========================================== Adobe Illustrator (Mac) keyboard shortcuts ========================================== First published at 1/1/2019 on https://defkey.com/adobe-illustrator-mac-shortcuts Adobe Illustrator is a vector graphics editor originally designed for Apple Macintosh. The latest version, Illustrator CC 2019, was released in October 2018. Illustrator is considered as one of the best vector graphics software. Adobe Illustrator (Mac) has 381 shortcuts and we have listed all of them below. Frequently used shortcuts ------------------------- Cmd + Z Undo Shift + Cmd + Z Redo Cmd + X Cut Cmd + C Copy Cmd + V Paste Cmd + F Paste in front Cmd + B Paste at back Shift + Cmd + B Paste in place Option + Shift + Cmd + B Paste on all artboards Cmd + I Check spelling Shift + Cmd + K Open the Color Settings dialog box Option + Shift + Cmd + K Open the Keyboard Shortcuts dialog box Cmd + K Open the Preferences dialog box Work with documents ------------------- Cmd + N Create a document Shift + Cmd + N Create a document from a template Option + Cmd + N Create a document without opening the New Document dialog box Cmd + O Open a document Shift + Cmd + P Place a file in the document Option + Shift + Cmd + I Open the File Information dialog box Option + Cmd + P Open the Document Setup dialog box Option + Cmd + O Browse in Adobe Bridge Cmd + W Close the document window Cmd + S Save changes made to the document Shift + Cmd + S Open the Save As dialog box Option + Cmd + S Save a copy of the document Cmd + F12 Save the document as script files Option + Cmd + E Open the Export for screens dialog box Option + Shift + Cmd + S Open the Save For Web dialog box Option + Shift + Cmd + P Package the document Cmd + P Print Cmd + Q Exit the application Select tools ------------ Shift + O Artboard tool V Selection tool A Direct Selection tool Y Magic Wand tool Q Lasso tool P Pen tool Shift + ~ Curvature tool Shift + B Blob Brush tool + Add Anchor Point tool - Delete Anchor Point tool Shift + C Switch to Anchor Point tool T Type tool Shift + T Touch Type tool \ Line Segment tool M Rectangle tool L Ellipse tool B Paintbrush tool N Pencil tool Shift + N Shaper 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 View artwork ------------ F Toggle between screen modes: Normal Screen Mode, Full Screen Mode with Menu Bar, Full Screen Mode Double click (double click Hand tool) Fit imageable area in window Double click (double click Zoom tool) Magnify 100% Cmd + 1 Magnify 100% Space Switch to Hand tool (when not in text-edit mode) Space + Cmd Switch to Zoom tool in magnify mode Space + Cmd + Option Switch to Zoom tool in reduce mode Space Move Zoom marquee while dragging with the Zoom tool Shift + Control + B Hide bounding box Cmd + Option + Shift + 3 Hide unselected artwork Option + Left click + Move the mouse (drag guide) Convert between horizontal and vertical guide Cmd + Shift + Double click (double click guide) Release guide Cmd + H Show document template Cmd + Shift + H Show/Hide artboards Cmd + Option + R Show/Hide artboard rulers Shift + Cmd + D Show transparency grid Cmd + Option + 0 View all artboards in window Cmd + Shift + V Paste in place on the active artboard Esc Exit Artboard tool mode Shift + Left click + Move the mouse Create artboard inside another artboard Cmd + Left click Select multiple artboards in the Artboards panel Cmd + F6 Navigate to next document Cmd + Shift + F6 Navigate to previous document Cmd + Option + F6 Navigate to next document group Cmd + Option + Shift + F6 Navigate to previous document group Cmd + Y Toggle between Outline and GPU Preview of the document Cmd + E Toggle between GPU and CPU Preview of the document Option + Shift + Cmd + Y View the document in Overprint Preview mode Option + Cmd + Y View the document in Pixel Preview mode Esc Exit Full Screen mode Cmd + = Zoom in Cmd + - Zoom out Cmd + ; Hide guides Option + Cmd + ; Lock guides Cmd + 5 Make guides Option + Ctrl + 5 Release guides Cmd + U Show/ hide smart guides Cmd + Shift + I Show/ hide perspective grid Cmd + ' Show grid Shift + Cmd + ' Snap to grid Option + Cmd + ' Snap to point Work with selections -------------------- Cmd + ` 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 + Left click Add to a selection with Selection tool, Direct Selection tool, Group Selection tool, Live Paint Selection tool, or Magic Wand tool Shift + Left click Subtract a selection with Selection tool, Direct Selection tool, Group Selection tool, or Live Paint Selection tool Option + Left click Subtract from selection with Magic Wand tool Shift + Left click + Move the mouse Add to selection with Lasso tool Option + Left click + Move the mouse Subtract from selection with Lasso tool Caps Lock Change pointer to cross hair for Lasso tool Cmd + Option + A Select artwork in active artboard Cmd + A Select all Shift + Cmd + A Deselect Cmd + 6 Reselect Option + Cmd + ] Select the object above the current selection Option + Cmd + Select the object below the current selection Cmd + Left click then Left click Select behind an object Cmd + Left click then Left click Select behind in isolation mode Cmd + G Group the selected artwork Shift + Cmd + G Ungroup the selected artwork Cmd + 2 Lock a selection Option + Cmd + 2 Unlock a selection Cmd + 3 Hide a selection Option + Cmd + 3 Show all selections Arrow keys Move selection in user-defined increments Shift + arrrowkeys Move selection in 10x user-defined increments Cmd + Option + Shift + 2 Lock all deselected artwork Shift (hold) Constrain movement to 45° angle (except when using Reflect tool) Cmd + ] Bring a selection forward Shift + Cmd + ] Move a selection to the front Cmd + [ Send a selection backward Shift + Cmd + [ Move a selection to the back   Note: Set keyboard increments in General Preferences (Ctrl/ Cmd + K). Draw ---- Shift + Left click + Move the mouse Constrain a shape’s proportions or orientation to: equal height and width for rectangles, rounded rectangles, ellipses, and grids Shift + Left click + Move the mouse Increments of 45° for line and arc segments Shift + Left click + Move the mouse Original orientation for polygons, stars, and flares Space + Left click + Move the mouse Move a shape while drawing it Option + Left click + Move the mouse Draw from the center of a shape (except for polygons, stars, and flares)   Start dragging, then press one of these shortcuts: Left click + Move the mouse then Up arrow / Down arrow (start dragging then press up or down arrow) Keep the sides of a star straight Cmd (hold down) Increase or decrease polygon sides, star points, arc angle, spiral winds, or flare rays Option + Left click + Move the mouse (hold down) Keep the inner radius of a star constant C (hold down) Switch between an open and closed arc S + F (hold down) Flip an arc, keeping the reference point constant Option + Left click + Move the mouse Add or subtract winds from a spiral while increasing the length of the spiral Cmd + Left click + Move the mouse Change the decay rate of a spiral Up arrow / Down arrow Add or remove horizontal lines from a rectangular grid or concentric lines from a polar grid Left arrow / Right arrow Add or remove vertical lines from a rectangular grid or radial lines from a polar grid F Decrease the skew value for horizontal dividers in a rectangular grid or radial dividers in a polar grid by 10% V Increase the skew value for horizontal dividers in a rectangular grid or radial dividers in a polar grid by 10% X Decrease the skew value for vertical dividers in a rectangular grid or concentric dividers in a polar grid by 10% C Increase the skew value for vertical dividers in a rectangular grid or concentric dividers in a polar grid by 10%   - ] Increase size of Blob Brush [ Decrease size of Blob Brush Shift Constrain Blob Brush path horizontally or vertically Shift + D Switch through drawing modes   Select the paths, then use those shortcuts: Cmd + J Join two or more paths Option + Cmd + J Average two or more paths Shift + Cmd + Option + J Create corner or smooth join   - Cmd + 8 Create a compound path Option + Shift + Cmd + 8 Release a compound path Shift + Cmd + F8 Edit a pattern Shift + P Perspective Grid Tool Shift + V Perspective Selection Tool Cmd + Shift + I Perspective Grid 5 + Left click + Move the mouse (drag object) Moving objects perpendicularly   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. Cmd + Alt + Left click + Move the mouse Copying objects in perspective Cmd + D Repeat transforming objects in perspective Shift + D Switching between drawing modes Edit shapes ----------- Option Switch Pen tool to Convert Anchor Point tool Option Switch between Add Anchor Point tool and Delete Anchor Point tool Option Switch Scissors tool to Add Anchor Point tool Option Switch Pencil tool to Smooth tool Space + Left click + Move the mouse Move current anchor point while drawing with Pen tool Option + Left click + Move the mouse Cut a straight line with Knife tool Shift + Option + Left click + Move the mouse Cut at 45° or 90° with Knife tool Option + Left click (click Shape mode) Use shape mode buttons in Pathfinder panel to create compound paths Option + Left click (click the closed region) Erase unwanted closed regions created using Shape Builder tool Shift + M Select the Shape Builder tool Shift + Left click + Move the mouse Display rectangular marquee to easily merge multiple paths (when using Shape Builder tool) Shift + } Increase the intensity of symbols (when using Symbolism tool) Shift + { Decrease the intensity of symbols (when using Symbolism tool) Option + Cmd + B Blend objects Option + Shift + Cmd + B Finish adding objects to the blend Option + Cmd + Shift + W Distort objects using a warp-shaped envelope Option + Cmd + M Distort objects using a mesh as the shape of the envelope Option + Cmd + C Distort objects using another object as the shape of the envelope Work with Live Paint groups --------------------------- Option + Left click (click Live Paint Bucket tool) Switch to Eyedropper tool and sample fill and/or stroke Option + Shift + Left click (click Live Paint Bucket tool) Switch to Eyedropper tool and sample color from an image or intermediate color from a gradient Shift + Left click (click 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 (click Live Paint Bucket tool) Fill across unstroked edges into adjacent faces Click three times (rapidly) (click Live Paint Bucket tool) Fill all faces that have same fill and stroke all edges that have same stroke Option + Left click (click Live Paint Selection tool) Switch to Eyedropper tool and sample fill and/or stroke Option + Shift + Left click (click Live Paint Selection tool) Switch to Eyedropper tool and sample color from an image or intermediate color from a gradient Shift + Left click (click Live Paint Selection tool) Add to/subtract from a selection Double click (click Live Paint Selection tool) Select all connected faces /edges with same fill/stroke Click three times (rapidly) (click Live Paint Selection tool) Select all faces/edges with same fill/stroke Work with objects ----------------- Option + Left click Set origin point and open dialog box when using Rotate tool, Scale tool, Reflect tool, or Shear tool Option + Left click + Move the mouse Duplicate and transform selection when using Selection tool, Scale tool, Reflect tool, or Shear tool ~ + Left click + Move the mouse Transform pattern (independent of object) when using Selection tool, Scale tool, Reflect tool, or Shear tool Cmd + D Reapply a transformation to an object Cmd + 4 Apply last pathfinder effect to the selected object Shift + Cmd + M Move an object Option + Shift + Cmd + D Open the Transform Each dialog box Cmd + 7 Make a clipping mask Option + Cmd + 7 Release a clipping mask X Toggle between fill and stroke D Set fill and stroke to default Shift + X Swap fill and stroke > Select gradient fill mode Option + Cmd + G Hide gradient annotator (when using the Gradient tool) < Select color fill mode / Select no stroke/fill mode Shift + Left click (click Eyedropper tool) Sample color from an image or intermediate color from gradient Option + Shift + Left click (click Eyedropper tool) Sample style and append appearance of currently selected item Cmd + / Add new fill Cmd + Option + / Add new stroke Cmd + Left click (click gradient button in Tools panel or Gradient panel) Reset gradient to black and white Option + Cmd + X Make Live Paint (when using the Paint Bucket tool) [ Decrease Bristle brush size ] Increase Bristle brush size Create variable width points ---------------------------- Shift + Left click Select multiple width points Option + Left click + Move the mouse Create non-uniform widths Options + Left click + Move the mouse (click the width point) Create a copy of the width point Shift + Left click + Move the mouse Change the position of multiple width points Del Delete selected width point Esc Deselect a width point Work with type -------------- Left arrow / Right arrow Move one character left or right Up arrow / Down arrow Move up or down one line Cmd + Left arrow / Right arrow Move one word left or right Cmd + Up arrow / Down arrow Move up or down one paragraph Shift + Cmd + Left arrow / Right arrow Select one word left or right Shift + Cmd + Up arrow / Down arrow Select one paragraph before or after Shift + Left click Extend existing selection Cmd + Shift + L Align paragraph left Cmd + Shift + R Align paragraph right Cmd + Shift + C Align paragraph center Cmd + Shift + J Justify text left Shift + Cmd + F Justify all lines Option + Shift + Cmd + C Toggle line composer Shift + Enter Insert soft return Cmd + Option + K Highlight kerning Cmd + Shift + X Reset horizontal scale to 100% Cmd + Shift + . Increase or decrease font size Cmd + Shift + , Increase or decrease font size Option + Cmd + Shift + . Increase or decrease font size by steps Option + Cmd + Shift + , Increase or decrease font size by steps Option + Up arrow / Down arrow Increase or decrease leading (horizontal text) Option + Left arrow / Right arrow Increase or decrease leading (vertical text) Option + Cmd + K Select tracking value Cmd + Option + Q Reset tracking/kerning to 0 Option + Left arrow / Right arrow Increase or decrease kerning and tracking (horizontal text) Option + Up arrow / Down arrow Increase or decrease kerning and tracking (vertical text) Cmd + Option + Left arrow / Right arrow Increase or decrease kerning and tracking by five times (horizontal text) Cmd + Option + Up arrow / Down arrow Increase or decrease kerning and tracking by five times (vertical text) Option + Shift + Up arrow / Down arrow Increase or decrease baseline shift (horizontal text) Option + Shift + Left arrow / Right arrow Increase or decrease baseline shift (vertical text) 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 Shift + Cmd + O Create outlines Cmd + T Open the Character panel Option + Cmd + T Open the Paragraph panel Shift + Cmd + T Open the Tabs panel Option + Shift + Cmd + T Open the OpenType panel Option + 8 Insert bullets Option + G Insert copyright symbol Option + ; Insert ellipsis Option + 7 Insert paragraph symbol Option + 6 Insert section symbol Option + 2 Insert trademark symbol Option + R Insert registered trademark symbol Shift + Cmd + = Superscript Alt + Shift + Ctrl + = Subscript Option + Shift + - Insert em dash Option + - Insert en dash Shift + Cmd + - Insert discretionary hyphen Option + Shift + Cmd + H Toggle auto-hyphenation Option + [ Insert double left quotation marks Option + Shift + [ Insert double right quotation marks Option + ] Insert single left quotation marks Option + Shift + ] Insert single right quotation marks Shift + Cmd + M Insert em space Shift + Cmd + N Insert en space Option + Shift + Cmd + M Insert thin space Option + Cmd + I Show hidden characters   Note: To change the increment value for type shortcuts, choose Edit > Preferences >Type(Windows) or Illustrator > Preferences > Type (macOS). Enter the values you want in the Size/Leading, Baseline Shift, and Tracking text boxes, and click OK. Using panels ------------ Option + Left click (click New button) Set options (except for Actions, Brushes, Swatches, and Symbols panels) Option + Shift + Cmd + U Switch units of measurement Option + Left click (click Delete button) Delete without confirmation (except for Layers panel) Shift + Enter Apply value and keep text box active Shift + Left click Select range of actions, brushes, layers, links, styles, or swatches Cmd + Left 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 Cmd + Up arrow / Down arrow Increase/ decrease values in logical fractions of the measurement unit Shift + Up arrow / Down arrow Increase/ decrease measurement unit by 10x Actions panel ------------- Option + Left click (click expansion triangle) Expand/Collapse entire hierarchy for action set Double click (double click folder icon) Set options for action set Cmd + Left click (click Play Current Selection button) Play a single command Option + Left click (click New Action button) Begin recording actions without confirmation Brushes panel ------------- Double click (double click brush) Open Brush Options dialog box Left click + Move the mouse (drag brush to New Brush button) Duplicate brush Character and Paragraph panels ------------------------------ Cmd + T Open the Character panel Option + Cmd + T Open the Paragraph panel 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 Cmd + Up arrow / Down arrow Increase/decrease the selected value by a fraction Cmd + Option + Shift + F Highlight the font name field in the Character panel Color panel ----------- Cmd + Left click (click color bar) Select the complement for the current color fill/stroke Option + Left click (click color bar) Change the nonactive fill/stroke Cmd + Option + Left click (click color bar) Select the complement for the nonactive fill/stroke Cmd + Shift + Left click (click color bar) Select the inverse for the current fill/stroke Cmd + Shift + Option + Left click (click color bar) Select the inverse for the nonactive fill/stroke Shift + F3 Open Color Guide Shift + Left click (click color bar) Change the color mode Shift + Left click + Move the mouse (drag color slider) Move color sliders in tandem Double click (double click to right of a numerical field) Switch between percentage and 0-255 values for RGB Gradient panel -------------- Option + Left click + Move the mouse Duplicate color stops Option + Left click + Move the mouse (drag color stop onto another stop) Swap color stops Option + Left click (click swatch in the Swatches panel) Apply swatch color to active (or selected) color stop Cmd + Left click (click Gradient Fill box in the Gradient panel) Reset the gradient fill to default black and white linear gradient Cmd + Option + G Show/Hide gradient arrow Option + Left click (drag end point of gradient annotator) Modify angle and end-point together Shift + Left click + Move the mouse Constrain Gradient tool or Gradient annotator while dragging G View Gradient annotator in selected gradient filled object Layers panel ------------ Cmd + L Add a layer Option + Cmd + L Add a layer while opening the New Layer dialog box Option + Left click (click layer name) Select all objects on the layer Option + Left click (click eye icon) Show/hide all layers but the selected one Cmd + Left click (click eye icon) Select Outline/Preview view for the selected layer Cmd + Option + Left click (click eye icon) Select Outline/Preview view for all other layers Option + Left click (click lock icon) Lock/unlock all other layers Option + Left click (click expansion triangle) Expand all sublayers to display entire hierarchy Option + Left click (click New Layer button) Set options as you create new layer Option + Left click (click New Sublayer button) Set options as you create new sublayer Cmd + Option + Left click (click New Sublayer button) Place new sublayer at bottom of layer list Cmd + Left click (click New Layer button) Place layer at top of layer list Cmd + Option + Left click (click New Layer button) Place layer below selected layer Option + Left click + Move the mouse (drag selection) Copy the selection to a layer, sublayer, or group Swatches panel -------------- Cmd + Left click (click New Swatch button) Create new spot color Cmd + Shift + Left click (click New Swatch button) Create new global process color Option + Left click + Move the mouse (drag a swatch over another) Replace swatch with another Transform panel --------------- Shift + Enter Apply a value and keep focus in edit field Option + Enter Apply a value and copy object Cmd + Enter Apply a value and scale option proportionately for width or height Transparency panel ------------------ Shift + Cmd + E Apply last effect to the selected object Option + Shift + Cmd + E Apply last effect to the selected object by adjusting the values in the effects dialog box Option + Left click (click on mask thumbnail) Change mask to grayscale image for editing Shift + Left click (click on mask thumbnail) Disable opacity mask Shift + Left click (click on disabled mask thumbnail) Re-enable opacity mask Left click then Up arrow / Down arrow (click opacity field then up or down) Increase/decrease opacity in 1% increments Shift + Left click then Up arrow / Down arrow (Shift + click opacity field then up or down) 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 Cmd + F8 Show/hide Info panel Cmd + F9 Show/hide Gradient panel Cmd + F10 Show/hide Stroke panel Cmd + 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 + Cmd + F9 Show/hide Pathfinder panel Shift + Cmd + F10 Show/hide Transparency panel Shift + Cmd + F11 Show/hide Symbols panel Source: Adobe Last modified on (UTC): Monday, November 11, 2019 Defkey © All rights reserved.