With the Measure feature in Concepts, you can measure and set the exact length of any line you draw. When you pair it with the instant straight lines of a tool at 100% Line Smoothing, you will get accurate live measurements. You can also apply exact line measurements and floating measurement tags using the Line Guide.

 

 

1. Set your current tool to 100% Line Smoothing to draw straight lines. Tap the smoothing icon on the inner ring of the tool wheel and slide it to 100% for your active tool.

 

2. Enable Measure in the Precision menu. Tap "Measure" to activate it (the circle next to ‘Measure’ will be filled in.) Now when you draw a stroke, a measurement label will show the real-time length of the stroke as you draw. It will display according to the scale you have set in Settings -> Drawing Scale and Units for your drawing.

 

 

You can also select any line you've drawn, then tap the L:x (or Length:x) value on the status bar at the top of the canvas to bring up the keyboard and set the length of your line. It will either Scale or Stretch the stroke depending on which is set in the Selection menu. This applies to any line, object or Shape Guide - you can change their dimensions at any time.

 

Note that as 100% Line Smoothing draws the sum length of your stroke, you can move forward and Measure will apply forward, or go backward within the same stroke and the measurement will subtract, applying a measurement total to your final length. (This is particularly helpful for measuring live.)

 

 

1. Open the Precision menu and tap Guide to activate the Shape Guides feature. Tap the Guide type label to bring up your Guide options, and tap the Line Guide. This activates the Guide UI on the canvas which lets you interact or draw with the Guide.

 

2. Enable Measure in the Precision menu. Tap "Measure" to activate it (the circle next to ‘Measure’ will be filled in.) Now when you draw a stroke, a measurement label will show the real-time length of the stroke as you draw. It will display according to the scale you have set in Settings -> Drawing Scale and Units for your drawing.

 

To set an exact length with the Line Guide, tap+hold the measurement tag next to the guide to bring up the keyboard. Enter your value, and the guide metrics - the length between the handles - will adjust to the length you entered.

 

From here, you can tap the measurement tag and it will place a floating measurement on the canvas.

 

You can opt to draw a line with the guide, as well. Before drawing, we recommend you double-tap the crosshairs at the center of the guide to constrain your drawing to between the handles, or you will easily draw past the length you've entered. We also recommend you lock the scale in the menu at the bottom of the canvas - it should say "Scale Off". This will keep you from changing the stroke or guide length when moving it around the canvas.

 

When drawing with the Line Guide, note that the Line Guide only measures additively, so if you trace the length back and forth on the guide, it will continue to add length, as your total line length is getting longer as you draw.

 

 

Tap a measurement tag to "save" or "stick" it to the canvas, or it will auto-hide when turning Measure off. Saved tags only appear when Measure is active. If you turn Measure off, the tags will hide but still be there when you turn it back on. If you want to export a drawing with measurement tags, just make sure Measure is activated while exporting.

 

For an illustrated tutorial on working with scale and measurements, check out our tutorial here.