Talented graphic designers strive to establish workflows that maximize efficiency. One key way to achieve this is by memorizing Inkscape shortcuts. Cultivating the habit of learning keyboard shortcuts for your tools is an essential step toward improving productivity.
Below, you’ll find a comprehensive list of commonly used Inkscape shortcuts to streamline your navigation within the program. Familiarizing yourself with these shortcuts is crucial, as they accelerate your workflow and minimize repetitive tasks. You can also download the Inkscape shortcuts list in PDF format for easy reference.
File Shortcuts Action Inkscape Shortcuts Windows Inkscape Shortcuts Mac Create new document Ctrl + N Command + N Open an SVG document Ctrl + O Command + O Export to PNG Ctrl + Shift + E Command + Shift + E Import bitmap or SVG Ctrl + I Command + I Print document Ctrl + P Command + P Save document Ctrl + S Command + S Save under a new name Ctrl + Shift + S Command + Shift + S Save a copy Ctrl + Shift + Alt + S Command + Shift + Option + S Exit Inkscape Ctrl + Q Command + Q
Window Shortcuts Action Inkscape Shortcuts Windows Inkscape Shortcuts Mac Toggle rulers Ctrl + R Command + R Toggle scrollbars Ctrl + B Command + B Toggle fullscreen F11 F11 Main menu F10 F10 Close document window Ctrl + F4 Command + F4 Next document window Ctrl + Tab Command + Tab Previous document window Ctrl + Shift + Tab Command + Shift + Tab
Layers Shortcuts Action Inkscape Shortcuts Windows Inkscape Shortcuts Mac Move to the layer above Shift + Page Up key Shift + Page Up key Move to the layer below Shift + Page Down key Shift + Page Down key Raise layer Ctrl + Shift + Page Up key Command + Shift + Page Up key Lower layer Ctrl + Shift + Page Down key Command + Shift + Page Down key Raise layer to top Ctrl + Shift + Home Command + Shift + Home Lower layer to the bottom Ctrl + Shift + End Command + Shift + End
Objects Shortcuts Action Inkscape Shortcuts Windows Inkscape Shortcuts Mac Undo Ctrl + Z Command + Z Redo Ctrl + Y Command + Y Copy Ctrl + C Command + C Cut Ctrl + X Command + X Paste Ctrl + V Command + V Paste in place Ctrl + Alt + V Command + Option + V Duplicate selection Ctrl + D Command + D Clone object Alt + D Option + D Unlink clone Shift + Alt + D Shift + Option + D Select original Shift + D Shift + D Create a bitmap copy Alt + B Option + B Trace bitmap Shift + Alt + B Shift + Option + B Object to pattern Alt + I Option + I Pattern to object Shift + Alt + I Shift + Option + I Group selected objects Ctrl + G Command + G Ungroup selected group Ctrl + U Command + U Raise selection to the top Home Home Lower selection to the bottom End End Raise selection one step Page Up key Page Up key Lower selection one step Page Down key Page Down key
Path Shortcuts Action Inkscape Shortcuts Windows Inkscape Shortcuts Mac Convert a selected object to a path Ctrl + Shift + C Command + Shift + C Convert stroke to path Ctrl + Alt + C Command + Option + C Union Ctrl + + Command + + Difference Ctrl + – Command + – Intersection Ctrl + * Command + * Exclusive OR (XOR) Ctrl + ^ Command + ^ Division (cut) Ctrl + / Command + / Cut path Ctrl + Alt + / Command + Option + / Inset path – towards the center Ctrl + ( Command + ( Outset path – away from the center Ctrl + ) Command + ) Inset path by 1 pixel Alt + ( Option + ( Outset path by 1 pixel Alt + ) Option + ) Inset path by 10 pixels Shift + Alt + ( Shift + Option + ( Outset path by 10 pixels Shift + Alt + ) Shift + Option + ) Create dynamic offset Ctrl + J Command + J Create linked offset Ctrl + Alt + J Command + Option + J Select source Shift + D Shift + D Combine paths Ctrl + K Command + K Break paths apart Shift + Ctrl + K Shift + Command + K Simplify Ctrl + L Command + L
Pen Tool Shortcuts Action Inkscape Shortcut keys Windows Inkscape Shortcut keys Mac Create a sharp node Click Click Add to the selected path Shift + Click Shift + Click Move the last node by the nudge distance Arrow keys Arrow keys Move the last node by 10x nudge distance Shift + Arrow keys Shift + Arrow keys Move the last node by 1 pixel Alt + Arrow keys Option + Arrow keys Move the last node by 10 pixels Alt + Shift + Arrow keys Option + Shift + Arrow keys Make the last segment line Shift + L Shift + L Make the last segment curve Shift + U Shift + U Finish current line Enter Return Cancel current line Esc Esc Erase the last segment of the current line Backspace Backspace
Caligraphy Shortcuts Action Inkscape Shortcuts Windows Inkscape Shortcuts Mac Draw a calligraphic line Mouse Drag Mouse Drag Adjust pen width Left Arrow key Left Arrow key Adjust pen angle Up Arrow key Up Arrow key Deselect Esc Esc Select next handle Tab Tab Select the previous handle Shift + Tab Shift + Tab Move the selected handle by the nudge distance Arrow keys Arrow keys Move the selected handle by 10x nudge distance Shift + Arrow keys Shift + Arrow keys Move the selected handle by 1 pixel Alt + Arrow keys Option + Arrow keys Move the selected handle by 10 pixels Alt + Shift + Arrow keys Option + Shift + Arrow keys Deselect handle Esc Esc Reverse gradient definition Shift + R Shift + R
Dialog Shortcuts Action Inkscape Shortcuts Windows Inkscape Shortcuts Mac Fill and Stroke Shift + Ctrl + F Shift + Command + F Swatches Shift + Ctrl + W Shift + Command + W Text and Font Shift + Ctrl + T Shift + Command + T Transform Shift + Ctrl + M Shift + Command + M Layers Shift + Ctrl + L Shift + Command + L Align and Distribute Shift + Ctrl + A Shift + Command + A Object Properties Shift + Ctrl + O Shift + Command + O Undo history Shift + Ctrl + H Shift + Command + H XML Editor Shift + Ctrl + X Shift + Command + X Document Preferences Shift + Ctrl + D Shift + Command + D Inkscape Preferences Shift + Ctrl + P Shift + Command + P Export to PNG Shift + Ctrl + E Shift + Command + E Find Ctrl + F Command + F Trace bitmap Shift + Alt + B Shift + Option + B Within a dialog return to the canvas Esc Esc Within a dialog close the dialog Ctrl + F4 Command + F4 Within a dialog jump to the next widget Tab Tab Within a dialog jump to the previous widget Shift + Tab Shift + Tab
Control Bar Shortcuts Action Inkscape Shortcuts Windows Inkscape Shortcuts Mac Jump to the first editable field Alt + X Option + X Accept the new value Enter Return Cancel changes, return to the canvas Esc Esc Cancel changes Ctrl + Z Command + Z Jump to the next field Tab Tab Jump to the previous field Shift + Tab Shift + Tab Change value by 01 Up Arrow key Up Arrow key Change value by 50 Page Up key Page Up key
Canvas Shortcuts Action Inkscape Shortcut keys Windows Inkscape Shortcut keys Mac Zoom in = = Zoom out – – Zoom 1:1 1 1 Zoom 1:2 2 2 Zoom to selection 3 3 Zoom to drawing 4 4 Zoom to page 5 5 Zoom to page width Ctrl + E, then 6 Command + E, then 6 Previous Zoom ‘ ‘ Next Zoom Shift + ‘ Shift + ‘
Inkscape boasts capabilities similar to those of Illustrator and CorelDraw. Therefore, the best alternatives to Inkscape are Adobe Illustrator and CorelDraw. Consider exploring Adobe Illustrator Shortcuts and CorelDraw Shortcut keys .
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