Adobe Illustrator CS5 Keyboard Shortcuts

 

Keys for selecting tools
Shft + OArtboard tool
VSelection tool
ADirect Selection tool
YMagic Wand tool
QLasso tool
PPen tool
Shft + BBlob Brush tool
+ (plus)Add Anchor Point tool
- (minus)Delete Anchor Point tool
Shft + CConvert Anchor Point tool
TType tool
\ (backslash)Line Segment tool
MRectangle tool
LEllipse tool
BPaintbrush tool
NPencil tool
RRotate tool
OReflect tool
SScale tool
Shft + RWarp tool
Shft+WWidth Tool
EFree Transform tool
Shft+MShape Builder Tool
Shft+PPerspective Grid Tool
Shft+VPerspective Selection Tool
Shft + SSymbol Sprayer tool
JColumn Graph tool
UMesh tool
GGradient tool
IEyedropper tool
WBlend tool
KLive Paint Bucket tool
Shft + LLive Paint Selection tool
Shft + KSlice tool
Shft + EEraser tool
CScissors tool
HHand tool
ZZoom tool
Press AltSwitch to Smooth tool while using Blob Brush tool
 
Keys for viewing artwork
FToggle between screen modes: Normal Screen Mode, Full Screen Mode with Menu Bar, Full Screen Mode
Double-click Hand toolFit imageable area in window
Double-click Zoom toolMagnify 100%
SpacebarSwitch to Hand tool (when not in text-edit mode)
Ctrl + SpacebarSwitch to Zoom tool in magnify mode
Ctrl + Alt + SpacebarSwitch to Zoom tool in reduce mode
SpacebarMove Zoom marquee while dragging with the Zoom tool
Ctrl + Alt + Shft + 3Hide unselected artwork
Alt-drag guideConvert between horizontal and vertical guide
Ctrl + Shft-double-click guideRelease guide
Ctrl + Shft + HShow/Hide artboards
Ctrl + Alt + RShow/Hide artboard rulers
Ctrl + Alt + 0 (zero)View all artboards in window
Ctrl+Shft+VPaste in place on the active artboard
EscExit Artboard tool mode
Shft-dragCreate artboard inside another artboard
Ctrl+clickSelect multiple artboards in the Artboards panel
Ctrl + F6Navigate to next document
Ctrl + Shft + F6Navigate to previous document
Ctrl + Alt + F6Navigate to next document group
Ctrl + Alt + Shft + F6Navigate to previous document group
EscExit Full Screen mode
Alt + vSave multiple artboards to Illustrator CS3 or earlier format
 
Keys for drawing
Shft-dragConstrain a shape's proportions or orientation to: <br> - Equal height and width for rectangles, rounded rectangles, ellipses, and grids <br> - Increments of 45º for line and arc segments <br> - Original orientation for polygons, stars, and flares
spacebar-dragMove a shape while drawing it
Alt-dragDraw from the center of a shape (except for polygons, stars, and flares)
Start dragging, then press the Up Arrow or Down ArrowIncrease or decrease polygon sides, star points, arc angle, spiral winds, or flare rays
Start dragging, then hold down CtrlKeep the inner radius of a star constant
Alt-dragKeep the sides of a star straight
Start dragging, then hold down CSwitch between an open and closed arc
Start dragging, then hold down FFlip an arc, keeping the reference point constant
Start dragging, then Alt-dragAdd or subtract winds from a spiral while increasing the length of the spiral
Start dragging then Ctrl-dragChange the decay rate of a spiral
Start dragging, then press the Up Arrow or Down ArrowAdd or remove horizontal lines from a rectangular grid or concentric lines from a polar grid
Start dragging, then press the Right Arrow or Left ArrowAdd or remove vertical lines from a rectangular grid or radial lines from a polar grid
Start dragging, then press FDecrease the skew value for horizontal dividers in a rectangular grid or radial dividers in a polar grid by 10%
Start dragging, then press VIncrease the skew value for horizontal dividers in a rectangular grid or radial dividers in a polar grid by 10%
Start dragging, then press XDecrease the skew value for vertical dividers in a rectangular grid or concentric dividers in a polar grid by 10%
Start dragging, then press CIncrease the skew value for vertical dividers in a rectangular grid or concentric dividers in a polar grid by 10%
Alt-click Live Trace in the Ctrl panel, or hold down Alt and select a tracing preset.Create and expand a Live Trace object in one step
] (right square bracket)Increase size of Blob Brush
[ (left square bracket)Decrease size of Blob Brush
ShftConstrain Blob Brush path horizontally or vertically
Shft+DSwitch through drawing modes
Select the paths, then press Ctrl+JJoin two or more paths
Select the paths, then press Shft+Ctrl+Alt+jCreate corner or smooth join
 
Keys for drawing in perspective
Shft+PPerspective Grid Tool
Shft+VPerspective Selection Tool
Ctrl+Shft+IPerspective Grid
5Moving objects perpendicularly. (Press the number 5 key, then click and drag the object)
1,2,3,4Switching perspective planes. (Use the Perspective Selection tool and then press 1 for left grid, 2 for horizontal grid, 3 for right grid, or 4 for no active grid).
Ctrl+Alt+dragCopying objects in perspective
Ctrl+DRepeat transforming objects in perspective
Shft+DSwitching between drawing modes
 
Keys for selecting
CtrlSwitch to last-used selection tool (Selection tool, Direct Selection tool, or Group Selection tool)
AltSwitch between Direct Selection tool and Group Selection tool
Shft-clickAdd to a selection with Selection tool, Direct Selection tool, Group Selection tool, Live Paint Selection tool, or Magic Wand tool
Shft-clickSubtract a selection with Selection tool, Direct Selection tool, Group Selection tool, or LIve Paint Selection tool
Alt-clickSubtract from selection with Magic Wand tool
Shft-dragAdd to selection with Lasso tool
Alt-dragSubtract from selection with Lasso tool
Caps LockChange pointer to cross hair for Lasso tool
Ctrl + Alt + ASelect artwork in active artboard
Alt + c + oCreate crop marks around selected object
Press Ctrl+click twiceSelect behind an object
Ctrl+click twiceSelect behind in isolation mode
 
Keys for moving selections
Right Arrow, Left Arrow, Up Arrow, or Down ArrowMove selection in user-defined increments
Shft + Right Arrow, Left Arrow, Up Arrow, or Down ArrowMove selection in 10x user-defined increments
Ctrl + Alt + Shft + 2Lock all deselected artwork
Hold down ShftConstrain movement to 45º angle (except when using Reflect tool)
 
Keys for editing shapes
AltSwitch Pen tool to Convert Anchor Point tool
AltSwitch between Add Anchor Point tool and Delete Anchor Point tool
AltSwitch Scissors tool to Add Anchor Point tool
AltSwitch Pencil tool to Smooth tool
Spacebar-dragMove current anchor point while drawing with Pen tool
Alt-dragCut a straight line with Knife tool
Shft + Alt-dragCut at 45º or 90º with Knife tool
Alt + Shape modeUse shape mode buttons in Pathfinder panel to create compound paths
Alt+click the closed regionErase unwanted closed regions created using Shape Builder tool
Shft+MSelect the Shape Builder tool
Shft+click+dragDisplay rectangular marquee to easily merge multiple paths (when using Shape Builder tool)
 
Keys for painting objects
XToggle between fill and stroke
DSet fill and stroke to default
Shft + XSwap fill and stroke
>Select gradient fill mode
<Select color fill mode
/ (forward slash)Select no stroke/fill mode
Shft + Eyedropper toolSample color from an image or intermediate color from gradient
Alt + Shft-click + Eyedropper toolSample style and append appearance of currently selected item
Ctrl + / (forward slash)Add new fill
Ctrl + Alt + / (forward slash)Add new stroke
Ctrl-click gradient button in Tools panel or Gradient panelReset gradient to black and white
Alt + o + jOpen Mosaic options for selected raster object
[Decrease Bristle brush size
]Increase Bristle brush size
Number keys 1 - 0.Set Bristle brush paint opacity value ( Number key 1 increases the value to 10%, Number key 0 increases the value to 100% )
 
Keys for working with Live Paint groups
Alt-click + Live Paint Bucket toolSwitch to Eyedropper tool and sample fill and/or stroke
Alt + Shft-click + Live Paint Bucket toolSwitch to Eyedropper tool and sample color from an image or intermediate color from a gradient
Shft + Live Paint Bucket toolSelect opposite Live Paint Bucket tool options (if Paint Fills and Paint Strokes are currently selected, switch to Paint Fills only)
Double-click + Live Paint Bucket toolFill across unstroked edges into adjacent faces
Triple-click + Live Paint Bucket toolFill all faces that have same fill and stroke all edges that have same stroke
Alt-click + Live Paint Selection toolSwitch to Eyedropper tool and sample fill and/or stroke
Alt + Shft-click + Live Paint Selection toolSwitch to Eyedropper tool and sample color from an image or intermediate color from a gradient
Shft-click + Live Paint Selection toolAdd to/subtract from a selection
Double-click + Live Paint Selection toolSelect all connected faces /edges with same fill/stroke
Triple-click + Live Paint Selection toolSelect all faces/edges with same fill/stroke
 
Keys for transforming objects
Alt-clickSet origin point and open dialog box when using Rotate tool, Scale tool, Reflect tool, or Shear tool
Alt-dragDuplicate and transform selection when using Selection tool, Scale tool, Reflect tool, or Shear tool
Tilde (~)-dragTransform pattern (independent of object) when using Selection tool, Scale tool, Reflect tool, or Shear tool
 
Keys for creating variable width points
Shft+clickSelect multiple width points
Alt+dragCreate non-uniform widths
Alt+drag the width pointCreate a copy of the width point
Shft+dragChange the position of multiple width points
DeleteDelete selected width point
EscDeselect a width point
 
Keys for working with type
Right Arrow or Left ArrowMove one character right or left
Up Arrow or Down ArrowMove up or down one line
Ctrl + Right Arrow or Left ArrowMove one word right or left
Ctrl + Up Arrow or Down ArrowMove up or down one paragraph
Shft + Ctrl + Right Arrow or Left ArrowSelect one word right or left
Shft + Ctrl + Up Arrow or Down ArrowSelect one paragraph before or after
Shft-clickExtend existing selection
Ctrl + Shft + L, R, or CAlign paragraph left, right, or center
Ctrl + Shft + JJustify paragraph
Shft + EnterInsert soft return
Ctrl + Alt + KHighlight kerning
Ctrl + Shft + XReset horizontal scale to 100%
Ctrl + Shft + > or <Increase or decrease type size
Alt + Up or Down Arrow (horizontal text) or Right or Left Arrow (vertical text)Increase or decrease leading
Double-click leading icon in the Character panelSet leading to the type size
Ctrl + Alt + QReset tracking/kerning to 0
Alt + Right or Left Arrow (horizontal text) or Up or Down Arrow (vertical text)Increase or decrease kerning and tracking
Ctrl + Alt + Right or Left Arrow (horizontal text) or Up or Down Arrow (vertical text)Increase or decrease kerning and tracking by five times
Alt + Shft + Up or Down Arrow (horizontal text) or Right or Left Arrow (vertical text)Increase or decrease baseline shift
ShftSwitch between Type and Vertical Type, Area Type and Vertical Area Type, and Path Type and Vertical Path Type tools
AltSwitch between Area Type and Path Type, Vertical Area Type and Vertical Path Type tools
 
Keys for using panels
Alt-click New buttonSet options (except for Actions, Brushes, Swatches, and Symbols panels)
Alt-click Delete buttonDelete without confirmation (except for Layers panel)
Shft + EnterApply value and keep text box active
Shft-clickSelect range of actions, brushes, layers, links, styles, or swatches
Ctrl-clickSelect noncontiguous actions, brushes, layers (same level only), links, styles, or swatches
TabShow/Hide all panels
Shft + TabShow/Hide all panels except the Tools panel and Control panel
 
Keys for the Actions panel
Alt-click expansion triangleExpand/Collapse entire hierarchy for action set
Double-click folder iconSet options for action set
Ctrl-click Play Current Selection buttonPlay a single command
Alt-click New Action buttonBegin recording actions without confirmation
 
Keys for the Brushes panel
Double-click brushOpen Brush Options dialog box
Drag brush to New Brush buttonDuplicate brush
 
Keys for the Character and Paragraph panels
Up Arrow or Down ArrowIncrease/decrease the selected value by a small increment
Shft + Up Arrow or Down ArrowIncrease/decreases the selected value by a large increment
Ctrl + Alt + Shft + FHighlight the font name field in the Character panel
 
Keys for the Color panel
Ctrl-click color barSelect the complement for the current color fill/stroke
Alt-click color barChange the nonactive fill/stroke
Ctrl + Alt-click color barSelect the complement for the nonactive fill/stroke
Ctrl + Shft-click color barSelect the inverse for the current fill/stroke
Ctrl + Shft + Alt-click color barSelect the inverse for the nonactive fill/stroke
Shft-click color barChange the color mode
Shft-drag color sliderMove color sliders in tandem
Double-click to right of a numerical fieldSwitch between percentage and 0-255 values for RGB
 
Keys for the Gradient panel
Alt-dragDuplicate color stops
Alt-drag color stop onto another stopSwap color stops
Alt-click swatch in the Swatches panelApply swatch color to active (or selected) color stop
Ctrl-click Gradient Fill box in the Gradient panelReset the gradient fill to default black and white linear gradient
Ctrl + Alt + GShow/Hide gradient arrow
Alt-drag end point of gradient annotatorModify angle and end-point together
Shft-dragConstrain Gradient tool or Gradient annotator while dragging
GView Gradient annotator in selected gradient filled object
 
Keys for the Layers panel
Alt-click layer nameSelect all objects on the layer
Alt-click eye iconShow/hide all layers but the selected one
Ctrl-click eye iconSelect Outline/Preview view for the selected layer
Ctrl + Alt-click eye iconSelects Outline/Preview view for all other layers
Alt-click lock iconLock/unlock all other layers
Alt-click expansion triangleExpand all sublayers to display entire hierarchy
Alt-click New Layer buttonSet options as you create new layer
Alt-click New Sublayer buttonSet options as you create new sublayer
Ctrl + Alt-click New Sublayer buttonPlace new sublayer at bottom of layer list
Ctrl-click New Layer buttonPlace layer at top of layer list
Ctrl + Alt-click New Layer buttonPlace layer below selected layer
Alt-drag selectionCopy the selection to a layer, sublayer, or group
 
Keys for the Swatches panel
Ctrl-click New Swatch buttonCreate new spot color
Ctrl + Shft-click New Swatch buttonCreate new global process color
Alt-drag a swatch over anotherReplace swatch with another
 
Keys for the Transform panel
Shft + EnterApply a value and keep focus in edit field
Alt + EnterApply a value and copy object
Ctrl + EnterApply a value and scale option proportionately for width or height
 
Keys for the Transparency panel
Alt-click on mask thumbnailChange mask to grayscale image for editing
Shft-click on mask thumbnailDisable opacity mask
Shft-click on disabled mask thumbnailRe-enable opacity mask
Click opacity field + Up Arrow or Down ArrowIncrease/decrease opacity in 1% increments
Shft-click opacity field + Up Arrow or Down ArrowIncrease/decrease opacity in 10% increments
 
Function keys
F1Invoke Help
F2Cut
F3Copy
F4Paste
F5Show/hide Brushes panel
F6Show/hide Color panel
F7Show/hide Layers panel
F8Create new symbol
Ctrl + F8Show/hide Info panel
Ctrl + F9Show/hide Gradient panel
Ctrl + F10Show/hide Stroke panel
Ctrl + F11Show/hide Attributes panel
F12Revert
Shft + F5Show/hide Graphic Styles panel
Shft + F6Show/hide Appearance panel
Shft + F7Show/hide Align panel
Shft + F8Show/hide Transform panel
Shft + Ctrl + F9Show/hide Pathfinder panel
Shft + Ctrl + F10Show/hide Transparency panel
Shft + Ctrl + F11Show/hide Symbols panel
Ctrl+Shft+IShow/hide perspective grid

 

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