If you liked my previous article on Photoshop shortcuts, you'll probably find this post useful. Here are 26 Illustrator shortcuts that can help you to speed up productivity. I use most of them (in fact, I can't work without them). Most of shortcuts listed in this article aren't documented in the software, so keep reading and you’re sure to find at least one new trick to put up your sleeve. Enjoy!
Note: this article is written in Mac Illustrator CS3 format. If you are using PC, Cmd key = Ctrl key and Opt = Alt.
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Change the Unit Setting
You can quickly change the Artboard unit measurement setting by right-clicking on the ruler.
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Activate Tool Options
With the tool selected, (e.g. Blend Tool), press the Enter key to open up the Blend Options window. Another way to open up the tool option panel is to double-click on the tool icon.
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Duplicate a Series of Objects
Select the object, hold down Option key and drag. You now have a copy of the object. Each time you press Cmd + D (Transform Again) you distribute more copies.
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Draw Shape with Options
Select any shape tool, (e.g. Star Tool), click anywhere on the Artboard, it will let you draw a shape with options.
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Zoom With Mouse Wheel
Hold down Option key & scroll the mouse wheel up or down to zoom in/out
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Gradient Stop Color
To quickly change a gradient stop color to any color swatch in the library: select a gradient stop, hold down Option key and click on a swatch.
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Switch Color Profile
Hold down Shift key and click on the color bar will let you toggle through the color profiles: Grayscale, RGB, HSB, CMYK, Web Safe RGB.
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Layer Visibility
Cmd + Click Visibility Icon = toggle view mode (Outline/Preview)
Opt + Click Visibility Icon = hide other layers (Opt + click again will show all)
Click Visibility Icon & Drag = toggle multi layers
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New Layer
Cmd + L = New layer
Cmd + Opt + L = New layer with options
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Select All Objects on Layer
To select all objects on a particular layer, hold down Option key and click on the layer name.
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Navigate Live Paint Bucket Color
With the Live Paint Bucket tool selected, click on any swatch in the Color palette, now use the arrow keys (Up, Down, Left, Right) to navigate through the swatches.
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Fill and Stroke Color
D = Default color (white fill & black stroke)
X = Toggle between fill and stroke
Shift + X = Swap fill and stroke color
/ = None (transparent)
< = Color fill
> = Gradient fill
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Saturate or Desaturate Color
Holding down Cmd key and dragging the color slider will saturate or desaturate a mixed color.
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Increase/Decrease Input Field Value
Place the cursor in any input field, press arrow Up or Down to increase/decrease.
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Close Pencil or Brush Path
By default, Illustrator will use close a Pencil and Brush path. To close a Pencil path manually, hold down Option key when you are about to finish drawing the path.
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Add or Subtract Sides
With the Star Tool, drag on the Artboard (do not release the mouse yet), press Up or Down arrow to add/subtract sides. Notes: this shortcut can also works for the Arc, Spiral, Rectangle Grid, Polar Grid, Polygon, and Flare Tool.
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Inner Radius
With the Star Tool, drag on the Artboard (do not release the mouse yet), holding down the Cmd key while dragging will let you control the inner radius. This shortcut also works for the Spiral Tool.
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Continuous Duplicates Based on Mouse Movement
With any shape tool, holding down the Tilde (~) key while dragging will make continuous duplicates based on your mouse movement. This is a very useful shortcut to create fun and complex artwork.
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Straight Sided Star
With the Star Tool, while dragging holding down the Option key will let you draw a straight side star.
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Lock and Unlock Objects
Cmd + 2 = Lock selected object(s)
Cmd + Opt + Shift + 2 = Lock all deselected objects
Cmd + Opt + 2 = Unlock all -
Switch Between Move and Selection Tool
Cmd + Opt + Tab = Switch between Move and Direct Selection Tool.
Option (Direct Selection Tool selected) = toggle to Group Selection Tool.
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Hide and Show Objects
Cmd + Opt + Shift + 3 = Hide all deselected objects
Cmd + Opt + 3 = Show all objects
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Eyedropper - Sample Photo or Gradient Color
To sample intermediate color from a gradient or photo: with the Eyedropper tool selected, hold down Shift key and click on the photo.
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Make and Release Guide
Cmd + 5 = Convert selected object to Guide
Cmd + Shift + double-click on Guide = Release Guide
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Font: Size, Leading, Kerning and Tracking
Cmd + Shift + > or < = Increase/decrease font size
Opt + Up or Down = Increase/decrease leading
Opt + Left or Right = Increase/decrease kerning or tracking
Cmd + Opt + Q = Reset kerning/tracking to zero -
Add New Fill and Stroke
Cmd + / = Add new fill
Cmd + Opt + / = Add new stroke
Final Remarks
If you are interested in learning more Illustrator stuffs, try my Illustrator tutorials. I haven't updated the Illustrator tutorials in a while because I'm busy testing Illustrator CS4 Beta version. As soon Adobe officially releases CS4, I'll work on posting some Illustrator CS4 reviews and tutorials.
I actually use a Logitech NuLOOQ with both PS and AI, which speeds up productivity. I knew of most of these shortcuts, but a few are new to me, and I’ll be mapping them to the NuLOOQ today. Thanks!
These shortcuts were really helpful, thanks! I love stuff like this.
Very helpful! Thank You for this article.
those shortcuts are just great! thanks. BUT I need more! HOW to place dimensions lines on tech drwgs??
I do it ALL THE TIME in Corel but have not found way to do it in AI. Please HELP! Thanks a million :)
well i m logo designer and this things are really gonna come handy… thanks for a good list.
Are these only for CS3 or for MAC? Some of them don’t seem to work in CS2 on a PC. IE #18 Continuous Duplicates Based on Mouse Movement
thanks!
Thx 4 the info.
I got a small Q. I Was using Illustrator and making a star and I pressed a wrong key at that time I didn’t only get the outher lines of the star but also the inner-crossing lines (Like in a pentagram)
Does any1 know how to get it back?
Thx
Zjozjo
Man, these tips are pure genius, it will definitely improve threefold my productivity in Illustrator. Thanks so much for sharing!
Re: #21
I use “V” (Move tool) and “A” (Direct Selection tool). Less keys to use.
Hold down the Cmd key while on either tool to do a temporary switch.
thanks a lot man , very usefull
These shortcuts were really helpful, thanks! I love stuff like this
These shortcuts were really helpful, thanks! I love stuff like this.
really useful tips, thanks a lot, I like your website style too…
excellent job and also i like your web site design its wonderful and this shorts are veryuseful to us thank you
Very good Tutorial. Nice Shortcuts
I say honorly this site is very useful to me. I am got more useful things from this site. Thanks a lot.
GRA8 tut, BUT….
I have a question, when I mask a jpeg or psd image with a vector object, the it covers the surrounding area, that means the image doesn’t crop properly (if size of box (object in which I have to mask an image) is 4 cm in length and size of image is 6 cm in length, when I apply clipping mask to it the vector box becomes 6 cm long, because of the length of that image. It doesn’t work as we do in CORELDRAW by using powerclip option.
It creates lot of troble, If anybody have idea about how to crop image or powerclip in AI please tell me.
Shortcuts are always useful and this is a good list. Thanks
Thank you for your great tut!
By the way, someone have tuts about Mesh and tracing?
Thank you again!