==================================== Adobe Illustrator keyboard shortcuts ==================================== First published at 12/31/2018 on https://defkey.com/adobe-illustrator-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 has 381 shortcuts and we have listed all of them below. Frequently used shortcuts ------------------------- Ctrl + Z Undo Shift + Ctrl + Z Redo Ctrl + X Cut Ctrl + C Copy Ctrl + V Paste Ctrl + F Paste in front Ctrl + B Paste at back Shift + Ctrl + B Paste in place Alt + Shift + Ctrl + B Paste on all artboards Ctrl + I Check spelling Shift + Ctrl + K Open the Color Settings dialog box Alt + Shift + Ctrl + K Open the Keyboard Shortcuts dialog box Ctrl + K Open the Preferences dialog box Work with documents ------------------- Ctrl + N Create a document Shift + Ctrl + N Create a document from a template Alt + Ctrl + N Create a document without opening the New Document dialog box Ctrl + O Open a document Shift + Ctrl + P Place a file in the document Alt + Shift + Ctrl + I Open the File Information dialog box Alt + Ctrl + P Open the Document Setup dialog box Alt + Ctrl + O Browse in Adobe Bridge Ctrl + W Close the document window Ctrl + S Save changes made to the document Shift + Ctrl + S Open the Save As dialog box Alt + Ctrl + S Save a copy of the document Ctrl + F12 Save the document as script files Alt + Ctrl + E Open the Export for screens dialog box Alt + Shift + Ctrl + S Open the Save For Web dialog box Alt + Shift + Ctrl + P Package the document Ctrl + P Print Ctrl + 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 Alt 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% Ctrl + 1 Magnify 100% Space Switch to Hand tool (when not in text-edit mode) Ctrl + Space Switch to Zoom tool in magnify mode Ctrl + Alt + Space Switch to Zoom tool in reduce mode Space Move Zoom marquee while dragging with the Zoom tool Shift + Ctrl + B Hide bounding box Control + Alt + Shift + 3 Hide unselected artwork Alt + Left click + Move the mouse (drag guide) Convert between horizontal and vertical guide Ctrl + Shift + Double click (double click guide) Release guide Ctrl + H Show document template Ctrl + Shift + H Show/Hide artboards Ctrl + R Show/Hide artboard rulers Shift + Ctrl + D Show transparency grid Ctrl + Alt + 0 View all artboards in window Ctrl + 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 Ctrl + Left click Select multiple artboards in the Artboards panel Ctrl + F6 Navigate to next document Ctrl + Shift + F6 Navigate to previous document Ctrl + Alt + F6 Navigate to next document group Ctrl + Alt + Shift + F6 Navigate to previous document group Ctrl + Y Toggle between Outline and GPU Preview of the document Ctrl + E Toggle between GPU and CPU Preview of the document Alt + Shift + Ctrl + Y View the document in Overprint Preview mode Alt + Ctrl + Y View the document in Pixel Preview mode Esc Exit Full Screen mode Ctrl + = Zoom in Ctrl + - Zoom out Ctrl + ; Hide guides Alt + Ctrl + ; Lock guides Ctrl + 5 Make guides Alt + Ctrl + 5 Release guides Ctrl + U Show/ hide smart guides Ctrl + Shift + I Show/ hide perspective grid Ctrl + ' Show grid Shift + Ctrl + ' Snap to grid Alt + Ctrl + ' Snap to point Work with selections -------------------- 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 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 Alt + Left click Subtract from selection with Magic Wand tool Shift + Left click + Move the mouse Add to selection with Lasso tool Alt + Left click + Move the mouse 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 Ctrl + A Select all Shift + Ctrl + A Deselect Ctrl + 6 Reselect Alt + Ctrl + ] Select the object above the current selection Alt + Ctrl + [ Select the object below the current selection Ctrl + Left click then Left click Select behind an object Ctrl + Left click then Left click Select behind in isolation mode Ctrl + G Group the selected artwork Shift + Ctrl + G Ungroup the selected artwork Ctrl + 2 Lock a selection Alt + Ctrl + 2 Unlock a selection Ctrl + 3 Hide a selection Alt + Ctrl + 3 Show all selections Arrow keys Move selection in user-defined increments Shift + Arrow keys Move selection in 10x user-defined increments Ctrl + Alt + Shift + 2 Lock all deselected artwork Shift (hold) Constrain movement to 45° angle (except when using Reflect tool) Ctrl + ] Bring a selection forward Shift + Ctrl + ] Move a selection to the front Ctrl + [ Send a selection backward Shift + Ctrl + [ 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 Alt + Left click + Move the mouse Draw from the center of a shape (except for polygons, stars, and flares) Alt + Left click + Move the mouse Keep the sides of a star straight   Start dragging, then press one of these shortcuts: Up arrow / Down arrow Increase or decrease polygon sides, star points, arc angle, spiral winds, or flare rays Ctrl (hold down) Keep the inner radius of a star constant C (hold down) Switch between an open and closed arc F (hold down) Flip an arc, keeping the reference point constant Alt + Left click + Move the mouse Add or subtract winds from a spiral while increasing the length of the spiral Ctrl + 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: Ctrl + J Join two or more paths Alt + Ctrl + J Average two or more paths Shift + Ctrl + Alt + J Create corner or smooth join - Ctrl + 8 Create a compound path Alt + Shift + Ctrl + 8 Release a compound path Shift + Ctrl + F8 Edit a pattern Shift + P Perspective Grid Tool Shift + V Perspective Selection Tool Ctrl + 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. Ctrl + Alt + Left click + Move the mouse Copying objects in perspective Ctrl + D Repeat transforming objects in perspective Shift + D Switching between drawing modes Edit 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 Space + Left click + Move the mouse Move current anchor point while drawing with Pen tool Alt + Left click + Move the mouse Cut a straight line with Knife tool Shift + Alt + Left click + Move the mouse Cut at 45° or 90° with Knife tool Alt + Left click (click Shape mode) Use shape mode buttons in Pathfinder panel to create compound paths Alt + 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) Alt + Ctrl + B Blend objects Alt + Shift + Ctrl + B Finish adding objects to the blend Alt + Ctrl + Shift + W Distort objects using a warp-shaped envelope Alt + Ctrl + M Distort objects using a mesh as the shape of the envelope Alt + Ctrl + C Distort objects using another object as the shape of the envelope Work with Live Paint groups --------------------------- Alt + Left click (click Live Paint Bucket tool) Switch to Eyedropper tool and sample fill and/or stroke Alt + 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 + Left click (click Live Paint Bucket tool) Fill across unstroked edges into adjacent faces Click three times (rapidly) + Left click (click Live Paint Bucket tool) Fill all faces that have same fill and stroke all edges that have same stroke Alt + Left click (click Live Paint Selection tool) Switch to Eyedropper tool and sample fill and/or stroke Alt + 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 Triple + Left click (click Live Paint Selection tool) Select all faces/edges with same fill/stroke Work with objects ----------------- Alt + Left click Set origin point and open dialog box when using Rotate tool, Scale tool, Reflect tool, or Shear tool Alt + 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 Ctrl + D Reapply a transformation to an object Ctrl + 4 Apply last pathfinder effect to the selected object Shift + Ctrl + M Move an object Alt + Shift + Ctrl + D Open the Transform Each dialog box Ctrl + 7 Make a clipping mask Alt + Ctrl + 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 Alt + Ctrl + 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 Alt + Shift + Left click (click Eyedropper tool) Sample style and append appearance of currently selected item Ctrl + / Add new fill Ctrl + Alt + / Add new stroke Ctrl + Left click (click gradient button in Tools panel or Gradient panel) Reset gradient to black and white Alt + Ctrl + 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 Alt + Left click + Move the mouse Create non-uniform widths Alt + 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 Ctrl + Left arrow / Right arrow Move one word left or right Ctrl + Up arrow / Down arrow Move up or down one paragraph Shift + Ctrl + Left arrow / Right arrow Select one word left or right Shift + Ctrl + Up arrow / Down arrow Select one paragraph before or after Shift + Left click Extend existing selection Ctrl + Shift + L Align paragraph left Ctrl + Shift + R Align paragraph right Ctrl + Shift + C Align paragraph center Ctrl + Shift + J Justify text left Shift + Ctrl + F Justify all lines Alt + Shift + Ctrl + C Toggle line composer Shift + Enter Insert soft return Ctrl + Alt + K Highlight kerning Ctrl + Shift + X Reset horizontal scale to 100% Ctrl + Shift + . or , Increase or decrease font size Alt + Ctrl + Shift + . Increase or decrease font size by steps Alt + Ctrl + Shift + , Increase or decrease font size by steps Alt + Up arrow / Down arrow Increase or decrease leading (horizontal text) Alt + Left arrow / Right arrow Increase or decrease leading (vertical text) Alt + Ctrl + K Select tracking value Ctrl + Alt + Q Reset tracking/kerning to 0 Alt + Left arrow / Right arrow Increase or decrease kerning and tracking (horizontal text) Alt + Up arrow / Down arrow Increase or decrease kerning and tracking (vertical text) Ctrl + Alt + Left arrow / Right arrow Increase or decrease kerning and tracking by five times (horizontal text) Ctrl + Alt + Up arrow / Down arrow Increase or decrease kerning and tracking by five times (vertical text) Alt + Shift + Up arrow / Down arrow Increase or decrease baseline shift (horizontal text) Alt + 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 Alt Switch between Area Type and Path Type, Vertical Area Type and Vertical Path Type tools Shift + Ctrl + O Create outlines Ctrl + T Open the Character panel Alt + Ctrl + T Open the Paragraph panel Shift + Ctrl + T Open the Tabs panel Alt + Shift + Ctrl + T Open the OpenType panel Alt + 8 Insert bullets Alt + G Insert copyright symbol Alt + ; Insert ellipsis Alt + 7 Insert paragraph symbol Alt + 6 Insert section symbol Alt + 2 Insert trademark symbol Alt + R Insert registered trademark symbol Shift + Ctrl + = Superscript Alt + Shift + Ctrl + = Subscript Alt + Shift + - Insert em dash Alt + - Insert en dash Shift + Ctrl + - Insert discretionary hyphen Alt + Shift + Ctrl + H Toggle auto-hyphenation Alt + [ Insert double left quotation marks Alt + Shift + [ Insert double right quotation marks Alt + ] Insert single left quotation marks Alt + Shift + ] Insert single right quotation marks Shift + Ctrl + M Insert em space Shift + Ctrl + N Insert en space Alt + Shift + Ctrl + M Insert thin space Alt + Ctrl + 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 ------------ Alt + Left click (click New button) Set options (except for Actions, Brushes, Swatches, and Symbols panels) Alt + Shift + Ctrl + U Switch units of measurement Alt + 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 Ctrl + 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 Ctrl + 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 ------------- Alt + Left click (click expansion triangle) Expand/Collapse entire hierarchy for action set Double click (double click folder icon) Set options for action set Ctrl + Left click (click Play Current Selection button) Play a single command Alt + 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 ------------------------------ Ctrl + T Open the Character panel Alt + Ctrl + 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 Ctrl + Up arrow / Down arrow Increase/decrease the selected value by a fraction Ctrl + Alt + Shift + F Highlight the font name field in the Character panel Color panel ----------- Ctrl + Left click (click color bar) Select the complement for the current color fill/stroke Alt + Left click (click color bar) Change the nonactive fill/stroke Ctrl + Alt + Left click (click color bar) Select the complement for the nonactive fill/stroke Ctrl + Shift + Left click (click color bar) Select the inverse for the current fill/stroke Ctrl + Shift + Alt + 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 -------------- Alt + Left click + Move the mouse Duplicate color stops Alt + Left click + Move the mouse (drag color stop onto another stop) Swap color stops Alt + Left click (click swatch in the Swatches panel) Apply swatch color to active (or selected) color stop Ctrl + Left click (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 + Left click + Move the mouse (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 ------------ Ctrl + L Add a layer Alt + Ctrl + L Add a layer while opening the New Layer dialog box Alt + Left click (click layer name) Select all objects on the layer Alt + Left click (click eye icon) Show/hide all layers but the selected one Ctrl + Left click (click eye icon) Select Outline/Preview view for the selected layer Ctrl + Alt + Left click (click eye icon) Select Outline/Preview view for all other layers Alt + Left click (click lock icon) Lock/unlock all other layers Alt + Left click (click expansion triangle) Expand all sublayers to display entire hierarchy Alt + Left click (click New Layer button) Set options as you create new layer Alt + Left click (click New Sublayer button) Set options as you create new sublayer Ctrl + Alt + Left click (click New Sublayer button) Place new sublayer at bottom of layer list Ctrl + Left click (click New Layer button) Place layer at top of layer list Ctrl + Alt + Left click (click New Layer button) Place layer below selected layer Alt + Left click + Move the mouse (drag selection) Copy the selection to a layer, sublayer, or group Swatches panel -------------- Ctrl + Left click (click New Swatch button) Create new spot color Ctrl + Shift + Left click (click New Swatch button) Create new global process color Alt + 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 Alt + Enter Apply a value and copy object Ctrl + Enter Apply a value and scale option proportionately for width or height Transparency panel ------------------ Shift + Ctrl + E Apply last effect to the selected object Alt + Shift + Ctrl + E Apply last effect to the selected object by adjusting the values in the effects dialog box Alt + 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 + Up arrow / Down arrow (click opacity field then up or down) Increase/decrease opacity in 1% increments Shift + Left click + 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 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 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 + Ctrl + F9 Show/hide Pathfinder panel Shift + Ctrl + F10 Show/hide Transparency panel Shift + Ctrl + F11 Show/hide Symbols panel Source: Adobe Last modified on (UTC): Friday, January 22, 2021 Defkey © All rights reserved.