KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS FOR ADOBE ILLUSTRATOR CS4

Keyboard shortcuts make you more productive in Illustrator. You can use the default shortcuts included with Illustrator, or add and customize shortcuts to suit your needs.

Keys for Selecting Tools

Result Keyboard Shortcuts

Artboard tool Shift + OSelection tool VDirect Selection tool AMagic Wand tool YLasso tool QPen tool PBlob Brush tool Shift + BAdd Anchor Point tool + (plus)Delete Anchor Point tool - (minus)Convert Anchor Point tool Shift + CType tool TLine Segment tool \ (backslash)Rectangle tool MEllipse tool LPaintbrush tool BPencil tool NRotate tool RReflect tool OScale tool SWarp tool Shift + RFree Transform tool ESymbol Sprayer tool Shift + SColumn Graph tool JMesh tool UGradient tool GEyedropper tool IBlend tool WLive Paint Bucket tool KLive Paint Selection tool Shift + LSlice tool Shift + KEraser tool Shift + EScissors tool CHand tool HZoom tool Z

Switch to Smooth tool while using Blob Brush tool Press Alt 

Keys for Viewing Artwork

Result Keyboard ShortcutsToggle between screen modes: Normal Screen Mode, Full Screen Mode with Menu Bar, Full Screen Mode

F

Fit imageable area in window Double-click Hand toolMagnify 100% Double-click Zoom toolSwitch to Hand tool (when not in text-edit mode) SpacebarSwitch to Zoom tool in magnify mode Ctrl + SpacebarSwitch to Zoom tool in reduce mode Ctrl + Alt + SpacebarMove Zoom marquee while dragging with the Zoom tool SpacebarHide unselected artwork Control + Alt + Shift + 3Convert between horizontal and vertical guide Alt-drag guideRelease guide Ctrl + Shift-double-click guideShow/Hide artboards Ctrl + Shift + HShow/Hide artboard rulers Ctrl + Alt + RView all artboards in window Ctrl + Alt + 0 (zero)Exit Artboard tool mode EscCreate artboard inside another artboard Shift-dragNavigate to next document Ctrl + F6Navigate to previous document Ctrl + Shift + F6Navigate to next document group Ctrl + Alt + F6Navigate to previous document group Ctrl + Alt + Shift + F6Exit Full Screen mode EscSave multiple artboards to Illustrator CS3 or earlier format Alt + v 

Keys for Drawing

Result Keyboard ShortcutsConstrain a shape’s proportions or orientation to:

equal height and width for rectangles, rounded rectangles, ellipses, and grids

Increments of 45° for line and arc segments Original orientation for polygons, stars, and

flares

Shift-drag

Move a shape while drawing it spacebar-dragDraw from the center of a shape (except for polygons, stars, and flares)

Alt-drag

Increase or decrease polygon sides, star points, arc angle, spiral winds, or flare rays

Start dragging, then press the Up Arrow or Down Arrow

Keep the inner radius of a star constant Start dragging, then hold down Ctrl

Keep the sides of a star straight Alt-dragSwitch between an open and closed arc Start dragging, then hold down CFlip an arc, keeping the reference point constant Start dragging, then hold down FAdd or subtract winds from a spiral while increasing the length of the spiral

Alt-drag

Change the decay rate of a spiral Ctrl-dragAdd or remove horizontal lines from a rectangular grid or concentric lines from a polar grid

Start dragging, then press the Up Arrow or Down Arrow

Add or remove vertical lines from a rectangular grid or radial lines from a polar grid

Start dragging, then press the Right Arrow or Left Arrow

Decrease the skew value for horizontal dividers in a rectangular grid or radial dividers in a polar grid by 10%

Start dragging, then press F

Increase the skew value for horizontal dividers in a rectangular grid or radial dividers in a polar grid by 10%

Start dragging, then press V

Decrease the skew value for vertical dividers in a rectangular grid or concentric dividers in a polar grid by 10%

Start dragging, then press X

Increase the skew value for vertical dividers in a rectangular grid or concentric dividers in a polar grid by 10%

Start dragging, then press C

Create and expand a Live Trace object in one step Alt-click Live Trace in the Control panel, or hold down Alt and select a tracing preset.

Increase size of Blob Brush ] (right square bracket)Decrease size of Blob Brush [ (left square bracket)Constrain Blob Brush path horizontally or vertically Shift

Keys for Selecting

Result Keyboard ShortcutsSwitch to last-used selection tool (Selection tool, Direct Selection tool, or Group Selection tool)

Ctrl

Switch between Direct Selection tool and Group Selection tool AltAdd to a selection with Selection tool, Direct Selection tool, Group Selection tool, Live Paint Selection tool, or Magic Wand tool

Shift-click

Subtract a selection with Selection tool, Direct Selection tool, Group Selection tool, or LIve Paint Selection tool

Shift-click

Subtract from selection with Magic Wand tool Alt-clickAdd to selection with Lasso tool Shift-dragSubtract from selection with Lasso tool Alt-dragChange pointer to cross hair for Lasso tool Caps LockSelect artwork in active artboard Ctrl + Alt + A

Create crop marks around selected object Alt + c + o 

Keys for Moving Selections

Result Keyboard ShortcutsMove selection in user-defined increments Right Arrow, Left Arrow, Up Arrow, or

Down ArrowMove selection in 10x user-defined increments Shift + Right Arrow, Left Arrow, Up Arrow,

or Down ArrowLock all deselected artwork Ctrl + Alt + Shift + 2Constrain movement to 45° angle (except when using Reflect tool)

Hold down Shift

Keys for Editing Shapes

Result Keyboard ShortcutsSwitch Pen tool to Convert Anchor Point tool AltSwitch between Add Anchor Point tool and Delete Anchor Point tool AltSwitch Scissors tool to Add Anchor Point tool AltSwitch Pencil tool to Smooth tool AltMove current anchor point while drawing with Pen tool Spacebar-dragCut a straight line with Knife tool Alt-dragCut at 45° or 90° with Knife tool Shift + Alt-dragTurn shape mode buttons in Pathfinder panel into Pathfinder commands Alt + Shape mode

Keys for Painting Objects

Result Keyboard ShortcutsToggle between fill and stroke XSet fill and stroke to default DSwap fill and stroke Shift + XSelect gradient fill mode >Select color fill mode <Select no stroke/fill mode / (forward slash)Sample color from an image or intermediate color from gradient

Alt + Eyedropper tool

Sample style and append appearance of currently selected item

Alt + Shift-click + Eyedropper tool

Add new fill Ctrl + / (forward slash)Add new stroke Ctrl + Alt + / (forward slash)Reset gradient to black and white Ctrl-click gradient button in Tools panel or

Gradient panelOpen Mosiac options for selected raster object Alt + o + j

Keys for Working with Live Paint Groups

Result Keyboard ShortcutsSwitch to Eyedropper tool and sample fill and/or stroke Alt-click + Live Paint

Bucket toolSwitch to Eyedropper tool and sample color from an image or intermediate color from a gradient

Alt + Shift-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)

Shift + Live Paint Bucket tool

Fill across unstroked edges into adjacent faces Double-click + Live Paint Bucket tool

Fill all faces that have same fill and stroke all edges that have same stroke

Triple-click + Live Paint Bucket tool

Switch to Eyedropper tool and sample fill and/or stroke Alt-click + Live Paint Selection tool

Switch to Eyedropper tool and sample color from an image or intermediate color from a gradient

Alt + Shift-click + Live Paint Selection tool

Add to/subtract from a selection Shift-click + Live Paint Selection tool

Select all connected faces /edges with same fill/stroke Double-click + Live Paint Selection tool

Select all faces/edges with same fill/stroke Triple-click + Live Paint Selection tool

Keys for Transforming Objects

Result Keyboard Shortcuts

Set origin point and open dialog box when using Rotate tool, Scale tool, Reflect tool, or Shear tool

Alt-click

Duplicate and transform selection when using Selection tool, Scale tool, Reflect tool, or Shear tool

Alt-drag

Transform pattern (independent of object) when using Selection tool, Scale tool, Reflect tool, or Shear tool

Tilde (~)-drag

Keys for Working with Type

Result Keyboard ShortcutsMove one character right or left Right Arrow or Left ArrowMove up or down one line Up Arrow or Down ArrowMove one word right or left Ctrl + Right Arrow or Left ArrowMove up or down one paragraph Ctrl + Up Arrow or Down ArrowSelect one word right or left Shift + Ctrl + Right Arrow or Left

ArrowSelect one paragraph before or after Shift + Ctrl + Up Arrow or Down

ArrowExtend existing selection Shift-clickAlign paragraph left, right, or center Ctrl + Shift + L, R, or CJustify paragraph Ctrl + Shift + JInsert soft return Shift + EnterHighlight kerning Ctrl + Alt + KReset horizontal scale to 100% Ctrl + Shift + XIncrease or decrease type size Ctrl + Shift + > or <Increase or decrease leading Alt + Up or Down Arrow (horizontal

text) or Right or Left Arrow (vertical text)

Set leading to the type size Double-click leading icon in the Character panel

Reset tracking/kerning to 0 Ctrl + Alt + QIncrease or decrease kerning and tracking Alt + Right or Left Arrow (horizontal

text) or Up or Down Arrow (vertical text)

Increase or decrease kerning and tracking by five times Ctrl + Alt + Right or Left Arrow (horizontal text) or Up or Down Arrow (vertical text)

Increase or decrease baseline shift Alt + Shift + Up or Down Arrow (horizontal text) or Right or Left Arrow (vertical text)

Switch between Type and Vertical Type, Area Type and Vertical Area Type, and Path Type and Vertical Path Type tools

Shift

Switch between Area Type and Type, Path Type and Area Type, and Vertical Path Type and Vertical Area Type tools

Alt-click Type tool

NOTE: To change the increment value for type shortcuts, choose Edit  Preferences Type. Enter the values you want in the Size/Leading, Baseline Shift, and Tracking text boxes, and click OK. 

Keys for Using Panels

Result Keyboard ShortcutsSet options (except for Actions, Brushes, Swatches, and Symbols panels)

Alt-click New button

Delete without confirmation (except for Layers panel) Alt-click Delete buttonApply value and keep text box active Shift + EnterSelect range of actions, brushes, layers, links, styles, or swatches Shift-clickSelect noncontiguous actions, brushes, layers (same level only), links, styles, or swatches

Ctrl-click

Show/Hide all panels Tab

Show/Hide all panels except the Tools panel and Control panel Shift + Tab

Keys for the Actions Panel

Result Keyboard ShortcutsExpand/Collapse entire hierarchy for action set Alt-click expansion triangleSet options for action set Double-click folder iconPlay a single command Alt-click Play buttonBegin recording actions without confirmation Alt-click New Action button

Keys for the Brushes Panel

Result Keyboard ShortcutsOpen Brush Options dialog box Double-click brushDuplicate brush Drag brush to New Brush button

Keys for the Character And Paragraph PanelsResult Keyboard Shortcuts

Increase/decrease the selected value by a small increment Up Arrow or Down ArrowIncrease/decreases the selected value by a large increment Shift + Up Arrow or Down

ArrowHighlight the font name field in the Character panel Ctrl + Alt + Shift + F

Keys for the Color PanelResult Keyboard Shortcuts

Select the complement for the current color fill/stroke Ctrl-click color barChange the nonactive fill/stroke Alt-click color barSelect the complement for the nonactive fill/stroke Ctrl + Alt-click color barSelect the inverse for the current fill/stroke Ctrl + Shift-click color barSelect the inverse for the nonactive fill/stroke Ctrl + Shift + Alt-click color barChange the color mode Shift-click color barMove color sliders in tandem Shift-drag color sliderSwitch between percentage and 0-255 values for RGB

Double-click to right of a numerical field

Keys for the Gradient Panel

Result Keyboard ShortcutsDuplicate color stops Alt-dragSwap color stops Alt-drag color stop onto another stopApply swatch color to active (or selected) color stop Alt-click swatch in the Swatches panelReset the gradient fill to default black and white linear gradient

Ctrl-click Gradient Fill box in the Gradient panel

Show/Hide gradient arrow Ctrl + Alt + GModify angle and end-point together Alt-drag end point of gradient arrowConstrain Gradient tool or Gradient arrow while dragging

Shift-drag

View Gradient arrow in selected gradient filled object

G

Keys for the Layers Panel

Result Keyboard ShortcutsSelect all objects on the layer Alt-click layer nameShow/hide all layers but the selected one Alt-click eye iconSelect Outline/Preview view for the selected layer Ctrl-click eye iconSelects Outline/Preview view for all other layers Ctrl + Alt-click eye iconLock/unlock all other layers Alt-click lock iconExpand all sublayers to display entire hierarchy Alt-click expansion triangleSet options as you create new layer Alt-click New Layer buttonSet options as you create new sublayer Alt-click New Sublayer buttonPlace new sublayer at bottom of layer list Ctrl + Alt-click New Sublayer buttonPlace layer at top of layer list Ctrl-click New Layer buttonPlace layer below selected layer Ctrl + Alt-click New Layer buttonCopy the selection to a new layer, sublayer, or group Alt-drag selection

Keys for the Swatches Panel

Result Keyboard ShortcutsCreate new spot color Ctrl-click New Swatch buttonCreate new global process color Ctrl + Shift-click New Swatch buttonReplace swatch with another Alt-drag a swatch over anotherSelect swatch by name (using keyboard) Ctrl + Alt-click in the swatch color list

Keys for the Transform Panel

Result Keyboard ShortcutsApply a value and keep focus in edit field Shift + EnterApply a value and copy object Alt + EnterApply a value and scale option proportionately for width or height Ctrl + Enter

Keys for the Transparency Panel

Result Keyboard ShortcutsChange mask to grayscale image for editing Alt-click on mask thumbnailDisable opacity mask Shift-click on mask thumbnailRe-enable opacity mask Shift-click on disabled mask thumbnailIncrease/decrease opacity in 1% increments Click opacity field + Up Arrow or Down ArrowIncrease/decrease opacity in 10% increments Shift-click opacity field + Up Arrow or Down

Arrow

Function Keys

Result Keyboard Shortcuts

Invoke Help F1Cut F2Copy F3Paste F4Show/hide Brushes panel F5Show/hide Color panel F6Show/hide Layers panel F7Create new symbol F8Show/hide Info panel Ctrl + F8Show/hide Gradient panel Ctrl + F9Show/hide Stroke panel Ctrl + F10Show/hide Attributes panel Ctrl + F11Revert F12Show/hide Graphic Styles panel Shift + F5Show/hide Appearance panel Shift + F6Show/hide Align panel Shift + F7Show/hide Transform panel Shift + F8Show/hide Pathfinder panel Shift + Ctrl + F9Show/hide Transparency panel Shift + Ctrl + F10Show/hide Symbols panel Shift + Ctrl + F11

CUSTOMIZE KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS

Adobe Illustrator CS4 lets you view a list of all shortcuts, and edit or create shortcuts. The Keyboard Shortcuts dialog box serves as a shortcut editor, and includes all commands that support shortcuts, some of which aren’t addressed in the default shortcut set. You can define your own sets of shortcuts, change individual shortcuts within a set, and switch between sets of shortcuts. For example, you can create separate sets for different workspaces chosen from the Window  Workspace menu.To customize keyboard shortcuts follows the following steps:1. Choose Edit  Keyboard Shortcuts.2. Choose a set of shortcuts from the Set menu at the top of the Keyboard Shortcuts

dialog box.3. Choose a shortcut type (Menu Commands or Tools) from the menu above the

shortcut display.4. Do any of the following:

i. To activate the set of shortcuts, click OK.ii. To change a shortcut, click in the Shortcut column of the scroll list and

type a new shortcut. If you enter a shortcut that is already assigned to another command or tool, an alert appears at the bottom of the dialog box. Click Undo to undo the change, or click Go To to go to the other command or tool and assign it a new shortcut. In the Symbol column, type the symbol that will appear in the menu or tool tip for the command or tool. You can use any of the characters that are allowed in the Shortcut column.

Note: Mac OS does not allow you to assign Command+Option+8 as a menu shortcut.iii. To save changes to the current set of shortcuts, click OK. (You can’t save

changes to the set named Illustrator Defaults.)iv. To save a new set of shortcuts, click Save. Enter a name for the new set,

and click OK. The new key set will appear in the pop-up menu under the new name.

v. To delete the set of shortcuts, click Delete. (You can’t delete the set named Illustrator Defaults.)

vi. To export the displayed set of shortcuts into a text file, click Export Text. In the Save Key Set File As dialog box, enter a filename for the current key set that you are saving, and click Save. You can use this text file to print out a copy of your keyboard shortcuts.

NOTE: In addition to using keyboard shortcuts, you can access many commands using context-sensitive menus. Context-sensitive menus display commands that are relevant to the active tool, selection, or panel. To display a context-sensitive menu, right-click in the document window or panel.