Inkscape keys and mouse reference

Inkscape keyboard and mouse reference

Version 0.46

This document describes the default keyboard and mouse shortcuts of Inkscape, corresponding to the share/keys/default.xml file in Inkscape distribution. Most (but not all) of these keys are configurable by the user; see the default.xml file for details on how to do that.

Unless noted otherwise, keypad keys (such as arrows, Home, End, +, -, digits) are supposed to work the same as corresponding regular keys. If you have a new shortcut idea, please contact the developers (by writing to the devel mailing list or by submitting an RFE).

Contents: Tools | Dialogs: Open · Toggle visibility · Within a dialog | Controls bar: Access · Navigate · Change values | Canvas: Zoom · Preset zooms · Zoom history · Scroll (pan) · Guides, grids, snapping · Display mode | Palette | File | Window | Layers | Object: Undo/redo · Clipboard · Duplicate · Clone · Bitmaps · Patterns · Group · Z-order | Path: Convert to path · Boolean operations · Offsets · Combine · Simplify | Selector: Select (mouse) · Rubberband, touch selection · Select (keyboard) · Select within group, select under · Move (mouse) · Move (keyboard) · Transform (mouse) · Scale by handles · Scale (keyboard) · Rotate/skew by handles · Rotate (keyboard) · Flip · Rotation center · Cancel | Node tool: Select objects (mouse) · Select nodes (mouse) · Rubberband selection · Select nodes (keyboard) · Grow/shrink node selection · Move nodes (mouse) · Move nodes (keyboard) · Move node handle (mouse) · Scale handle (1 node selected) · Rotate handle (1 node selected) · Scale nodes (>1 nodes selected) · Rotate nodes (>1 nodes selected) · Flip nodes (>1 nodes selected) · Change segment(s) · Change node type · Join/break · Delete, create, duplicate · Reverse · Edit shapes · Cancel | Tweak tool: Operation · Modes · Parameters | Rectangle tool: Draw · Select · Resize by handles · Round corners by handles | 3D box tool: Draw · Select · Edit by handles · Edit perspectives · Visual appearance | Ellipse tool: Draw · Select · Edit by handles | Star tool: Draw · Select · Edit by handles | Spiral tool: Draw · Select · Edit by handles | Zoom tool | Pencil tool: Create dots | Pen (Bezier) tool: Create nodes · Move last node · Create/modify segments · Create dots · Finish · Cancel | Calligraphy tool | Paint Bucket | Gradient tool: Select objects · Create gradients · Select handles · Create/delete intermediate stops · Move handles/stops · Reverse · Gradient editor | Dropper tool | Text tool: Select/create · Navigate in text · Flowed text (internal frame) · Flowed text (external frame) · Text on path · Edit text · Select text · Style selection · Letter spacing · Line spacing · Kerning and shifting · Rotate

Tools

F1, sSelector
SpaceSelector (temporary)
Space switches to the Selector tool temporarily; another Space switches back.
When the "Left mouse button pans when Space is pressed" option is on in Preferences, Space+mouse drag pans canvas instead of switching to Selector.
F2, nNode tool
Shift+F2, wTweak tool
F3, zZoom tool
F4, rRectangle tool
Shift+F4, x3D box tool
F5, eEllipse/arc tool
F6, pFreehand (Pencil) tool
Shift+F6, bBezier (Pen) tool
Ctrl+F6, cCalligraphy tool
Shift+F7, uPaint Bucket tool
Ctrl+F1, gGradient tool
F7, dDropper tool
F8, tText tool
F9, iSpiral tool
Shift+F9, *Star tool
Ctrl+F2, oConnector tool
Double click on the tool buttons opens the Preferences dialog showing the page of the corresponding tool.

Dialogs

Open

Shift+Ctrl+FFill and Stroke
Shift+Ctrl+WSwatches
Shift+Ctrl+TText and Font
Shift+Ctrl+MTransform
Shift+Ctrl+LLayers
Shift+Ctrl+AAlign and Distribute
Shift+Ctrl+OObject Properties
Shift+Ctrl+HUndo History
Shift+Ctrl+XXML Editor
Shift+Ctrl+DDocument Preferences
Shift+Ctrl+PInkscape Preferences
Shift+Ctrl+EExport to PNG
Ctrl+FFind
Shift+Alt+BTrace Bitmap
Shift+Ctrl+7Path Effects
These shortcuts open a new dialog window if it wasn't open yet, otherwise the corresponding dialog gets focus.

Toggle visibility

F12toggle dialogs
This temporarily hides all open dialogs; another F12 shows them again.

Within a dialog

Escreturn to the canvas
Ctrl+F4, Ctrl+Wclose the dialog
Tabjump to next widget
Shift+Tabjump to previous widget
Enterset the new value
This accepts the new value you typed in a text field and returns focus to canvas.
Ctrl+Enterin XML Editor, set the attr value
When editing an attribute value in XML Editor, this sets the new value (same as clicking the "Set attribute" button).
Space, Enteractivate current button or list
Ctrl+PgUp, Ctrl+PgDnin a multi-tab dialog, switch tabs

Controls bar

Access

The Controls bar at the top of the document window provides different buttons and controls for each tool.
Alt+Xjump to the first editable field

Navigate

Tabjump to next field
Shift+Tabjump to previous field
Use these to navigate between fields in the Controls bar (the value in the field you leave, if changed, is accepted).

Change values

Up arrow, Down arrowchange value by 0.1
PgUp, PgDnchange value by 5.0
Enteraccept the new value
This accepts the new value you typed in a text field and returns focus to canvas.
Esccancel changes, return to canvas
This cancels any changes you made in a text field and returns focus to canvas.
Ctrl+Zcancel changes
This cancels any changes you made in a text field but you stay in the field.

Canvas

Zoom

=, +zoom in
-zoom out
The keypad +/- keys do zooming even when you are editing a text object, unless NumLock is on.
middle click, Ctrl+right clickzoom in
Shift+middle click, Shift+right clickzoom out
Ctrl+mouse wheelzoom in or out
When the "Mouse wheel zooms by default" option is on in Preferences, Ctrl+wheel scrolls instead of zooming. To zoom, use wheel without Ctrl.
Shift+middle button dragzoom into the area
Alt+Zactivate zoom field
The zoom field in the lower left corner of the window allows you to specify zoom level precisely.

Preset zooms

1zoom 1:1
2zoom 1:2
3zoom to selection
4zoom to drawing
5zoom to page
Ctrl+E, 6zoom to page width

Zoom history

`(back quote) previous zoom
Shift+`next zoom
With these keys, you can travel back and forth through the history of zooms in this session

Scroll (pan)

Ctrl+arrowsscroll canvas
Scrolling by keys is accelerated, i.e. it speeds up when you press Ctrl+arrows in quick succession, or press and hold.
middle button dragpan canvas
Shift+right button drag, Ctrl+right button dragpan canvas
mouse wheelscroll canvas vertically
When the "Mouse wheel zooms by default" option is on in Preferences, mouse wheel zooms instead of scrolling. To scroll, use Ctrl+wheel.
Shift+mouse wheelscroll canvas horizontally
When the "Left mouse button pans when Space is pressed" option is on in Preferences, Space+mouse drag also pans canvas.

Guides, grids, snapping

mouse dragdrag off a ruler to create guide
Drag off the horizontal or vertical ruler to create a new guideline. Drag a guideline onto the ruler to delete it.
|, Shift+\toggle guides and snapping to guides
If you want to see the guides but not snap to them, use the global snapping toggle (% key).
When you create a new guide by dragging off the ruler, guide visibility and snapping are turned on.
#, Shift+3toggle grids and snapping to grids
If you want to see the grids but not snap to them, use the global snapping toggle (% key).
Note that only the 3 key on the main keyboard works, not on the keypad.
%toggle snapping on and off
This toggle affects snapping to grids, guides, and objects in all tools.

Display mode

Ctrl+keypad 5toggle normal/outline mode

Palette

These keys work both in the floating palette dialog and in the palette frame at the bottom of the window.
clickset fill color on selection
Shift+clickset stroke color on selection
right clickset stroke color on selection
mouse dragdrag fill color to objects
Shift+mouse dragdrag stroke color to objects
To change fill/stroke of an object by dragging color on it, that object need not be selected.
You can also drag colors to the Fill (F) and Stroke (S) indicators in the statusbar to change the selection.

File

Ctrl+Ncreate new document
Ctrl+Oopen an SVG document
Shift+Ctrl+Eexport to PNG
Ctrl+Iimport bitmap or SVG
Ctrl+Pprint document
Ctrl+Ssave document
Shift+Ctrl+Ssave under a new name
Shift+Ctrl+Alt+Ssave a copy
Ctrl+Qexit Inkscape

Window

Ctrl+Rtoggle rulers
Ctrl+Btoggle scrollbars
F11toggle fullscreen
F10main menu
Menus can also be activated by Alt with the letter underscored in the menu name.
Shift+F10, right clickdrop-down (context) menu
Ctrl+F4, Ctrl+Wclose document window
This shuts down Inkscape if it was the only document window open.
Ctrl+Tabnext document window
Shift+Ctrl+Tabprevious document window
These cycle through the active document windows forward and backward.

Layers

Shift+PgUpmove to layer above
Shift+PgDnmove to layer below
These commands move the selected objects from one layer to another.
Shift+Ctrl+PgUpraise layer
Shift+Ctrl+PgDnlower layer
Shift+Ctrl+Homeraise layer to top
Shift+Ctrl+Endlower layer to bottom
These commands move the current layer among its siblings (normally other layers).

Object

Undo/redo

Shift+Ctrl+Y, Ctrl+Zundo
Shift+Ctrl+Z, Ctrl+Yredo

Clipboard

Ctrl+Ccopy selection
This places a copy of the selection to the Inkscape clipboard. Text from text objects is also placed onto the system clipboard.
Ctrl+Xcut selection
This works the same as "copy selection" followed by deleting the selection.
Ctrl+Vpaste clipboard
This places the clipboard objects at the mouse cursor, or at the center of the window if mouse is outside the canvas.
When editing text with the text tool, this pastes the text from the system clipboard into the current text object.
Ctrl+Alt+Vpaste in place
This places the clipboard objects to the original location from which they were copied.
Shift+Ctrl+Vpaste style
This applies the style of the (first of the) copied object(s) to the current selection.
If a gradient handle (in Gradient tool) or a text span (in Text tool) are selected, they get the style instead of the entire object.
Ctrl+7paste path effect
This applies the path effect of the copied path to the paths/shapes in current selection.

Duplicate

Ctrl+Dduplicate selection
New object(s) are placed exactly over the original(s) and selected.

Clone

Alt+Dclone object
A clone can be moved/scaled/rotated/skewed independently, but it updates the path, fill, and stroke from its original.
The clone is placed exactly over the original object and is selected.
You can only clone one object at a time; if you want to clone several objects together, group them and clone the group.
Shift+Alt+Dunlink clone
Unlinking a clone cuts the link to the original, turning the clone into a plain copy.
Shift+Dselect original
To find out which object this is a clone of, select the clone and give this command. The original will be selected.

Bitmaps

Alt+Bcreate a bitmap copy
This exports the selected object(s) (all other objects hidden) as PNG in the document's directory and imports it back.
The imported bitmap is placed over the original selection and is selected.
Shift+Alt+Btrace bitmap
This opens the Trace Bitmap dialog allowing you to convert a bitmap object to path(s).

Patterns

Alt+Iobject(s) to pattern
This converts the selection to a rectangle with tiled pattern fill.
Shift+Alt+Ipattern to object(s)
Each selected object with pattern fill is broken into the same object without fill and a single pattern object.

Group

Shift+Ctrl+U, Ctrl+Ggroup selected objects
Use Ctrl+click to select objects within group.
Shift+Ctrl+G, Ctrl+Uungroup selected group(s)
This removes only one level of grouping; press Ctrl+U repeatedly to ungroup nested groups.

Z-order

Homeraise selection to top
Endlower selection to bottom
PgUpraise selection one step
PgDnlower selection one step

Path

Convert to path

Shift+Ctrl+Cconvert selected object(s) to path
Ctrl+Alt+Cconvert stroke to path

Boolean operations

Ctrl++union
Union combines any number of objects into a single path, removing overlaps.
Ctrl+-difference
Difference works on 2 objects, extracting the top from the bottom.
Ctrl+*intersection
Intersection creates a path representing the common (overlapping) area of all selected objects.
Ctrl+^exclusive OR (XOR)
XOR is similar to Union, except that it works on 2 objects and removes areas where the objects overlap.
Ctrl+/division (cut)
Division cuts the bottom object into pieces by the top object, preserving the fill and stroke of the bottom.
Ctrl+Alt+/cut path
Cut Path cuts the bottom object's stroke only where it is intersected by the top path, removing any fill from the result.
The result of Union, Difference, Intersection, and XOR inherits the id= attribute and therefore the clones of the bottom object.
Division and Cut path normally produce several objects; of them, a random one inherits the id= of the bottom source object.

Offsets

Ctrl+(inset path (towards center)
Ctrl+)outset path (away from center)
The default offset distance is 2 px (SVG pixel units, not screen pixels).
Alt+(inset path by 1 pixel
Alt+)outset path by 1 pixel
Shift+Alt+(inset path by 10 pixels
Shift+Alt+)outset path by 10 pixels
The actual distance for pixel offsets depends on zoom level. Zoom in for finer adjustment.
All the (, ) commands convert the object to path, if necessary, and produce regular path.
Ctrl+Jcreate dynamic offset
Ctrl+Alt+Jcreate linked offset
These commands produce an offset object, editable by the node tool, standalone or linked to the original.
Shift+Dselect source
Selecting a linked offset and giving this command will select the source path of the linked offset.

Combine

Ctrl+Kcombine 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+Kbreak paths apart
This attempts to break an object into constituent paths; it will fail if the object is one solid path.

Simplify

Ctrl+Lsimplify
This command attempts to simplify selected path(s) by removing extra nodes. It converts all objects to paths first.
If you invoke this command several times in quick succession, it will act more and more aggressively.
Invoking Simplify again after a pause restores the default threshold (settable in the Inkscape Preferences dialog).

Selector

Select (mouse)

clickselect an object
When you left-click on an object, previous selection is deselected.
Shift+clicktoggle selection
Shift+click adds an object to the current selection if it was not selected, or deselects it otherwise.
clickclickedit the object
For paths, double clicking switches to Node tool; for shapes, to corresponding shape tool; for text, to Text tool.
For groups, double clicking performs the "Enter group" command (the group becomes temporary layer).
Double clicking in empty space swithes to the parent layer in the hierarchy, if any.

Rubberband, touch selection

mouse dragselect by rubberband
Dragging around objects does "rubberband" selection; previous selection is deselected.
Shift+mouse dragadd objects to selection
Normally, you need to start from an empty space to initiate a rubberband.
However, if you press Shift before dragging, Inkscape will do rubberband selection even if you start from an object.
Alt+mouse drag, Shift+Alt+mouse dragselect by touch
Alt+dragging over objects selects those objects that are touched by the path.
To start touch selection with Alt, you must have nothing selected; otherwise use Shift+Alt.
You can switch rubberband selection to touch selection and back while dragging by pressing/releasing Alt.

Select (keyboard)

Tabselect next object
Shift+Tabselect previous object
These keys pick objects in their z-order (Tab cycles from bottom to top, Shift+Tab cycles from top to bottom).
Unless you did manual rearrangements, the last object you created is always on top.
As a result, if nothing is selected, pressing Shift+Tab once conveniently selects the object you created last.
This works on objects within the current layer (unless you change that in preferences).
Ctrl+Aselect all (current layer)
This works on objects within the current layer (unless you change that in preferences).
Ctrl+Alt+Aselect all (all layers)
This works on objects in all visible and unlocked layers.
!invert selection (current layer)
This inverts selection (deselects what was selected and vice versa) in the current layer.
Alt+!invert selection (all layers)
This inverts selection (deselects what was selected and vice versa) in visible and unlocked layers.
Escdeselect
Backspace, Deldelete selection

Select within group, select under

Ctrl+clickselect within group
Ctrl+click selects the object at click point disregarding any levels of grouping that this object might belong to.
Ctrl+Shift+clicktoggle selection within group
Alt+clickselect under
Alt+click selects the object at click point which is beneath (in z-order) the lowest selected object at click point.
If the bottom object is reached, Alt+click again selects the top object. So, several Alt+clicks cycle through z-order stack at point.
On Linux, Alt+click and Alt+drag may be reserved by the window manager. If you reconfigure your window manager
to not map Alt+click, then it will be free for Inkscape to use.
If your keyboard has a Meta key, you may wish to set your "Modifier key" to use it instead of Alt.
(Sometimes you can also use Ctrl+Alt+click (select under in groups) with the same effect as Alt+click.)
Shift+Alt+clicktoggle under
Ctrl+Alt+clickselect under, in groups
Shift+Ctrl+Alt+clicktoggle under, in groups
Ctrl+Enterenter group
Ctrl+Backspacego to parent group/layer

Move (mouse)

mouse dragselect + move
Dragging an object selects it if it was not selected, then moves selection.
Alt+mouse dragmove selected
Alt+drag moves the current selection (without selecting what is under cursor), no matter where you start the drag.
On Linux, Alt+click and Alt+drag may be reserved by the window manager. Reconfigure it so you can use them in Inkscape.
Ctrl+mouse dragrestrict movement to horizontal or vertical
Shift+mouse dragtemporarily disable snapping
This temporaily disables snapping to grid or guides when you are dragging with grid or guides on.
mouse dragSpacedrop a copy
When dragging or transforming with mouse, each Space leaves a copy of the selected object.
You can press and hold Space while dragging for a nice "trail."

Move (keyboard)

arrowsmove selection by the nudge distance
Shift+arrowsmove selection by 10x nudge distance
The default nudge distance is 2 px (SVG pixel units, not screen pixels).
Alt+arrowsmove selection by 1 pixel
Alt+Shift+arrowsmove selection by 10 pixels
The actual distance for pixel movements depends on zoom level. Zoom in for finer movement.

Transform (mouse)

click, Shift+Stoggle scale/rotation handles
mouse dragscale (with scale handles)
mouse dragrotate or skew (with rotation handles)

Scale by handles

mouse dragscale
Ctrl+mouse dragscale preserving aspect ratio
Shift+mouse dragsymmetric transformation
Holding Shift while transforming makes transformation symmetric around the center of the selection.
Alt+mouse dragscale by integer
Hold Alt while scaling to limit scale to 2, 3, 4, etc. or 1/2, 1/3, 1/4 etc. of the initial size.

Scale (keyboard)

., >scale selection up by the scale step
,, <scale selection down by the scale step
The default scale step is 2 px (SVG pixel units, not screen pixels).
Ctrl+., Ctrl+>scale selection to 200%
Ctrl+,, Ctrl+<scale selection to 50%
Alt+., Alt+>scale selection up by 1 pixel
Alt+,, Alt+<scale selection down by 1 pixel
The actual size increment for pixel scaling depends on zoom level. Zoom in for finer scaling.
Scaling is uniform around the center, so that the size increment applies to the larger of the two dimensions.

Rotate/skew by handles

mouse dragrotate or skew
Ctrl+mouse dragsnap skew angle
Holding Ctrl when dragging a skew (non-corner) handle snaps the skew angle to angle steps (default 15 degrees).
Ctrl+mouse dragsnap rotation angle
Holding Ctrl when dragging a rotation (corner) handle snaps the rotation angle to angle steps (default 15 degrees).

Rotate (keyboard)

[, ]rotate selection by the angle step
The default angle step is 15 degrees. ] rotates clockwise, [ rotates counterclockwise.
Ctrl+[, Ctrl+]rotate selection by 90 degrees
Alt+[, Alt+]rotate selection by 1 pixel
The actual angle for pixel rotation depends on zoom level. Zoom in for finer movement.
These commands use the rotation center, draggable in Selector (by default it's in geometric center).

Flip

hflip selection horizontally
vflip selection vertically
If the tool is in rotate mode (rotation center visible), that center becomes the axis of flipping; otherwise it flips around geometric center of selection

Rotation center

mouse dragmove rotation center
Moved rotation center remembers and saves its position for (all) selected object(s); you can reset it.
Dragging the center snaps it to the centerlines and bounding box edges of the selection.
Shift+mouse dragmove without snapping
Shift+clickreset rotation center
Resetting rotation center moves it back to the geometric center of the object's or selection's bounding box.

Cancel

Esccancel rubberband, move, transformation
Press Esc while mouse button is still down to cancel rubberband selection, move, or transformation of any kind.

Node tool

Select objects (mouse)

clickclick a non-selected object to select
Alt+clickselect under
Shift+clicktoggle selection
These work the same as in Selector. The nodes or handles of the single selected object become editable.

Select nodes (mouse)

clickselect a node
Clicking on a node selects it.
clickselect two adjacent nodes
Clicking on a selected path between the nodes selects the two nodes closest to the click point.
Shift+clicktoggle selection
This adds/removes a node (if clicked on node) or two nodes (if clicked on path) to/from the node selection.
clickdeselect
Clicking in an empty space deselects all selected nodes. Next click will deselect the object.

Rubberband selection

mouse dragselect multiple nodes
Dragging around nodes does "rubberband" selection; previous node selection is deselected.
Shift+mouse dragadd nodes to selection
Normally, you need to start from a point not over a path or a node to initiate a rubberband.
However, if you press Shift before dragging, Inkscape will do rubberband selection even if you start over the path.

Select nodes (keyboard)

Tabselect next node
Shift+Tabselect previous node
These keys select nodes within the selected path
Ctrl+Aselect all nodes in subpath(s)
If the path has multiple subpaths and some nodes selected, this selects all only in subpaths with already selected nodes.
Ctrl+Alt+Aselect all nodes in path
This selects all nodes in the entire path.
!invert selection in subpath(s)
If the path has multiple subpaths and some nodes selected, this inverts selection only in subpaths with already selected nodes.
Alt+!invert selection in path
This inverts selection (deselects what was selected and vice versa) in the entire path.
Escdeselect all nodes

Grow/shrink node selection

PgUp, PgDngrow/shrink selection (spatial)
mouse wheelgrow/shrink selection (spatial)
Ctrl+PgUp, Ctrl+PgDngrow/shrink selection (along path)
Ctrl+mouse wheelgrow/shrink selection (along path)
Your mouse pointer must be over a node for growing/shrinking.
Each key press or wheel click selects the nearest unselected node or deselects the farthest selected node.
Distance to nodes can be calculated directly (spatial mode) or along path.

Move nodes (mouse)

mouse dragmove selected nodes
Ctrl+mouse dragrestrict movement to horizontal or vertical
Ctrl+Alt+mouse dragmove along handles
This restricts movement to the directions of the node's handles, their continuations and perpendiculars (total 8 snaps).
If the node has straight lines on one or both sides, this will snap it to these lines' directions and perpendiculars instead.
Shift+mouse dragtemporarily disable snapping
Snapping nodes is enabled in Document Preferences. By default, only bounding box of objects snaps to grid/guides.
Shift+mouse dragdrag out handle
If a node has a retracted handle, dragging with Shift lets you drag it out of the node.
mouse dragSpacedrop a copy
When dragging nodes with mouse, each Space leaves a copy of the selected object.
You can press and hold Space while dragging for a nice "trail."
Alt+mouse dragsculpt selected nodes
Sculpting moves the selected nodes so that the dragged node moves all the way, the farthest selected nodes stay put;
all intermediate selected nodes move intermediate distances, governed by a bell-like curve.
Sculpting is pressure-sensitive with a tablet; press harder for a blunter drag profile, press lightly for a sharper profile.
To stop sculpting without losing the pressure-sensitive profile, release Alt first and then lift the pen.

Move nodes (keyboard)

arrowsmove selected node(s) by the nudge distance
Shift+arrowsmove selected node(s) by 10x nudge distance
The default nudge distance is 2 px (SVG pixel units, not screen pixels).
Alt+arrowsmove selected node(s) by 1 pixel
Alt+Shift+arrowsmove selected node(s) by 10 pixels
The actual distance for pixel movements depends on zoom level. Zoom in for finer movement.

Move node handle (mouse)

mouse dragmove a node handle
Ctrl+mouse dragsnap the handle to angle steps
The default angle step is 15 degrees. This also snaps to the handle's original angle, its continuation and perpendiculars.
Shift+mouse dragrotate both handles
Alt+mouse draglock the handle length
Ctrl, Shift, Alt can be combined when dragging handles.
Ctrl+clickretract the handle
Retracted handle is zero length; use Shift+drag to drag it back out.

Scale handle (1 node selected)

<, >contract/expand both handles by scale step
The default scale step is 2 px (SVG pixel units, not screen pixels). May apply to more than one node.
Left Ctrl+<, Left Ctrl+>scale left handle by the scale step
Right Ctrl+<, Right Ctrl+>scale right handle by the scale step
Left Alt+<, Left Alt+>scale left handle by 1 pixel
Right Alt+<, Right Alt+>scale right handle by 1 pixel
The actual size increment for pixel scaling depends on zoom level. Zoom in for finer scaling.
Instead of the < and > keys, you can use the , (comma) and . (period) keys respectively.

Rotate handle (1 node selected)

[, ]rotate both handles by the angle step
The default angle step is 15 degrees. ] rotates clockwise, [ rotates counterclockwise. May apply to more than one node.
Left Ctrl+[, Left Ctrl+]rotate left handle by the angle step
Right Ctrl+[, Right Ctrl+]rotate right handle by the angle step
Left Alt+[, Left Alt+]rotate left handle by 1 pixel
Right Alt+[, Right Alt+]rotate right handle by 1 pixel

Scale nodes (>1 nodes selected)

These commands scale the selected nodes as if they were an "object".
If mouse is over a node, that node becomes the axis of scaling; otherwise it scales around geometric center of selected nodes.
., >scale nodes up by the scale step
,, <scale nodes down by the scale step
The default scale step is 2 px (SVG pixel units, not screen pixels).
Alt+., Alt+>scale nodes up by 1 pixel
Alt+,, Alt+<scale nodes down by 1 pixel
The actual size increment for pixel scaling depends on zoom level. Zoom in for finer scaling.
Scaling is uniform around the center, so that the size increment applies to the larger of the two dimensions.

Rotate nodes (>1 nodes selected)

These commands rotate the selected nodes as if they were an "object".
If mouse is over a node, that node becomes the axis of rotation; otherwise it rotates around geometric center of selected nodes.
[, ]rotate nodes by the angle step
The default angle step is 15 degrees. ] rotates clockwise, [ rotates counterclockwise.
Alt+[, Alt+]rotate nodes by 1 pixel
The actual angle for pixel rotation depends on zoom level. Zoom in for finer movement.

Flip nodes (>1 nodes selected)

These commands flip the selected nodes as if they were an "object", around the center of that object.
hflip nodes horizontally
vflip nodes vertically
If mouse is over a node, that node becomes the axis of flipping; otherwise it flips around geometric center of selected nodes

Change segment(s)

Shift+Lmake line
Shift+Umake curve
These commands require that more than two adjacent nodes be selected.

Change node type

Shift+Cmake cusp
Shift+Smake smooth
Shift+Ymake symmetric
When making smooth or symmetric, you can lock the position of one of the handles by hovering mouse over it.
Ctrl+clicktoggle smooth/cusp/symmetric

Join/break

Shift+Jjoin selected nodes
This requires that exactly two end nodes within the path be selected.
You can lock the position of one of the two joined nodes by hovering mouse over it.
Shift+Bbreak selected node(s)
After break, only one of each two new nodes is selected. May apply to more than one node.

Delete, create, duplicate

Backspace, Deldelete selected node(s)
Ctrl+Backspace, Ctrl+Deldelete without preserving shape
Deleting without Ctrl adjusts handles on the remaining nodes to preserve the shape of the curve as much as possible.
Deleting with Ctrl does not touch the remaining nodes.
Ctrl+Alt+clickcreate/delete node
Ctrl+Alt+click on a node deletes it; Ctrl+Alt+click on the path between nodes creates a new node in the click point.
Deleting nodes this way always tries to preserve the shape of the curve (same as Del/Backspace).
clickclickcreate node
Double clicking on the path between nodes creates a node in the click point.
Insinsert new node(s)
This adds new node(s) in the middle(s) of selected segment(s), so it requires that more than two adjacent nodes be selected.
Shift+Dduplicate selected node(s)
New nodes are created on the same path; they are placed exactly over the old ones and are selected.

Reverse

Shift+rreverse path direction

Edit shapes

Node tool can also drag the handles of shapes (rectangles, ellipses, stars, spirals). Click on a shape to select it.
See the corresponding shape tools for their editing shortcuts, all of which also work in node tool.

Cancel

Esccancel rubberband or move
Press Esc while mouse button is still down to cancel rubberband selection, node move, handle move, or handle move.

Tweak tool

Operation

mouse dragact on selected paths in the current mode
Ctrl+mouse dragact temporarily switching to shrink mode
Ctrl+Shift+mouse dragact temporarily switching to grow mode
The amount of tweaking action is the greatest at the center of the circular area and drops off smoothly towards the edges.

Modes

Shift+ppush mode
Shift+sshrink (inset) mode
Shift+ggrow (outset) mode
Shift+aattract mode
Shift+erepel mode
Shift+rroughen mode
Shift+ccolor paint mode
Shift+jcolor jitter mode

Parameters

Left arrow, Right arrowadjust brush width by 1
Home, Endset brush width to 1 / 100
Up arrow, Down arrowadjust tweaking force
Width and force can be adjusted while drawing. With a pressure-sensitive tablet, force also depends on pen pressure.

Rectangle tool

Draw

mouse dragdraw a rectangle
Ctrl+mouse dragmake a square or integer-ratio rectangle
This restricts rectangle so its height/width ratio is a whole number.
Shift+mouse dragdraw around the starting point
This creates a rectangle symmetric around the starting point of the mouse drag.

Select

clickclick to select
Alt+click, Ctrl+Alt+clickselect under
Shift+clicktoggle selection
In this tool, selecting by click disregards any grouping (i.e. acts as clicking with Ctrl in Selector)
Escdeselect

Resize by handles

mouse dragdrag a square handle to resize
Initially, the two resize (square) handles are in top left and bottom right corners.
Resize handles change the width and height of the rectangle in its own coordinate system, before any transforms are applied.
Ctrl+mouse draglock width, height, or ratio

Round corners by handles

mouse dragdrag a circular handle to round corners
Initially, the two rounding handles are in the top right corner of the rectangle.
Ctrl+mouse draglock the corner circular
Ctrl+clickset the corner circular
When rounding corners, dragging one rounding handle keeps the corner circular if the other remains at the corner.
You can drag both handles for an elliptic rounded corner, or drag/click one with Ctrl to make it circular again.
Shift+clickremove corner rounding

3D box tool

Draw

mouse dragdraw a 3D box (X/Y plane)
Shift+mouse dragdraw a 3D box (extrude in Z)

Select

clickclick to select
Alt+click, Ctrl+Alt+clickselect under
Shift+clicktoggle selection
Escdeselect

Edit by handles

All editing operations occur "in perspective", i.e., either along PLs or within planes spanned by these.
mouse dragresize/move box
The four front handles and the center normally move withing the XY-plane, the four rear handles along the Z-axis.
Shift+mouse dragresize/move (with handle behaviour swapped)
Ctrl+mouse dragresize/move (handles snap to axes or diagonals)

Edit perspectives

In what follows, we use the abbreviations VP = vanishing point, PL = perspective line.
mouse dragdrag square handles to move the VPs
[, ]rotate X-PLs (if parallel) by the angle step
The default angle step is 15 degrees. ],),} rotate clockwise, [,(,{ rotate counterclockwise.
Alt+[, Alt+]rotate X-PLs (if parallel) by 1 pixel
(, )rotate Y-PLs (if parallel) by the angle step
Alt+(, Alt+)rotate Y-PLs (if parallel) by 1 pixel
{, }rotate Z-PLs (if parallel) by the angle step
Alt+{, Alt+}rotate Z-PLs (if parallel) by 1 pixel

Visual appearance

Ltoggle visibility of PLs
Atoggle PLs to all corners/only front corners

Ellipse tool

Draw

Without Alt the starting end ending point of the mouse drag mark the corners of the bounding box.
With Alt the ellipse is enlarged so that its circumference passes through these two points (Ctrl+Alt is a special case; see below).
mouse dragdraw an ellipse
Ctrl+mouse dragmake circle or integer-ratio ellipse
This restricts ellipse so its height/width ratio is a whole number.
Shift+mouse dragdraw around the starting point
This creates an ellipse symmetric around the starting point of the mouse drag.
Ctrl+Alt+mouse drag
This creates a perfect circle whose diameter is defined by the starting and ending point of the mouse drag.

Select

clickclick to select
Alt+click, Ctrl+Alt+clickselect under
Shift+clicktoggle selection
In this tool, selecting by click disregards any grouping (i.e. acts as clicking with Ctrl in Selector)
Escdeselect

Edit by handles

mouse dragresize, make arc or segment
Initially, the two resize handles are at the topmost and leftmost points; the two arc/segment handles are in the rightmost point.
Ctrl+mouse draglock circle (resize handles)
Ctrl+mouse dragsnap to angle steps (arc/segment handles)
Resize handles change the width and height of the ellipse in its own coordinate system, before any transforms are applied.
The default angle step is 15 degrees.
Shift+clickmake whole (arc/segment handles)

Star tool

Draw

mouse dragdraw a star
Ctrl+mouse dragsnap star to angle steps
The default angle step is 15 degrees.

Select

clickclick to select
Alt+click, Ctrl+Alt+clickselect under
Shift+clicktoggle selection
In this tool, selecting by click disregards any grouping (i.e. acts as clicking with Ctrl in Selector)
Escdeselect

Edit by handles

mouse dragdrag a handle to vary the star shape
Ctrl+mouse dragkeep star rays radial (no skew)
Shift+mouse draground the star
Shift+clickremove rounding
Alt+mouse dragrandomize the star
Alt+click, Ctrl+Alt+clickremove randomization

Spiral tool

Draw

mouse dragdraw a spiral
Ctrl+mouse dragsnap spiral to angle steps
The default angle step is 15 degrees.

Select

clickclick to select
Alt+click, Ctrl+Alt+clickselect under
Shift+clicktoggle selection
In this tool, selecting by click disregards any grouping (i.e. acts as clicking with Ctrl in Selector)
Escdeselect

Edit by handles

mouse dragroll/unroll from inside (inner handle)
Dragging the inner handle adjusts the "inner radius" parameter.
Alt+mouse dragconverge/diverge (inner handle)
Alt+click, Ctrl+Alt+clickreset divergence (inner handle)
Vertical Alt+drag of the inner handle adjusts the "divergence" parameter, Alt+click resets it to 1.
Shift+clickzero inner radius (inner handle)
Shift+click on inner handle makes the spiral start from the center.
mouse dragroll/unroll from outside (outer handle)
Dragging the outer handle adjusts the "turns" parameter. Use Shift+Alt+drag to roll/unroll without changing radius.
Shift+mouse dragscale/rotate (outer handle)
Use Shift+Alt to rotate only (locks the radius of the spiral).
Ctrl+mouse dragsnap handles to angle steps
The default angle step is 15 degrees. This works for both handles.

Zoom tool

clickzoom in
Shift+clickzoom out
mouse dragzoom into the area

Pencil tool

mouse dragdraw a freehand line
Shift+mouse dragadd to selected path
If a path is selected, Shift+dragging anywhere creates a new subpath instead of a new independent path.
Shift+mouse dragtemporarily disable snapping
Shift also temporaily disables snapping to grid or guides when you are drawing with grid or guides on.

Create dots

Ctrl+clickcreate a dot
This creates a small circle. Its size (relative to the current stroke width) can be set in Preferences.
Shift+Ctrl+clickcreate a double-sized dot
Alt+Ctrl+clickcreate a random-sized dot

Pen (Bezier) tool

Create nodes

clickcreate a sharp node
If no path is being created, this starts a new path.
Shift+clickadd to selected path
If a path is selected, Shift+clicking anywhere starts a new subpath instead of a new independent path.
mouse dragcreate a bezier node with two handles
Shift+mouse dragmove only one handle
This moves only one handle (instead of both) while creating a node, making it cusp.
Ctrl+mouse dragsnap the handle to angle steps
The default angle step is 15 degrees.

Move last node

These commands move the last created node (at the start of the red segment) while creating a path.
arrowsmove last node by the nudge distance
Shift+arrowsmove last node by 10x nudge distance
The default nudge distance is 2 px (SVG pixel units, not screen pixels).
Alt+arrowsmove last node by 1 pixel
Alt+Shift+arrowsmove last node by 10 pixels
The actual distance for pixel movements depends on zoom level. Zoom in for finer movement.

Create/modify segments

Ctrl+snap last segment to angle steps
This snaps the new node's angle, relative to the previous node, to angle steps (default 15 degrees).
Shift+Lmake last segment line
Shift+Umake last segment curve
These commands change the last (red) segment of the path to straight line or curve.

Create dots

Ctrl+clickcreate a dot
This creates a small circle. Its size (relative to the current stroke width) can be set in Preferences.
Shift+Ctrl+clickcreate a double-sized dot
Alt+Ctrl+clickcreate a random-sized dot

Finish

Enterfinish current line
right clickfinish current line
clickclickfinish current line
Enter, right click, or double left click finish the current line, discarding the last unfinished (red) segment.

Cancel

Esc, Ctrl+zcancel current line
Backspace, Delerase last segment of current line

Calligraphy tool

mouse dragdraw a calligraphic line
Shift+mouse dragadd to selected path
Drawing with Shift unions the newly created stroke with the previous selection
Ctrl+mouse dragtrack a guide path
Drawing with Ctrl tracks a selected guide path at the constant distance
Left arrow, Right arrowadjust pen width by 1
Home, Endset pen width to 1 or 100
Up arrow, Down arrowadjust pen angle
Width and angle can be adjusted while drawing.
Escdeselect

Paint Bucket

clickfill a bounded area
Shift+clickadd to selected path
Clicking with Shift unions the newly created fill with the previous selection
mouse dragfill from each point
From each point, the fill spreads to the neighbors with the colors similar to that point.
This can be used to fill an area currently filled with a gradient or blur.
Alt+mouse dragfill from each point same as initial point
From each point, the fill spreads to the neighbors with the colors similar to the initial point of the drag.
This can be used to fill several disjoint bounded areas by starting in one and dragging over all of the areas.
Ctrl+clickset fill color
Shift+Ctrl+clickset stroke color
Ctrl+clicking an object sets its fill (or stroke with Shift) to the tool's current style; the object need not be selected

Gradient tool

Select objects

clickclick an object to select
Alt+clickselect under
Shift+clicktoggle selection

Create gradients

mouse dragcreate gradient
This creates gradient on selected objects. The Controls bar lets you select linear/radial and fill/stroke for the new gradient.
clickclickcreate default gradient
This creates default (horizontal edge-to-edge for linear, centered edge-to-edge-to-edge for radial) gradient on clicked object.

Select handles

clickselect a handle
Shift+clickadd handle to selection
Shift+mouse dragselect by rubberband
Tabselect next handle
Shift+Tabselect previous handle
Ctrl+Aselect all handles
Escdeselect all handles
Single click outside all handles also deselects all handles.

Create/delete intermediate stops

Ctrl+Alt+clickcreate a stop
clickclickcreate a stop
Ctrl+Alt+click or double click on a gradient line creates a new intermediate stop
Ctrl+Alt+clickdelete stop
Ctrl+Alt+click on a stop's handle deletes the stop; if it was an end stop, gradient shortens or disappears
Insinsert new stop(s)
This adds new stop(s) in the middle(s) of selected segment(s), so it requires that more than two adjacent handles be selected.
Deldelete selected stops

Move handles/stops

mouse dragmove selected handle(s)
Ctrl+mouse dragmove stops in 1/10 range increments
Ctrl+dragging selected intermediate stops moves them snapping to 1/10 steps of the available range
Alt+mouse dragsculpt selected stops
Sculpting moves the selected intermediate stops depending on how close each one is to the stop being dragged, using a smooth bell-like curve similar to the node sculpting feature in Node tool.
arrowsmove selected handle by the nudge distance
Shift+arrowsmove selected handle by 10x nudge distance
The default nudge distance is 2 px (SVG pixel units, not screen pixels).
Alt+arrowsmove selected handle by 1 pixel
Alt+Shift+arrowsmove selected handle by 10 pixels
If at least one end handle is selected, arrow keys move the end handle to move or resize the gradient line.
If only mid stops are selected, arrow keys move the selected stops along the gradient line.
The actual distance for pixel movements depends on zoom level. Zoom in for finer movement.

Reverse

Shift+rreverse gradient definition
This mirrors the stop positions of the current gradient without moving the gradient handles.

Gradient editor

clickclickopen gradient editor
Double clicking a gradient handle opens the Gradient Editor with that gradient and the clicked handle chosen in the stops list.

Dropper tool

clickpick fill color
Shift+clickpick stroke color
mouse dragaverage fill color
Shift+mouse dragaverage stroke color
Click applies the color under cursor to the current selection. Dragging a radius calculates the average color of a circular area.
If a gradient handle (in Gradient tool) is selected, it gets the color instead of the entire object.
Alt+clickpick inverse color
If Alt is pressed, picking color (with or without Shift, by click or by drag) picks the inverse of the color.
Ctrl+Ccopy color
This copies the color under cursor to the system clipboard, as text in RRGGBBAA format (8 hex digits).

Text tool

Select/create

clickcreate/select a text object
Clicking in an empty space or on a non-text creates a text object; now you can type your text.
Clicking on a text object selects it; cursor is placed near the click point.
Escdeselect the text object

Navigate in text

arrowsmove cursor by one character
Ctrl+Left arrow, Ctrl+Right arrowmove cursor by one word
Ctrl+Up arrow, Ctrl+Down arrowmove cursor by one paragraph
Home, Endgo to beginning/end of line
Ctrl+Home, Ctrl+Endgo to beginning/end of text
All these commands cancel current text selection, if any.

Flowed text (internal frame)

mouse dragcreate flowed text
Clicking and dragging in an empty space or on a non-text creates a flowed text object with internal frame.
mouse dragadjust frame size
Dragging the handle in the lower right corner of the selected flowed text changes width/height of the frame.
Ctrl+mouse draglock width, height, or ratio of frame
Dragging the corner handle with Ctrl resizes the frame preserving either width, or height, or ratio.

Flowed text (external frame)

Alt+Wflow text into frame
With a text object and a shape/path selected, this flows text into the shape/path.
Both remain separate objects, but are linked; editing the shape/path causes the text to reflow.
Alt+Shift+Wunflow text from frame
This cuts the flowed text's link to the shape/path, producing a single-line regular text object.
Shift+Dselect external frame
To find out which object is the frame of this flowed text, select it and press Shift+D. The frame will be selected.

Text on path

Shift+Dselect path from text
To find out which path this text is put on, select it and press Shift+D. The path will be selected.

Edit text

To type + and - characters, use the main keyboard; keypad + and - are reserved for zoom (unless NumLock is on).
Enterstart a new line or paragraph
Enter in regular text creates new line; in flowed text it creates a new paragraph
Ctrl+Utoggle Unicode entry
To insert an arbitrary Unicode character, type Ctrl+U, then the hexadecimal code point, then Enter.
For example, type Ctrl+U 2 0 1 4 Enter for an em-dash; Ctrl+U a 9 Enter for a copyright sign.
To stay in Unicode mode after inserting the character, press Space instead of Enter.
Press Esc or another Ctrl+U to cancel Unicode mode without inserting the character.
Ctrl+Spaceinsert no-break space
A no-break space is visible even in a text object without xml:space="preserve".

Select text

mouse dragselect text
Left-dragging over a text object selects a text span.
Shift+arrowsselect text by character
Ctrl+Shift+arrowsselect text by word
Shift+Home, Shift+Endselect to beginning/end of line
Ctrl+Shift+Home, Ctrl+Shift+Endselect to beginning/end of text
clickclickselect word
clickclickclickselect line
Ctrl+Aselect all text
This selects the entire text of the current text object.

Style selection

Ctrl+Bmake selection bold
Ctrl+Imake selection italic
Also, you can use the Text&Font or Fill&Stroke dialogs to assign any style to text selection.

Letter spacing

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
These commands (only when editing text) adjust letter spacing in the current line (regular text) or paragraph (flowed text).
The actual adjustment for pixel movements depends on zoom level. Zoom in for finer adjustment.

Line spacing

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
These commands (only when editing text) adjust line spacing in the entire text object (regular or flowed).
The actual adjustment for pixel movements depends on zoom level. Zoom in for finer adjustment.

Kerning and shifting

Alt+arrowsshift characters by 1 pixel
Shift+Alt+arrowsshift characters by 10 pixels
These commands work when editing a regular text object. Kerning does not work in flowed text.
With no selection, they shift (horizontally or vertically) the characters after the cursor until the end of line.
With selection, they shift the selection relative to the rest of text (by inserting opposite kerns at both ends of selection).
The actual adjustment for pixel movements depends on zoom level. Zoom in for finer adjustment.

Rotate

Ctrl+[, Ctrl+]rotate character(s) by 90 degrees
Alt+[, Alt+]rotate character(s) by 1 pixel
These commands rotate the next character (without selection) or all characters in the selection (with selection).
Rotation only works in regular text (not flowed text).
The actual angle for pixel rotation depends on zoom level. Zoom in for finer movement.

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