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Ruler

Learn how to use the ruler in Adobe Fresco to draw straight lines.

Fresco makes it easy for you to draw patterns, shapes, symbols, letters, and so on, with the ruler. You can use the ruler in combination with all types of brushes available in Fresco. 

Artwork created using straight edge tool
Artwork created using the ruler

Using a ruler makes it easier to create primary shapes like the triangles for the face and body of characters in your artwork. 

Creating basic shapes
Creating basic shapes

Straight edge tool in Fresco
Ruler in Fresco

Get the ruler on canvas

Tap on the ruler on the taskbar and place it anywhere on the canvas. The ruler then automatically pins to that area and doesn't move around.

To disable, tap the ruler icon again.

Move and rotate the ruler on canvas

Place one finger on the ruler to move it across the canvas. Place two fingers on the ruler to rotate and move the ruler. The degree of rotation will be displayed on the ruler in between your fingers. 

Use rotation snapping for quick drawing

With rotation snapping toggled on in Settings, the ruler will snap at 45 degree increments as you rotate it.  Rotation snapping is on by default.

Measure length of a stroke

Ruler showing the length of a line in pixels as you draw
Ruler showing the length of a line in pixels as you draw

You can measure the length of a stroke using the ruler. Just pin it to the canvas in any direction and draw a line along the edge of the ruler. An indicator shows the length of the line in pixels.

The ruler is pinned to the canvas as you zoom in or out.

Create stylized symbols and typographies

You can also create stylized symbols and typographies using a combination of pixel, vector, and live brushes with the ruler. 

Creating stylized typographics
Creating typography

Creating symbols
Creating symbols

Use ruler with masking

Using the ruler while creating a mask for your artwork can provide interesting possibilities. In the example above, the fox's eyelid is created by using ruler on a layer mask.

Masking your artwork
Masking your artwork

Have a question or an idea?

If you have a question to ask or an idea to share, come and participate in Adobe Fresco Community. We would love to hear from you and see your creations.

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