Tools

The tools in the toolbar activate a number of contextual keyboard commands. Depending on the tool chosen, different keyboard commands are available.

Global Transform Commands

Keyboard shortcut	Function
S	Activate the current transform mode.
Shift-S	Choose the Select/Transform tool.
Tab	Cycle through the transform modes. (Press repeatedly until the transform mode you want is selected.)
Press Shift and drag the pointer.	Constrain the movement of an object to the guidelines.
Press Command and drag the object.	Override snapping while moving an object.
Press Option and drag the object.	Duplicate a selected object.

Select/Transform Tool

Keyboard shortcut	Function
Press Shift and drag the object handle.	Scale an object proportionally.
Press Option and drag the object handle.	Scale an object from its center.
Press Shift-Option and drag the object handle.	Scale an object proportionally from its center.
Press Shift and drag the object rotation handle.	Snap the rotation of an object to 45 degree increments.
Q	Activate 3D transform tool.

Pan & Zoom Tools

Keyboard shortcut	Function
H	Select the Pan tool.
Z	Select the Zoom tool.
Press Option and click in the Canvas.	Zoom out with the Zoom tool selected.

Rectangle & Circle Tools

Keyboard shortcut	Function
R	Select the Rectangle Shape tool.
C	Select the Circle Shape tool.
Press Shift and drag in the Canvas.	Draw a shape proportionally.
Press Option and drag in the Canvas.	Draw a shape from its center.
Press Shift-Option and drag in the Canvas.	Draw a shape proportionally from its center.
Press Shift and drag a rotation handle	Snap the rotation of an object to 45 degree increments.

Bezier Tool

Keyboard shortcut	Function
B	Select the Bezier tool.
B	Switch between the Bezier and B-spline tools.
C	Close shape.
Press Command and click a path.	Add a point to the path.
Double-click a path.	Add a point to the path.
Press Command and click a point.	Convert a point to linear.
Press Command and drag a point.	Create tangents on a point.
Press Command and drag a tangent handle.	Scale a tangent handle proportionally.
Press Option and drag a tangent handle.	Break or relink a tangent handle.
Press Shift and drag a tangent handle.	Constrain a tangent to 45 degree increments and original value.
Escape	Cancel shape drawing and delete the open shape.
Return	Exit shape-drawing mode.

B-Spline Tool

Keyboard shortcut	Function
B	Select the B-Spline tool.
B	Switch between the Bezier and B-Spline tools.
C	Close the shape.
Double-click a path.	Add a point to the path.
Press Command and click a path.	Add a point to the path.
Press Command and drag a B-Spline point.	Adjust a B-Spline point bias.
Press Command and click a B-Spline point.	Switch a B-Spline point bias.
Escape	Cancel shape drawing and delete the open shape.
Return	Exit shape drawing mode.

Paint Stroke Tool

Keyboard shortcut	Function
P	Activate Paint Stroke tool.
Press Command and drag in the Canvas.	Adjust stroke width.

Text Tool

Keyboard shortcut	Function
T	Select the Text tool.
Press the Up, Down, Left, or Right Arrow key.	Move the insertion point to the next character.
Press Option and the Up, Down, Left, or Right Arrow key.	Move the insertion point to the next word.
Command-Left Arrow	Move to the beginning of a line of text.
Command-Right Arrow	Move to the end of a line of text.
Press Shift and the Up, Down, Left, or Right Arrow key.	Select characters from the insertion point.
Press Shift-Option and the Up, Down, Left, or Right Arrow key.	Select words from the insertion point.
Press Shift-Command and the Up, Down, Left, or Right Arrow key.	Select a line of text from the insertion point.
Control-Right Arrow	Increase kerning from the insertion point.
Control-Left Arrow	Decrease kerning from the insertion point.
Command-A	Select All.
Command-Shift-A	Deselect All.
Escape	Exit Text tool.

Rectangle Mask & Circle Mask Tools

Keyboard shortcut	Function
Option-R	Select the Rectangle Mask tool.
Option-C	Select the Circle Mask tool.
Option-P	Select the Freehand Mask tool.
Press Shift and drag in the Canvas.	Draw a mask proportionally.
Press Option and drag in the Canvas.	Draw a mask from its center.
Press Shift-Option and drag in the Canvas.	Draw a mask proportionally from its center.
Press Shift and drag a rotation handle.	Snap the rotation of a mask to 45 degree increments.

Bezier Mask Tool

Keyboard shortcut	Function
Option-B	Select the Bezier Mask tool.
Option-B	Switch between the Bezier Mask and B-Spline Mask tools.
C	Close mask.
Double-click a path.	Add a point to the path.
Press Command and click a path.	Add a point to the path.
Press Command and click a point.	Convert a point to linear.
Press Command and drag a point.	Create tangents on a point.
Press Command and drag a tangent handle.	Scale tangents proportionally.
Press Option and drag a tangent handle.	Break or relink a tangent handle.
Press Shift-Option and drag a tangent handle.	Constrain a tangent to 45 degrees and original value.
Escape	Cancel shape drawing and delete the open shape.
Return	Exit shape-drawing mode.

B-Spline Mask Tool

Keyboard shortcut	Function
Option-B	Select the B-Spline Mask tool.
Option-B	Switch between the Bezier Mask and B-Spline Mask tools.
C	Close the mask.
Double-click a path.	Add a point to the path.
Press Command and click a path.	Add a point to the path.
Press Command and drag a B-Spline point.	Adjust a B-Spline point bias.
Press Command and click a B-Spline point.	Switch a B-Spline point bias.
Escape	Cancel shape drawing and delete the open shape.
Return	Exit shape-drawing mode.
Option-B	Select the Bezier Mask tool.
Apostrophe (')	Show/hide mask control points.