Adobe Illustrator Keyboard Shortcuts Index

By: Kevin Chou OLC Host | Work Integrated Learning

The follow is a list of the most commonly used shortcut keys in Adobe Illustrator CS3-CS5, meaning this is not a
complete list. This list is intended for new users of Illustrator (although anybody can use it) hence there are no
keyboard shortcuts for advanced features such as Live Paint, Mesh Tool, Blends, etc. For a complete list use
Google.
Note: If there are any errors please notify the author (olchost@sfu.ca or ksc11@sfu.ca)
Tool selected
This column indicates what tool is selected. Some shortcut keys will function with any tool selected while others
require certain tools to be selected in order to active certain keyboard shortcuts.
Must have object selected?
This column indicates whether or not an object needs to be selected in order for a shortcut key to work. For
example, Ctrl + Shift + A will deselect objects but is useless if you have no objects selected.
Note: Some keyboard shortcuts will work either way, hence Yes and No. For example, if you click using a pen tool
you can start to draw a new path, while it can be used to continue drawing an existing path.
Key combination
What the keyboard shortcuts are. Please not that some keyboard shortcuts involve the mouse (ie. Click and drag)
Result
What you get from this shortcut key if used properly.
Navigation:
Tool selected

Must have object selected?

Key combination

Result

Any tool selected

No

Space bar + left click and drag

Pan in any direction

Any tool selected

No

Scroll wheel

Pan up or down

Any tool selected

No

Ctrl + Scroll wheel

Pan left or right

Any tool selected

No

Ctrl + Space bar + left click and drag

Zoom in to area marqueed

Any tool selected

No

Alt + Scroll wheel

Zoom in or out

Any tool selected

No

Ctrl + +

Zoom in

Any tool selected

No

Ctrl + -

Zoom out

Any tool selected

No

Ctrl + 0

Fit to screen

Any tool selected

No

Ctrl + 1

Fit to actual size

Any tool selected

No

Ctrl + Tab

Traverse tabbed files left to right

Any tool selected

No

Ctrl + Shift + Tab

Traverse tabbed files right to left

Any tool selected

No

Ctrl + W

Close current file

Any tool selected

No

Ctrl + K

Open Preferences dialog box

Any tool selected

No

Ctrl + N

Create new document

Any tool selected

No

Ctrl + O

Open document

Any tool selected

No

Ctrl + Shift + S

Save As

Any tool selected

No

Ctrl + S

Save

Must have object selected?

Yes

Key combination
Ctrl + [

Result
Moves current object down one layer

Yes

Ctrl + ]

Moves current object up one layer

Editing Layers and Using Layers Panel:

Tool selected
Black Arrow Tool (must have selected
an object first)
Black Arrow Tool (must have selected
an object first)

Black Arrow Tool (must have selected

an object first)
Black Arrow Tool (must have selected
an object first)
Any tool selected

Yes

Ctrl + Shift + [

Moves current object to bottom

Yes

Ctrl + Shift + ]

Moves current object to top

No

Toggle outline mode for this layer

Any tool selected

No

Black Arrow Tool (must have selected

an object first)
Any tool selected

No

Ctrl + left click on eyeball

(in Layers Panel)
Ctrl + left click on meatball
(in Layers Panel)
Alt + Drag layer
(in Layers Panel)
Left click + Drag on multiple eyeballs
(in Layers Panel)

No

Select object
Duplicate layer
Toggle layer visibility for multiple layers

Selecting Tools (most common):

Tool selected

Must have object selected?

Key combination

Result

Any tool selected

No

Any tool selected

No

Select White Arrow Tool (aka Direct

Selection Tool)
Select Black Arrow Tool

Any tool selected

No

Select Pen Tool

Any tool selected

No

Select Text Tool

Any tool selected

Any tool selected

No
No

\
L

Select Line Tool

Select Ellipse Tool

Any tool selected

Any tool selected

No
No

M
G

Select Rectangle Tool

Select Gradient Tool

Any tool selected

No

Select Eyedropper Tool

Any tool selected

No

Scissors Tool

Any tool selected

No

Shift + O

Select Crop Area Tool (edits artboards)

Tool selected
Black Arrow Tool

Must have object selected?

No

Key combination
Arrow Keys

Result
Moves selected object(s) up, down, left
or right a specific increment (increment
set in Preferences dialog box)

Black Arrow Tool

No

Arrow Keys + Shift

Moves selected object(s) up, down, left

or right a specific increment plus x10

Any tool selected

Any tool selected
Black Arrow Tool
Black Arrow Tool
Black Arrow Tool
Black Arrow Tool

No
No
Yes
Yes
No
No

Ctrl + U
Ctrl + R
Alt + Click + Drag
Ctrl + C
Ctrl + V
Ctrl + F

Black Arrow Tool

No

Ctrl + B

Any tool selected

Any tool selected
Any tool selected
Black Arrow Tool
Any tool selected
Any tool selected
White Arrow Tool selected
Black Arrow Tool or Pen Tool selected
Black or White Arrow Tool
Black or White Arrow Tool

No
Yes
No
Yes
No
No
No
No
No
Yes

Ctrl + A
Ctrl + Shift + A
Ctrl + Y
Delete
Ctrl + Z
Ctrl + Shift + Z
Alt
Ctrl + Alt
Shift + Click on deselected objects
Shift + Click on selected objects

Toggle Smart Guides

Display Rulers
Duplicates object
Copy selected object
Paste in center of screen
Pastes in front and at exact location of
copied object
Pastes in back and at exact location of
copied object
Selects all objects on unlocked layers
Deselects all selected objects
Toggle outline mode for all objects
Delete selected object(s)
Undo
Redo
Group Selection Tool
Group Selection Tool
Select multiple objects
Deselects objects while keeping others
selected

Editing - General:

Editing Stroke and Fill Colors:

Tool selected
Black Arrow Tool

Must have object selected?

Yes and No

Key combination
X

Black Arrow Tool

Yes and No

Shift X

Black Arrow Tool

Yes and No

Any tool Selected

No

Result
Selects either stroke or fill (whichever is
already selected will switch to the
other) on current object
Switches stroke color with fill color and
vice versa
Transparent stroke or fill (whichever
one is selected on top)
Selects Eyedropper Tool

Tool selected

Must have object selected?

Key combination

Result

Any tool Selected

No

Selects Text Tool

Black Arrow Tool or Text Tool

Yes

Ctrl + I

Opens spell check dialog box

Black Arrow Tool or Text Tool

Yes

Any letter key (in font menu)

Browse through font menu

Tool selected
Any tool Selected
Pen Tool Selected

Must have object selected?

No
No

Key combination
P
Ctrl

Pen Tool Selected

Pen Tool Selected

No
Yes and No

Alt
Shift

Pen Tool Selected

Pen Tool Selected

Yes and No
Yes and No

Click and hold

Click and hold + Shift

White Arrow Tool selected

Black Arrow Tool or Pen Tool selected

No
No

Alt
Ctrl + Alt

Result
Selects Pen Tool
Black or White Arrow Tool (whichever
was selected before selecting the Pen
Tool)
Point Converter Tool
Draws from a 45 or 90 degree angle
from previous control point
Creates a smooth anchor point
Creates an anchor point with 45 or 90
degree control handles
Group Selection Tool
Group Selection Tool

Must have object selected?

Yes and No

Key combination
Alt + Drag

Result
Draw shape from center

Yes and No

Shift + Drag

Draw shape proportionally

Yes and No

Alt + Shift + Drag

Draw shape proportionally and from

center

No

Drag + Up or Down Arrow Keys

Increases number of sides of a polygon,

star points, arc angle, etc.

Editing Text Tool:

Editing Pen Tool:

Editing Shape Tools:

Tool selected
Black Arrow Tool or Shape Tool (use
Black Arrow Tool if shape does not
exist)
Black Arrow Tool or Shape Tool (use
Black Arrow Tool if shape does not
exist)
Black Arrow Tool or Shape Tool (use
Black Arrow Tool if shape does not
exist)
Shape Tool