Adobe PHOTOSHOP 6.0 Manual page 85

Using the measure tool (Photoshop)
The measure tool calculates the distance between
any two points in the work area. When you
measure from one point to another, a nonprinting
line is drawn and the options bar and Info palette
show the following information:
The starting location (X and Y).
•
The horizontal (W) and vertical (H) distances
•
traveled from the x- and y-axes.
The angle measured relative to the axis (A).
•
The total distance traveled (D1).
•
• When using a protractor, you can view two
distances traveled (D1 and D2).
All measurements except the angle are calculated
in the unit of measure currently set in the Units &
Rulers preference dialog box. For information on
setting the unit of measure, see "Using rulers" on
page 74.
To display an existing measuring line:
Select the measure tool ( ).
To measure between two points:
1 Select the measure tool ( ).
2 Drag from the starting point to the ending
point. Hold down the Shift key to constrain the
tool to multiples of 45°.
3 To create a protractor from an existing
measuring line, Alt-drag (Windows) or Option-
drag (Mac OS) at an angle from one end of the
measuring line, or double-click the line and drag.
Hold down the Shift key to constrain the tool to
multiples of 45°.
To edit a measuring line or protractor:
Select the measure tool ( ).
1
Do one of the following:
2
To resize the line, drag one end of an existing
•
measuring line.
• To move the line, place the pointer on the line
away from either endpoint, and drag the line.
• To remove the line, place the pointer on the line
away from either endpoint, and drag the line out
of the image.
Note: You can drag out a measure line on an image
feature that should be horizontal or vertical, then
choose Image > Rotate Canvas > Arbitrary and the
correct angle of rotation required to straighten the
image will already be entered into the Rotate Canvas
dialog box.
Using guides and the grid
Guides appear as lines that float over the entire
image and do not print. You can move, remove,
or lock a guide to avoid accidentally moving it.
In Photoshop, a grid appears by default as
nonprinting lines but can also be displayed
as dots. The grid is useful for laying out elements
symmetrically.
Guides and grids behave in similar ways:
Selections, selection borders, and tools snap to a
•
guide or the grid when dragged within 8 screen
(not image) pixels. Guides also snap to the grid
when moved. You can turn this feature on and off.
ADOBE PHOTOSHOP 6.0 75
User Guide