Photoshop Measure Tool: Measure Distance, Angle and Correct image rotation

The Photoshop Measure Tool calculates the distance between any two points in the work area or use it as protractor to measure any angle in your image. You can use Measure tool with Rotate Arbitrary command to correct the image rotation. When you measure from one point to another, a non-printing line is drawn, 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)
• The two distances traveled (D1 and D2), when you use a protractor
• The angle measured (A), when you use a protractor

All measurements except the angle are calculated in the unit of measure currently set in the Units & Rulers preference dialog box ( choose menu Edit(Windows) or Photoshop(Mac OS) » Preference » Unit and Rulers).

You can measure between two point by, Select the Measure tool and Drag from the starting point to the ending point. Hold down the Shift key to constrain the tool to multiples of 45°.

To create a protractor

With an existing measuring line, hold-down Alt(Option), you cursor will change to , and Drag 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:

With Measure Tool Select, Do one of the following:

• 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 or click Clear button at option bar.

Tip: You can drag out a measure line on an image feature that should be horizontal or vertical, and then choose Image » Rotate Canvas » Arbitrary. The of rotation required will already be entered into the Rotate Canvas dialog box.

Use Measure Tool to Correct Image Rotation

You can correct the image rotation by using Measure Tool to drag the line that should be horizontal (0°) or vertical (90°) and use Rotate Arbitrary command to rotate the image with correct angle to straighten the image.

To correct the image rotation:

1. Select Measure Tool
2. Drag out measure line on an image feature that should be horizontal or vertical, such as the visible skyline or the vertical axis of building. From this example I drag the Measure tool line to parallel with the skyline.
   
3. Using menu Image » Rotate Canvas » Arbitrary.
4. The correct angle of rotation will automatically entered into the Rotate Canvas Angle text box as well as the direction to be rotate - Clock-Wise (CW) or Counter-Clock-Wise (CCW). Just click OK to perform the rotation.

Tip: From the example above you may notice that the angle that shown in Info Palette is -1.9° but the correct rotation that fill in Rotate Canvas windows is 1.87°. Because Info Palette angle will round-up the angle value and shown only 1-digit decimal value but in Rotate Canvas window will use 2-digit decimal value. So you can precisely measure the angle using Image » Rotate Canvas » Arbitrary command.

Related Articles:

• Reading Photoshop Info Palette
• Photoshop Eyedropper and Color Sampler Tool
• Photoshop CS3 Toolbox: Quick Reference

Feature Resources:

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