# VectorPaint globe wireframes: fix an equatorial view before separating front and rear arcs
Language: en
Canonical: [VectorPaint globe wireframes: fix an equatorial view before separating front and rear arcs]()
中文：[中文 HTML]()
English: [English HTML]()
Published: 2026-11-06T00:00:00+08:00
Modified: 2026-11-06T12:13:22+08:00
Author: Bison
Construct a simplified equatorial globe with a circle, straight equator and meridian arcs rather than mixing incompatible viewpoints.
English translation of the [Chinese original](), translated on 2026-11-06. Original publication dates, attribution, code and version notes are retained.
A globe grid is more than arbitrary ellipses inside a circle. Fix a simplified front view from the equator, establish a straight equator and axis, then show front/rear halves of one meridian circle. This generates no real geographic projection, coordinates or navigation chart, and decorative positions are not measured latitude/longitude.
## Fix the equatorial viewing condition
On a 900 by 900 pixel canvas, draw a circle with north at top, south below and a vertical axis through its centre. View directly from the equator without later tilting the axis toward the observer while reusing the same grid. Under this convention the equator is a horizontal diameter, not a horizontal ellipse. An oblique revision needs renewed grid reasoning. A 250-pixel radius defines layout only. Retain centre/pole references and check the outline remains circular before adding lines.
## Identify equator and axis with single lines
Connect the horizontal diameter to the circle’s left/right extremes and the vertical reference north to south, crossing centrally. The axis is a direction reference, not necessarily a physical support. Put labels outside with short leaders. The [USGS orthographic-projection reference]() explains viewpoint-dependent grids, but this diagram plots no geographic dataset through complete projection formulas. Inspect without text, then restore equator/pole labels. Weight may distinguish lines but cannot replace their explanation.
## Start a meridian circle with a complete narrow ellipse
Draw a narrow vertical ellipse concentric with the outer circle, sharing north/south endpoints and narrower horizontally. Retain the full uniform source before defining right half as front and left as rear. Do not shift it away from the poles or accidentally shorten height while narrowing width. This single meridian circle explains space without an uncalculated longitude value. Equator intersections are grid crossings, not extra poles; large dots at every crossing would confuse identity.
## Distinguish front/rear styles without separating endpoints
Use solid front and lighter dashed rear arcs through available styles or manual fragments, preserving the complete source. Both meet at the poles; do not end them at different heights for whitespace. Showing the rear is a wireframe explanation, not the appearance of an opaque sphere. A solid-icon version may hide it with a stated purpose difference. Dashes are not actual path breaks or automatic visibility detection. Record ownership and inspect without shadows so styles alone explain the chosen front/back relationship.
## Represent parallels as horizontal chords in this view
Optional parallels are horizontal chords above and below the equator, ending at the outer circle rather than arbitrary tilted ellipses. Their positions are illustrative; equal screen spacing is not equal latitude. A circular mask may limit extent while retaining full sources. Front/rear portions can project onto the same line here, so use one readable chord instead of doubled weight. An alternate viewpoint requires a separate version, not one locally reoriented line mixed into this view.
## Keep poles and equator fixed when changing meridian width
Widen only the meridian ellipse horizontally in a copy while holding centre/poles fixed. Check containment and front/rear ownership. Uniform scaling would protrude beyond poles, and this change is not an accurately quantified longitude adjustment. Independent rear fragments require positional updates rather than name-based following. Compare equal-size versions and identify the variable as illustrative contour width. Keep parallels, outline and labels fixed to reveal selection/anchor mistakes rather than redrawing the whole globe to conceal them.
## Retain viewpoint and nonmapping scope in output
Save outer circle, complete meridian and dashed version. Inspect pole joins, equator ends and fine rear arcs in export. Simplify auxiliary parallels when small, updating legends rather than removing essential depth cues silently. Test backgrounds; white backing remains a real object. Name equatorial-front wireframe icon, dimensions and revision and exclude test centres/old widths. Continents or places require reliable geographic data/projection checks instead of treating decorative grids as coordinates. Identify manual rear arcs in editable delivery too.
## Return to the viewpoint when the grid looks inconsistent
A horizontal-ellipse equator suggests an oblique version mixed in; restore the diameter for this fixed view instead of relabelling it. A meridian missing poles needs height/concentricity checks. Audit ownership/selections for rear lines overpowering front ones, not a global raise-to-front. Repair overrun parallels through clipping/outline rather than background patches. Recheck circle, poles, straight equator and half-arcs so all lines share one spatial explanation.
## Related tutorials and sources
[VectorPaint wireframe boxes: distinguish visible edges, hidden edges and shared vertices](), [VectorPaint compass roses: check directions, symmetry and label orientation]().
Sources checked on November 6, 2026: VectorPaint 1.0.8, requiring iOS / iPadOS 17.0 or later. Capability scope follows the [official App Store description]() and [Apple public version lookup](). These are exercises and checks you can perform, without a claim of step-by-step physical-device testing or verification in every target environment. Example content is instructional; follow the controls in your installed version.