Draw a Cylindrical Can with Pull-Tab and Label

Object Drawing Lessons

This lesson teaches a reliable method for drawing a generic cylindrical can from front and angled views. You will construct the body with vertical sides and curved top and bottom edges, place the top-rim ellipse correctly, add a pull-tab, and wrap a label around the form. The convention is simple: the can's height is measured in the same units as its width, and all curves are drawn as smooth arcs that meet the vertical sides without corners. Lettering on the label follows a baseline-to-midline x-height convention, but letter styles may vary. Use a pencil and paper; measure your own equipment if you choose numerical examples, and treat any numbers here as hypothetical.

Practice materials: Printable downloads are not available for this lesson yet. Use the instructions and four exercises below.

Reference illustration

Use the stated measurements and conventions for each exercise.

Constructing the Cylinder Body

Begin with a light rectangle for the can's front view. The width is the can's diameter; the height is the can's full height. Mark the vertical centerline. The top and bottom edges are not straight lines but shallow arcs that curve upward at the top and downward at the bottom, because the can is a cylinder seen slightly from above or below. Keep the left and right sides perfectly vertical and parallel.

For an angled view, shift the top and bottom arcs so they become fuller ellipses. The sides remain vertical, but the ellipse's major axis is horizontal and its minor axis is vertical. The ellipse's height should be about one-third of its width for a gentle tilt; adjust only after measuring your own reference can.

1. Draw a light rectangle with vertical sides and horizontal top and bottom guides.
2. Replace the top guide with a smooth upward arc; replace the bottom guide with a smooth downward arc.
3. Mark the centerline and check that both arcs are symmetric about it.
4. For an angled view, redraw the top and bottom as fuller ellipses while keeping the sides vertical.

Placing the Top Rim and Pull-Tab

The top rim is an ellipse that sits inside the top arc. Draw it slightly smaller than the can's outer width so a thin rim shows. The pull-tab is a small rounded rectangle or oval attached to the rim, with a ring shape at one end. Place the tab off-center toward the front edge so it reads clearly. The tab's ring should be drawn as a smaller ellipse or circle, and the tab's body should overlap the rim line slightly to show it sits on top.

Use a consistent line weight: darker for the can's outline and the tab, lighter for the rim ellipse and label curves. This helps the tab stand out without shading.

1. Draw the top-rim ellipse inside the top arc, leaving a thin rim margin.
2. Sketch the pull-tab as a rounded rectangle with a ring at one end.
3. Position the tab toward the front edge and let it overlap the rim line.
4. Darken the tab outline and keep the rim ellipse light.

Wrapping the Label

The label wraps around the cylinder, so its top and bottom edges are arcs that follow the can's curvature. On the front view, draw two horizontal arcs across the body, one near the top and one near the bottom, each curving in the same direction as the can's top and bottom arcs. The label's side edges are vertical lines that stop at the arcs. For an angled view, the label arcs become fuller ellipses, and the side edges remain vertical but may be partially hidden by the can's curve.

Lettering on the label uses a baseline-to-midline x-height convention: lowercase letters sit between the baseline and the midline, and capitals may extend above the midline. Letter styles vary, so any clear, consistent style is acceptable. Keep lettering simple and aligned to the label's arcs.

1. Draw two arcs across the body for the label's top and bottom edges.
2. Add vertical side edges that stop at the arcs.
3. For an angled view, make the arcs fuller and keep side edges vertical.
4. Add simple lettering between baseline and midline, using a consistent style.

Checking Proportions and Consistency

Check that the can's width and height use the same units and that the top and bottom arcs are symmetric. The top-rim ellipse should be centered and slightly smaller than the outer width. The pull-tab should sit on the rim without floating. The label arcs should curve in the same direction as the can's top and bottom arcs. If you used numerical examples, label them as hypothetical and measure your own can to confirm.

A quick arithmetic check: if the can's width is 6 units and height is 12 units, the height-to-width ratio is 2:1. The top-rim ellipse's width might be 5 units, leaving a 0.5-unit rim on each side. These numbers are hypothetical examples, not standards.

1. Measure width and height in the same units and record the ratio.
2. Check symmetry of top and bottom arcs about the centerline.
3. Confirm the rim ellipse is centered and smaller than the outer width.
4. Verify label arcs curve in the same direction as the can's arcs.

Worked example

Draw a front view of a generic can with width 6 units and height 12 units. Add a top-rim ellipse with width 5 units, a pull-tab toward the front edge, and a label with top and bottom arcs. Use hypothetical numbers and state them as examples.

Four practice exercises

Common mistakes

• Drawing the top and bottom as straight horizontal lines. Replace them with smooth arcs that curve upward at the top and downward at the bottom, symmetric about the centerline.
• Making the pull-tab float above the rim. Let the tab overlap the rim line slightly so it appears attached to the top surface.
• Drawing label edges as curved lines instead of vertical. Keep the label's side edges vertical and let only the top and bottom edges curve.
• Using different units for width and height. Measure both in the same unit and state any numerical values as hypothetical examples.

Self-check rubric

• Vertical sides are parallel and the can's width and height use the same units.
• Top and bottom arcs are smooth and symmetric about the centerline.
• Top-rim ellipse is centered and slightly smaller than the outer width.
• Pull-tab overlaps the rim line and reads as attached.
• Label top and bottom edges curve with the can; side edges are vertical.
• Lettering uses a baseline-to-midline x-height convention and a consistent style.
• Any numerical values are labeled as hypothetical examples.

Questions and answers