Defkey

Adobe Illustrator cheat sheet

S box
Frequently used shortcuts
Alt + Shift + Ctrl + Package the document
Ctrl + Z Undo P
Shift + Ctrl + Z Redo Ctrl + P Print
Ctrl + X Cut Ctrl + Q Exit the application
Ctrl + C Copy
Ctrl + V Paste Select tools
Ctrl + F Paste in front Shift + O Artboard tool
Ctrl + B Paste at back V Selection tool
Shift + Ctrl + B Paste in place A Direct Selection tool
Alt + Shift + Ctrl + Paste on all artboards Y Magic Wand tool
B
Q Lasso tool
Ctrl + I Check spelling
P Pen tool
Shift + Ctrl + K Open the Color Settings dialog
Shift + ~ Curvature tool
box
Shift + B Blob Brush tool
Alt + Shift + Ctrl + Open the Keyboard Shortcuts
K dialog box + Add Anchor Point tool

Ctrl + K Open the Preferences dialog box - Delete Anchor Point tool
Shift + C Switch to Anchor Point tool
Work with documents T Type tool

Ctrl + N Create a document Shift + T Touch Type tool

Shift + Ctrl + N Create a document from a \ Line Segment tool

template M Rectangle tool
Alt + Ctrl + N Create a document without L Ellipse tool
opening the New Document B Paintbrush tool
dialog box
N Pencil tool
Ctrl + O Open a document
Shift + N Shaper tool
Shift + Ctrl + P Place a file in the document
R Rotate tool
Alt + Shift + Ctrl + Open the File Information dialog
O Reflect tool
I box
S Scale tool
Alt + Ctrl + P Open the Document Setup
dialog box Shift + R Warp tool

Alt + Ctrl + O Browse in Adobe Bridge Shift + W Width tool

Ctrl + W Close the document window E Free Transform tool

Ctrl + S Save changes made to the Shift + M Shape Builder Tool

document Shift + P Perspective Grid Tool
Shift + Ctrl + S Open the Save As dialog box Shift + V Perspective Selection Tool
Alt + Ctrl + S Save a copy of the document Shift + S Symbol Sprayer tool
Ctrl + F12 Save the document as script files J Column Graph tool
Alt + Ctrl + E Open the Export for screens U Mesh tool
dialog box
G Gradient tool
Alt + Shift + Ctrl + Open the Save For Web dialog
I Eyedropper tool
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W Blend tool Esc Exit Artboard tool mode
K Live Paint Bucket tool Shift + Left click + Create artboard inside another
Shift + L Live Paint Selection tool Move the mouse artboard

Shift + K Slice tool Ctrl + Left click Select multiple artboards in the
Artboards panel
Shift + E Eraser tool
Ctrl + F6 Navigate to next document
C Scissors tool
Ctrl + Shift + F6 Navigate to previous document
H Hand tool
Ctrl + Alt + F6 Navigate to next document
Z Zoom tool
group
Alt Switch to Smooth tool while
Ctrl + Alt + Shift + Navigate to previous document
using Blob Brush tool
F6 group
Ctrl + Y Toggle between Outline and
View artwork GPU Preview of the document
F Toggle between screen modes: Ctrl + E Toggle between GPU and CPU
Normal Screen Mode, Full Preview of the document
Screen Mode with Menu Bar, Alt + Shift + Ctrl + View the document in Overprint
Full Screen Mode Y Preview mode
Double click (double click Hand tool) Fit Alt + Ctrl + Y View the document in Pixel
imageable area in window Preview mode
Double click (double click Zoom tool) Magnify Esc Exit Full Screen mode
100%
Ctrl + = Zoom in
Ctrl + 1 Magnify 100%
Ctrl + - Zoom out
Space Switch to Hand tool (when not in
Ctrl + ; Hide guides
text-edit mode)
Alt + Ctrl + ; Lock guides
Ctrl + Space Switch to Zoom tool in magnify
mode Ctrl + 5 Make guides

Ctrl + Alt + Space Switch to Zoom tool in reduce Alt + Ctrl + 5 Release guides
mode Ctrl + U Show/ hide smart guides
Space Move Zoom marquee while Ctrl + Shift + I Show/ hide perspective grid
dragging with the Zoom tool
Ctrl + ' Show grid
Shift + Ctrl + B Hide bounding box
Shift + Ctrl + ' Snap to grid
Control + Alt + Hide unselected artwork
Alt + Ctrl + ' Snap to point
Shift + 3
Alt + Left click + (drag guide) Convert between
Move the mouse horizontal and vertical guide
Work with selections
Ctrl + Shift + (double click guide) Release Ctrl + ` Switch to last-used selection tool
Double click guide (Selection tool, Direct Selection
tool, or Group Selection tool)
Ctrl + H Show document template
Alt Switch between Direct Selection
Ctrl + Shift + H Show/Hide artboards
tool and Group Selection tool
Ctrl + R Show/Hide artboard rulers
Shift + Left click Add to a selection with Selection
Shift + Ctrl + D Show transparency grid tool, Direct Selection tool, Group
Ctrl + Alt + 0 View all artboards in window Selection tool, Live Paint
Ctrl + Shift + V Paste in place on the active Selection tool, or Magic Wand
artboard tool
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Shift + Left click Subtract a selection with Ctrl + [ Send a selection backward
Selection tool, Direct Selection Shift + Ctrl + [ Move a selection to the back
tool, Group Selection tool, or
Note: Set keyboard increments in General
Live Paint Selection tool
Preferences (Ctrl/ Cmd + K).
Alt + Left click Subtract from selection with
Magic Wand tool
Draw
Shift + Left click + Add to selection with Lasso tool
Move the mouse Shift + Left click + Constrain a shape’s proportions
Alt + Left click + Subtract from selection with Move the mouse or orientation to: equal height
Move the mouse Lasso tool and width for rectangles,
rounded rectangles, ellipses,
Caps Lock Change pointer to cross hair for
and grids
Lasso tool
Shift + Left click + Increments of 45° for line and
Ctrl + Alt + A Select artwork in active artboard
Move the mouse arc segments
Alt + C + O Create crop marks around
Shift + Left click + Original orientation for polygons,
selected object
Move the mouse stars, and flares
Ctrl + A Select all
Space + Left click Move a shape while drawing it
Shift + Ctrl + A Deselect + Move the mouse
Ctrl + 6 Reselect Alt + Left click + Draw from the center of a shape
Alt + Ctrl + ] Select the object above the Move the mouse (except for polygons, stars, and
current selection flares)

Alt + Ctrl + [ Select the object below the Alt + Left click + Keep the sides of a star straight
current selection Move the mouse

Ctrl + Left click Select behind an object Start dragging, then press one of these shortcuts:
then Left click Up arrow / Down Increase or decrease polygon
Ctrl + Left click Select behind in isolation mode arrow sides, star points, arc angle,
then Left click spiral winds, or flare rays

Ctrl + G Group the selected artwork Ctrl (hold down) Keep the inner
radius of a star constant
Shift + Ctrl + G Ungroup the selected artwork
C (hold down) Switch between an
Ctrl + 2 Lock a selection
open and closed arc
Alt + Ctrl + 2 Unlock a selection
F (hold down) Flip an arc, keeping
Ctrl + 3 Hide a selection the reference point constant
Alt + Ctrl + 3 Show all selections Alt + Left click + Add or subtract winds from a
Arrow keys Move selection in user-defined Move the mouse spiral while increasing the length
increments of the spiral

Shift + Arrow keys Move selection in 10x user- Ctrl + Left click + Change the decay rate of a
defined increments Move the mouse spiral

Ctrl + Alt + Shift + Lock all deselected artwork Up arrow / Down Add or remove horizontal lines
2 arrow from a rectangular grid or

Shift (hold) Constrain movement to concentric lines from a polar grid

45° angle (except when using Left arrow / Right Add or remove vertical lines from
Reflect tool) arrow a rectangular grid or radial lines

Ctrl + ] Bring a selection forward from a polar grid

Shift + Ctrl + ] Move a selection to the front F Decrease the skew value for
horizontal dividers in a
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rectangular grid or radial dividers modes
in a polar grid by 10%
V Increase the skew value for Edit shapes
horizontal dividers in a
rectangular grid or radial dividers Alt Switch Pen tool to Convert
in a polar grid by 10% Anchor Point tool

X Decrease the skew value for Alt Switch between Add Anchor
vertical dividers in a rectangular Point tool and Delete Anchor
grid or concentric dividers in a Point tool
polar grid by 10% Alt Switch Scissors tool to Add
C Increase the skew value for Anchor Point tool
vertical dividers in a rectangular Alt Switch Pencil tool to Smooth tool
grid or concentric dividers in a Space + Left click Move current anchor point while
polar grid by 10% + Move the mouse drawing with Pen tool
- Alt + Left click + Cut a straight line with Knife tool
] Increase size of Blob Brush Move the mouse
[ Decrease size of Blob Brush Shift + Alt + Left Cut at 45° or 90° with Knife tool
Shift Constrain Blob Brush path click + Move the
horizontally or vertically mouse

Shift + D Switch through drawing modes Alt + Left click (click Shape mode) Use shape
mode buttons in Pathfinder panel
Select the paths, then use those shortcuts:
to create compound paths
Ctrl + J Join two or more paths
Alt + Left click (click the closed region) Erase
Alt + Ctrl + J Average two or more paths unwanted closed regions
Shift + Ctrl + Alt + Create corner or smooth join created using Shape Builder tool
J Shift + M Select the Shape Builder tool
- Shift + Left click + Display rectangular marquee to
Ctrl + 8 Create a compound path Move the mouse easily merge multiple paths
(when using Shape Builder tool)
Alt + Shift + Ctrl + Release a compound path
8 Shift + } Increase the intensity of symbols
(when using Symbolism tool)
Shift + Ctrl + F8 Edit a pattern
Shift + { Decrease the intensity of
Shift + P Perspective Grid Tool
symbols (when using Symbolism
Shift + V Perspective Selection Tool tool)
Ctrl + Shift + I Perspective Grid Alt + Ctrl + B Blend objects
5 + Left click + (drag object) Moving objects Alt + Shift + Ctrl + Finish adding objects to the
Move the mouse perpendicularly B blend
Use the Perspective Selection tool and then press 1 Alt + Ctrl + Shift + Distort objects using a warp-
for left grid, 2 for horizontal grid, 3 for right grid, or 4 W shaped envelope
for no active grid.
Alt + Ctrl + M Distort objects using a mesh as
Ctrl + Alt + Left Copying objects in perspective the shape of the envelope
click + Move the
Alt + Ctrl + C Distort objects using another
mouse
object as the shape of the
Ctrl + D Repeat transforming objects in envelope
perspective
Shift + D Switching between drawing
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tool, Scale tool, Reflect tool, or
Work with Live Paint groups Shear tool
Alt + Left click (click Live Paint Bucket tool) ~ + Left click + Transform pattern (independent
Switch to Eyedropper tool and Move the mouse of object) when using Selection
sample fill and/or stroke tool, Scale tool, Reflect tool, or
Alt + Shift + Left (click Live Paint Bucket tool) Shear tool
click Switch to Eyedropper tool and Ctrl + D Reapply a transformation to an
sample color from an image or object
intermediate color from a
Ctrl + 4 Apply last pathfinder effect to the
gradient
selected object
Shift + Left click (click Live Paint Bucket tool)
Shift + Ctrl + M Move an object
Select opposite Live Paint
Bucket tool options (if Paint Fills Alt + Shift + Ctrl + Open the Transform Each dialog
and Paint Strokes are currently D box
selected, switch to Paint Fills Ctrl + 7 Make a clipping mask
only) Alt + Ctrl + 7 Release a clipping mask
Double click + Left (click Live Paint Bucket tool) Fill X Toggle between fill and stroke
click across unstroked edges into
D Set fill and stroke to default
adjacent faces
Shift + X Swap fill and stroke
Click three times (click Live Paint Bucket tool) Fill
(rapidly) + Left all faces that have same fill and > Select gradient fill mode
click stroke all edges that have same Alt + Ctrl + G Hide gradient annotator (when
stroke using the Gradient tool)
Alt + Left click (click Live Paint Selection tool) < Select color fill mode
Switch to Eyedropper tool and
/ Select no stroke/fill mode
sample fill and/or stroke
Shift + Left click (click Eyedropper tool) Sample
Alt + Shift + Left (click Live Paint Selection tool)
color from an image or
click Switch to Eyedropper tool and
intermediate color from gradient
sample color from an image or
intermediate color from a Alt + Shift + Left (click Eyedropper tool) Sample
gradient click style and append appearance of
currently selected item
Shift + Left click (click Live Paint Selection tool)
Add to/subtract from a selection Ctrl + / Add new fill

Double click (click Live Paint Selection tool) Ctrl + Alt + / Add new stroke
Select all connected faces Ctrl + Left click (click gradient button in Tools
/edges with same fill/stroke panel or Gradient panel) Reset
Triple + Left click (click Live Paint Selection tool) gradient to black and white
Select all faces/edges with same Alt + Ctrl + X Make Live Paint (when using the
fill/stroke Paint Bucket tool)
[ Decrease Bristle brush size
Work with objects ] Increase Bristle brush size

Alt + Left click Set origin point and open dialog

box when using Rotate tool, Create variable width points
Scale tool, Reflect tool, or Shear
tool Shift + Left click Select multiple width points

Alt + Left click + Duplicate and transform Alt + Left click + Create non-uniform widths
Move the mouse selection when using Selection Move the mouse
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Alt + Left click + (click the width point) Create a Ctrl + Alt + Q Reset tracking/kerning to 0
Move the mouse copy of the width point Alt + Left arrow / Increase or decrease kerning
Shift + Left click + Change the position of multiple Right arrow and tracking (horizontal text)
Move the mouse width points Alt + Up arrow / Increase or decrease kerning
Del Delete selected width point Down arrow and tracking (vertical text)
Esc Deselect a width point Ctrl + Alt + Left Increase or decrease kerning
arrow / Right and tracking by five times
arrow (horizontal text)
Work with type
Ctrl + Alt + Up Increase or decrease kerning
Left arrow / Right Move one character left or right arrow / Down and tracking by five times
arrow arrow (vertical text)
Up arrow / Down Move up or down one line Alt + Shift + Up Increase or decrease baseline
arrow arrow / Down shift (horizontal text)
Ctrl + Left arrow / Move one word left or right arrow
Right arrow Alt + Left arrow / Increase or decrease baseline
Ctrl + Up arrow / Move up or down one paragraph Right arrow shift (vertical text)
Down arrow Shift Switch between Type and
Shift + Ctrl + Left Select one word left or right Vertical Type, Area Type and
arrow / Right Vertical Area Type, and Path
arrow Type and Vertical Path Type
Shift + Ctrl + Up Select one paragraph before or tools
arrow / Down after Alt Switch between Area Type and
arrow Path Type, Vertical Area Type
Shift + Left click Extend existing selection and Vertical Path Type tools

Ctrl + Shift + L Align paragraph left Shift + Ctrl + O Create outlines

Ctrl + Shift + R Align paragraph right Ctrl + T Open the Character panel

Ctrl + Shift + C Align paragraph center Alt + Ctrl + T Open the Paragraph panel

Ctrl + Shift + J Justify text left Shift + Ctrl + T Open the Tabs panel

Shift + Ctrl + F Justify all lines Alt + Shift + Ctrl + Open the OpenType panel
T
Alt + Shift + Ctrl + Toggle line composer
C Alt + 8 Insert bullets

Shift + Enter Insert soft return Alt + G Insert copyright symbol

Ctrl + Alt + K Highlight kerning Alt + ; Insert ellipsis

Ctrl + Shift + X Reset horizontal scale to 100% Alt + 7 Insert paragraph symbol

Ctrl + Shift + . or , Increase or decrease font Alt + 6 Insert section symbol

size Alt + 2 Insert trademark symbol
Alt + Ctrl + Shift + Increase or decrease font size Alt + R Insert registered trademark
. or Alt + Ctrl + by steps symbol
Shift + , Shift + Ctrl + = Superscript
Alt + Up arrow / Increase or decrease leading Alt + Shift + Ctrl + Subscript
Down arrow (horizontal text) =
Alt + Left arrow / Increase or decrease leading Alt + Shift + - Insert em dash
Right arrow (vertical text)
Alt + - Insert en dash
Alt + Ctrl + K Select tracking value
Shift + Ctrl + - Insert discretionary hyphen
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Alt + Shift + Ctrl + Toggle auto-hyphenation
H
Actions panel
Alt + [ Insert double left quotation Alt + Left click (click expansion triangle)
marks Expand/Collapse entire
hierarchy for action set
Alt + Shift + [ Insert double right quotation
marks Double click (double click folder icon) Set
options for action set
Alt + ] Insert single left quotation marks
Ctrl + Left click (click Play Current Selection
Alt + Shift + ] Insert single right quotation
button) Play a single command
marks
Alt + Left click (click New Action button) Begin
Shift + Ctrl + M Insert em space
recording actions without
Shift + Ctrl + N Insert en space confirmation
Alt + Shift + Ctrl + Insert thin space
M
Brushes panel
Alt + Ctrl + I Show hidden characters
Double click (double click brush) Open Brush
Note: To change the increment value for type
Options dialog box
shortcuts, choose Edit > Preferences
>Type(Windows) or Illustrator > Preferences >Type Left click + Move (drag brush to New Brush
(macOS). Enter the values you want in the the mouse button) Duplicate brush
Size/Leading, Baseline Shift, and Tracking text boxes,
and click OK. Character and Paragraph panels
Ctrl + T Open the Character panel
Using panels
Alt + Ctrl + T Open the Paragraph panel
Alt + Left click (click New button) Set options Up arrow / Down Increase/decrease the selected
(except for Actions, Brushes, arrow value by a small increment
Swatches, and Symbols panels)
Shift + Up arrow / Increase/decreases the selected
Alt + Shift + Ctrl + Switch units of measurement Down arrow value by a large increment
U
Ctrl + Up arrow / Increase/decrease the selected
Alt + Left click (click Delete button) Delete Down arrow value by a fraction
without confirmation (except for
Ctrl + Alt + Shift + Highlight the font name field in
Layers panel)
F the Character panel
Shift + Enter Apply value and keep text box
active
Color panel
Shift + Left click Select range of actions, brushes,
layers, links, styles, or swatches Ctrl + Left click (click color bar) Select the
Ctrl + Left click Select noncontiguous actions, complement for the current color
brushes, layers (same level fill/stroke
only), links, styles, or swatches Alt + Left click (click color bar) Change the
Tab Show/Hide all panels nonactive fill/stroke

Shift + Tab Show/Hide all panels except the Ctrl + Alt + Left (click color bar) Select the
Tools panel and Control panel click complement for the nonactive
fill/stroke
Ctrl + Up arrow / Increase/ decrease values in
Down arrow logical fractions of the Ctrl + Shift + Left (click color bar) Select the
measurement unit click inverse for the current fill/stroke

Shift + Up arrow / Increase/ decrease Ctrl + Shift + Alt + (click color bar) Select the
Down arrow measurement unit by 10x Left click inverse for the nonactive
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fill/stroke Ctrl + Alt + Left (click eye icon) Select
Shift + F3 Open Color Guide click Outline/Preview view for all other
layers
Shift + Left click (click color bar) Change the color
mode Alt + Left click (click lock icon) Lock/unlock all
other layers
Shift + Left click + (drag color slider) Move color
Move the mouse sliders in tandem Alt + Left click (click expansion triangle)
Expand all sublayers to display
Double click (double click to right of a
entire hierarchy
numerical field) Switch between
percentage and 0-255 values for Alt + Left click (click New Layer button) Set
RGB options as you create new layer
Alt + Left click (click New Sublayer button) Set
options as you create new
Gradient panel
sublayer
Alt + Left click + Duplicate color stops Ctrl + Alt + Left (click New Sublayer button)
Move the mouse click Place new sublayer at bottom of
Alt + Left click + (drag color stop onto another layer list
Move the mouse stop) Swap color stops Ctrl + Left click (click New Layer button) Place
Alt + Left click (click swatch in the Swatches layer at top of layer list
panel) Apply swatch color to Ctrl + Alt + Left (click New Layer button) Place
active (or selected) color stop click layer below selected layer
Ctrl + Left click (click Gradient Fill box in the Alt + Left click + (drag selection) Copy the
Gradient panel) Reset the Move the mouse selection to a layer, sublayer, or
gradient fill to default black and group
white linear gradient
Ctrl + Alt + G Show/Hide gradient arrow
Swatches panel
Alt + Left click + (drag end point of gradient
Move the mouse annotator) Modify angle and Ctrl + Left click (click New Swatch button)
end-point together Create new spot color

Shift + Left click + Constrain Gradient tool or Ctrl + Shift + Left (click New Swatch button)
Move the mouse Gradient annotator while click Create new global process color
dragging Alt + Left click + (drag a swatch over another)
G View Gradient annotator in Move the mouse Replace swatch with another
selected gradient filled object
Transform panel
Layers panel Shift + Enter Apply a value and keep focus in
Ctrl + L Add a layer edit field

Alt + Ctrl + L Add a layer while opening the Alt + Enter Apply a value and copy object
New Layer dialog box Ctrl + Enter Apply a value and scale option
Alt + Left click (click layer name) Select all proportionately for width or
objects on the layer height

Alt + Left click (click eye icon) Show/hide all

layers but the selected one Transparency panel
Ctrl + Left click (click eye icon) Select Shift + Ctrl + E Apply last effect to the selected
Outline/Preview view for the object
selected layer
Alt + Shift + Ctrl + Apply last effect to the selected
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E object by adjusting the values in shortcuts?filter=False
the effects dialog box
Customize this PDF...
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 (click opacity field then up or
arrow / Down down) Increase/decrease
arrow opacity in 1% increments
Shift + Left click + (Shift + click opacity field then up
Up arrow / Down or down) Increase/decrease
arrow 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 modification: 1/22/2021 [Link] AM

More information: [Link]/adobe-illustrator-