Adobe Illustrator Shortcuts
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245 Shortcuts for Adobe Illustrator CS5 (MacOS)  [edit]

Platform: mac, win [add]

Versions: CS5, CC [add]

Related: Adobe Illustrator Index, Adobe Creative Suite Shortcuts, Image Editing Shortcuts, Vector Graphics Editor Shortcuts, MacOS Shortcuts

Export as: PDF, Printer-friendly

Table of Contents:

  1. Function Keys
  2. Selecting Tools
  3. Viewing Artwork
  4. Drawing
  5. Drawing in perspective
  6. Keys for selecting
  7. Moving Selection
  8. Editing Shapes
  9. Painting Objects
  10. Live Paint Groups
  11. Transforming Objects
  12. Creating variable width points
  13. Working with Type
  14. Panel Shortcuts

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minusplus1. Function Keys
F1 Help
F2/F3/F4 Cut / Copy / Paste
F5 Show/hide Brushes panel
F6 Show/hide Color panel
F7 Show/hide Layers panel
F8 Create new symbol
⌘+F8 Show/hide Info panel
⌘+F9 Show/hide Gradient panel
⌘+F10 Show/hide Stroke panel
⌘+F11 Show/hide Attributes panel
F12 Revert
Shift+F5 Show/hide Graphic Styles panel
Shift+F6 Show/hide Appearance panel
Shift+F7 Show/hide Align panel
Shift+F8 Show/hide Transform panel
Shift+⌘+F9 Show/hide Pathfinder panel
Shift+⌘+F10 Show/hide Transparency panel
Shift+⌘+F11 Show/hide Symbols panel
⌘+Shift+i Show/hide perspective grid

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minusplus2. Selecting Tools
Shift+o Artboard tool
v Selection tool
a Direct Selection tool
y Magic Wand tool
q Lasso tool
p Pen tool
Shift+b Blob Brush tool
+ Add Anchor Point tool
= Delete Anchor Point tool
Shift+c C onvert Anchor Point tool
t Type tool
\ Line Segment tool
m Rectangle tool
l Ellipse tool
b Paintbrush tool
n Pencil tool
r Rotate tool
o Reflect tool
s Scale tool
Shift+r Warp tool
Shift+w Width tool
e Free Transform tool
Shift+m Shape Builder tool
Shift+p Perspective Grid tool
Shift+v Perspective Selection tool
Shift+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
Shift+l Live Paint Selection tool
Shift+k Slice tool
Shift+e Eraser tool
c Scissors tool
h Hand tool
z Zoom tool
Option Switch to Smooth tool while using Blob Brush tool

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minusplus3. 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%
Space Switch to Hand tool (when not in text-edit mode)
⌘+Space Switch to Zoom tool in magnify mode
⌘+Option+Space Switch to Zoom tool in reduce mode
Space Move Zoom marquee while dragging with the Zoom tool
⌘+Option+Shift+3 Hide unselected artwork
Option+drag guide Convert between horizontal and vertical guide
⌘+Shift+double-click guide Release guide
⌘+Shift+h Show/Hide artboards
⌘+Option+r Show/Hide artboard rulers
⌘+Option+0 (zero) View all artboards in window
⌘+Shift+v Paste in place on the active artboard
Esc Exit Artboard tool mode
Shift+drag Create artboard inside another artboard
⌘+click Select multiple artboards in the Artboards panel
⌘+F6 Navigate to next document
⌘+Shift+F6 Navigate to previous document
⌘+Option+F6 Navigate to next document group
⌘+Option+Shift+F6 Navigate to previous document group
Esc Exit Full Screen mode

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minusplus4. Drawing
Shift+drag Constrain a shape’s proportions or orientation to: (1) equal height and width for rectangles, rounded rectangles, ellipses, and grids, (2) Increments of 45° for line and arc segments, or (3) Original orientation for polygons, stars, and flares
Spacebar+drag Move a shape while drawing it
Option+drag Draw from the center of a shape (except for polygons, stars, and flares)
Option+drag Keep the sides of a star straight
Start dragging, then Up Arrow/Down Arrow Increase or decrease polygon sides, star points, arc angle, spiral winds, or flare rays
Start dragging, then Up Arrow/Down Arrow Keep the inner radius of a star constant
Start dragging, then Right Arrow/LeftArrow Add or remove vertical lines from a rectangular grid or radial lines from a polar grid
Start dragging, then Up Arrow/Down Arrow Add or remove horizontal lines from a rectangular grid or concentric lines from a polar grid
Start dragging, then c Switch between an open and closed arc
Start dragging, then f Flip an arc, keeping the reference point constant
Start dragging, then Option+drag Add or subtract winds from a spiral while increasing the length of the spiral
Start dragging then ⌘+drag Change the decay rate of a spiral
Start dragging, then f Decrease the skew value for horizontal dividers in a rectangular grid or radial dividers in a polar grid by 10%
Start dragging, then v Increase the skew value for horizontal dividers in a rectangular grid or radial dividers in a polar grid by 10%
Start dragging, then x Decrease the skew value for vertical dividers in a rectangular grid or concentric dividers in a polar grid by 10%
Start dragging, then c Increase the skew value for vertical dividers in a rectangular grid or concentric dividers in a polar grid by 10%
Option+click Live Trace in the Control panel, or hold down Option and select a tracing preset. Create and expand a Live Trace object in one step
]/[ Increase size / decrease size of Blob Brush
Shift Constrain Blob Brush path horizontally or vertically
Shift+d Switch through drawing modes
Select the paths, then press ⌘+j Join two or more paths
Select the paths, then press Shift+⌘+Option+j Create corner or smooth join

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minusplus5. Drawing in perspective
Shift+p Perspective Grid Tool
Shift+v Perspective Selection Tool
⌘+Shift+i Perspective Grid
Press 5 key, then click and drag the object Moving objects perpendicularly
Use the Perspective Selection tool and then press 1 ... 4 Switching perspective planes 1 for left grid, 2 for horizontal grid, 3 for right grid, or 4 for no active grid
⌘+Option+drag Copying objects in perspective
⌘+d Repeat transforming objects in perspective
Shift+d Switching between drawing modes

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minusplus6. Keys for selecting
⌘ Switch to last-used selection tool (Selection tool, Direct Selection tool, or Group Selection tool)
Option Switch between Direct Selection tool and Group Selection tool
Shift+click Add to a selection (or substract a selection) with Selection tool, Direct Selection tool, Group Selection tool, Live Paint Selection tool, or Magic Wand tool
Option+click Subtract from selection with Magic Wand tool
Shift+drag Add to selection with Lasso tool
Option+drag Subtract from selection with Lasso tool
Caps Lock Change pointer to cross hair for Lasso tool
⌘+Option+a Select artwork in active artboard
Option+c+o Create crop marks around selected object
⌘+click twice Select behind an object or select behind in isolation mode

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minusplus7. Moving Selection
Arrow Keys Move selection in user-defined increments
Shift+Arrow Keys Move selection in 10x user-defined increments
⌘+Option+Shift+2 Lock all deselected artwork
Hold down Shift Constrain movement to 45° angle (except when using Reflect tool)

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minusplus8. Editing Shapes
Option - Switch Pen tool to Convert Anchor Point tool
- Switch between Add Anchor Point tool and Delete Anchor Point tool
- Switch Scissors tool to Add Anchor Point tool
- Switch Pencil tool to Smooth tool
Spacebar+drag Move current anchor point while drawing with Pen tool
Option+drag Cut a straight line with Knife tool
Shift+Option-drag Cut at 45° or 90° with Knife tool
Option+Shape mode Use shape mode buttons in Pathfinder panel to create compound paths
Option+click the closed region Erase unwanted closed regions created using Shape Builder tool
Shift+m Select the Shape Builder tool
Shift+click+drag Display rectangular marquee to easily merge multiple paths (when using Shape Builder tool)

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minusplus9. Painting Objects
x Toggle between fill and stroke
d Set fill and stroke to default
Shift+x Swap fill and stroke
> Select gradient fill mode
< Select color fill mode
/ Select no stroke/fill mode
Shift Eyedropper tool Sample color from an image or intermediate color from gradient
Option+Shif+click + Eyedropper tool Sample style and append appearance of currently selected item
⌘+/ Add new fill
⌘+Option+/ Add new stroke
⌘+click gradient button in Tools or Gradient panel Reset gradient to black and white
Option+o+j Open Mosaic options for selected raster object
[/] Decrease Bristle brush size / Increase Bristle brush size
1,2,...0 Set Bristle brush paint opacity value to 10%, 20% etc. 0 increases to 100%

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minusplus10. Live Paint Groups
Option+click + Live Paint Bucket tool Switch to Eyedropper tool and sample fill and/or stroke
Option+Shift+click + Live Paint Bucket tool Switch to Eyedropper tool and sample color from an image
Shift + Live Paint Bucket tool Select opposite Live Paint Bucket tool options
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
Option+click + Live Paint Selection tool Switch to Eyedropper tool and sample fill and/or stroke
Option+Shift+click + Live Paint Selection tool Switch to Eyedropper tool and sample color from an image or intermediate color from a gradient
Shift+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

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minusplus11. Transforming Objects
Option+click Set origin point and open dialog box when using Rotate tool, Scale tool, Reflect tool, or Shear tool
Option+drag Duplicate and transform selection when using Selection tool, Scale tool, Reflect tool, or Shear tool
~+drag Transform pattern (independent of object) when using Selection tool, Scale tool, Reflect tool, or Shear tool

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minusplus12. Creating variable width points
Shift+click Select multiple width points
Option+drag Create non-uniform widths
Option+drag the width point Create a copy of the width point
Shift+drag Change the position of multiple width points
Delete Delete selected width point
Esc Deselect a width point

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minusplus13. Working with Type
Right Arrow/Left Arrow Move one character right or left
Up Arrow/Down Arrow Move up or down one line
⌘+Right Arrow/Left Arrow Move one word right or left
⌘+Up Arrow/Down Arrow Move up or down one paragraph
Shift+⌘+ Right Arrow/Left Arrow Select one word right or left
Shift+⌘+ Right Arrow/Left Arrow Select one paragraph before or after
Shift+click Extend existing selection
⌘+Shift+l, r, c Align paragraph left, right, or center
⌘+Shift+j Justify paragraph
Shift+Enter Insert soft return
⌘+Option+k Highlight kerning
⌘+Shift+x Reset horizontal scale to 100%
⌘+Shift+>/ ⌘+Shift+< Increase type size / decrease type size
Option+Up Arrow/Down Arrow Increase or decrease leading (for horizontal text, vor vertical text use Option+Right Arrow/Left Arrow)
Double-click leading icon in the Character panel Set leading to the type size
⌘+Option+q Reset tracking/kerning to 0
Option+Right Arrow/Left Arrow Increase or decrease kerning and tracking (for horizontal text, vor vertical text use Option+Up Arrow/Down Arrow)
⌘+Option+ Right Arrow/Left Arrow Increase or decrease kerning and tracking by five times(for horizontal text, vor vertical text use ⌘+Option+Up Arrow/Down Arrow)
Option+Shift+ Up Arrow/Down Arrow Increase or decrease baseline shift (for horizontal text, vor vertical text use Option+Shift+Right Arrow/Left Arrow)
Shift Switch between Type and Vertical Type, Area Type and Vertical Area Type, and Path Type and Vertical Path Type tools
Option Switch between Area Type and Path Type, Vertical Area Type and Vertical Path Type tools

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minusplus14. Panel Shortcuts
Option+click New button Set options (except for Actions, Brushes, Swatches, and Symbols panels)
Option+click Delete button Delete without confirmation (except for Layers panel)
Shift+Enter Apply value and keep text box active
Shift+click Select range of actions, brushes, layers, links, styles, or swatches
⌘+click Select noncontiguous actions, brushes, layers (same level only), links, styles, or swatches
Tab Show/Hide all panels
Shift+Tab Show/Hide all panels except the Tools panel and Control panel
minusplusActions panel
Option+click expansion triangle Expand/Collapse entire hierarchy for action set
Double-click folder icon Set options for action set
⌘+click Play Current Selection button Play a single command
Option+click New Action button Begin recording actions without confirmation
minusplusBrushes Panel
Double-click brush Open Brush Options dialog box
Drag brush to New Brush button Duplicate brush
minusplusCharacter and Paragraph panels
Up Arrow/Down Arrow Increase/decrease the selected value by a small increment
Shift+Up Arrow/Down Arrow Increase/decreases the selected value by a large increment
⌘+Option+Shift+f Highlight the font name field in the Character panel
minusplusColor Panel
⌘+click color bar Select the complement for the current color fill/stroke
Option+click color bar Change the nonactive fill/stroke
⌘+Option+click color bar Select the complement for the nonactive fill/stroke
⌘+Shift+click color bar Select the inverse for the current fill/stroke
⌘+Shift+Option+click color bar Select the inverse for the nonactive fill/stroke
Shift+click color bar Change the color mode
Shift+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
minusplusLayers Panel
Alt-click layer name Select all objects on the layer
Alt-click eye icon Show/hide all layers but the selected one
⌘-click eye icon Select Outline/Preview view for the selected layer
⌘+ Alt-click eye icon Selects Outline/Preview view for all other layers
Option+click lock icon Lock/unlock all other layers
Option+click expansion triangle Expand all sublayers to display entire hierarchy
Option+click New Layer button Set options as you create new layer
Option+click New Sublayer button Set options as you create new sublayer
⌘+Option+click New Sublayer button Place new sublayer at bottom of layer list
⌘+click New Layer button Place layer at top of layer list
⌘+Option+click New Layer button Place layer below selected layer
Option+drag selection Copy the selection to a layer, sublayer, or group
minusplusSwatches Panel
Option+click layer name Select all objects on the layer
Option+click eye icon Show/hide all layers but the selected one
⌘+click eye icon Select Outline/Preview view for the selected layer
⌘+Option+click eye icon Selects Outline/Preview view for all other layers
Option+click lock icon Lock/unlock all other layers
Option+click expansion triangle Expand all sublayers to display entire hierarchy
Option+click New Layer button Set options as you create new layer
Option+click New Sublayer button Set options as you create new sublayer
⌘+Option+click New Sublayer button Place new sublayer at bottom of layer list
⌘+click New Layer button Place layer at top of layer list
⌘+Option+click New Layer button Place layer below selected layer
Option+drag selection Copy the selection to a layer, sublayer, or group
minusplusSwatches Panel
⌘+click New Swatch button Create new spot color
⌘+Shift+click New Swatch button Create new global process color
Option+drag a swatch over another Replace swatch with another
minusplusTransform Panel
Shift+Enter Apply a value and keep focus in edit field
Option+Enter Apply a value and copy object
⌘+Enter Apply a value and scale option proportionately for width or height
minusplusTransparency Panel
Option+click on mask thumbnail Change mask to grayscale image for editing
Shift+click on mask thumbnail Disable opacity mask
Shift+click on disabled mask thumbnail Re-enable opacity mask
Click opacity field + Up Arrow/Down Arrow Increase/decrease opacity in 1% increments
Shift+click opacity field + Up Arrow/Down Arrow Increase/decrease opacity in 10% increments

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Uploaded by max, updated on 1/17/2012

Shortcuts published under Creative Common License where possible.
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