Talented graphic designers aim to establish workflows that maximize efficiency. One area where efficiency can be significantly improved is by memorizing Inkscape Shortcuts. It’s important to cultivate the habit of learning keyboard shortcuts for the tools you use.
Below is a comprehensive list of the most commonly used Inkscape Shortcuts that will streamline your navigation within the program. Familiarizing yourself with these shortcuts is essential as they accelerate workflow and reduce tedious tasks. You can easily download the Inkscape Shortcuts in PDF format.
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 |
Similar Programs: Clip Studio Paint Keyboard Shortcuts
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 |
Similar Programs: Figma Keyboard Shortcuts
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 |
Similar Programs: Krita Keyboard Shortcuts
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 |
Similar Programs: GIMP Keyboard Shortcuts
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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