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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