A measuring ruler, tape or other instrument having a straight edge located along at least one length of the ruler. The ruler has a first surface having a background color, and a second opposed surface. The ruler also has a set of spaced apart indicia located on the first surface along the at least one length. The indicia are oriented perpendicular to the straight edge. The width of the first indicium and last indicium of a whole number unit measurement length appear half as wide as the width of all remaining fractional indicia.