draw figures using edges, faces, or cubes. You can shift, rotate, color, decompose, and view in 2‑D or 3‑D. Start by clicking on the cube along the left side; then, place cubes on the grid where you would like them.

This interactive is optimized for your desktop and tablet.
 

  • Select the cube, face, or segment along the left navigation.
  • Then, place the object on the grid where you want it. If your selection is red, on the grid, then it is a location where you can not place the object.

HINT

  • Draw your shape from back to front and from bottom to top, to assure proper alignment of cubes.
  • When adding adjacent cubes, be sure to click on the face of the cube you want to be touching.

Create Mode

There are two ways to move objects:

  1. Using the Arrow. Simply select and drag the object(s) to a new location.
  2. Unit Movement Buttons 

The other buttons along the top navigation serve various functions:

IsometricDrawingTool IMAGE RotationButton Rotate the entire figure by dragging the image or by using the sliders.

IsometricDrawingTool IMAGE EraserButton Use the Eraser to erase individual objects. You can also select multiple objects with the Pointer and then use the eraser to erase those objects.

IsometricDrawingTool IMAGE ExplodeButton Explode- Change all cubes into faces. If two cubes share a face, the face will not be shown. Note that you can not undo this action.

IsometricDrawingTool IMAGE PaintButton Use the Paint Brush to select a color before you create an object. You can also change the color once an object is created by selecting the object with the color you wish it to be.

Inspect Mode

In the Inspect Mode, you can:

  • See a 3D or 2D version of your isometric drawing.
  • Print your isometric drawing, as it is shown in the workspace.
  • Rotate your isometric drawing.
  • Choose to display your isometric drawing with or without axis.
  • Choose to display a solid or transparent isometric drawing.

You can reset all the view at any point by choosing the Reset View button.

The picture below shows three views of a figure from the front, right, and top. The entire figure uses a total of seven cubes. Can you construct the figure using the isometric drawing tool? (Be sure to use cubes of the proper color, too.)

 4182 expmatplan 

What is the volume of this figure? What is its surface area?