Use rulers and guides
Turn on rulers, create horizontal or vertical guides, snap objects into place, and manage precise alignment on the canvas.
Turn on rulers and drag out guides to line up every element with precision. Use them whenever you need even margins, consistent spacing, or a structured grid, such as when you're building posters, brochures, or presentations.
Turn on rulers
Open the menu icon in the top-left corner, or right-click the empty canvas, then choose View > Ruler & Guides. Or press Shift + R.
Select any element on the canvas to see its exact dimensions highlighted directly on the rulers.
Ruler units match your project's unit setting, and the ruler's scale adjusts automatically as you zoom in or out.
Create and manage guides
Click and drag from the horizontal ruler onto the canvas to create a horizontal guide.
Click and drag from the vertical ruler onto the canvas to create a vertical guide.
Drop guides inside an artboard or anywhere on the open canvas, wherever you need them.
Drag an existing guide to reposition it.
Select a guide and press Delete to remove it.
Objects snap to guides automatically, so elements line up cleanly the moment you drag them close to one.
Expected outcome
A guide runs solid inside the artboard and dashed through the open canvas outside it. It turns blue while selected, and settles into pink once you click elsewhere to deselect it. Guides are visual aids only, so they never show up in your exported or shared design.
Troubleshooting
A keyboard shortcut isn't toggling rulers.
Use the menu instead: open the menu icon in the top-left corner, or right-click the empty canvas, and choose View > Ruler & Guides. This works even if the shortcut on your keyboard doesn't.
Common questions
Where do I turn on rulers and guides?
Open the menu icon in the top-left corner, or right-click anywhere on the empty canvas, and choose View > Ruler & Guides.
Can I change the ruler's unit of measurement?
Yes. Right-click the empty canvas and choose Unit to switch between pixels, inches, and other options. The rulers update to match.
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