About a year ago, Kelly Wilson, an All Web colleague, introduced me to this really neat, easy to use screen ruler tool, to which I now find myself using on daily basis. The tool is called "Screen Calipers" and it was created by an online design and development company called Iconico. Heard of it? If not, you may want to become acquainted.

Iconico is well known for their ability to create premiere tools and services for Graphic Designers and Web Developers. In fact, I've become familiar with several of their tools, such as the Iconico Color Picker, Iconico Screen Protractor, and the really cool Iconico Screen Compass... most of which offer FREE, although limited, downloadable versions.

I've used several screen-sizing tools in the past, but none were able to offer quite as much as what Iconico has been able to offer in respect to design, usability, and accuracy. Screen Calipers can be used with any program, whether its an Internet browser or a WYSIWYG graphics editor, as it floats over all applications allowing for quick and easy measurements.

I personally use this tool to measure how long or wide a specific section is on a website or when cropping a photograph/design to exact proportions. For instance, using Screen Calipers I found that this Blog's right navigation is 260 pixels wide. Knowing this, if I wanted to add any kind of picture or design element than it would need to be 260 pixels or less.

My absolute favorite element of this tool is its ability to measure not just in inches or centimeters, but in pixels, points, picas, and twips. I know, I know... what the hell is a twip right? I don't know, but Screen Calipers has it covered. In addition, to all of these options, users have the ability to create custom measuring units.

This actually reminds me of when I used to work for Wal-Mart retail. One of my many jobs was to hang signs from the ceiling using fishing line and clips that would connect to the drop ceiling. To ensure that every sign hung at the same height from the floor, I had adapted the arm measuring system. I would wrap the fishing line around my arm, starting with my hand, go around my elbow and back up to my hand again. That was 1. I believe that the correct measurement for this project was 14 arms (of course this would only apply to me).

Iconico has allowed for its users to measure in similar fashion. If your company is one of those odd companies that measures projects by office supplies, say a paper clip, than rest assure that you can do so with Screen Calipers. No more holding a paper clip up to your computer screen. Simply create a custom measurement for the length of a paper clip and you're done. (Note: I actually knew a person in High School that would measure graphic projects in paper clips. I think he tried really hard to different.)

Download your FREE version of Calipers directly from my website or purchase the full version at Iconico.

Enjoy!