Measuring the pixels of objects on your screen is not an easy task. If you need to find out the exact dimensions in pixels of any object on your screen or website, A Ruler for Windows offers you a free and attractive alternative.
A Ruler for Windows is simply that, a graphic ruler that appears on your screen and that you can move around your desktop to measure the pixels of a window, an icon, a picture, or any other item whose exact dimensions you need to know. The ruler can be displayed horizontally (default) and vertically only, so measuring objects in an oblique position is not an option. You can define the level of accuracy of the ruler, and magnify your screen to measure tiny objects more accurately.
The ruler comes with four skins, to which you can add eight more that are available for download at the developer’s site. One of the skins that come with the program resembles a translucent plastic ruler. You can certainly change the length of the ruler at any time, reverse the direction of the numbers in the ruler, lock one of its sides, and even turn it into a reading guide (i.e., a blank horizontal bar that you can use to read long or fine print texts without missing a line).
This free utility is certainly a useful tool for web developers and for anyone working on graphics. It is completely free, and though it offers ample room for improvement, it is still a good addition to your desktop.
Pros
- Includes a semi-transparent skin
- Offers a "reading guide" mode for long texts
- Magnify your screen for more accurate measurements
Cons
- Stays permanently on top when maximized
- Lacks transparency controls
- Provides horizontal and vertical measurements only
I use A Ruler for Windows nearly every day. It's simple, easy to use and does the job I need it to do.
Version 3 supports multiple languages now.