80+ Clip Studio Paint Shortcuts: The Complete Keyboard List (Windows & Mac)

The most-used Clip Studio Paint shortcuts are B (Brush), E (Eraser), P (Pen), K (Move layer), I (Eyedropper), and Ctrl + Z (Undo). Clip Studio Paint includes 80+ default keyboard shortcuts for tools, layers, selection, and canvas navigation on both Windows and Mac the full list is below, with a free PDF cheat sheet.

I’ve used Clip Studio Paint for years, and the single biggest jump in my drawing speed didn’t come from a new brush or tablet it came from learning the keyboard shortcuts. Once switching between Pen, Brush, and Eraser became muscle memory, I stopped breaking my flow to hunt through toolbars. Below is the complete, verified list of default Clip Studio Paint shortcuts, organized by what you’re actually doing drawing, selecting, working with layers, and navigating the canvas. Every shortcut here matches the official Clip Studio Paint shortcut reference, with the correct Windows and Mac keys side by side.

What Are Clip Studio Paint Shortcuts?

Clip Studio Paint shortcuts are keyboard key combinations that trigger tools and menu commands instantly like pressing B for the Brush or Ctrl + Z to undo — so you can work without stopping to click through menus. On macOS and iPad, replace Ctrl with Command and Alt with Option; single-letter tool keys (B, E, P) are the same on every platform. Clip Studio Paint has 390+ assignable commands in total, though most artists actively use 15–25.

Most-Used Clip Studio Paint Shortcuts

Tool Shortcuts

File & Edit Shortcuts

Selection Shortcuts

Layer Shortcuts

View, Zoom & Canvas Shortcuts

Canvas Modifier Shortcuts

Brush, Color & Sub-Tool Shortcuts

Window & Palette Shortcuts

How to Change or Customize Shortcuts in Clip Studio Paint

One of the best things about Clip Studio Paint is that almost every shortcut is editable, and you can add new ones for commands that have none. If a default key feels awkward, or you want a one-press shortcut for something you do constantly, here’s how to set it.

Steps to customize a shortcut

1. Open File → Shortcut Settings, or press Ctrl + Shift + Alt + K (Command + Shift + Option + K on Mac).
2. In the Setting area dropdown, choose the category Tool, Main Menu, Options, or Auto Action.
3. Find the command you want and click it to select it.
4. Click Edit shortcut, then press the key combination you want to assign.
5. If the key is already in use, Clip Studio Paint warns you choose to reassign it or pick another.
6. Click OK to save. Your new shortcut is active immediately.

To remove a shortcut, select the command and click Delete shortcut. To undo all your changes, use Reset to default at the bottom of the dialog.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the move tool shortcut in Clip Studio Paint?

The Move layer tool shortcut is K. Press K to grab and reposition the contents of a layer. To pan the whole canvas instead, hold Spacebar and drag.

What is the new layer shortcut in Clip Studio Paint?

Press Ctrl + Shift + N (Windows) or Command + Shift + N (Mac) to create a new raster layer. To create a layer folder instead, use Ctrl + G.

How do you zoom in and out in Clip Studio Paint?

Zoom in with Ctrl + ; and zoom out with Ctrl + – (replace Ctrl with Command on Mac). You can also hold Ctrl + Spacebar and click to zoom in temporarily, or press Ctrl + 0 to fit the canvas to the screen.

What is the rotate canvas shortcut in Clip Studio Paint?

Press R to switch to the Rotate tool, or hold Shift + Spacebar and drag to rotate the canvas on the fly. Releasing the keys returns you to your previous tool.

Does Clip Studio Paint have a flip canvas shortcut?

No, there is no default flip-canvas shortcut. You can flip the canvas from View → Rotate/Invert → Flip Horizontal, or assign your own shortcut in File → Shortcut Settings.

How do you select multiple layers in Clip Studio Paint?

Hold Ctrl (Command on Mac) and click each layer you want to select in the Layer palette. To select a continuous range, hold Shift and click the first and last layer.

How do I change or customize keyboard shortcuts in Clip Studio Paint?

Go to File → Shortcut Settings (or press Ctrl + Shift + Alt + K), pick the command, click Edit shortcut, press your new key combination, and click OK.

Are Clip Studio Paint shortcuts the same on Windows and Mac?

Mostly. Single-letter tool keys like B, E, and P are identical. For combinations, replace Ctrl with Command and Alt with Option on macOS and iPad.

Does Clip Studio Paint have animation shortcuts by default?

No. Clip Studio Paint ships with almost no animation shortcuts pre-assigned only showing the timeline. You can add your own for keyframes, onion skin, and playback in File → Shortcut Settings.

Final thoughts

Shortcuts are the difference between fighting your tools and forgetting they’re there. You don’t need to memorize all 80+ at once pick the handful you use most, and customize the rest to fit how you actually draw. Keep the free PDF cheat sheet open beside your canvas until the keys stick, and remember you can remap any of them through File → Shortcut Settings whenever a default doesn’t suit you.

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