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Selecting & Moving

To access Selection or Direction Selection tool (whichever was used last) at


any time
To switch between Selection and Direct Selection tools
To cycle through tools behind column tool Alt–
To make copy while dragging
Add to a selection
Move selection (in 1-point increments) Ar
Move selection (in 10-point increments) Shift–any Ar
Lock selected artwork
Lock all deselected artwork Ctrl–Al
Unlock all artwork C
Hide selected artwork
Hide all deselected artwork Ctrl–Al
Show all artwork C
Path Editing
Join and Average at same time Ctrl–Al
To get Anchor Point tool while using Pen tool
Switch between Add Anchor Point and Delete Anchor Point tools
To get Add Anchor Point tool while using Scissors tool
Move anchor point while drawing with Pen tool
When finished drawing, hol
Create closed path with Pencil or Paintbrush tool
relea
Connect to an open (and selected) path with Pencil tool C
Painting & Transforming
To get Eyedropper tool while using Live Paint Bucket tool
Samples intermediate color from gradient, picture, etc. with Eyedropper
Sets center point and shows dialog Alt–click
Duplicates while transforming selection
Transform pattern without transforming object Tilde
Scale proportionally with Selection tool Shift–drag boun
Scale from center with Selection tool Alt–drag boun
Move mesh point along path with Mesh tool S
Add mesh point with Mesh tool without changing color Sh
Remove mesh point with Mesh tool
Shapes (While Drawing)
Draw from center
Draw from center with dialog
Constrain proportion
Constrain orientation of polygons, stars, spirals
Move object while drawing Hold
Add/subtract sides, points, spiral segments Up or Dow
Decrease/Increase inner radius
Create continuous duplicates along mouse movement Hold Tilde(~) while
Viewing & Guides
To get Hand Tool (while NOT editing Type)
Hold Control, then Spacebar. (
show the Zoom tool.) Let go of C
you see the Hand tool and immedia
To get Hand Tool (while editing Type) dragging the mouse so you don
typing spaces. Be sure to let
Spacebar while dragging so you ag
type mor
Zoom In Tool Ctrl–
Zoom Out Tool Ctrl–Alt–
Zoom In to exact size Ctrl–Space
Switch between Outline and Preview modes
Switch between GPU and CPU preview (if available)
Hide/Show all tools and panels
Hide/Show all panels except Tools and Control S
Switch between horizontal/vertical guide Hold Alt while dragging out a n
Release Guide (turns it into a regular path) Ctrl–Shift–dou
Type
Increase/Decrease size of selected text by 2pts Ctrl–Shi
Increase/Decrease size of selected text by 10pts Ctrl–Alt–Shi
Increase/Decrease Leading by 2pts Alt–Down/U
Increase/Decrease kerning/tracking Alt–Right/Le
Kerning/tracking x 5 Ctrl–Alt–Right/Le
Increase/Decrease baseline shift Shift–Alt–Up/Dow
Baseline shift x 5 Ctrl–Alt–Shift Up/Dow
Align type left, right, center Ctrl–Shif
Justify with last line left aligned Ctr
Justify last line Ctrl
Reset horizontal/vertical scale to 100% Ctrl
Reset kerning or tracking to 0 Ct
En Space Ctrl
Em Space Ctrl–
Thin Space Ctrl–Alt–
Superscript Ctrl–Shift–
Subscript Ctrl–Alt–Shift–
Discretionary Hyphen Ctrl–Shift–h
Panels
Show/Hide Brushes panel
Show/Hide Color panel
Show/Hide Layers panel
Show/Hide Info panel
Show/Hide Gradient panel
Show/Hide Stroke panel
Show/Hide Attributes panel
Show/Hide Graphic Styles panel
Show/Hide Appearance panel
Show/Hide Align panel
Show/Hide Transform panel
Show/Hide Pathfinder panel Shift
Show/Hide Transparency panel Shift–
Show/Hide Symbols panel Shift–
Layers Panel
To create new layer and edit properties Alt–click New Lay
Toggle layer between Preview/Outline mode Ctrl–clic
Show layer while turning off all others Alt–clic
Select all items on layer Alt–click la
Copy selected item to different layer Alt–drag selection square in Lay
To create the new layer at the top of list Ctrl–click New Lay
To create the new layer below selected layer Ctrl–Alt–click New Lay
Color Panel
Saturate/Desaturate current color Shift–drag co
Change Color Mode Shift–click
Select compliment of current color Ctrl–click
Swatches Panel
Create a swatch as a global color Crtl–Shift–click New Swat
Replace a swatch with another Alt–drag new swatch
Miscellaneous Good Stuff
Create New Symbol
Swap colors in a gradient Alt–drag a color stop ont
Revert file
Tools
V
A Direct
Y Mag
Q
P
+ Add Anc
- Delete Anc
Shift–C Anc
Shift–` C
T
Shift–T To
\ Line
M R
L
B P
Shift–B Bl
Shift–N
N
Shift–E
C
R
O
S
Shift–W
Shift–R
E Free T
Shift–M Shap
K Live Pain
Shift–L Live Paint
Shift–P Perspec
Shift–V Perspective
U
G
I Ey
W
Shift–S Symbo
J Colum
Shift–O
Shift–K
H
Z
X Toggle between Fill
Shift–X Swap Fill
D Default Fill & Stroke (white fill/blac
< Fill or Stroke
> Fill or Stroke w/
/ Fill or Stroke
Shift–D Cycle through Drawin
F Cycle through Scree
Double–click tools to bring up options.
Press CAPS LOCK to change tool pointer to crosshair.
Hold down Shift to constrain movement to 45°, 90°, 135°, or 180°.
Learn more with our Workbook and Classes

Keyboard shortcuts are great, but our Illustrator classes and custom workbooks are the best way
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