Knowledge base
Articles & Guides
Practical guides on image measurement, floor plan reading, and getting accurate real-world dimensions from photographs and technical drawings.
How to Calibrate the Scale of an Image to Measure It
Learn what image scale calibration is, why every measurement depends on it, and how to set it in MetricCanvas with a line or a circle diameter.
Read article →How to Measure Distances on an Image Online
Use the MetricCanvas measure tool to draw lines on a photo or plan, read real lengths, keep exact angles and label each measurement.
Read article →How to Measure the Diameter or Radius of a Circle on an Image
Use the circle tool to measure round objects on photos and plans — tables, pipes, columns, tanks or roundabouts — by diameter or by radius.
Read article →MetricCanvas Navigation and Keyboard Shortcuts
Every way to move around the infinite canvas: trackpad, Magic Mouse, mouse wheel, touch and keyboard shortcuts for zoom, pan and drawing.
Read article →How to Upload Plans and Photos and Work with Layers
Drag and drop images anywhere, compare several plans on one canvas, reorder layers and keep your work saved automatically in the browser.
Read article →How to Export Your Measurements as PNG, CSV or Text
Share measured plans as images, open your measurements in Excel or Google Sheets, or paste a quick text summary into an email.
Read article →How to Verify Room Sizes from a Real Estate Floor Plan
Stated floor plan dimensions are often rounded, approximated, or simply wrong. Here's how to verify actual room sizes from a digital floor plan before signing anything.
Read article →How to Measure Distances in Satellite and Aerial Images
Satellite and aerial photographs contain measurable distances — if you know how to calibrate them. A guide to extracting real-world measurements from overhead imagery.
Read article →How to Measure from a Blueprint Without CAD Software
You don't need AutoCAD or Revit to extract dimensions from a blueprint. A practical guide to getting accurate measurements from a scanned or photographed architectural drawing.
Read article →How to Read a Scale Bar in Technical Drawings
A scale bar tells you exactly how to convert measurements on paper into real-world distances. Here's how to read one, use one, and what to do when you only have a digital copy.
Read article →How to Check if Furniture Will Fit Before You Buy
How to verify that furniture will fit before it arrives — using floor plans, room photos, or property listing images.
Read article →Floor Plan vs Elevation: What Each Drawing Shows
What floor plans, elevations, and sections each show, what you can measure from each, and how to use MetricCanvas with all three.
Read article →How to Measure a Room Without a Tape Measure
5 practical methods to get room dimensions without a tape measure — from everyday objects to measuring directly from a photo or floor plan.
Read article →How to Measure a Window from a Photo
A practical way to estimate window width and height from a photo using one known reference, with clear limits for perspective and accuracy.
Read article →How to Check if a Bed Fits on a Floor Plan
Use a floor plan and one printed dimension to estimate whether a bed fits, then check walking space and door clearance before moving furniture.
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