Step 1: Set Up for Success
Before you measure, remember that Phruler "sees" the world through your camera. The better it can see, the more accurate it will be. There are three key things to check:
- Good Lighting: Make sure your space is well-lit. A bright room is an accurate room.
- A Rich 3D Environment: Phruler calculates distance based on motion parallax—the same effect you see when looking out a car window. Nearby objects appear to move faster than distant ones. To work its magic, the app needs to see objects at various distances.
- Enable Your Best Hardware: For the highest possible precision on compatible devices, go to Phruler's settings and ensure both the 4K Camera and LiDAR Scanner options are enabled.
What makes a good measurement environment?
The key is a space with depth and detail.
Good Environments (High Accuracy)
- A furnished room with chairs, tables, and decor.
- An office with desks, monitors, and bookshelves.
- Any space where the camera can see objects both near and far simultaneously.
- Surfaces with texture or pattern (wood grain, patterned rugs).
Bad Environments (Low Accuracy)
- An empty hallway with blank walls.
- Standing too close to a single flat surface (like a wall or a door).
- A dark room or a space with reflective surfaces like glass.
Curious about the science? Read more here.
Step 2: The Basic Measurement
Once your space is ready, the process is simple and intuitive.
- Set: Place your phone at the start of what you want to measure.
- Move: Press and hold the main button, then move your phone smoothly to the end point.
- See: Release the button for an instant, accurate measurement.
Pro-Tip: Before your first measurement, slowly pan your phone around the area for a few seconds. This helps the app build a reliable 3D map of the environment, leading to solid measurements.
Step 3: Pro Tips for Flawless Accuracy
Now that you have the basics down, these professional tips will help you get perfect results every time.
- Move Smoothly: Avoid quick, jerky motions. A steady hand leads to a steady measurement.
- Watch the Scene, Not the Subject: This is the most common mistake. When measuring a tabletop, your instinct is to point the camera down at it. Don't do that. Instead, keep the camera pointed forward into the wider room. The app tracks its position by watching the surrounding environment, not the surface you're measuring.
- Use Axis-Locking: For perfectly straight lines, use the Horizontal or Vertical modes. This prevents accidental drift and is the key to unlocking some of Phruler's best features.
Step 4: Unlocking Phruler's Superpowers
Phruler's unique method lets you measure things other apps struggle with.
Measure a Cone's True Height
Select Vertical mode. Place your phone at the base, press and hold, then lift it straight up to the tip of the cone. Phruler measures the true vertical distance, something aim-based apps can't do.
Measure Around Obstacles
Need the distance between two walls, but a couch is in the way? No problem. Start at one wall, and move the phone over or around the couch to the other. Phruler measures the direct point-to-point distance, ignoring what's in between.
Measure Points You Can't "Lock On" To
Aim-based apps need a clear, textured point to "lock on" to. What if you want to measure to the middle of a blank wall, or from the tip of a smooth, thin nail? With Phruler, you don't need to aim. You just physically move your phone to the exact spot you want to measure, regardless of whether the camera can "lock on" to it.