Pixel Ruler for Windows

Used Pixel Ruler for Windows?

Editors’ Review

Download.com staffFebruary 26, 2016

Pixel Ruler is a free application that claims to allow you to use your mouse to dynamically measure pixels. With it, you can accurately measure selected onscreen views in pixels, which can help when configuring image formats, creating graphics, and scaling images. It shows measurements in pixels up to 2,500 pixels in width or 1,500 pixels in height.

After a painless download and a surprisingly detailed installation process, a horizontal ruler appeared on our screen. There's also a ruler for vertical measurement. The interface consists only of these rulers; there are no navigation buttons or other controls. We would have consulted a Help file, but alas, none exists. However, this tool is extremely easy to use. Pixel Ruler floats above the desktop and can be dragged and dropped anywhere on the screen. As we moved our cursor up and down the ruler, a tiny box displayed the measurement from the end point in pixels. Clicking or double-clicking the ruler switches between the horizontal and vertical views. Right-clicking a ruler closes the program.

This application installs and uninstalls cleanly. Pixel Ruler doesn't require personal information or registration, nor does it ask for a username or password. As far as pixel measurement goes, surely there is a better option.

Pixel Ruler for Windows

Used Pixel Ruler for Windows?

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Full Specifications

GENERAL

Release: October 2, 2010

Latest update: February 26, 2016

Version: 4.0

OPERATING SYSTEMS

Platform: Windows

Operating System

Windows 10
Windows Vista
Windows 7
Windows XP

Additional Requirements: None

POPULARITY

Total Downloads: 84,325

Downloads Last Week: 11

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Last Updated

User Reviews

3.8/5

6 User Votes

Units (physical Pixels Only) Are Of Little If Any Use
Abbe-leeFebruary 2, 2016
Pros
Simple to install. Simple user interface. Works smoothly. Looks nice.
Cons
Units are physical pixels only, which could at best be useful for no more than relative comparison of screen items "measured", since it offers no inches, centimeters, or any other standard unit of measure. [FYI: There are ways one might get around this. One way is to use a magnifying instrument and a quality digital caliper to determine what number of your display's pixels constitute an inch, or a centimeter, etc. Another way, for those not concerned to keep the surface of their display screen pristine from smudging and/or small scratches, is to press a physical ruler against your screen, parallel with (or if the ruler is transparent, overlaying) Pixel Ruler itself. Needless to explain the rest, using either of these alternate methods will get the information necessary to convert future Pixel Ruler readings into meaningful, standard units such as inches, or centimeters, etc.]
Summary
This is an incomplete screen measurement tool. For what it does, which is count "physical pixels*, okay it works as far as that goes. But the lack of translation into meaningful units, such as mm or inches, for example, renders Pixel Ruler rather useless as a measurement tool. By the way, don't let the name, "Pixel Ruler", or the awkward phrase in its description,"dynamic mouse measurement tracking in pixels", lead you to mistake this for a tool that measures "image pixels". It does not. Again, it only measures physical pixels. Not that there's anything unusual or wrong with that. But due to its absence of standard units, and assuming that this tool exists to measure something useful, and "image pixels" would be quite useful, its an easy mistake to read this as an "image pixel" unit based measurement tool, which unfortunately it is not. But the real problem with Pixel Ruler, even after taking into consideration that it's free to install, is it does not feature the obvious function which any "ruler", digital or physical, should be expected to feature, which is standard units, without which it's incomplete, falling just short of a key threshold, as it were, necessary to furnish a basic level of utility.
Simple and Effective
CRamirez_75March 6, 2014
Pros
Gets the job done.
Cons
Was slightly hard to get use to the controls.
Summary
A good option.
CNET adds malware
thedownloader333November 3, 2013
Pros
The Pixel Ruler app itself is awesome, works like a charm, I use it all the time.
Cons
CNET Download.com adds a layer of malware to your download. Even if you choose not to install any toolbars etc, you get it anyway. I wasted five hours of my life removing this. AVOID THIS SITE LIKE THE PLAGUE and download this from the publisher directly instead.
Summary
Small, simple and functional.
sharcsAugust 27, 2013
Pros
Like I said the title, it's small, simple and functional. It starts out fast and goes straight to ruler mode. When you're done with it, just right click it to close it, making for very pleasurable experience.
Cons
After using it a few times, a box comes up urging you to buy it. You can still use the ruler after you press continue, but this negate the speed and simplicity that I mentioned it earlier. To make matters worse, the guys who made it seem to have disapeared, so even if you wanted to buy it you cannot.
Summary
This is one of those few tools that I'm quite happy to pay for, but it seems like that is impossible. If someone know of a way I can unlock it please let me know.
Nice, clean, easy to use
bowen192January 12, 2012
Pros
Quick, simple, clear, adjusts automatically
Cons
Not big enough for two screens, no 'real' measurements, Has a moving bar showing your position anywhere on the screen
Summary
Would be perfect if the rule spread over more than one screen
Poorer than other free rulers
OlivaxDecember 18, 2011
Pros
Easy to use It works as designed Dedicated good quality install / uninstall wizard
Cons
No help file It takes 25M to run (against 6 for similar free rulers) No inch / cm unit of measure The ruler adjust its size even when the mouse is moved far to operate on underlaying window Other free rulers have more functions
Summary
Thank you to publishers to make available this tool, however his quality is well below similar products

Developer’s Description

Know the exact size and position of any element with this screen ruler.

Pixel Ruler features horizontal and vertical orientation, dynamic mouse measurement tracking in pixels, cool design. Pixel Ruler float over your screen, work with all applications, show measurements in Pixels, rotate to horizontal or vertical position, auto-size, up to 2500 pixels width or 1500 pixels height.