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Inkscape cheat sheet

Shift + Alt + B Trace Bitmap
Tools
Shift + Ctrl + 7 Path Effects
F1 + S Selector
Space Use Selector temporarily Toggle visibility
When the "Left mouse button pans when Space is
F12 Toggle dialogs
pressed" option is on in Preferences, Space+mouse
drag pans canvas instead of switching to Selector. Shortcuts within dialogs

F2 + N Node tool Esc Return to the canvas

Shift + F2 + W Tweak tool Ctrl + F4 Close the dialog

F3 + Z Zoom tool Tab Jump to next widget

F4 + R Rectangle tool Shift + Tab Jump to previous widget

Shift + F4 + X 3D box tool Enter Set the new value

F5 + E Ellipse/arc tool Ctrl + Enter In XML Editor, set attribute

vallue
F6 + P Freehand (Pencil) tool
Space + Enter Activate current button or list
Shift + F6 + B Bezier (Pen) tool
Ctrl + Page Up In a multi-tab dialog, switch tabs
Ctrl + F6 + C Calligraphy tool
Shift + F7 + U Paint bucket tool
Control bar
Ctrl + F1 + G Gradient tool
F7 + D Dropper tool Alt + X Jump to the first editable field

F8 + T Text tool
F9 + I Spiral tool
Navigate
Shift + F9 + * Star tool Tab Jump to next field

Ctrl + F2 + O Connector tool Shift + Tab Jump to previous field

Double click on the tool buttons opens the

Preferences dialog showing the Change values
page of the corresponding tool
Up arrow Increase value by 0.1
Down arrow Decrease value by 0.1
Dialogs
Page Up Increase value by 5.0
Shift + Ctrl + F Fill and Stroke
Page Down Decrease value by 5.0
Shift + Ctrl + W Swatches
Enter Accept the new value
Shift + Ctrl + T Text and Font
Esc Cancel changes and return to
Shift + Ctrl + M Transform canvas
Shift + Ctrl + L Layers Ctrl + Z Cancel changes
Shift + Ctrl + A Align and Distribute
Shift + Ctrl + O Object Properties Canvas
Shift + Ctrl + H Undo History Ctrl + Arrow keys Scroll canvas
Shift + Ctrl + X XML Editor + Zoom in
Shift + Ctrl + D Document Preferences - Zoom out
Shift + Ctrl + P Inkscape Preferences Alt + Z Activate zoom field
Shift + Ctrl + E Export to PNG The zoom field in the lower left corner of the window
Ctrl + F Find allows you to specify zoom level precisely.
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1 Zoom 1:1 Shift + Page Up Move to layer above

2 Zoom 1:2 Shift + Page Down Move to layer below
3 Zoom to selection Shift + Ctrl + Page Raise thelayer
4 Zoom to drawing Up

5 Zoom to page Shift + Ctrl + Page Lower the layer

Down
6 Zoom to page width
Shift + Ctrl + Raise the layer to the top
Home
File
Shift + Ctrl + End Lower the layer to the bottom
Ctrl + N Create new document
Ctrl + O Open an SVG document Object
Shift + Ctrl + E Export to PNG
Shift + Ctrl + Y or Undo
Ctrl + I Import bitmap or SVG Ctrl + Z
Ctrl + P Print document Shift + Ctrl + Z or Redo
Ctrl + S Save document Ctrl + Y

Shift + Ctrl + S Save under a new name Ctrl + C Copy selection

Shift + Ctrl + Alt + Save a copy Ctrl + X Cut selection

S Ctrl + V Paste clipboard
Ctrl + Q Exit Inkscape Ctrl + Alt + V Paste in place
Shift + Ctrl + V Paste style
Palette Ctrl + 7 Paste path effect
Left click Set fill color on selection Ctrl + D Duplicate selection
Shift + Left click Set stroke color on selection Alt + D Clone object
Move the mouse + Drag fill color to objects Shift + Alt + D Unlink clone
Left click Shift + D Select original
Shift Mouse drag can drag stroke Alt + B Create a bitmap copy
color to objects
Shift + Alt + B Trace bitmap
Alt + I Object(s) to pattern
Window
Shift + Alt + I Pattern to object(s)
Ctrl + R Toggle rulers
Shift + Ctrl + U or Group selected objects
Ctrl + B Toggle scrollbars Ctrl + G
F11 Toggle fullscreen Shift + Ctrl + G or Ungroup selected group(s)
F10 Main menu Ctrl + U

Shift + F10 + Right Drop-down (context) menu Home Raise selection to top
click End Lower selection to bottom
Ctrl + F4 or Ctrl + Close document window Page Up Raise selection one step
W
Page Down Lower selection one step
Ctrl + Tab Next document window
Shift + Ctrl + Tab Previous document window Path
Shift + Ctrl + C Convert selected object(s) to
Layers path
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Ctrl + Alt + C Convert stroke to path Ctrl + A select all (current layer) - This
Ctrl + + Union works on objects within the
current layer (unless you change
Ctrl + - Difference
that in preferences).
Ctrl + * Intersection
Ctrl + Alt + A select all (all layers)
Ctrl + ^ Exclusive OR (XOR)
! invert selection (current layer)
Ctrl + / Division (cut)
Alt + ! invert selection (all layers)
Ctrl + Alt + / Cut path
Esc deselect
Ctrl + ( Inset path (towards center)
Backspace or Del delete selection
Ctrl + ) Outset path (away from center)
Arrow keys move selection by the nudge
Alt + ( Inset path by 1 pixel distance
Alt + ) Outset path by 1 pixel Shift + Arrow keys move selection by 10x nudge
Shift + Alt + ( Inset path by 10 pixels distance

Shift + Alt + ) Outset path by 10 pixels Alt + Arrow keys move selection by 1 pixel

The actual distance for pixel offsets depends on zoom Alt + Shift + Arrow move selection by 10 pixels
level. Zoom in for finer adjustment. All the (, ) keys
commands convert the object to path, if necessary, . or > scale selection up by the scale
and produce regular path. step
Ctrl + J Create dynamic offset , or < scale selection down by the
Ctrl + Alt + J Create linked offset scale step

These commands produce an offset object, editable
by the node tool, standalone or linked to the original.
Shift + D Select source. Selecting a linked
offset and giving this command
will select the source path of the
linked offset
Ctrl + K Combine paths. This is different
from grouping in that combined
paths create one object. This is
different from Union in that
overlapping areas are not
affected. Whether overlapping
areas are filled is controlled by
the Fill: winding/alternating
switch on the Fill & Stroke dialog
Shift + Ctrl + K Break paths apart. This attempts
to break an object into
constituent paths; it will fail if the
object is one solid path
Ctrl + . or Ctrl + > scale selection to 200%
Ctrl + , or Ctrl + < scale selection to 50%
Alt + . or Alt + > scale selection up by 1 pixel
Alt + , or Alt + < scale selection down by 1 pixel
The actual size increment for pixel scaling depends
on zoom level. Zoom in for finer scaling.
, rotate selection by the angle step
Ctrl + [ or Ctrl + ] rotate selection by 90 degrees
Alt + [ or Alt + ] rotate selection by 1 pixel
The actual angle for pixel rotation depends on zoom
level. Zoom in for finer movement.
H flip selection horizontally
V flip selection vertically
Left click select an object
Shift + Left click toggle selection
Double click edit the object

Ctrl + L Simplify Ctrl + Left click select within group

Ctrl + Shift + Left toggle selection within group
click
Selector
Alt + Left click select under
Tab select next object
Shift + Alt + Left toggle under
Shift + Tab select previous object - click
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Ctrl + Alt + Left select under, in groups

click
Node tool
Shift + Ctrl + Alt + toggle under, in groups Tab select next node
Left click Shift + Tab select previous node
Ctrl + Enter enter group Ctrl + A select all nodes in subpath(s)
Ctrl + Backspace go to parent group/layer Ctrl + Alt + A select all nodes in path
Left click + Move select multiple objects ! invert selection in subpath(s)
the mouse
Alt + ! invert selection in path
Shift + Left click + add objects to selection
Esc deselect all nodes
Move the mouse
Arrow keys move selected node(s) by the
Left click + Move select and move
nudge distance
the mouse
Shift + Arrow keys move selected node(s) by 10x
Alt + Left click + move selected
nudge distance
Move the mouse
Alt + Arrow keys move selected node(s) by 1 pixel
Ctrl + Left click + restrict movement to horizontal
Move the mouse or vertical Alt + Shift + Arrow move selected node(s) by 10
keys pixels
Shift + Left click + temporarily disable snapping
Move the mouse < or > contract/expand both handles by
scale step
Left click + Move drop a copy
the mouse Left Ctrl + < or Left scale left handle by the scale
Ctrl + > step
Left click toggle scale/rotation handles
Right Ctrl + < or scale right handle by the scale
Left click + Move scale (scale handles)
Right Ctrl + > step
the mouse
Left Alt + < or Left scale left handle by 1 pixel
Left click + Move rotate or skew (rotation handles)
Alt + >
the mouse
Right Alt + < or scale right handle by 1 pixel
Left click + Move scale
Right Alt + >
the mouse
, rotate both handles by the angle
Ctrl + Left click + scale preserving aspect ratio
step
Move the mouse
Ctrl + [ or Left Ctrl rotate left handle by the angle
Shift + Left click + symmetric transformation
+] step
Move the mouse
Ctrl + [ or Ctrl + ] rotate right handle by the angle
Alt + Left click + slow movement
step
Move the mouse
Left Alt + [ or Left rotate left handle by 1 pixel
Left click + Move rotate or skew
Alt + ]
the mouse
Right Alt + [ or rotate right handle by 1 pixel
Ctrl + Left click + snap skew angle
Right Alt + ]
Move the mouse
. or > scale nodes up by the scale step
Ctrl + Left click + snap rotation angle
Move the mouse , or < scale nodes down by the scale
step
Left click + Move move rotation center
the mouse Alt + . or Alt + > scale nodes up by 1 pixel

Shift + Left click reset rotation center Alt + , or Alt + < scale nodes down by 1 pixel

Esc cancel rubberband, move, , rotate nodes by the angle step

transformation Alt + [ or Alt + ] rotate nodes by 1 pixel
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H flip nodes horizontally the mouse

V flip nodes vertically Ctrl + Left click + snap the handle to angle steps
Shift + L make line Move the mouse

Shift + U make curve Shift + Left click + rotate both handles

Move the mouse
Shift + C make cusp
Alt + Left click + lock the handle length
Shift + S make smooth
Move the mouse
Shift + Y make symmetric
Ctrl + Left click retract the handle
Ctrl + Left click toggle smooth/cusp/symmetric
Shift + R reverse path direction
Shift + J join selected nodes
Esc cancel rubberband or move
Shift + B break selected node(s)
Backspace or Del delete selected node(s) Rectangle tool
Ctrl + Backspace delete without preserving shape
Left click + Move draw a rectangle
or Ctrl + Del
the mouse
Ctrl + Alt + Left create/delete node
Ctrl + Left click + make a square or integer-ratio
click
Move the mouse rectangle
clickclick create node
Shift + Left click + draw around the starting point
Insert insert new node(s) Move the mouse
Shift + D duplicate selected node(s) Left click click an object to select
Left click click a non-selected object to Alt + Left click or select under
select Ctrl + Alt + Left
Alt + Left click select under click

Shift + Left click toggle selection Shift + Left click toggle selection

Left click select a node Left click + Move drag a handle to resize or round

Left click select two adjacent nodes the mouse corners

Shift + Left click toggle selection Ctrl + Left click + lock width, height, or ratio (resize
Move the mouse handles)
Left click deselect
Ctrl + Left click + lock the corner circular (rounding
Left click + Move select multiple nodes
Move the mouse handles)
the mouse
Esc deselect
Shift + Left click + add nodes to selection
Move the mouse
Left click + Move move selected nodes
Ellipse tool
the mouse Left click + Move draw an ellipse
Ctrl + Left click + restrict movement to horizontal the mouse
Move the mouse or vertical Ctrl + Left click + make circle or integer-ratio
Ctrl + Alt + Left move along handles Move the mouse ellipse
click + Move the Shift + Left click + draw around the starting point
mouse Move the mouse
Shift + Left click + temporarily disable snapping Left click click an object to select
Move the mouse
Alt + Left click or select under
Shift + Left click + drag out handle Ctrl + Alt + Left
Move the mouse click
Left click + Move move a node handle Shift + Left click toggle selection
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Left click + Move drag a handle to resize, make Ctrl + Alt + Left
the mouse arc or segment click
Ctrl + Left click + lock circle (resize handles) Shift + Left click zero inner radius (inner handle)
Move the mouse Left click + Move roll/unroll from outside (outer
Ctrl + Left click + snap to angle steps the mouse handle)
Move the mouse (arc/segment handles) Shift + Left click + scale/rotate (outer handle)
Esc deselect Move the mouse
Ctrl + Left click + snap handles to angle steps
Star tool Move the mouse
Esc deselect
Left click + Move draw a star
the mouse
Ctrl + Left click + snap star to angle steps Zoom tool
Move the mouse Left click zoom in
Left click click an object to select Shift + Left click zoom out
Alt + Left click select under Left click + Move zoom into the area
Shift + Left click toggle selection the mouse
Left click + Move drag a handle to vary the star
the mouse shape Pencil tool
Ctrl + Left click + keep star rays radial (no skew)
Left click + Move draw a freehand line
Move the mouse
the mouse
Shift + Left click + round the star
Shift + Left click + add to selected path
Move the mouse
Move the mouse
Shift + Left click remove rounding
Shift + Left click + temporarily disable snapping
Alt + Left click + randomize the star Move the mouse
Move the mouse
Alt + Left click or remove randomization Pen (Bezier) tool
Ctrl + Alt + Left
click Left click create a sharp node

Esc deselect Shift + Left click add to selected path

Left click + Move create a bezier node with two
Spiral tool the mouse handles
Shift + Left click + move only one handle
Left click + Move draw a spiral
Move the mouse
the mouse
Ctrl + Left click + snap the handle to angle steps
Ctrl + Left click + snap spiral to angle steps
Move the mouse
Move the mouse
Arrow keys move last node by the nudge
Left click click an object to select
distance
Alt + Left click select under
Shift + Arrow keys move last node by 10x nudge
Shift + Left click toggle selection distance
Left click + Move roll/unroll from inside (inner Alt + Arrow keys move last node by 1 pixel
the mouse handle)
Alt + Shift + Arrow move last node by 10 pixels
Alt + Left click + converge/diverge (inner handle) keys
Move the mouse
Ctrl + snap last segment to angle steps
Alt + Left click or reset divergence (inner handle)
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Shift + L make last segment line Move the mouse

Shift + U make last segment curve Alt + Left click pick inverse color
Enter or Right finish current line Ctrl + C copy color
click or clickclick
Esc or Ctrl + Z cancel current line Text tool
Backspace or Del erase last segment of current
Left click create/select a text object
line
Esc deselect the text object
Arrow keys move cursor by one character
Calligraphy
Ctrl + Left arrow / move cursor by one word
Left click + Move draw a calligraphic line Right arrow
the mouse
Ctrl + Up arrow / move cursor by one paragraph
Left arrow / Right adjust pen width Down arrow
arrow
Home or End go to beginning/end of line
Up arrow / Down adjust pen angle
Ctrl + Home or go to beginning/end of text
arrow
Ctrl + End
Esc deselect
Left click + Move create flowed text
Left click + Move create gradient the mouse
the mouse
Left click + Move adjust frame size
Double click create default gradient the mouse
Tab select next handle Ctrl + Left click + lock width, height, or ratio of
Shift + Tab select previous handle Move the mouse frame
Arrow keys move selected handle by the Alt + W flow text into frame
nudge distance Alt + Shift + W unflow text from frame
Shift + Arrow keys move selected handle by 10x Shift + D select external frame
nudge distance
Shift + D select path from text
Alt + Arrow keys move selected handle by 1 pixel
Enter start a new line or paragraph
Alt + Shift + Arrow move selected handle by 10
Ctrl + U toggle Unicode entry
keys pixels
Ctrl + Space insert no-break space
Esc deselect handle
Left click + Move select text
Left click + Left open gradient editor
the mouse
click
Shift + Arrow keys select text by character
Shift + R reverse gradient definition
Ctrl + Shift + select text by word
Left click click an object to select
Arrow keys
Alt + Left click select under
Shift + Home select to beginning of line
Shift + Left click toggle selection
Shift + End select to end of line
Ctrl + Shift + select to beginning of text
Dropper tool Home
Left click pick fill color Ctrl + Shift + End select to end of text
Shift + Left click pick stroke color Double click select word
Left click + Move average fill color Click three times select line
the mouse (rapidly)
Shift + Left click + average stroke color Ctrl + A select all text
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Ctrl + B make selection bold

Ctrl + I make selection italic
Alt + > expand line/paragraph by 1 pixel
Shift + Alt + > expand line/paragraph by 10
pixels
Alt + < contract line/paragraph by 1
pixel
Shift + Alt + < contract line/paragraph by 10
pixels
Ctrl + Alt + > make the text object taller by 1
pixel
Shift + Ctrl + Alt + make the text object taller by 10
> pixels
Ctrl + Alt + < make the text object shorter by 1
pixel
Shift + Ctrl + Alt + make the text object shorter by
< 10 pixels
Alt + Arrow keys shift characters by 1 pixel
Shift + Alt + Arrow shift characters by 10 pixels
keys
Ctrl + [ or Ctrl + ] rotate character(s) by 90
degrees
Alt + [ or Alt + ] rotate character(s) by 1 pixel

Last modification: 3/4/2021 11:35:25 AM

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