=========================== Inkscape keyboard shortcuts =========================== First published at 7/24/2018 on https://defkey.com/inkscape-shortcuts Inkscape is a free and open-source vector graphics editor; it can be used to create or edit vector-based visual files. With this program, you can create logos, illustrations, and posters. Inkscape has 424 shortcuts and we have listed all of them below. Tools ----- F1 + S Selector Space Use Selector temporarily When the "Left mouse button pans when Space is pressed" option is on in Preferences, Space+mouse drag pans canvas instead of switching to Selector. F2 + N Node tool Shift + F2 + W Tweak tool F3 + Z Zoom tool F4 + R Rectangle tool Shift + F4 + X 3D box tool F5 + E Ellipse/arc tool F6 + P Freehand (Pencil) tool Shift + F6 + B Bezier (Pen) tool Ctrl + F6 + C Calligraphy tool Shift + F7 + U Paint bucket tool Ctrl + F1 + G Gradient tool F7 + D Dropper tool F8 + T Text tool F9 + I Spiral tool Shift + F9 + * Star tool Ctrl + F2 + O Connector tool Double click on the tool buttons opens the Preferences dialog showing the page of the corresponding tool Dialogs ------- Shift + Ctrl + F Fill and Stroke Shift + Ctrl + W Swatches Shift + Ctrl + T Text and Font Shift + Ctrl + M Transform Shift + Ctrl + L Layers Shift + Ctrl + A Align and Distribute Shift + Ctrl + O Object Properties Shift + Ctrl + H Undo History Shift + Ctrl + X XML Editor Shift + Ctrl + D Document Preferences Shift + Ctrl + P Inkscape Preferences Shift + Ctrl + E Export to PNG Ctrl + F Find Shift + Alt + B Trace Bitmap Shift + Ctrl + 7 Path Effects Toggle visibility ----------------- F12 Toggle dialogs Shortcuts within dialogs Esc Return to the canvas Ctrl + F4 Close the dialog Tab Jump to next widget Shift + Tab Jump to previous widget Enter Set the new value Ctrl + Enter In XML Editor, set attribute vallue Space + Enter Activate current button or list Ctrl + Page Up In a multi-tab dialog, switch tabs Control bar ----------- Alt + X Jump to the first editable field Navigate -------- Tab Jump to next field Shift + Tab Jump to previous field Change values ------------- Up arrow Increase value by 0.1 Down arrow Decrease value by 0.1 Page Up Increase value by 5.0 Page Down Decrease value by 5.0 Enter Accept the new value Esc Cancel changes and return to canvas Ctrl + Z Cancel changes Canvas ------ Ctrl + Arrow keys Scroll canvas + Zoom in - Zoom out Alt + Z Activate zoom field The zoom field in the lower left corner of the window allows you to specify zoom level precisely. 1 Zoom 1:1 2 Zoom 1:2 3 Zoom to selection 4 Zoom to drawing 5 Zoom to page 6 Zoom to page width File ---- Ctrl + N Create new document Ctrl + O Open an SVG document Shift + Ctrl + E Export to PNG Ctrl + I Import bitmap or SVG Ctrl + P Print document Ctrl + S Save document Shift + Ctrl + S Save under a new name Shift + Ctrl + Alt + S Save a copy Ctrl + Q Exit Inkscape Palette ------- Left click Set fill color on selection Shift + Left click Set stroke color on selection Move the mouse + Left click Drag fill color to objects Shift Mouse drag can drag stroke color to objects Window ------ Ctrl + R Toggle rulers Ctrl + B Toggle scrollbars F11 Toggle fullscreen F10 Main menu Shift + F10 + Right click Drop-down (context) menu Ctrl + F4 Close document window Ctrl + W Close document window Ctrl + Tab Next document window Shift + Ctrl + Tab Previous document window Layers ------ Shift + Page Up Move to layer above Shift + Page Down Move to layer below Shift + Ctrl + Page Up Raise thelayer Shift + Ctrl + Page Down Lower the layer Shift + Ctrl + Home Raise the layer to the top Shift + Ctrl + End Lower the layer to the bottom Object ------ Shift + Ctrl + Y Undo Ctrl + Z Undo Shift + Ctrl + Z Redo Ctrl + Y Redo Ctrl + C Copy selection Ctrl + X Cut selection Ctrl + V Paste clipboard Ctrl + Alt + V Paste in place Shift + Ctrl + V Paste style Ctrl + 7 Paste path effect Ctrl + D Duplicate selection Alt + D Clone object Shift + Alt + D Unlink clone Shift + D Select original Alt + B Create a bitmap copy Shift + Alt + B Trace bitmap Alt + I Object(s) to pattern Shift + Alt + I Pattern to object(s) Shift + Ctrl + U Group selected objects Ctrl + G Group selected objects Shift + Ctrl + G Ungroup selected group(s) Ctrl + U Ungroup selected group(s) Home Raise selection to top End Lower selection to bottom Page Up Raise selection one step Page Down Lower selection one step Path ---- Shift + Ctrl + C Convert selected object(s) to path Ctrl + Alt + C Convert stroke to path Ctrl + + Union Ctrl + - Difference Ctrl + * Intersection Ctrl + ^ Exclusive OR (XOR) Ctrl + / Division (cut) Ctrl + Alt + / Cut path Ctrl + ( Inset path (towards center) Ctrl + ) Outset path (away from center) Alt + ( Inset path by 1 pixel Alt + ) Outset path by 1 pixel Shift + Alt + ( Inset path by 10 pixels Shift + Alt + ) Outset path by 10 pixels The actual distance for pixel offsets depends on zoom level. Zoom in for finer adjustment. All the (, ) commands convert the object to path, if necessary, and produce regular path. Ctrl + J Create dynamic offset Ctrl + Alt + J Create linked offset These commands produce an offset object, editable by the node tool, standalone or linked to the original. Shift + D Select source. Selecting a linked offset and giving this command will select the source path of the linked offset Ctrl + K Combine paths. This is different from grouping in that combined paths create one object. This is different from Union in that overlapping areas are not affected. Whether overlapping areas are filled is controlled by the Fill: winding/alternating switch on the Fill & Stroke dialog Shift + Ctrl + K Break paths apart. This attempts to break an object into constituent paths; it will fail if the object is one solid path Ctrl + L Simplify Selector -------- Tab select next object Shift + Tab select previous object - Ctrl + A select all (current layer) - This works on objects within the current layer (unless you change that in preferences). Ctrl + Alt + A select all (all layers) ! invert selection (current layer) Alt + ! invert selection (all layers) Esc deselect Backspace delete selection Del delete selection Arrow keys move selection by the nudge distance Shift + Arrow keys move selection by 10x nudge distance Alt + Arrow keys move selection by 1 pixel Alt + Shift + Arrow keys move selection by 10 pixels . scale selection up by the scale step > scale selection up by the scale step , scale selection down by the scale step < scale selection down by the scale step Ctrl + . scale selection to 200% Ctrl + > scale selection to 200% Ctrl + , scale selection to 50% Ctrl + < scale selection to 50% Alt + . scale selection up by 1 pixel Alt + > scale selection up by 1 pixel Alt + , scale selection down by 1 pixel Alt + < scale selection down by 1 pixel   The actual size increment for pixel scaling depends on zoom level. Zoom in for finer scaling. , rotate selection by the angle step Ctrl + [ rotate selection by 90 degrees Ctrl + ] rotate selection by 90 degrees Alt + [ rotate selection by 1 pixel Alt + ] rotate selection by 1 pixel   The actual angle for pixel rotation depends on zoom level. Zoom in for finer movement. H flip selection horizontally V flip selection vertically Left click select an object Shift + Left click toggle selection Double click edit the object Ctrl + Left click select within group Ctrl + Shift + Left click toggle selection within group Alt + Left click select under Shift + Alt + Left click toggle under Ctrl + Alt + Left click select under, in groups Shift + Ctrl + Alt + Left click toggle under, in groups Ctrl + Enter enter group Ctrl + Backspace go to parent group/layer Left click + Move the mouse select multiple objects Shift + Left click + Move the mouse add objects to selection Left click + Move the mouse select and move Alt + Left click + Move the mouse move selected Ctrl + Left click + Move the mouse restrict movement to horizontal or vertical Shift + Left click + Move the mouse temporarily disable snapping Left click + Move the mouse drop a copy Left click toggle scale/rotation handles Left click + Move the mouse scale (scale handles) Left click + Move the mouse rotate or skew (rotation handles) Left click + Move the mouse scale Ctrl + Left click + Move the mouse scale preserving aspect ratio Shift + Left click + Move the mouse symmetric transformation Alt + Left click + Move the mouse slow movement Left click + Move the mouse rotate or skew Ctrl + Left click + Move the mouse snap skew angle Ctrl + Left click + Move the mouse snap rotation angle Left click + Move the mouse move rotation center Shift + Left click reset rotation center Esc cancel rubberband, move, transformation Node tool --------- Tab select next node Shift + Tab select previous node Ctrl + A select all nodes in subpath(s) Ctrl + Alt + A select all nodes in path ! invert selection in subpath(s) Alt + ! invert selection in path Esc deselect all nodes Arrow keys move selected node(s) by the nudge distance Shift + Arrow keys move selected node(s) by 10x nudge distance Alt + Arrow keys move selected node(s) by 1 pixel Alt + Shift + Arrow keys move selected node(s) by 10 pixels < contract/expand both handles by scale step > contract/expand both handles by scale step Left Ctrl + < scale left handle by the scale step Left Ctrl + > scale left handle by the scale step Right Ctrl + < scale right handle by the scale step Right Ctrl + > scale right handle by the scale step Left Alt + < scale left handle by 1 pixel Left Alt + > scale left handle by 1 pixel Right Alt + < scale right handle by 1 pixel Right Alt + > scale right handle by 1 pixel , rotate both handles by the angle step Ctrl + [ rotate left handle by the angle step Left Ctrl + ] rotate left handle by the angle step Ctrl + [ rotate right handle by the angle step Ctrl + ] rotate right handle by the angle step Left Alt + [ rotate left handle by 1 pixel Left Alt + ] rotate left handle by 1 pixel Right Alt + [ rotate right handle by 1 pixel Right Alt + ] rotate right handle by 1 pixel . scale nodes up by the scale step > scale nodes up by the scale step , scale nodes down by the scale step < scale nodes down by the scale step Alt + . scale nodes up by 1 pixel Alt + > scale nodes up by 1 pixel Alt + , scale nodes down by 1 pixel Alt + < scale nodes down by 1 pixel , rotate nodes by the angle step Alt + [ rotate nodes by 1 pixel Alt + ] rotate nodes by 1 pixel H flip nodes horizontally V flip nodes vertically Shift + L make line Shift + U make curve Shift + C make cusp Shift + S make smooth Shift + Y make symmetric Ctrl + Left click toggle smooth/cusp/symmetric Shift + J join selected nodes Shift + B break selected node(s) Backspace delete selected node(s) Del delete selected node(s) Ctrl + Backspace delete without preserving shape Ctrl + Del delete without preserving shape Ctrl + Alt + Left click create/delete node clickclick create node Insert insert new node(s) Shift + D duplicate selected node(s) Left click click a non-selected object to select Alt + Left click select under Shift + Left click toggle selection Left click select a node Left click select two adjacent nodes Shift + Left click toggle selection Left click deselect Left click + Move the mouse select multiple nodes Shift + Left click + Move the mouse add nodes to selection Left click + Move the mouse move selected nodes Ctrl + Left click + Move the mouse restrict movement to horizontal or vertical Ctrl + Alt + Left click + Move the mouse move along handles Shift + Left click + Move the mouse temporarily disable snapping Shift + Left click + Move the mouse drag out handle Left click + Move the mouse move a node handle Ctrl + Left click + Move the mouse snap the handle to angle steps Shift + Left click + Move the mouse rotate both handles Alt + Left click + Move the mouse lock the handle length Ctrl + Left click retract the handle Shift + R reverse path direction Esc cancel rubberband or move Rectangle tool -------------- Left click + Move the mouse draw a rectangle Ctrl + Left click + Move the mouse make a square or integer-ratio rectangle Shift + Left click + Move the mouse draw around the starting point Left click click an object to select Alt + Left click select under Ctrl + Alt + Left click select under Shift + Left click toggle selection Left click + Move the mouse drag a handle to resize or round corners Ctrl + Left click + Move the mouse lock width, height, or ratio (resize handles) Ctrl + Left click + Move the mouse lock the corner circular (rounding handles) Esc deselect Ellipse tool ------------ Left click + Move the mouse draw an ellipse Ctrl + Left click + Move the mouse make circle or integer-ratio ellipse Shift + Left click + Move the mouse draw around the starting point Left click click an object to select Alt + Left click select under Ctrl + Alt + Left click select under Shift + Left click toggle selection Left click + Move the mouse drag a handle to resize, make arc or segment Ctrl + Left click + Move the mouse lock circle (resize handles) Ctrl + Left click + Move the mouse snap to angle steps (arc/segment handles) Esc deselect Star tool --------- Left click + Move the mouse draw a star Ctrl + Left click + Move the mouse snap star to angle steps Left click click an object to select Alt + Left click select under Shift + Left click toggle selection Left click + Move the mouse drag a handle to vary the star shape Ctrl + Left click + Move the mouse keep star rays radial (no skew) Shift + Left click + Move the mouse round the star Shift + Left click remove rounding Alt + Left click + Move the mouse randomize the star Alt + Left click remove randomization Ctrl + Alt + Left click remove randomization Esc deselect Spiral tool ----------- Left click + Move the mouse draw a spiral Ctrl + Left click + Move the mouse snap spiral to angle steps Left click click an object to select Alt + Left click select under Shift + Left click toggle selection Left click + Move the mouse roll/unroll from inside (inner handle) Alt + Left click + Move the mouse converge/diverge (inner handle) Alt + Left click reset divergence (inner handle) Ctrl + Alt + Left click reset divergence (inner handle) Shift + Left click zero inner radius (inner handle) Left click + Move the mouse roll/unroll from outside (outer handle) Shift + Left click + Move the mouse scale/rotate (outer handle) Ctrl + Left click + Move the mouse snap handles to angle steps Esc deselect Zoom tool --------- Left click zoom in Shift + Left click zoom out Left click + Move the mouse zoom into the area Pencil tool ----------- Left click + Move the mouse draw a freehand line Shift + Left click + Move the mouse add to selected path Shift + Left click + Move the mouse temporarily disable snapping Pen (Bezier) tool ----------------- Left click create a sharp node Shift + Left click add to selected path Left click + Move the mouse create a bezier node with two handles Shift + Left click + Move the mouse move only one handle Ctrl + Left click + Move the mouse snap the handle to angle steps Arrow keys move last node by the nudge distance Shift + Arrow keys move last node by 10x nudge distance Alt + Arrow keys move last node by 1 pixel Alt + Shift + Arrow keys move last node by 10 pixels Ctrl + snap last segment to angle steps Shift + L make last segment line Shift + U make last segment curve Enter finish current line Right click finish current line clickclick finish current line Esc cancel current line Ctrl + Z cancel current line Backspace erase last segment of current line Del erase last segment of current line Calligraphy ----------- Left click + Move the mouse draw a calligraphic line Left arrow / Right arrow adjust pen width Up arrow / Down arrow adjust pen angle Esc deselect Left click + Move the mouse create gradient Double click create default gradient Tab select next handle Shift + Tab select previous handle Arrow keys move selected handle by the nudge distance Shift + Arrow keys move selected handle by 10x nudge distance Alt + Arrow keys move selected handle by 1 pixel Alt + Shift + Arrow keys move selected handle by 10 pixels Esc deselect handle Left click + Left click open gradient editor Shift + R reverse gradient definition Left click click an object to select Alt + Left click select under Shift + Left click toggle selection Dropper tool ------------ Left click pick fill color Shift + Left click pick stroke color Left click + Move the mouse average fill color Shift + Left click + Move the mouse average stroke color Alt + Left click pick inverse color Ctrl + C copy color Text tool --------- Left click create/select a text object Esc deselect the text object Arrow keys move cursor by one character Ctrl + Left arrow / Right arrow move cursor by one word Ctrl + Up arrow / Down arrow move cursor by one paragraph Home go to beginning/end of line End go to beginning/end of line Ctrl + Home go to beginning/end of text Ctrl + End go to beginning/end of text Left click + Move the mouse create flowed text Left click + Move the mouse adjust frame size Ctrl + Left click + Move the mouse lock width, height, or ratio of frame Alt + W flow text into frame Alt + Shift + W unflow text from frame Shift + D select external frame Shift + D select path from text Enter start a new line or paragraph Ctrl + U toggle Unicode entry Ctrl + Space insert no-break space Left click + Move the mouse select text Shift + Arrow keys select text by character Ctrl + Shift + Arrow keys select text by word Shift + Home select to beginning of line Shift + End select to end of line Ctrl + Shift + Home select to beginning of text Ctrl + Shift + End select to end of text Double click select word Click three times (rapidly) select line Ctrl + A select all text Ctrl + B make selection bold Ctrl + I make selection italic Alt + > expand line/paragraph by 1 pixel Shift + Alt + > expand line/paragraph by 10 pixels Alt + < contract line/paragraph by 1 pixel Shift + Alt + < contract line/paragraph by 10 pixels Ctrl + Alt + > make the text object taller by 1 pixel Shift + Ctrl + Alt + > make the text object taller by 10 pixels Ctrl + Alt + < make the text object shorter by 1 pixel Shift + Ctrl + Alt + < make the text object shorter by 10 pixels Alt + Arrow keys shift characters by 1 pixel Shift + Alt + Arrow keys shift characters by 10 pixels Ctrl + [ rotate character(s) by 90 degrees Ctrl + ] rotate character(s) by 90 degrees Alt + [ rotate character(s) by 1 pixel Alt + ] rotate character(s) by 1 pixel Last modified on (UTC): Thursday, March 4, 2021 Defkey © All rights reserved.