Table of Contents:
- Function Keys
- Selecting Tools
- Viewing Artwork
- Drawing
- Drawing in perspective
- Keys for selecting
- Moving Selection
- Editing Shapes
- Painting Objects
- Live Paint Groups
- Transforming Objects
- Creating variable width points
- Working with Type
- Panel Shortcuts
- Additional Shortcuts
| 1. 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 |
| 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 |
| Ctrl+Shift+i | Show/hide perspective grid |
| 2. 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 |
| Alt | Switch to Smooth tool while using Blob Brush tool |
| 3. 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) |
| 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 |
| Ctrl+Alt+Shift+3 | Hide unselected artwork |
| Alt+drag guide | Convert between horizontal and vertical guide |
| Ctrl+Shift+double-click guide | Release guide |
| Ctrl+Shift+h | Show/Hide artboards |
| Ctrl+Alt+r | Show/Hide artboard rulers |
| Ctrl+Alt+0 (zero) | View all artboards in window |
| Ctrl+Shift+v | Paste in place on the active artboard |
| Esc | Exit Artboard tool mode |
| Shift+drag | Create artboard inside another artboard |
| Ctrl+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 |
| Esc | Exit Full Screen mode |
| 4. 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 |
| Alt+drag | Draw from the center of a shape (except for polygons, stars, and flares) |
| Alt+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 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 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% |
| Alt+click Live Trace in the Control panel, or hold down Alt 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 Ctrl+j | Join two or more paths |
| Select the paths, then press Shift+Ctrl+Alt+j | Create corner or smooth join |
| 5. Drawing in perspective | |
|---|---|
| Shift+p | Perspective Grid Tool |
| Shift+v | Perspective Selection Tool |
| Ctrl+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 |
| Ctrl+Alt+drag | Copying objects in perspective |
| Ctrl+d | Repeat transforming objects in perspective |
| Shift+d | Switching between drawing modes |
| 6. 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 |
| 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 |
| Alt+click | Subtract from selection with Magic Wand tool |
| Shift+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 |
| Ctrl+click twice | Select behind an object or select behind in isolation mode |
| 7. Moving Selection | |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| Hold down Shift | Constrain movement to 45° angle (except when using Reflect tool) |
| 8. Editing Shapes | |
|---|---|
| Alt | - 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 |
| Alt+drag | Cut a straight line with Knife tool |
| Shift+Alt-drag | Cut at 45° or 90° 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 |
| Shift+m | Select the Shape Builder tool |
| Shift+click+drag | Display rectangular marquee to easily merge multiple paths (when using Shape Builder tool) |
| 9. 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 |
| Alt+Shif+click + Eyedropper tool | Sample style and append appearance of currently selected item |
| Ctrl+/ | Add new fill |
| Ctrl+Alt+/ | Add new stroke |
| Ctrl+click gradient button in Tools 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 |
| 1,2,...0 | Set Bristle brush paint opacity value to 10%, 20% etc. 0 increases to 100% |
| 10. Live Paint Groups | |
|---|---|
| Alt+click + Live Paint Bucket tool | Switch to Eyedropper tool and sample fill and/or stroke |
| Alt+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 |
| Alt+click + Live Paint Selection tool | Switch to Eyedropper tool and sample fill and/or stroke |
| Alt+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 |
| 11. 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 |
| ~+drag | Transform pattern (independent of object) when using Selection tool, Scale tool, Reflect tool, or Shear tool |
| 12. Creating variable width points | |
|---|---|
| Shift+click | Select multiple width points |
| Alt+drag | Create non-uniform widths |
| Alt+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 |
| 13. Working with Type | |
|---|---|
| Right Arrow/Left Arrow | Move one character right or left |
| Up Arrow/Down Arrow | Move up or down one line |
| Ctrl+Right Arrow/Left Arrow | Move one word right or left |
| Ctrl+Up Arrow/Down Arrow | Move up or down one paragraph |
| Shift+Ctrl+ Right Arrow/Left Arrow | Select one word right or left |
| Shift+Ctrl+ Right Arrow/Left Arrow | Select one paragraph before or after |
| Shift+click | Extend existing selection |
| Ctrl+Shift+l, r, c | Align paragraph left, right, or center |
| Ctrl+Shift+j | Justify paragraph |
| Shift+Enter | Insert soft return |
| Ctrl+Alt+k | Highlight kerning |
| Ctrl+Shift+x | Reset horizontal scale to 100% |
| Ctrl+Shift+>/ Ctrl+Shift+< | Increase type size / decrease type size |
| Alt+Up Arrow/Down Arrow | Increase or decrease leading (for horizontal text, vor vertical text use Alt+Right Arrow/Left Arrow) |
| Double-click leading icon in the Character panel | Set leading to the type size |
| Ctrl+Alt+q | Reset tracking/kerning to 0 |
| Alt+Right Arrow/Left Arrow | Increase or decrease kerning and tracking (for horizontal text, vor vertical text use Alt+Up Arrow/Down Arrow) |
| Ctrl+Alt+ Right Arrow/Left Arrow | Increase or decrease kerning and tracking by five times(for horizontal text, vor vertical text use Ctrl+Alt+Up Arrow/Down Arrow) |
| Alt+Shift+ Up Arrow/Down Arrow | Increase or decrease baseline shift (for horizontal text, vor vertical text use Alt+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 |
| Alt | Switch between Area Type and Path Type, Vertical Area Type and Vertical Path Type tools |
| 14. Panel Shortcuts | |
|---|---|
| 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) |
| Shift+Enter | Apply value and keep text box active |
| Shift+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 |
| Shift+Tab | Show/Hide all panels except the Tools panel and Control panel |
| 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 |
| Brushes Panel | |
|---|---|
| Double-click brush | Open Brush Options dialog box |
| Drag brush to New Brush button | Duplicate brush |
| Character 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 |
| Ctrl+Alt+Shift+f | Highlight the font name field in the Character panel |
| 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+Shift+click color bar | Select the inverse for the current fill/stroke |
| Ctrl+Shift+Alt+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 |
| 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 |
| Swatches 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 |
| Swatches Panel | |
|---|---|
| Ctrl+click New Swatch button | Create new spot color |
| Ctrl+Shift+click New Swatch button | Create new global process color |
| Alt+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 | |
|---|---|
| Alt+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 |
| 15. Additional Shortcuts |
|---|
| Selecting and Moving | |
|---|---|
| Ctrl | To access Selection or Direction Selection tool (whichever was used last) at any time |
| Ctrl+Alt+Tab | To switch between Selection and Direct Selection tools |
| Alt+click tool | To cycle through tools behind column tool |
| Alt | To make copy while dragging |
| Shift | To add to a selection |
| Arrow Keys | Move Selection |
| Shift+Arrow Keys | Move Selection 10 pts |
| Ctrl+2 | Lock selected artwork |
| Ctrl+Alt+Shift+2 | Lock all deselected artwork |
| Ctrl+Alt+2 | Unlock all artwork |
| Ctrl+3 | Hide selected artwork |
| Ctrl+Alt+Shift+3 | Hide all deselected artwork |
| Ctrl+Alt+3 | Show all artwork |
| Path Editing | |
|---|---|
| Ctrl+Alt+Shift+j | Join and Average at same time |
| Alt | Convert Anchor Point tool from Pen tool |
| Alt | Switch between Add Anchor Point and Delete Anchor Point tools |
| Alt | Add Anchor Point tool from Scissors tool |
| Space | Move anchor point while drawing with Pen tool |
| When finished drawing, hold Alt and release mouse | Create closed path with Pencil or Paintbrush tool |
| Ctrl+drag | Connect to an open (& selected) path with Pencil |
