Handy Keyboard Shortcuts for Adobe Illustrator

Handy Keyboard Shortcuts in Adobe Illustrator Drawing in Illustrator while continually clicking back and forth to your Toolbar to change your options is a drag. We strongly suggest that you take a few minutes to memorize keyboard commands: itll save time and help reduce strain on your mouse (or tablet!) hand. Please note these commands were written for Mac. PC users can use the key Control instead of Command. Here are some commands I use most (in no particular order): Tool Shortcuts ADirect Selection Tool (white arrow) VSelection Tool (black arrow) PPen Tool NPencil Tool IEyedropper Tool CScissors XToggles between fill and stroke colors Shift-XSwaps your fill and stroke colors TType Tool MShape Tool Pen Tool OptionConvert anchor point SpacebarMove an anchor point as youre drawing OptionSwitch between your add and delete pen tools CommandSwitch between your pen tool and direct select ShiftDraw on 45, 90, 135 or 180 axis Shape Drawing OptionDraws from the center SpacebarMove an object while youre drawing ShiftConstrains the proportions Option ShiftConstrains the proportions while drawing from the center Option and Mouse releaseCloses a path with the pencil or paintbrush tools as youre finishing drawing Copying and Moving Shapes Command Shift [Move an object behind all other shapes Command Shift [Move an object in front of all other shapes Command Shift ]Move an object behind next shape Command Shift ]Move an object in front of next shape Command CCopy Command VPaste Command FPaste in front Command BPaste behind OptionCreates a copy when dragging from a shape

Arrow KeysMoves selected object Shift and Arrow KeysMoves selected objects in larger increments Option-ShiftMakes a copy on a 45, 90, 135 or 180 axis while dragging on a selected shape Viewing and Guides SpacebarBrings up your Hand Tool (but dont use it when editing type!) Command +Zoom in Command -Zoom out Command 0View full artboard TabShow/hide your palettes CommandShow and hide your guide lines Command Option ;Lock and unlock your guide lines Command-RShow and hide your page rulers Command-NCreate a new document There are, of course, TONS of other keyboard shortcuts if you want to play around! A complete list of shortcuts can be found here (http://www.nobledesktop.com/shortcuts-illustratorcs4mac.html). Drawing in Illustrator while continually clicking back and forth to your Toolbar to change your options is a drag. We strongly suggest that you take a few minutes to memorize keyboard commands: itll save time and help reduce strain on your mouse (or tablet!) hand. Please note these commands were written for Mac; PC users can use the key Control instead of Command. Here are some commands I use most (in no particular order):

Tool Shortcuts
A: Direct Selection Tool (white arrow)

V: Selection Tool (black arrow)

P: Pen Tool

N: Pencil Tool

I: Eyedropper Tool

C: Slice Tool

X: Toggles between fill and stroke colors

Shift X:Swaps your fill and stroke colors

T: Type Tool

M: Shape Tool

Pen Tool Shortcuts

Option: Convert anchor point

Spacebar: Move an anchor point as youre drawing

Option: Switch between your add and delete pen tools

Command: Switch between your pen tool and direct select

Shift: Draw on 45, 90, 135 or 180 axis

Drawing Shapes
Option: Draws from the center

Spacebar: Move an object while youre drawing

Shift: Constrains the proportions

Option Shift: Constrains the proportions while drawing from the center

Option and Mouse release: Closes a path with the pencil or paintbrush tools as youre finishing drawing

Copying and Moving Shapes

Command Shift [: Move an object behind all other shapes

Command Shift [:Move an object in front of all other shapes

Command Shift ]: Move an object behind next shape

Command Shift ]: Move an object in front of next shape

Command C: Copy

Command V: Paste

Command F: Paste in front

Command B: Paste behind

Option: Creates a copy when dragging from a shape

Arrow Keys: Moves selected object

Shift and Arrow Keys: Moves selected objects in larger increments

Option Shift: Makes a copy on a 45, 90, 135 or 180 axis while dragging on a selected shape

Viewing and Guides

Spacebar: Brings up your Hand Tool (but dont use it when editing type!)

Command +: Zoom in

Command -: Zoom out

Command 0: View full artboard

Tab: Show and hide your palettes

Command: Show and hide your guide lines

Command Option ;: Lock and unlock your guide lines

Command R: Show and hide your page rulers

Command N: Create a new document