Talented graphic designers need to establish a workflow that makes the most efficient use of time. And the one area that can vastly affect or you can say improve is by memorizing the Inkscape Shortcuts. You should get into the habit of learning keyboard shortcuts for any tools that you use.
Given below is the comprehensive list of the most used Inkscape Shortcuts you will need to run around the program. It is essential as it will speed up your workflow and minimize the tedious work you do. A downloadable PDF format of Inkscape Shortcuts is readily available.
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 |
Read More: 10 AbiWord Shortcuts for Windows & Linux
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 Shortcut keys Windows |
Inkscape Shortcut keys 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 |
Read More: 70 Ace Projects Shortcuts for Windows
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 |
Read More: 45 Act CRM Shortcuts for Windows
Caligraphy Shortcuts
| Action |
Inkscape Shortcut keys Windows |
Inkscape Shortcut keys 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 Shortcut keys Windows |
Inkscape Shortcut keys 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 Shortcut keys Windows |
Inkscape Shortcut keys 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 has capabilities very similar to that of Illustrator and CorelDraw. For this reason, the best Inkscape alternatives will be Adobe Illustrator and CorelDraw. Take into consideration having a look at Adobe Illustrator Shortcuts and CorelDraw Shortcuts.
READ NEXT:
