It's a bit stiff and you may need someone else to support the cast while you lay it on the surface: I lay it perpendicular side up on a wooden trellis near my /Hobby room. It sticks well and the dimensions are pretty clear. It's a continuous measure, like a tape measure. It also counts every 12 inches of red over black; the smallest measurement is 1/8 inch. I would order it in cm if I think about it. A good product.