Keys for selecting tools | |
Shft + O | Artboard tool |
V | Selection tool |
A | Direct Selection tool |
Y | Magic Wand tool |
Q | Lasso tool |
P | Pen tool |
Shft + B | Blob Brush tool |
+ (plus) | Add Anchor Point tool |
- (minus) | Delete Anchor Point tool |
Shft + C | Convert Anchor Point tool |
T | Type tool |
\ (backslash) | Line Segment tool |
M | Rectangle tool |
L | Ellipse tool |
B | Paintbrush tool |
N | Pencil tool |
R | Rotate tool |
O | Reflect tool |
S | Scale tool |
Shft + R | Warp tool |
Shft+W | Width Tool |
E | Free Transform tool |
Shft+M | Shape Builder Tool |
Shft+P | Perspective Grid Tool |
Shft+V | Perspective Selection Tool |
Shft + S | Symbol Sprayer tool |
J | Column Graph tool |
U | Mesh tool |
G | Gradient tool |
I | Eyedropper tool |
W | Blend tool |
K | Live Paint Bucket tool |
Shft + L | Live Paint Selection tool |
Shft + K | Slice tool |
Shft + E | Eraser tool |
C | Scissors tool |
H | Hand tool |
Z | Zoom tool |
Press Alt | Switch to Smooth tool while using Blob Brush tool |
Keys for viewing artwork | |
F | Toggle between screen modes: Normal Screen Mode, Full Screen Mode with Menu Bar, Full Screen Mode |
Double-click Hand tool | Fit imageable area in window |
Double-click Zoom tool | Magnify 100% |
Spacebar | Switch to Hand tool (when not in text-edit mode) |
Ctrl + Spacebar | Switch to Zoom tool in magnify mode |
Ctrl + Alt + Spacebar | Switch to Zoom tool in reduce mode |
Spacebar | Move Zoom marquee while dragging with the Zoom tool |
Ctrl + Alt + Shft + 3 | Hide unselected artwork |
Alt-drag guide | Convert between horizontal and vertical guide |
Ctrl + Shft-double-click guide | Release guide |
Ctrl + Shft + H | Show/Hide artboards |
Ctrl + Alt + R | Show/Hide artboard rulers |
Ctrl + Alt + 0 (zero) | View all artboards in window |
Ctrl+Shft+V | Paste in place on the active artboard |
Esc | Exit Artboard tool mode |
Shft-drag | Create artboard inside another artboard |
Ctrl+click | Select multiple artboards in the Artboards panel |
Ctrl + F6 | Navigate to next document |
Ctrl + Shft + F6 | Navigate to previous document |
Ctrl + Alt + F6 | Navigate to next document group |
Ctrl + Alt + Shft + F6 | Navigate to previous document group |
Esc | Exit Full Screen mode |
Alt + v | Save multiple artboards to Illustrator CS3 or earlier format |
Keys for drawing | |
Shft-drag | Constrain 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-drag | Move a shape while drawing it |
Alt-drag | Draw from the center of a shape (except for polygons, stars, and flares) |
Start dragging, then press the Up Arrow or Down Arrow | Increase or decrease polygon sides, star points, arc angle, spiral winds, or flare rays |
Start dragging, then hold down Ctrl | Keep the inner radius of a star constant |
Alt-drag | Keep the sides of a star straight |
Start dragging, then hold down C | Switch between an open and closed arc |
Start dragging, then hold down F | Flip an arc, keeping the reference point constant |
Start dragging, then Alt-drag | Add or subtract winds from a spiral while increasing the length of the spiral |
Start dragging then Ctrl-drag | Change the decay rate of a spiral |
Start dragging, then press the Up Arrow or Down Arrow | Add or remove horizontal lines from a rectangular grid or concentric lines from a polar grid |
Start dragging, then press the Right Arrow or Left Arrow | Add or remove vertical lines from a rectangular grid or radial lines from a polar grid |
Start dragging, then press F | Decrease the skew value for horizontal dividers in a rectangular grid or radial dividers in a polar grid by 10% |
Start dragging, then press V | Increase the skew value for horizontal dividers in a rectangular grid or radial dividers in a polar grid by 10% |
Start dragging, then press X | Decrease the skew value for vertical dividers in a rectangular grid or concentric dividers in a polar grid by 10% |
Start dragging, then press C | Increase 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 |
Shft | Constrain Blob Brush path horizontally or vertically |
Shft+D | Switch through drawing modes |
Select the paths, then press Ctrl+J | Join two or more paths |
Select the paths, then press Shft+Ctrl+Alt+j | Create corner or smooth join |
Keys for drawing in perspective | |
Shft+P | Perspective Grid Tool |
Shft+V | Perspective Selection Tool |
Ctrl+Shft+I | Perspective Grid |
5 | Moving objects perpendicularly. (Press the number 5 key, then click and drag the object) |
1,2,3,4 | Switching 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+drag | Copying objects in perspective |
Ctrl+D | Repeat transforming objects in perspective |
Shft+D | Switching between drawing modes |
Keys for selecting | |
Ctrl | Switch to last-used selection tool (Selection tool, Direct Selection tool, or Group Selection tool) |
Alt | Switch between Direct Selection tool and Group Selection tool |
Shft-click | Add to a selection with Selection tool, Direct Selection tool, Group Selection tool, Live Paint Selection tool, or Magic Wand tool |
Shft-click | Subtract a selection with Selection tool, Direct Selection tool, Group Selection tool, or LIve Paint Selection tool |
Alt-click | Subtract from selection with Magic Wand tool |
Shft-drag | Add to selection with Lasso tool |
Alt-drag | Subtract from selection with Lasso tool |
Caps Lock | Change pointer to cross hair for Lasso tool |
Ctrl + Alt + A | Select artwork in active artboard |
Alt + c + o | Create crop marks around selected object |
Press Ctrl+click twice | Select behind an object |
Ctrl+click twice | Select behind in isolation mode |
Keys for moving selections | |
Right Arrow, Left Arrow, Up Arrow, or Down Arrow | Move selection in user-defined increments |
Shft + Right Arrow, Left Arrow, Up Arrow, or Down Arrow | Move selection in 10x user-defined increments |
Ctrl + Alt + Shft + 2 | Lock all deselected artwork |
Hold down Shft | Constrain movement to 45º angle (except when using Reflect tool) |
Keys for editing shapes | |
Alt | Switch Pen tool to Convert Anchor Point tool |
Alt | Switch between Add Anchor Point tool and Delete Anchor Point tool |
Alt | Switch Scissors tool to Add Anchor Point tool |
Alt | Switch Pencil tool to Smooth tool |
Spacebar-drag | Move current anchor point while drawing with Pen tool |
Alt-drag | Cut a straight line with Knife tool |
Shft + Alt-drag | Cut at 45º or 90º with Knife tool |
Alt + Shape mode | Use shape mode buttons in Pathfinder panel to create compound paths |
Alt+click the closed region | Erase unwanted closed regions created using Shape Builder tool |
Shft+M | Select the Shape Builder tool |
Shft+click+drag | Display rectangular marquee to easily merge multiple paths (when using Shape Builder tool) |
Keys for painting objects | |
X | Toggle between fill and stroke |
D | Set fill and stroke to default |
Shft + X | Swap fill and stroke |
> | Select gradient fill mode |
< | Select color fill mode |
/ (forward slash) | Select no stroke/fill mode |
Shft + Eyedropper tool | Sample color from an image or intermediate color from gradient |
Alt + Shft-click + Eyedropper tool | Sample 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 panel | Reset gradient to black and white |
Alt + o + j | Open 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 tool | Switch to Eyedropper tool and sample fill and/or stroke |
Alt + Shft-click + Live Paint Bucket tool | Switch to Eyedropper tool and sample color from an image or intermediate color from a gradient |
Shft + Live Paint Bucket tool | Select 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 tool | Fill across unstroked edges into adjacent faces |
Triple-click + Live Paint Bucket tool | Fill all faces that have same fill and stroke all edges that have same stroke |
Alt-click + Live Paint Selection tool | Switch to Eyedropper tool and sample fill and/or stroke |
Alt + Shft-click + Live Paint Selection tool | Switch to Eyedropper tool and sample color from an image or intermediate color from a gradient |
Shft-click + Live Paint Selection tool | Add to/subtract from a selection |
Double-click + Live Paint Selection tool | Select all connected faces /edges with same fill/stroke |
Triple-click + Live Paint Selection tool | Select all faces/edges with same fill/stroke |
Keys for transforming objects | |
Alt-click | Set origin point and open dialog box when using Rotate tool, Scale tool, Reflect tool, or Shear tool |
Alt-drag | Duplicate and transform selection when using Selection tool, Scale tool, Reflect tool, or Shear tool |
Tilde (~)-drag | Transform pattern (independent of object) when using Selection tool, Scale tool, Reflect tool, or Shear tool |
Keys for creating variable width points | |
Shft+click | Select multiple width points |
Alt+drag | Create non-uniform widths |
Alt+drag the width point | Create a copy of the width point |
Shft+drag | Change the position of multiple width points |
Delete | Delete selected width point |
Esc | Deselect a width point |
Keys for working with type | |
Right Arrow or Left Arrow | Move one character right or left |
Up Arrow or Down Arrow | Move up or down one line |
Ctrl + Right Arrow or Left Arrow | Move one word right or left |
Ctrl + Up Arrow or Down Arrow | Move up or down one paragraph |
Shft + Ctrl + Right Arrow or Left Arrow | Select one word right or left |
Shft + Ctrl + Up Arrow or Down Arrow | Select one paragraph before or after |
Shft-click | Extend existing selection |
Ctrl + Shft + L, R, or C | Align paragraph left, right, or center |
Ctrl + Shft + J | Justify paragraph |
Shft + Enter | Insert soft return |
Ctrl + Alt + K | Highlight kerning |
Ctrl + Shft + X | Reset 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 panel | Set leading to the type size |
Ctrl + Alt + Q | Reset 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 |
Shft | Switch between Type and Vertical Type, Area Type and Vertical Area Type, and Path Type and Vertical Path Type tools |
Alt | Switch between Area Type and Path Type, Vertical Area Type and Vertical Path Type tools |
Keys for using panels | |
Alt-click New button | Set options (except for Actions, Brushes, Swatches, and Symbols panels) |
Alt-click Delete button | Delete without confirmation (except for Layers panel) |
Shft + Enter | Apply value and keep text box active |
Shft-click | Select range of actions, brushes, layers, links, styles, or swatches |
Ctrl-click | Select noncontiguous actions, brushes, layers (same level only), links, styles, or swatches |
Tab | Show/Hide all panels |
Shft + Tab | Show/Hide all panels except the Tools panel and Control panel |
Keys for the Actions panel | |
Alt-click expansion triangle | Expand/Collapse entire hierarchy for action set |
Double-click folder icon | Set options for action set |
Ctrl-click Play Current Selection button | Play a single command |
Alt-click New Action button | Begin recording actions without confirmation |
Keys for the Brushes panel | |
Double-click brush | Open Brush Options dialog box |
Drag brush to New Brush button | Duplicate brush |
Keys for the Character and Paragraph panels | |
Up Arrow or Down Arrow | Increase/decrease the selected value by a small increment |
Shft + Up Arrow or Down Arrow | Increase/decreases the selected value by a large increment |
Ctrl + Alt + Shft + F | Highlight the font name field in the Character panel |
Keys for the Color panel | |
Ctrl-click color bar | Select the complement for the current color fill/stroke |
Alt-click color bar | Change the nonactive fill/stroke |
Ctrl + Alt-click color bar | Select the complement for the nonactive fill/stroke |
Ctrl + Shft-click color bar | Select the inverse for the current fill/stroke |
Ctrl + Shft + Alt-click color bar | Select the inverse for the nonactive fill/stroke |
Shft-click color bar | Change the color mode |
Shft-drag color slider | Move color sliders in tandem |
Double-click to right of a numerical field | Switch between percentage and 0-255 values for RGB |
Keys for the Gradient panel | |
Alt-drag | Duplicate color stops |
Alt-drag color stop onto another stop | Swap color stops |
Alt-click swatch in the Swatches panel | Apply swatch color to active (or selected) color stop |
Ctrl-click Gradient Fill box in the Gradient panel | Reset the gradient fill to default black and white linear gradient |
Ctrl + Alt + G | Show/Hide gradient arrow |
Alt-drag end point of gradient annotator | Modify angle and end-point together |
Shft-drag | Constrain Gradient tool or Gradient annotator while dragging |
G | View Gradient annotator in selected gradient filled object |
Keys for the Layers panel | |
Alt-click layer name | Select all objects on the layer |
Alt-click eye icon | Show/hide all layers but the selected one |
Ctrl-click eye icon | Select Outline/Preview view for the selected layer |
Ctrl + Alt-click eye icon | Selects Outline/Preview view for all other layers |
Alt-click lock icon | Lock/unlock all other layers |
Alt-click expansion triangle | Expand all sublayers to display entire hierarchy |
Alt-click New Layer button | Set options as you create new layer |
Alt-click New Sublayer button | Set options as you create new sublayer |
Ctrl + Alt-click New Sublayer button | Place new sublayer at bottom of layer list |
Ctrl-click New Layer button | Place layer at top of layer list |
Ctrl + Alt-click New Layer button | Place layer below selected layer |
Alt-drag selection | Copy the selection to a layer, sublayer, or group |
Keys for the Swatches panel | |
Ctrl-click New Swatch button | Create new spot color |
Ctrl + Shft-click New Swatch button | Create new global process color |
Alt-drag a swatch over another | Replace swatch with another |
Keys for the Transform panel | |
Shft + Enter | Apply a value and keep focus in edit field |
Alt + Enter | Apply a value and copy object |
Ctrl + Enter | Apply a value and scale option proportionately for width or height |
Keys for the Transparency panel | |
Alt-click on mask thumbnail | Change mask to grayscale image for editing |
Shft-click on mask thumbnail | Disable opacity mask |
Shft-click on disabled mask thumbnail | Re-enable opacity mask |
Click opacity field + Up Arrow or Down Arrow | Increase/decrease opacity in 1% increments |
Shft-click opacity field + Up Arrow or Down Arrow | Increase/decrease opacity in 10% increments |
Function keys | |
F1 | Invoke Help |
F2 | Cut |
F3 | Copy |
F4 | Paste |
F5 | Show/hide Brushes panel |
F6 | Show/hide Color panel |
F7 | Show/hide Layers panel |
F8 | Create new symbol |
Ctrl + F8 | Show/hide Info panel |
Ctrl + F9 | Show/hide Gradient panel |
Ctrl + F10 | Show/hide Stroke panel |
Ctrl + F11 | Show/hide Attributes panel |
F12 | Revert |
Shft + F5 | Show/hide Graphic Styles panel |
Shft + F6 | Show/hide Appearance panel |
Shft + F7 | Show/hide Align panel |
Shft + F8 | Show/hide Transform panel |
Shft + Ctrl + F9 | Show/hide Pathfinder panel |
Shft + Ctrl + F10 | Show/hide Transparency panel |
Shft + Ctrl + F11 | Show/hide Symbols panel |
Ctrl+Shft+I | Show/hide perspective grid |
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