20 Illustrator Keyboard Shortcuts to Improve Your Workflow
To help you navigate Illustrator’s interface as quickly and smoothly as possible, we’ve come up with a list of 20 handy keyboard shortcuts that will boost your productivity.
Whether you’re a graphic designer, digital artist, animator, or a long-time Illustrator user, you may be well aware of how inconvenient it can get to switch from one tool to another. To help you navigate Illustrator’s interface as quickly and smoothly as possible, we’ve come up with a list of 20 handy keyboard shortcuts that will boost your productivity. If you don’t see some of your own favorite keyboard shortcuts, feel free to share with us on the comments!


Viewing
1. Move artboard with Hand Tool
Space + Drag
Space + Drag
2. Turn Ruler on/off
Command + R
CTRL + R
3. Turn Smart Guide on/off
Command + U
CTRL + U
4. Make guides
Command + 5
CTRL + 5
5. Zoom in/out
Command + plus or minus sign (+/-)
CTRL + plus or minus sign (+/-)
Selecting
6. Switch to last-used Selection Tool
Command
CTRL
7. Add to or subtract from selection
SHIFT + Click
SHIFT + Click
8. Move selection by 10 pts
SHIFT + Arrow key
SHIFT + Arrow key
Working with Layers and Shapes
9. Draw shape from the center out
OPTION + Drag
ALT + Drag

10. Copy and paste in front/back
Command + C, Command + F/B
CTRL + C, CTRL + F/B
11. Bring to front/back
Command + [ or ]
CTRL + [ or ]
12. Show/hide Pathfinder
Command + SHIFT + F9
CTRL + SHIFT + F9

13. Group/ungroup
Command + G
Command + SHIFT + G
CTRL + G
CTRL + SHIFT + G
14. Lock/unlock
Command + 2
Command + OPTION + 2
CTRL + 2
CTRL + ALT +2
15. Move a shape while drawing it
Space + Drag
Space + Drag
16. Quick copy
OPTION + Click & Drag
ALT + Click & Drag
17. Convert Anchor Point
SHIFT + C
SHIFT + C
Working with Colors and Text
18. Switch between Fill and Stroke
SHIFT + X
SHIFT + X
19. Align text to left, center, or right
Command + SHIFT + L/C/R
CTRL + SHIFT + L/C/R
Saving
20. Save for web
Command + OPTION + SHIFT + S
CTRL + ALT + SHIFT + S
Want to learn more fun tricks? Check out DKNG’s class, Mastering Illustrator: 10 Tips and Tricks to Speed Up Your Workflow, Brad Woodard’s class on Illustrator that includes a hot-key cheat sheet, or Helen Bradley's 10 minute course on top tips!
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