To turn on the vertical ruler in Photoshop, you enable the main Rulers feature, which displays both the horizontal and vertical rulers simultaneously.
Displaying Rulers in Photoshop
Photoshop's Rulers appear along the top (horizontal) and left side (vertical) of your document window. They are a helpful tool for measuring, positioning elements, and aligning layers within your canvas.
You can easily turn on (or off) the Rulers using one of two straightforward methods:
Method 1: Using the Menu
The most direct way to display the Rulers is through Photoshop's main menu bar.
- Navigate to the View menu at the top of the Photoshop window.
- From the dropdown menu, select Rulers.
Selecting this option will instantly make both the horizontal and vertical rulers visible around your document. If they are already on, selecting "Rulers" again will hide them.
Method 2: Using a Keyboard Shortcut
For a quicker toggle, you can use the universal keyboard shortcut for Rulers.
- On a Mac: Press CMD + R
- On a Windows PC: Press CTRL + R
This shortcut is a convenient way to quickly show or hide the Rulers without needing to access the menu. The reference information confirms this shortcut: To show the Rulers in Photoshop, either go to View in the menu and select Rulers, or press CMD+R (Mac) or CTRL+R (Windows) on your keyboard.
Here's a quick summary of the methods:
| Method | Steps | Keyboard Shortcut |
|---|---|---|
| Menu Command | Go to View > Rulers |
N/A |
| Keyboard | Press CMD+R (Mac) or CTRL+R (Windows) |
CMD+R or CTRL+R |
Once the Rulers are visible, you'll see the vertical ruler running down the left edge of your document window, marked with units of measurement (pixels, inches, etc., which you can change by right-clicking the ruler).
Why Use the Vertical Ruler?
The vertical ruler is essential for several tasks in Photoshop, such as:
- Measuring: Accurately gauge the height of elements or distances between objects.
- Creating Guides: Click and drag from the vertical ruler onto your canvas to create vertical guide lines for precise alignment.
- Positioning: Ensure layers or selections are placed at exact vertical coordinates.
By enabling the Rulers feature using either the menu command or the keyboard shortcut, you gain access to the functionality of both the vertical and horizontal rulers, enhancing your precision and workflow in Photoshop.
