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mastix
Inspiring
December 2, 2022
Answered

Ruler measure tool in cm and not in pixels

  • December 2, 2022
  • 4 replies
  • 24957 views

Hi:

I can not figure out how to change the measure option from pixels to cm or inches in the measure tool in photoshop. I have read somewhere that right clicking on the measure tool you can change those units but this does not work for me. Right-clicking on the tool on the left panel does nothing.

 

Is it possible to change units of that tool or is this locked on pixels.

 

Thank you

    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Correct answer Jeff Arola

    It seems as suggested in this post, checking /unchecking Use Measurement Scale in the Ruler Tool Options allows the Ruler Measurements in the Tool Options bar to change ruler units.

    https://community.adobe.com/t5/photoshop-ecosystem-discussions/ruler-tool-in-millimeters-in-photoshop/td-p/10576245

     

    Does that seem like a bug?

     

     

    4 replies

    Jeff Arola
    Community Expert
    Jeff ArolaCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    February 11, 2023

    Still an issue in photoshop (2023) 24.1.1

      Jeff Arola
      Community Expert
      Jeff ArolaCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
      Community Expert
      December 2, 2022

      It seems as suggested in this post, checking /unchecking Use Measurement Scale in the Ruler Tool Options allows the Ruler Measurements in the Tool Options bar to change ruler units.

      https://community.adobe.com/t5/photoshop-ecosystem-discussions/ruler-tool-in-millimeters-in-photoshop/td-p/10576245

       

      Does that seem like a bug?

       

       

        M
        mastixAuthor
        Inspiring
        December 2, 2022

        Yes, I checked and unchecked the Measurement scale and now I can see in whatever unit I choose in the info panel. I have also latest version of PS 24.01.

        In my point of view. Next to the Use Measurement Scale ( if I leave it deactivated I can see the unit I have chosen- activated is in pixels). should be the dropdown menu for choosing the unit and not in the info panel as it is quite hdden. Without a tutorial I would have never guessed that clicking the plus sign on the info panel you could change units.

         

        Sometimes Photoshop UI is not very friendly at all, and those little details should need polishing.

        Jeff Arola
        Community Expert
        Jeff ArolaCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        December 2, 2022

        For me in the latest photoshop version 24.0.1 (ps 2023) on both mac and windows setting the Rulers Units

        anywhere including the Info Panel, Properties Panel, right clicking the Rulers or the Preferences Ruler Units

        doesn't change the Ruler Tool from Pixels in the US English photoshop version even though any one of those

        settings should change the Ruler Tool units of measure.

         

        It does work properly in photoshop cs6.

         

        What version of photoshop are you using?

        Jeff Arola
        Community Expert
        Jeff ArolaCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        December 2, 2022

        What version of photoshop are you using?

         

        As far as i know, the MeasureTool/Ruler Tool uses the Ruler Units set for photoshop in the Edit>Preferences>Units & Rulers>Rulers.

          M
          mastixAuthor
          Inspiring
          December 2, 2022

          Thanks for the reply. I found a solution. 

          No its not the preferences as those establish the unit for the general rulers around the canvas but not the measure ruler tool.

          In the tool top menu you get what you are measuring but always in pixels as far as I know *have not found out yet how to change the units there.

          But if you go to the General INFO panel view there you have the same info and if you click a plus sign there you can change to the unit you want.

          Quiet hidden. Adobe should make this much more intuitive and be able with a drop down menu to change the units in the same measure tool top menu.

          Conrad_C
          Community Expert
          Conrad_CCommunity Expert
          Community Expert
          December 2, 2022

           

          I have read somewhere that right clicking on the measure tool you can change those units but this does not work for me. Right-clicking on the tool on the left panel does nothing.

          By @mastix

           

          That sounds correct…right-clicking on the Ruler tool itself probably does do nothing, because it has not been the way to change the unit of measure.

           

          What you probably actually read somewhere was the widely taught shortcut of changing the application-wide units by right-clicking the horizontal or vertical ruler (View > Rulers)…not the Ruler tool. If you change the units by right-clicking a ruler, then the Ruler tool does follow along as does the Info panel and everything else.

           

          quote

          Quiet hidden. Adobe should make this much more intuitive and be able with a drop down menu to change the units in the same measure tool top menu.

          By @mastix

           

          Always good to make things more discoverable. You can submit a feature request for that in the Ideas section of this forum. By posting it there, it can be upvoted by others and discussed, and Adobe staff are known to jump in there to respond to feature requests that generate a lot of votes/discussion.

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