The Rulers, Guides, and Grid

To show or hide the Rulers cmd ⌘ + R or
View ‣ Show/Hide Rulers
Rulers

The Rulers are useful for precise positioning of objects in an image.

To show or hide the Guides opt ⌥ + cmd ⌘ + ; or
View ‣ Show/Hide Guides
Guides

The Guides can be flexibly positioned anywhere in the area of an image. The Guides can be used for the precise positioning and alignment of an image’s elements.

To add new guide

To change the position of the guideline

Select the Move tool, move the pointer over the guide and drag it.

To protect against accidental repositioning

You can lock the guides after you have finished working with them. Simply right-click on the Ruler Bar and select Lock Guides in the context menu.

To remove all guides

Right-click on the Ruler Bar and select Clear Guides in the context menu, and all guides will be removed from the image.

At the push of the Option ⌥ button you will switch from a horizontal guide to a vertical guide.

To snap a guide to the ruler mark, hold down the Shift ⇧ and drag it.

To show or hide the Grid
opt ⌥ + cmd ⌘ + ' or
View ‣ Show/Hide Guides
Grid

The Grid provides you with a means for alignment of image’s elements to the horizontal or vertical axis.

To change Grid or Guide colors, Grid spacing and Rulers measurement units choose Pixelmator ‣ Preferences and the Rulers tab.