Many video editors overlook rulers in Premiere Pro, but they’re a helpful tool for precisely aligning elements within your compositions. They let you accurately measure distances, set keyframes, and ensure that your edits are consistent throughout your project. To activate rulers, go to the View menu and select Show Rulers. This will display both a horizontal and vertical ruler along the edges of your Premiere Pro workspace.
The rulers in Premiere Pro are incredibly versatile and can be customized to meet your specific needs. By default, the rulers are set to measure in pixels, but you can also change them to inches, centimeters, or other units. You can also adjust the zero point of the rulers, which is helpful when you need to measure relative to a specific point in your composition. Additionally, you can choose to display tick marks or gridlines on the rulers, which can help you with precise alignment.
Whether you’re a seasoned video editor or just starting out with Premiere Pro, learning how to use rulers will help you take your editing skills to the next level. This intuitive tool lets you quickly and easily make precise adjustments to your compositions, ensuring that your edits are polished and professional.
Modifying Ruler Units and Measurements
The units used in the rulers can be changed to match your preferences or the conventions of the industry you are working in. To modify the units:
- Right-click (Windows) or Control-click (Mac) on the ruler and select Ruler Units.
- From the drop-down menu, select the desired unit of measurement. Available options include pixels, inches, centimeters, millimeters, and points.
In addition to the main units, you can also specify the subdivisions of the units, such as the number of pixels per inch or the number of points per inch. To do this:
Customizing Subdivisions
You can customize the subdivisions of the ruler units to enhance precision and readability.
- Right-click (Windows) or Control-click (Mac) on the ruler and select Ruler Units.
- Click the Customize option next to "Subdivisions".
- In the "Customize Subdivisions" dialog box, adjust the following settings:
- Base Units: Specify the main unit of measurement.
- Subdivisions per Base Unit: Set the number of subdivisions for each base unit.
- Subdivision Units: Choose the unit of measurement for the subdivisions (e.g., pixels, inches).
- Display Format: Select the format in which the subdivisions are displayed (e.g., decimal, fraction).
For example, to display the ruler in inches with 10 subdivisions per inch, you would enter the following values:
| Setting | Value |
|---|---|
| Base Units | Inches |
| Subdivisions per Base Unit | 10 |
| Subdivision Units | Pixels |
| Display Format | Decimal |
Click “OK” to apply the changes and close the dialog box.
Customizing Ruler Visibility and Display
Premiere Pro offers extensive customization options for the rulers, allowing you to tailor their appearance and functionality to your preferences.
Toggling Ruler Visibility
To toggle the visibility of the rulers, simply press the “R” key on your keyboard. Alternatively, you can select “View” from the top menu bar and choose “Show Rulers” or use the “Toggle Rulers” icon in the Timeline toolbar.
Changing Ruler Units
The rulers can display measurements in various units, such as pixels, inches, or centimeters. To change the ruler units, right-click on the ruler and select “Ruler Units” from the context menu. Choose the desired unit from the dropdown list.
Customizing Ruler Appearance
You can customize the appearance of the rulers by adjusting their color, thickness, and font size. To do this, right-click on the ruler and select “Customize Rulers” from the context menu. In the “Ruler Preferences” dialog box, adjust the desired settings and click “OK” to apply the changes.
Advanced Ruler Options
For even more fine-tuned control over the rulers, you can access advanced options by right-clicking on the ruler and selecting “Customize Rulers” from the context menu. In the “Ruler Preferences” dialog box, explore the following settings:
- Snap to Rulers: Enable this setting to snap clips and other elements to the ruler marks.
- Show Active Timecode: Display the current timecode position in the rulers.
- Show Guides Relative to Current Time: Display timecode guides relative to the current playhead position.
- Show Frame Strokes: Draw vertical lines at each frame interval.
- Show 24-Hour Timecode: Display timecode in a 24-hour format.
Snap to Rulers
When the “Snap to Rulers” option is enabled, clips and other elements will align to the ruler marks, making it easier to place them precisely. This feature is particularly useful when creating precise edits or aligning multiple clips.
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
| Snap to Whole Frames | Clips snap to whole frames. |
| Snap to Subframes | Clips snap to subframes, allowing for finer precision. |
| Snap Margin | Sets a margin around the ruler marks within which clips will snap. |
Show Active Timecode
With the “Show Active Timecode” option enabled, the rulers display the current timecode position, providing a quick reference to the current frame or time in the sequence. This can be helpful when navigating through the timeline or finding specific points in the video.
Working with Multiple Rulers
Premiere Pro allows you to have multiple rulers displayed simultaneously. This can be helpful when you need to view measurements from different perspectives or compare the lengths of different elements.
- To create a new ruler, click on the “Ruler” button in the “Tools” panel.
- A new ruler will be created and attached to the top of the Timeline.
- You can move the ruler by clicking on it and dragging it to a new location.
- You can also resize the ruler by clicking on the edges and dragging them to the desired size.
- To delete a ruler, click on it and press the “Delete” key.
You can also customize the appearance of the rulers. To do this, click on the “Preferences” button in the “Edit” menu and select the “Rulers” tab. Here, you can change the units of measurement, the scale, and the color of the rulers.
Units of Measurement
Premiere Pro supports the following units of measurement:
| Unit | Abbreviation |
|---|---|
| Pixels | px |
| Inches | in |
| Centimeters | cm |
| Millimeters | mm |
| Points | pt |
| Picas | pc |
Scale
The scale of the rulers determines how many units are displayed per pixel. A larger scale will show more units per pixel, while a smaller scale will show fewer units per pixel.
Color
You can change the color of the rulers to make them more visible. To do this, click on the “Color” swatch in the “Rulers” tab of the “Preferences” dialog box.
Using Rulers for Timecode Referencing
Rulers in Premiere Pro provide a convenient way to reference timecode, making it easier to locate and work with specific frames or sections of your footage. To use rulers for timecode referencing:
1. Show the Rulers
Enable the rulers by going to the View menu and selecting Show Rulers. This will display horizontal and vertical rulers along the top and left edges of the timeline.
2. Adjust the Ruler Units
Right-click on the rulers and select Ruler Units to choose the desired unit of measurement (e.g., frames, seconds, SMPTE timecode). This determines how the timecode is displayed on the rulers.
3. Hover over the Rulers
Move your cursor over the horizontal ruler to display the current timecode at the cursor position. Similarly, hovering over the vertical ruler shows the frame or line number of the current position.
4. Move the Playhead
You can use the rulers to move the playhead to a specific timecode. Click on the desired timecode on the horizontal ruler and drag it to the left or right to adjust the playhead position.
5. Mark In and Out Points
Hold the Alt key while clicking on the horizontal ruler to set a Mark In or Mark Out point. These points can be used to select a specific section of the timeline for editing.
6. Zoom In and Out
Use the [ and ] keys or the +/- buttons on the rulers to zoom in or out on the timeline. This affects the spacing between the tick marks on the rulers, making it easier to view smaller or larger segments.
7. Shift the Timeline
Click and drag on the numbers on the horizontal ruler to shift the entire timeline. This can be useful for aligning or synchronizing multiple clips.
8. Synchronize Clips
Use the vertical rulers to align clips vertically. Drag the top of a clip to match the tick marks for the timecode you want to align with.
9. Referencing Absolute and Relative Timecode
The numbers on the horizontal ruler show absolute timecode, while the numbers on the vertical ruler show relative timecode (the offset from the start of the clip). This allows for precise referencing within specific segments.
10. Advanced Timecode Calculations
You can use the keyboard or the Advanced Timecode Calculator to perform arithmetic operations on timecode values. For example, to add 5 seconds to the current timecode, enter “current_time + 00;00;05;00” in the calculator and press Enter.
| Operation | Meaning |
|—|—|
| + | Addition |
| – | Subtraction |
| * | Multiplication |
| / | Division |
| % | Modulus (remainder) |
| abs() | Absolute value |
| round() | Round to nearest integer |
How to View Rulers in Premiere Pro
Rulers in Premiere Pro provide visual guides for precise positioning and alignment of elements within your timeline and workspace. By displaying both horizontal and vertical rulers, you can accurately measure and adjust the duration, size, and placement of clips, effects, and other elements.
To view rulers in Premiere Pro, follow these steps:
- Go to the “View” menu.
- Select “Show Rulers” to toggle the display of rulers on or off.
- By default, both horizontal and vertical rulers will appear.
People Also Ask
What are the units displayed on the rulers?
The rulers can be displayed in pixels, inches, centimeters, or seconds/frames, depending on your preference. You can change the unit of measurement by right-clicking on the rulers and selecting “Ruler Units”.
Can I customize the appearance of the rulers?
Yes, you can customize the appearance of the rulers by going to “Premiere Pro” > “Preferences” > “Rulers”. Here, you can adjust the color, font, and grid spacing of the rulers.
How do I use the rulers for precise placement?
To use the rulers for precise placement, simply drag and drop elements onto the rulers or use the keyboard shortcuts to move them. The snapping feature will align elements to the nearest grid increment.
