Master Inkscape with these essential shortcuts!
Master Inkscape: Essential Shortcut Keys for Vector Artists | Design Tools
Inkscape is a free and open-source vector graphics editor used for creating and editing illustrations, diagrams, line arts, charts, logos, and complex paintings. Unlike raster graphics editors (like Photoshop) which work with pixels, Inkscape uses vector graphics. This means your creations are made up of mathematically defined lines and shapes, ensuring that they can be scaled to any size without losing quality or becoming pixelated. Inkscape supports the W3C standard Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) file format as its native format and can import/export various other formats, including AI, EPS, PDF, PS, and PNG.
It offers a robust set of tools for object creation and manipulation, path operations, text editing, and more. Inkscape is a fantastic alternative to commercial software like Adobe Illustrator, providing professional-grade features without the cost, making it accessible to a wide range of users from hobbyists to professional designers.
Mastering keyboard shortcuts can significantly speed up your design process, allowing you to focus more on creativity and less on navigating menus. This comprehensive guide provides a complete list of Inkscape's most useful shortcut keys to help you work faster and smarter.
Mobile Tip: On touch devices, press & hold tables to scroll horizontally if needed.
🚀 General & File Management
| Description |
Shortcut |
| New Document | Ctrl + N |
| Open Document | Ctrl + O |
| Save Document | Ctrl + S |
| Save As | Shift + Ctrl + S |
| Save a Copy | Shift + Ctrl + Alt + S |
| Print Document | Ctrl + P |
| Import | Ctrl + I |
| Export to PNG | Shift + Ctrl + E |
| Undo | Ctrl + Z |
| Redo | Ctrl + Y or Shift + Ctrl + Z |
| Cut Selection | Ctrl + X or Shift + Del |
| Copy Selection | Ctrl + C or Ctrl + Ins |
| Paste Clipboard | Ctrl + V or Shift + Ins |
| Paste in Place | Ctrl + Alt + V |
| Paste Style | Shift + Ctrl + V |
| Duplicate Selection | Ctrl + D |
| Delete Selection | Del |
| Select All | Ctrl + A |
| Deselect All | Shift + Ctrl + A |
| Quit Inkscape | Ctrl + Q |
✨ Canvas & View Controls
| Description |
Shortcut |
| Selector Tool | S or F1 |
| Selector Tool (Temporary) | Spacebar |
| Node Tool | N or F2 |
| Zoom Tool | Z or F3 |
| Measure Tool | M |
| Zoom In | + or = |
| Zoom Out | - |
| Fit Page in Window | Ctrl + 0 |
| Fit Selection in Window | Ctrl + 9 |
| Actual Size (100% Zoom) | Ctrl + 1 |
| Zoom to Drawing | Ctrl + 5 |
| Pan Canvas | Middle Mouse Button Drag or Hold Spacebar + Drag Mouse |
| Scroll Vertically | Mouse Wheel |
| Scroll Horizontally | Shift + Mouse Wheel |
| Toggle Rulers | Ctrl + R |
| Toggle Scrollbars | Ctrl + B |
| Toggle Palette | Shift + Alt + P |
| Toggle Fullscreen | F11 |
| Toggle Toolbars | Shift + F11 |
| Toggle Dialogs (Temporary) | F12 |
🎨 Tool Controls
| Tool |
Shortcut |
| Rectangle Tool | R or F4 |
| 3D Box Tool | Shift + F4 or X |
| Ellipse/Arc Tool | E or F5 |
| Star Tool | Shift + F9 or * |
| Spiral Tool | I or F9 |
| Pencil (Freehand) Tool | P or F6 |
| Pen (Bezier) Tool | B or Shift + F6 |
| Calligraphic Tool | C or Ctrl + F6 |
| Text Tool | T or F8 |
| Spray Tool | A or Shift + F3 |
| Eraser Tool | Shift + E |
| Paint Bucket Tool | U or Shift + F7 |
| Gradient Tool | G or Ctrl + F1 |
| Dropper Tool | D or F7 |
| Connector Tool | O or Ctrl + F2 |
| Description |
Shortcut |
| Move Selected (Nudge) | Arrow Keys |
| Move Selected (Large Nudge) | Shift + Arrow Keys |
| Flip Horizontally | H |
| Flip Vertically | V |
| Rotate Clockwise | ] |
| Rotate Counter-clockwise | [ |
| Group Objects | Ctrl + G |
| Ungroup Objects | Shift + Ctrl + G |
| Lower Selection One Step | Page Down |
| Lower Selection to Bottom | End |
| Raise Selection One Step | Page Up |
| Raise Selection to Top | Home |
| Clone Object | Alt + D |
| Unlink Clone | Shift + Alt + D |
| Select Original (of Clone) | Shift + D |
✂️ Path Operations
| Description |
Shortcut |
| Object to Path | Shift + Ctrl + C |
| Stroke to Path | Ctrl + Alt + C |
| Union (Combine Paths) | Ctrl + + |
| Difference | Ctrl + - |
| Intersection | Ctrl + * |
| Exclusion | Ctrl + ^ |
| Division | Ctrl + / |
| Cut Path | Ctrl + Alt + / |
| Combine Paths | Ctrl + K |
| Break Apart Paths | Shift + Ctrl + K |
| Inset Path | Ctrl + ( |
| Outset Path | Ctrl + ) |
| Trace Bitmap | Shift + Alt + B |
ç–Š Layer & Panel Controls
| Description |
Shortcut |
| Create New Layer | Shift + Ctrl + N |
| Move Selected to Layer Above | Shift + Page Up |
| Move Selected to Layer Below | Shift + Page Down |
| Panel/Docker |
Shortcut |
| Fill and Stroke | Shift + Ctrl + F |
| Swatches | Shift + Ctrl + W |
| Text and Font | Shift + Ctrl + T |
| Transform | Shift + Ctrl + M |
| Layers | Shift + Ctrl + L |
| Align and Distribute | Shift + Ctrl + A |
| Object Properties | Shift + Ctrl + O |
| Undo History | Shift + Ctrl + H |
| XML Editor | Shift + Ctrl + X |
| Document Properties | Shift + Ctrl + D |
| Inkscape Preferences | Shift + Ctrl + P |
| Find/Replace | Ctrl + F |
| Path Effects | Shift + Ctrl + 7 |
| Check Spelling | Ctrl + Alt + K |
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