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Why did artists use camera obscuras before photography was invented?

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Alfred Stieglitz: Child with Striped Dress (Younger Raab Child) — History of photography *Child with Striped Dress (Younger Raab Child)*, autochrome photograph by Alfred Stieglitz, 1907; in the Art Institute of Chicago.

Before the invention of photography, artists utilized the camera obscura primarily as a sophisticated drawing aid.12

Beginning in the 16th century, artists employed this device to achieve greater accuracy in their work. By positioning a subject outside the darkened chamber or portable box, the device projected an image of the scene onto a surface—such as a piece of drawing paper—allowing the artist to trace the reflected outlines directly.13

While the camera obscura provided a reliable way to capture perspective and composition, it remained a manual tool. Because the projected image was dynamic and temporary, the final quality of the work remained entirely dependent on the individual artist’s drawing skills. This limitation drove scientists to continue searching for a method to mechanically fix and preserve these images, eventually leading to the development of the photographic process.231