what are vanishing points used for?

It's to draw the viewers' eyes to the unknowable far distance.

for like 2d and 3d buildings

Vanishing points are used in drawing and perspective art to create the illusion of depth and three-dimensional space on a two-dimensional surface. They are key elements in the technique known as linear perspective.

When drawing a scene, objects that are farther away appear smaller and converge towards a single point on the horizon line. This point is called the vanishing point. By placing vanishing points in strategic locations, artists can accurately depict depth and create a sense of distance in their artwork.

To determine the location of vanishing points in a drawing, you need to follow a few steps:

1. Define the center of vision: Start by determining the eye level or horizon line in your drawing. This line represents the viewer's eye level. It is usually positioned in the middle of the artwork.

2. Establish the front-facing plane: Identify the plane in the drawing that is directly facing the viewer. This plane is typically the closest and appears parallel to the picture plane (the surface of your drawing).

3. Determine the convergence lines: Draw imaginary lines from the corners or edges of objects on the front-facing plane towards a common point on the horizon line. These lines represent the converging lines of objects receding into the distance.

4. Locate the vanishing points: The intersection of these convergence lines determines the position of the vanishing points. Typically, there will be at least two vanishing points, but depending on the composition, there can be more.

Once you have established the vanishing points, you can use them as a guide to draw objects in proper perspective, ensuring that they appear realistic and accurately convey depth.