If you do any web site publishing, or graphics manipulation, you’ll know that, with remarkable frequency you’ll need to measure the dimensions of an image, text box or page element on your screen.

By far the easiest way to do this is with a “Screen Ruler”… a small application which displays on your screen and allows you to measure any screen region in pixels.

I have used KRuler for this purpose on my Linux workstations. As is usual for those of us fortunate to be Linux Users, this will almost certainly be installed on your system if you are using the KDE Desktop. Just look under “Graphics” in your menu and you’re of and measuring.

If you use Windows, you’ll need to source an equivalent application.

Enter JRuler

What it looks like

This Screen Ruler is a great tool that allows you to accurately measure anything on your screen. This is especially useful when measuring graphics, web page browser sizes or whatever. Screen Ruler can display Pixels, Inches, Picas or Centimeters.

When launched, Screen Ruler will appear horizontal showing approximately 400 Pixels in length. When ever your cursor is over Screen Ruler it will change to cross-hairs and the distance of the cursor from the left (0) of the ruler will be displayed next to the Size Slide Control.

There is also a licensed version (just $19USD) which allows you to customize color, setting transparent color, ruler rotation, capture active window size and more!