Best Reading Ruler for Mac: Line Focus and Screen Dimmer

Keywords: reading ruler mac, screen reading ruler, line focus reader, screen dimmer for reading, dyslexia reading line, ADHD reading tool

If you lose your place when reading on a screen, you are not alone. Dense PDFs, long articles, spreadsheets and code all give your eyes too many places to land. A reading ruler fixes that with one idea: dim everything except the line or area you are working on.

Four modes, four uses

Mode	What it does	Good for
Spotlight	Dims everything except a band of text; height, opacity and edge guides adjustable	PDFs, papers, articles
Reading Line	A colored horizontal bar with adjustable color, opacity and thickness	Books, long-form reading
Vertical Ruler	A movable vertical guide	Side-by-side reading, code
Active Window	Dims the desktop and keeps only your current app window bright	General focus, writing

Follow Cursor: the line that moves with you

The most requested change in version 1.5 is Follow Cursor. Turn it on and the line or spotlight tracks your mouse, so it always sits under the text you are reading. It is off by default, and an offset slider lets you fine-tune the position, for example a little above the pointer so your hand does not cover the line.

Works where you work

• Shows over full-screen apps (new in 1.5)
• Multi-display support: every screen is covered, and it adapts when you plug in or unplug a monitor
• Launch at Login (new in 1.5)
• Global shortcut: Command-Shift-F toggles the overlay

Add a focus timer

Reading tools help most when paired with short sessions. The built-in Pomodoro timer has 15, 25, 45 and 60 minute presets, a menu bar countdown (Command-Shift-T) and daily stats. New in 1.5: an optional automatic break after each session, and an option to turn the overlay on when you start and off when you finish.

Tips to get started

1. Start with Spotlight at a height of two or three lines.
2. Lower the opacity so the dimmed area is visible but not distracting.
3. For code, try the Vertical Ruler to keep your place across columns.
4. Pair it with a 25-minute timer and log your daily focus time.

About ADHD Focus Line

ADHD Focus Line: Reading Ruler is a Mac app built for people with ADHD or dyslexia and for anyone who reads, studies or codes on a cluttered screen. It is fully offline: no account, no data collection, no network access. It is a one-time $4.99 purchase.

ADHD Focus Line is a productivity and reading aid, not a medical device or treatment.