Corel Painter Keyboard Shortcuts for Windows & Mac

Corel Painter keyboard shortcuts are key combinations that trigger tools and commands directly, without clicking through menus or panels. They rely on four modifier keys: Ctrl, Alt, Shift, and the Spacebar on Windows, and Command, Option, Shift, and the Spacebar on Mac. Using them speeds up digital painting by keeping your hand on the keyboard while you draw.

The most-used Corel Painter shortcuts are:

• New file: Ctrl + N (Windows) / Command + N (Mac)
• Save: Ctrl + S / Command + S
• Undo: Ctrl + Z / Command + Z
• Brush tool: B
• Increase brush size: ]
• Decrease brush size: [
• Zoom in: Spacebar + Ctrl + click / Spacebar + Command + click
• Rotate canvas: Spacebar + Alt + drag / Spacebar + Option + drag

These are Corel Painter’s default shortcuts. If you use a custom key set or a significantly older or newer version of Painter, some keys may differ. The full categorized list is below, and you can download a free PDF cheat sheet for quick reference.

File Shortcuts

Edit Shortcuts

Panels Shortcuts

Toolbox Shortcuts

Brush Shortcuts

Layers Shortcuts

Navigation Shortcuts

Animation Shortcuts

How to Customize Keyboard Shortcuts in Corel Painter

You can reassign almost any command in Corel Painter to a key of your choice and save it as a reusable key set. This is useful if you’re switching from another program like Photoshop and want familiar keys, or if you want one-key access to a command you use constantly.

1. Open the Customize Keys dialog. Go to Edit > Preferences > Customize Keys on Windows, or Corel Painter > Preferences > Customize Keys on Mac.
2. Choose a shortcut set. From the “Shortcuts” drop-down, pick the area you want to edit, such as Application Menus or Tools.
3. Find the command. Click the command you want to assign or change in the list.
4. Assign your key. Click in the shortcut column and press the key combination you want to use. If the keys are already in use, Painter warns you and lets you reassign or cancel.
5. Save as a key set. Click the save (disk) icon and give your set a name so you can switch back to it any time.
6. Click OK to apply your changes.

To restore Painter’s defaults at any time, return to Customize Keys and select the default key set from the drop-down.

How to Export a Full List of Your Shortcuts

Corel Painter can generate a complete, printable list of every shortcut in your current key set:

1. Open Edit > Preferences > Customize Keys.
2. Click the Create HTML Summary button.
3. Choose a location and save the file.
4. Open the saved HTML file in any web browser to view or print the full list.

Corel Painter Shortcuts FAQ

What is the brush size shortcut in Corel Painter?

Press the right bracket key ( ] ) to increase brush size and the left bracket key ( [ ) to decrease it. These work the same on Windows and Mac. You can also hold Alt + Ctrl (Windows) or Option + Command (Mac) and drag to resize the brush visually on the canvas.

How do I zoom in and out in Corel Painter?

Hold Spacebar + Ctrl and click to zoom in, or Spacebar + Ctrl + Alt and click to zoom out on Windows. On Mac, use Spacebar + Command + click to zoom in and Spacebar + Command + Option + click to zoom out.

How do I rotate the canvas in Corel Painter?

Hold Spacebar + Alt and drag (Windows) or Spacebar + Option and drag (Mac) to rotate the canvas freely. To reset the canvas to its default orientation, press Shift + Alt + click on Windows or Shift + Option + click on Mac.

What is the undo shortcut in Corel Painter?

Press Ctrl + Z on Windows or Command + Z on Mac to undo. To redo, press Ctrl + Y (Windows) or Command + Y (Mac).

How do I change or customize keyboard shortcuts in Corel Painter?

Go to Edit > Preferences > Customize Keys (Windows) or Corel Painter > Preferences > Customize Keys (Mac). From there you can assign commands to keys, save your own key sets, and switch between them.

Can I export a full list of Corel Painter shortcuts?

Yes. Open Edit > Preferences > Customize Keys, then click the Create HTML Summary button and save the file. Painter generates a complete HTML list of every shortcut in your current key set.

Are Corel Painter shortcuts the same on Windows and Mac?

The actions are the same, but the modifier keys differ. Windows uses Ctrl, Alt, and Shift, while Mac uses Command, Option, and Shift. For example, Save is Ctrl + S on Windows and Command + S on Mac. Single-letter tool shortcuts like B for Brush or M for Magnifier are identical on both.

Is there a free Corel Painter shortcuts PDF?

Yes. You can download a free printable PDF cheat sheet of all the shortcuts on this page using the download link above the tables.

Final Thoughts

Keyboard shortcuts are the fastest way to speed up your workflow in Corel Painter. You don’t need to memorize all of them at once start with the essentials like B for the Brush, the bracket keys ( [ and ] ) to resize it, Ctrl/Command + Z to undo, and Spacebar shortcuts to zoom and rotate the canvas. Once those feel automatic, add a few more from the tables above each time you work.

If you find yourself reaching for the same command often, remember you can map it to any key you like through Edit > Preferences > Customize Keys and save it as your own key set. And when you want a quick reference away from the screen, download the free PDF cheat sheet above.

All shortcuts on this page are Corel Painter’s defaults, verified against Corel’s official documentation. If you’re on a custom key set or a different version of Painter, a few keys may vary.

Related shortcut guides:

• CorelDRAW Keyboard Shortcuts
• Krita Keyboard Shortcuts
• Adobe Photoshop Shortcut Keys
• GIMP Keyboard Shortcuts