Inkscape keyboard and mouse reference

Tools

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

+ F1, +s +	+ Selector +
+ Space +	+ Selector (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, +n +	+ Node tool +
+ + Shift + +F2, +w +	+ Tweak tool +
+ F3, +z +	+ Zoom tool +
+ F4, +r +	+ Rectangle tool +
+ + Shift + +F4, +x +	+ 3D box tool +
+ F5, +e +	+ Ellipse/arc tool +
+ + Shift + +F9, +* +	+ Star tool +
+ F9, +i +	+ Spiral tool +
+ F6, +p +	+ Pencil (Freehand) tool +
+ + Shift + +F6, +b +	+ Pen (Bezier) tool +
+ + Ctrl + +F6, +c +	+ Calligraphy tool +
+ F8, +t +	+ Text tool +
+ + Shift + +F3, +a +	+ Spray tool +
+ + Shift + +E +	+ Eraser tool +
+ + Shift + +F7, +u +	+ Paint Bucket tool +
+ + Ctrl + +F1, +g +	+ Gradient tool +
+ F7, +d +	+ Dropper tool +
+ + Ctrl + +F2, +o +	+ Connector tool +
+ Double click on the tool buttons opens the Preferences dialog showing the page of the corresponding tool. +

+

+ +

Dialogs

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

+ + Open +
+ + Shift + + + Ctrl + +F +	+ Fill and Stroke +
+ + Shift + + + Ctrl + +W +	+ Swatches +
+ + Shift + + + Ctrl + +T +	+ Text and Font +
+ + Shift + + + Ctrl + +M +	+ Transform +
+ + Shift + + + Ctrl + +L +	+ Layers +
+ + Shift + + + Ctrl + +A +	+ Align and Distribute +
+ + Shift + + + Ctrl + +O +	+ Object Properties +
+ + Shift + + + Ctrl + +H +	+ Undo History +
+ + Shift + + + Ctrl + +X +	+ XML Editor +
+ + Shift + + + Ctrl + +D +	+ Document Preferences +
+ + Shift + + + Ctrl + +P +	+ Inkscape Preferences +
+ + Shift + + + Ctrl + +E +	+ Export to PNG +
+ + Ctrl + +F +	+ Find +
+ + Shift + + + Alt + +B +	+ Trace Bitmap +
+ + Shift + + + Ctrl + +7 +	+ Path Effects +
+ + Ctrl + + + Alt + +K +	+ Check Spelling +
+ These shortcuts open a new dialog window if it wasn't open yet, otherwise the corresponding dialog gets focus. +
+ + Toggle visibility +
+ F12 +	+ toggle dialogs +
+ This temporarily hides all open dialogs; another F12 shows them again. +
+ + Within a dialog +
+ Esc +	+ return to the canvas +
+ + Ctrl + +F4, + + Ctrl + +W +	+ close the dialog +
+ Tab +	+ jump to next widget +
+ + Shift + +Tab +	+ jump to previous widget +
+ Enter +	+ set the new value +
+ This accepts the new value you typed in a text field and returns focus to canvas. +
+ + Ctrl + +Enter +	+ in 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, +Enter +	+ activate current button or list +
+ + Ctrl + +PgUp, + + Ctrl + +PgDn +	+ in 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 + +X +	+ jump to the first editable field +
+ + Navigate +
+ Tab +	+ jump to next field +
+ + Shift + +Tab +	+ jump 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 arrow +	+ change value by 0.1 +
+ PgUp, +PgDn +	+ change value by 5.0 +
+ Enter +	+ accept the new value +
+ This accepts the new value you typed in a text field and returns focus to canvas. +
+ Esc +	+ cancel changes, return to canvas +
+ This cancels any changes you made in a text field and returns focus to canvas. +
+ + Ctrl + +Z +	+ cancel 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 click +	+ zoom in +
+ + Shift + +middle click, + + Shift + +right click +	+ zoom out +
+ + Ctrl + +mouse wheel +	+ zoom 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 drag +	+ zoom into the area +
+ + Alt + +Z +	+ activate zoom field +
+ The zoom field in the lower right corner of the window allows you to specify zoom level precisely. +
+ + Preset zooms +
+ 1 +	+ zoom 1:1 +
+ 2 +	+ zoom 1:2 +
+ 3 +	+ zoom to selection +
+ 4 +	+ zoom to drawing +
+ 5 +	+ zoom to page +
+ + Ctrl + +E, +6 +	+ zoom 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 + +arrows +	+ scroll 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 drag +	+ pan canvas +
+ + Shift + +right button drag, + + Ctrl + +right button drag +	+ pan canvas +
+ mouse wheel +	+ scroll 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 wheel +	+ scroll 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 drag +	+ drag 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. +
+ mouse drag +	+ drag a guide to move it +
+ + Shift + +mouse drag +	+ drag a guide (not near anchor) to rotate it +
+ + Shift + + + Ctrl + +mouse drag +	+ rotate guide with angle snapping +
+ + Del + +	+ delete guide +
+ \|, + + 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 + +3 +	+ toggle 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 5 +	+ toggle normal/no filters/outline mode +

+

+ +

Palette

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

+ These keys work both in the floating palette dialog and in the palette frame at the bottom of the window. +
+ click +	+ set fill color on selection +
+ + Shift + +click +	+ set stroke color on selection +
+ right click +	+ open pop-up menu +
+ mouse drag +	+ drag fill color to objects +
+ + Shift + +mouse drag +	+ drag 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 + +N +	+ create new document +
+ + Ctrl + +O +	+ open a document +
+ + Shift + + + Ctrl + +E +	+ export to PNG +
+ + Ctrl + +I +	+ import bitmap or vector +
+ + Ctrl + +P +	+ print document +
+ + Ctrl + +S +	+ save document +
+ + Shift + + + Ctrl + +S +	+ save under a new name +
+ + Shift + + + Ctrl + + + Alt + +S +	+ save a copy +
+ + Ctrl + +Q +	+ exit Inkscape +

+

+ +

Window

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

+ + Ctrl + +R +	+ toggle rulers +
+ + Ctrl + +B +	+ toggle scrollbars +
+ F11 +	+ toggle fullscreen +
+ F10 +	+ main menu +
+ Menus can also be activated by Alt with the letter underscored in the menu name. +
+ + Shift + +F10, +right click +	+ drop-down (context) menu +
+ + Ctrl + +F4, + + Ctrl + +W +	+ close document window +
+ This shuts down Inkscape if it was the only document window open. +
+ + Ctrl + +Tab +	+ next document window +
+ + Shift + + + Ctrl + +Tab +	+ previous document window +
+ These cycle through the active document windows forward and backward. +

+

+ +

Layers

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

+ + Shift + + + Ctrl + +N +	+ create new layer +
+ + Shift + +PgUp +	+ move to layer above +
+ + Shift + +PgDn +	+ move to layer below +
+ These commands move the selected objects from one layer to another. +
+ + Shift + + + Ctrl + +PgUp +	+ raise layer +
+ + Shift + + + Ctrl + +PgDn +	+ lower layer +
+ + Shift + + + Ctrl + +Home +	+ raise layer to top +
+ + Shift + + + Ctrl + +End +	+ lower layer to bottom +
+ These commands move the current layer among its siblings (normally other layers). +

+

+ +

Object

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

+ + Undo/redo +
+ + Shift + + + Ctrl + +Y, + + Ctrl + +Z +	+ undo +
+ + Shift + + + Ctrl + +Z, + + Ctrl + +Y +	+ redo +
+ + Clipboard +
+ + Ctrl + +C +	+ copy selection +
+ + Ctrl + +X +	+ cut selection +
+ + Ctrl + +V +	+ paste 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 clipboard into the current text object. +
+ + Ctrl + + + Alt + +V +	+ paste in place +
+ This places the clipboard objects into the original location from which they were copied. +
+ + Shift + + + Ctrl + +V +	+ paste 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 + +7 +	+ paste path effect +
+ This applies the path effect of the copied path to the paths/shapes in current selection. +
+ + Duplicate +
+ + Ctrl + +D +	+ duplicate selection +
+ New object(s) are placed exactly over the original(s) and selected. +
+ + Clone +
+ + Alt + +D +	+ clone 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 + +D +	+ unlink clone +
+ Unlinking a clone cuts the link to the original, turning the clone into a plain copy. +
+ + Shift + +D +	+ select 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 + +B +	+ create 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 + +B +	+ trace bitmap +
+ This opens the Trace Bitmap dialog allowing you to convert a bitmap object to path(s). +
+ + Patterns +
+ + Alt + +I +	+ object(s) to pattern +
+ This converts the selection to a rectangle with tiled pattern fill. +
+ + Shift + + + Alt + +I +	+ pattern 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 + +G +	+ group selected objects +
+ Use Ctrl+click to select objects within group. +
+ + Shift + + + Ctrl + +G, + + Ctrl + +U +	+ ungroup selected group(s) +
+ This removes only one level of grouping; press Ctrl+U repeatedly to ungroup nested groups. +
+ + Z-order +
+ Home +	+ raise selection to top +
+ End +	+ lower selection to bottom +
+ PgUp +	+ raise selection one step +
+ PgDn +	+ lower selection one step +

+

+ +

Path

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

+ + Convert to path +
+ + Shift + + + Ctrl + +C +	+ convert selected object(s) to path +
+ + Ctrl + + + Alt + +C +	+ convert 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 + +J +	+ create dynamic offset +
+ + Ctrl + + + Alt + +J +	+ create linked offset +
+ 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. +
+ + Combine +
+ + 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. +
+ + Simplify +
+ + Ctrl + +L +	+ simplify +
+ 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) +
+ click +	+ select an object +
+ When you left-click on an object, previous selection is deselected. +
+ + Shift + +click +	+ toggle selection +
+ Shift+click adds an object to the current selection if it was not selected, or deselects it otherwise. +
+ click+click +	+ edit 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 a temporary layer). +
+ Double clicking in empty space switches to the parent layer in the hierarchy, if any. +
+ + Rubberband, touch selection +
+ mouse drag +	+ select by rubberband +
+ Dragging around objects does "rubberband" selection; previous selection is deselected. +
+ + Shift + +mouse drag +	+ add 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 drag +	+ select 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) +
+ Tab +	+ select next object +
+ + Shift + +Tab +	+ select 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 + +A +	+ select all (current layer) +
+ This works on objects within the current layer (unless you change that in preferences). +
+ + Ctrl + + + Alt + +A +	+ select 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. +
+ Esc +	+ deselect +
+ Backspace, +Del +	+ delete selection +
+ + Select within group, select under +
+ + Ctrl + +click +	+ select within group +
+ Ctrl+click selects the object at click point disregarding any levels of grouping that this object might belong to. +
+ + Shift + + + Ctrl + +click +	+ toggle selection within group +
+ + Alt + +click +	+ select 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 GNU/Linux, Alt+click and Alt+drag may be reserved by the window manager. Reconfigure it so you can use them in Inkscape. +
+ 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 + +click +	+ toggle under +
+ + Ctrl + + + Alt + +click +	+ select under, in groups +
+ + Shift + + + Ctrl + + + Alt + +click +	+ toggle under, in groups +
+ + Ctrl + +Enter +	+ enter group +
+ + Ctrl + +Backspace +	+ go to parent group/layer +
+ + Move (mouse) +
+ mouse drag +	+ select + move +
+ Dragging an object selects it if it was not selected, then moves selection. +
+ + Alt + +mouse drag +	+ move selected +
+ Alt+drag moves the current selection (without selecting what is under cursor), no matter where you start the drag. +
+ On GNU/Linux, Alt+click and Alt+drag may be reserved by the window manager. Reconfigure it so you can use them in Inkscape. +
+ If your keyboard has a Meta key, you may wish to set your "Modifier key" to use it instead of Alt. +
+ + Ctrl + +mouse drag +	+ restrict movement to horizontal or vertical +
+ + Shift + +mouse drag +	+ temporarily disable snapping +
+ This temporarily disables snapping to grid or guides when you are dragging with grid or guides on. +
+ mouse drag+Space +	+ drop 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) +
+ arrows +	+ move selection by the nudge distance +
+ + Shift + +arrows +	+ move selection by 10x nudge distance +
+ The default nudge distance is 2 px (SVG pixel units, not screen pixels). +
+ + Alt + +arrows +	+ move selection by 1 pixel +
+ + Shift + + + Alt + +arrows +	+ move selection by 10 pixels +
+ The actual distance for pixel movements depends on zoom level. Zoom in for finer movement. +
+ + Transform (mouse) +
+ click, + + Shift + +S +	+ toggle scale/rotation handles +
+ mouse drag +	+ scale (with scale handles) +
+ mouse drag +	+ rotate or skew (with rotation handles) +
+ + Scale by handles +
+ mouse drag +	+ scale +
+ + Ctrl + +mouse drag +	+ scale preserving aspect ratio +
+ + Shift + +mouse drag +	+ symmetric transformation +
+ Holding Shift while transforming makes transformation symmetric around the center of the selection. +
+ + Alt + +mouse drag +	+ scale 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 drag +	+ rotate or skew +
+ + Ctrl + +mouse drag +	+ snap skew angle +
+ Holding Ctrl when dragging a skew (non-corner) handle snaps the skew angle to angle steps (default 15 degrees). +
+ + Ctrl + +mouse drag +	+ snap 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 +
+ h +	+ flip selection horizontally +
+ v +	+ flip 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 drag +	+ move rotation center +
+ Moved rotation center remembers and saves its position for (all) selected object(s); you can reset it. +
+ + Shift + +mouse drag +	+ move without snapping +
+ + Shift + +click +	+ reset rotation center +
+ Resetting rotation center moves it back to the geometric center of the object's or selection's bounding box. +
+ + Cancel +
+ Esc +	+ cancel 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) +
+ click +	+ click a non-selected object to select +
+ + Alt + +click +	+ select under +
+ + Shift + +click +	+ toggle selection +
+ These work the same as in Selector. The nodes or handles of the single selected object become editable. +
+ + Select nodes (mouse) +
+ click +	+ select a node +
+ Clicking on a node selects it. +
+ click +	+ select two adjacent nodes +
+ Clicking on a selected path between the nodes selects the two nodes closest to the click point. +
+ + Shift + +click +	+ toggle selection +
+ This adds/removes a node (if clicked on node) or two nodes (if clicked on path) to/from the node selection. +
+ click +	+ deselect +
+ Clicking in an empty space deselects all selected nodes. Next click will deselect the object. +
+ + Rubberband selection +
+ mouse drag +	+ select multiple nodes +
+ Dragging around nodes does "rubberband" selection; previous node selection is deselected. +
+ + Shift + +mouse drag +	+ add 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) +
+ Tab +	+ select next node +
+ + Shift + +Tab +	+ select previous node +
+ These keys select nodes within the selected path. +
+ + Ctrl + +A +	+ select 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 + +A +	+ select 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. +
+ Esc +	+ deselect all nodes +
+ + Grow/shrink node selection +
+ PgUp, +PgDn +	+ grow/shrink selection (spatial) +
+ mouse wheel +	+ grow/shrink selection (spatial) +
+ + Ctrl + +PgUp, + + Ctrl + +PgDn +	+ grow/shrink selection (along path) +
+ + Ctrl + +mouse wheel +	+ grow/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 drag +	+ move selected nodes +
+ + Ctrl + +mouse drag +	+ restrict movement to horizontal or vertical +
+ + Ctrl + + + Alt + +mouse drag +	+ move 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 drag +	+ temporarily disable snapping +
+ + Shift + +mouse drag +	+ drag out handle +
+ If a node has a retracted handle, dragging with Shift lets you drag it out of the node. +
+ mouse drag+Space +	+ drop 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 drag +	+ sculpt 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) +
+ arrows +	+ move selected node(s) by the nudge distance +
+ + Shift + +arrows +	+ move selected node(s) by 10x nudge distance +
+ The default nudge distance is 2 px (SVG pixel units, not screen pixels). +
+ + Alt + +arrows +	+ move selected node(s) by 1 pixel +
+ + Shift + + + Alt + +arrows +	+ move 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 drag +	+ move a node handle +
+ + Ctrl + +mouse drag +	+ snap 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 drag +	+ rotate both handles +
+ + Alt + +mouse drag +	+ lock the handle length +
+ Ctrl, Shift, Alt can be combined when dragging handles. +
+ + Ctrl + +click +	+ retract 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 +
+ + Handles visibility +
+ + Ctrl + +H +	+ toggle handles +
+ + 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. +
+ h +	+ flip nodes horizontally +
+ v +	+ flip 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 + +L +	+ make line +
+ + Shift + +U +	+ make curve +
+ These commands require that more than two adjacent nodes be selected. +
+ + Change node type +
+ + Shift + +C +	+ make cusp +
+ First Shift+C changes type of node; if you do another Shift+C on an already cusp node, it retracts its handles. +
+ + Shift + +S +	+ make smooth +
+ If a cusp node is adjacent to a line segment, first Shift+S makes it half-smooth with one handle collinear +with the segment; another Shift+S will expand a second handle. +
+ + Shift + +Y +	+ make symmetric +
+ When making smooth or symmetric, you can lock the position of one of the handles by hovering mouse over it. +
+ + Shift + +A +	+ make auto +
+ + Ctrl + +click +	+ toggle smooth/cusp/symmetric/auto +
+ + Join/break +
+ + Shift + +J +	+ join 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. +
+ + Alt + +J +	+ join selected end nodes with new segment +
+ + Shift + +B +	+ break 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, +Del +	+ delete selected node(s) +
+ + Ctrl + +Backspace, + + Ctrl + +Del +	+ delete 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. +
+ + Alt + +Del +	+ delete segment between two non-endpoint nodes +
+ + Ctrl + + + Alt + +click +	+ create/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). +
+ click+click +	+ create node +
+ Double clicking on the path between nodes creates a node in the click point. +
+ Ins, + + Shift + +I +	+ insert 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 + +D +	+ duplicate selected node(s) +
+ New nodes are created on the same path; they are placed exactly over the old ones and are selected. +
+ + Reverse +
+ + Shift + +R +	+ reverse 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. +
+ + Edit fills and path effects +
+ Node tool can also edit the handles of a pattern fill, gradient fill, and the editable handles of path effects. +
+ + Cancel +
+ Esc +	+ cancel rubberband or move +
+ Press Esc while mouse button is still down to cancel rubberband selection, node move, or handle move. +

+

+ +

Tweak tool

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

+ + Operation +
+ mouse drag +	+ act on selected paths in the current mode +
+ + Shift + +mouse drag +	+ reverse current mode (when applicable) +
+ + Ctrl + +mouse drag +	+ act temporarily switching to shrink mode +
+ + Shift + + + Ctrl + +mouse drag +	+ act 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 + +M, + + Shift + +0 +	+ move mode +
+ + Shift + +I, + + Shift + +1 +	+ move in/out mode +
+ Drag moves objects inwards to cursor, drag with Shift moves outwards from cursor. +
+ + Shift + +Z, + + Shift + +2 +	+ move jitter mode +
+ + Shift + +< +	+ scale mode +
+ Drag scales objects down, drag with Shift scales up. +
+ + Shift + +[ +	+ rotate mode +
+ Drag rotates objects clockwise, drag with Shift, counterclockwise. +
+ + Shift + +D, + + Shift + +5 +	+ duplicate/delete mode +
+ Drag randomly duplicates objects, drag with Shift randomly deletes. +
+ + Shift + +P, + + Shift + +6 +	+ push path mode +
+ + Shift + +S, + + Shift + +7 +	+ shrink/grow path mode +
+ Drag insets paths, drag with Shift outsets. +
+ + Shift + +A, + + Shift + +8 +	+ attract/repel path mode +
+ Drag attracts paths to cursor, drag with Shift repels. +
+ + Shift + +R, + + Shift + +9 +	+ roughen mode +
+ + Shift + +C +	+ color paint mode +
+ + Shift + +J +	+ color jitter mode +
+ + Shift + +B +	+ blur mode +
+ + Parameters +
+ Left arrow, +Right arrow +	+ adjust brush width by 1 +
+ Home, +End +	+ set brush width to 1 / 100 +
+ Up arrow, +Down arrow +	+ adjust tweaking force +
+ Width and force can be adjusted while drawing. With a pressure-sensitive tablet, force also depends on pen pressure. +

+

+ +

Zoom tool

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

+ click +	+ zoom in +
+ + Shift + +click +	+ zoom out +
+ mouse drag +	+ zoom into the area +

+

+ +

Rectangle tool

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

+ + Draw +
+ mouse drag +	+ draw a rectangle +
+ + Ctrl + +mouse drag +	+ make a square or integer-ratio rectangle +
+ This restricts rectangle so its height/width ratio is a whole number. +
+ + Shift + +mouse drag +	+ draw around the starting point +
+ This creates a rectangle symmetric around the starting point of the mouse drag. +
+ + Select +
+ click +	+ click to select +
+ + Alt + +click, + + Ctrl + + + Alt + +click +	+ select under +
+ + Shift + +click +	+ toggle selection +
+ In this tool, selecting by click disregards any grouping (i.e. acts as clicking with Ctrl in Selector). +
+ Esc +	+ deselect +
+ + Resize by handles +
+ mouse drag +	+ drag 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 drag +	+ lock width, height, or ratio +
+ + Round corners by handles +
+ mouse drag +	+ drag a circular handle to round corners +
+ Initially, the two rounding handles are in the top right corner of the rectangle. +
+ + Ctrl + +mouse drag +	+ lock the corner circular +
+ + Ctrl + +click +	+ set 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 + +click +	+ remove corner rounding +

+

+ +

3D box tool

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

+ + Draw +
+ mouse drag +	+ draw a 3D box (X/Y plane) +
+ + Shift + +mouse drag +	+ draw a 3D box (extrude in Z) +
+ + Select +
+ click +	+ click to select +
+ + Alt + +click, + + Ctrl + + + Alt + +click +	+ select under +
+ + Shift + +click +	+ toggle selection +
+ Esc +	+ deselect +
+ + Edit by handles +
+ All editing operations occur "in perspective", i.e., either along perspective lines or within planes spanned by these. +
+ mouse drag +	+ resize/move box +
+ The four front handles and the center normally move within the XY plane, the four rear handles along the Z axis. +
+ + Shift + +mouse drag +	+ resize/move (with handle behaviour swapped) +
+ + Ctrl + +mouse drag +	+ resize/move (handles snap to axes or diagonals) +
+ + Edit perspectives +
+ In what follows, we use the abbreviations VP = vanishing point, PL = perspective line. +
+ mouse drag +	+ drag 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 +

+

+ +

Ellipse tool

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

+ + Draw +
+ Without Alt the starting and 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 drag +	+ draw an ellipse +
+ + Ctrl + +mouse drag +	+ make circle or integer-ratio ellipse +
+ This restricts ellipse so its height/width ratio is a whole number. +
+ + Shift + +mouse drag +	+ draw around the starting point +
+ This creates an ellipse symmetric around the starting point of the mouse drag. +
+ + Ctrl + + + Alt + +mouse drag +	+ create circle passing through the starting and ending point +
+ This creates a perfect circle whose diameter is defined by the starting and ending point of the mouse drag. +
+ + Select +
+ click +	+ click to select +
+ + Alt + +click, + + Ctrl + + + Alt + +click +	+ select under +
+ + Shift + +click +	+ toggle selection +
+ In this tool, selecting by click disregards any grouping (i.e. acts as clicking with Ctrl in Selector). +
+ Esc +	+ deselect +
+ + Edit by handles +
+ mouse drag +	+ resize, 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 drag +	+ lock circle (resize handles) +
+ + Ctrl + +mouse drag +	+ snap 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 + +click +	+ make whole (arc/segment handles) +

+

+ +

Star tool

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

+ + Draw +
+ mouse drag +	+ draw a star +
+ + Ctrl + +mouse drag +	+ snap star to angle steps +
+ The default angle step is 15 degrees. +
+ + Select +
+ click +	+ click to select +
+ + Alt + +click, + + Ctrl + + + Alt + +click +	+ select under +
+ + Shift + +click +	+ toggle selection +
+ In this tool, selecting by click disregards any grouping (i.e. acts as clicking with Ctrl in Selector). +
+ Esc +	+ deselect +
+ + Edit by handles +
+ mouse drag +	+ drag a handle to vary the star shape +
+ + Ctrl + +mouse drag +	+ keep star rays radial (no skew) +
+ + Shift + +mouse drag +	+ round the star +
+ + Shift + +click +	+ remove rounding +
+ + Alt + +mouse drag +	+ randomize the star +
+ + Alt + +click, + + Ctrl + + + Alt + +click +	+ remove randomization +

+

+ +

Spiral tool

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

+ + Draw +
+ mouse drag +	+ draw a spiral +
+ + Ctrl + +mouse drag +	+ snap spiral to angle steps +
+ The default angle step is 15 degrees. +
+ + Select +
+ click +	+ click to select +
+ + Alt + +click, + + Ctrl + + + Alt + +click +	+ select under +
+ + Shift + +click +	+ toggle selection +
+ In this tool, selecting by click disregards any grouping (i.e. acts as clicking with Ctrl in Selector). +
+ Esc +	+ deselect +
+ + Edit by handles +
+ mouse drag +	+ roll/unroll from inside (inner handle) +
+ Dragging the inner handle adjusts the "inner radius" parameter. +
+ + Alt + +mouse drag +	+ converge/diverge (inner handle) +
+ + Alt + +click, + + Ctrl + + + Alt + +click +	+ reset divergence (inner handle) +
+ Vertical Alt+drag of the inner handle adjusts the "divergence" parameter, Alt+click resets it to 1. +
+ + Shift + +click +	+ zero inner radius (inner handle) +
+ Shift+click on inner handle makes the spiral start from the center. +
+ mouse drag +	+ roll/unroll from outside (outer handle) +
+ Dragging the outer handle adjusts the "turns" parameter. Use Alt+drag to roll/unroll without changing radius. +
+ + Shift + +mouse drag +	+ scale/rotate (outer handle) +
+ Use Shift+Alt+drag to rotate only (locks the radius of the spiral). +
+ + Ctrl + +mouse drag +	+ snap handles to angle steps +
+ The default angle step is 15 degrees. This works for both handles. +

+

+ +

Pencil tool

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

+ mouse drag +	+ draw a freehand line +
+ + Shift + +mouse drag +	+ add to selected path +
+ If a path is selected, Shift+clicking anywhere starts a new subpath instead of a new independent path. +
+ + Shift + +mouse drag +	+ temporarily disable snapping +
+ This temporarily disables snapping to grid or guides when you are dragging with grid or guides on. +
+ + Alt + +mouse drag +	+ averaging draw (sketch mode) +
+ + Create dots +
+ + Ctrl + +click +	+ create a dot +
+ This creates a small circle. Its size (relative to the current stroke width) can be set in Preferences. +
+ + Shift + + + Ctrl + +click +	+ create a double-sized dot +
+ + Ctrl + + + Alt + +click +	+ create a random-sized dot +

+

+ +

Pen (Bezier) tool

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

+ + Create nodes +
+ click +	+ create a sharp node +
+ If no path is being created, this starts a new path. +
+ + Shift + +click +	+ add to selected path +
+ If a path is selected, Shift+dragging anywhere creates a new subpath instead of a new independent path. +
+ mouse drag +	+ create a Bezier node with two handles +
+ + Shift + +mouse drag +	+ move only one handle +
+ This moves only one handle (instead of both) while creating a node, making it cusp. +
+ + Ctrl + +mouse drag +	+ snap 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. +
+ arrows +	+ move last node by the nudge distance +
+ + Shift + +arrows +	+ move last node by 10x nudge distance +
+ The default nudge distance is 2 px (SVG pixel units, not screen pixels). +
+ + Alt + +arrows +	+ move last node by 1 pixel +
+ + Shift + + + Alt + +arrows +	+ move 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 + +L +	+ make last segment line +
+ + Shift + +U +	+ make last segment curve +
+ These commands change the last (red) segment of the path to straight line or curve. +
+ + Create dots +
+ + Ctrl + +click +	+ create a dot (straight line modes only) +
+ This creates a small circle. Its size (relative to the current stroke width) can be set in Preferences. +
+ + Shift + + + Ctrl + +click +	+ create a double-sized dot +
+ + Ctrl + + + Alt + +click +	+ create a random-sized dot +
+ + Finish +
+ Enter +	+ finish current line +
+ right click +	+ finish current line +
+ click+click +	+ finish current line +
+ Enter, right click, or double left click finish the current line, discarding the last unfinished (red) segment. +
+ + Cancel +
+ Esc, + + Ctrl + +Z +	+ cancel current line +
+ Backspace, +Del +	+ erase last segment of current line +

+

+ +

Calligraphy tool

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

+ mouse drag +	+ draw a calligraphic line +
+ + Shift + +mouse drag +	+ add to selected path +
+ Drawing with Shift unions the newly created stroke with the previous selection. +
+ + Alt + +mouse drag +	+ subtract from selected path +
+ Drawing with Alt subtracts the newly created stroke from the previous selection. +
+ + Ctrl + +mouse drag +	+ track a guide path +
+ Drawing with Ctrl tracks a selected guide path at the constant distance. +
+ Left arrow, +Right arrow +	+ adjust pen width by 1 +
+ Home, +End +	+ set pen width to 1 or 100 +
+ Up arrow, +Down arrow +	+ adjust pen angle +
+ Width and angle can be adjusted while drawing. +
+ Esc +	+ deselect +

+

+ +

Text tool

+ + Select/create +
+ click +	+ create/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. +
+ Esc +	+ deselect the text object +
+ + Navigate in text +
+ arrows +	+ move cursor by one character +
+ + Ctrl + +Left arrow, + + Ctrl + +Right arrow +	+ move cursor by one word +
+ + Ctrl + +Up arrow, + + Ctrl + +Down arrow +	+ move cursor by one paragraph +
+ Home, +End +	+ go to beginning/end of line +
+ + Ctrl + +Home, + + Ctrl + +End +	+ go to beginning/end of text +
+ PgUp, +PgDn +	+ move cursor by one screen +
+ All these commands cancel current text selection, if any. Use them with Shift to extend selection instead. +
+ + Flowed text (internal frame) +
+ mouse drag +	+ create flowed text +
+ Clicking and dragging in an empty space or on a non-text creates a flowed text object with internal frame. +
+ mouse drag +	+ adjust frame size +
+ Dragging the handle in the lower right corner of the selected flowed text changes width/height of the frame. +
+ + Ctrl + +mouse drag +	+ lock 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 + +W +	+ flow 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. +
+ + Shift + + + Alt + +W +	+ unflow text from frame +
+ This cuts the flowed text's link to the shape/path, producing a single-line regular text object. +
+ + Shift + +D +	+ select 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 + +D +	+ select 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). +
+ Enter +	+ start a new line or paragraph +
+ Enter in regular text creates new line; in flowed text it creates a new paragraph. +
+ + Ctrl + +U +	+ toggle 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 + +Space +	+ insert no-break space +
+ A no-break space is visible even in a text object without xml:space="preserve". +
+ + Select text +
+ mouse drag +	+ select text +
+ Left-dragging over a text object selects a text span. +
+ + Shift + +arrows +	+ select text by character +
+ + Shift + + + Ctrl + +arrows +	+ select text by word +
+ + Shift + +Home, + + Shift + +End +	+ select to beginning/end of line +
+ + Shift + + + Ctrl + +Home, + + Shift + + + Ctrl + +End +	+ select to beginning/end of text +
+ + Shift + +PgUp, + + Shift + +PgDn +	+ select one screen up/down +
+ click+click +	+ select word +
+ click+click+click +	+ select line +
+ + Ctrl + +A +	+ select all text +
+ This selects the entire text of the current text object. +
+ + Style selection +
+ + Ctrl + +B +	+ make selection bold +
+ + Ctrl + +I +	+ make 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 + +arrows +	+ shift characters by 1 pixel +
+ + Shift + + + Alt + +arrows +	+ shift 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. +

+

+ +

Spray tool

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

+ + Modes +
+ + Shift + +J +	+ copy mode +
+ + Shift + +K +	+ clone mode +
+ + Shift + +L +	+ single path mode +
+ + Parameters +
+ Left arrow, +Right arrow +	+ adjust spray width by 1 +
+ Up arrow, +Down arrow +	+ adjust spray population by 1 +
+ Home, +End +	+ set spray width to 1 / 100 +

+

+ +

Eraser tool

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

+ Left arrow, +Right arrow +	+ adjust eraser width by 1 +
+ Home, +End +	+ set eraser width to 1 / 100 +

+

+ +

Paint Bucket

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

+ click +	+ fill a bounded area +
+ + Shift + +click +	+ add to selected path +
+ Clicking with Shift unions the newly created fill with the previous selection. +
+ mouse drag +	+ fill 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 drag +	+ fill 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 + +click +	+ set fill color +
+ + Shift + + + Ctrl + +click +	+ set 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 +
+ click +	+ click an object to select +
+ + Alt + +click +	+ select under +
+ + Shift + +click +	+ toggle selection +
+ + Create gradients +
+ mouse drag +	+ create gradient +
+ This creates gradient on selected objects. The Controls bar lets you select linear/radial and fill/stroke for the new gradient. +
+ click+click +	+ create 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 +
+ click +	+ select a handle +
+ + Shift + +click +	+ add handle to selection +
+ + Shift + +mouse drag +	+ select by rubberband +
+ Tab +	+ select next handle +
+ + Shift + +Tab +	+ select previous handle +
+ + Ctrl + +A +	+ select all handles +
+ Esc +	+ deselect all handles +
+ Single click outside all handles also deselects all handles. +
+ + Create/delete intermediate stops +
+ + Ctrl + + + Alt + +click +	+ create a stop +
+ click+click +	+ create a stop +
+ Ctrl+Alt+click or double click on a gradient line creates a new intermediate stop. +
+ + Ctrl + + + Alt + +click +	+ delete stop +
+ Ctrl+Alt+click on a stop's handle deletes the stop; if it was an end stop, gradient shortens or disappears. +
+ Ins +	+ insert 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. +
+ Del +	+ delete selected stops +
+ + Move handles/stops +
+ mouse drag +	+ move selected handle(s) +
+ + Ctrl + +mouse drag +	+ move stops in 1/10 range increments +
+ Ctrl+dragging selected intermediate stops moves them snapping to 1/10 steps of the available range. +
+ + Alt + +mouse drag +	+ sculpt 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. +
+ arrows +	+ move selected handle by the nudge distance +
+ + Shift + +arrows +	+ move selected handle by 10x nudge distance +
+ The default nudge distance is 2 px (SVG pixel units, not screen pixels). +
+ + Alt + +arrows +	+ move selected handle by 1 pixel +
+ + Shift + + + Alt + +arrows +	+ move 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 + +R +	+ reverse gradient definition +
+ This mirrors the stop positions of the current gradient without moving the gradient handles. +
+ + Gradient editor +
+ click+click +	+ open 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

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

+ click +	+ pick fill color +
+ + Shift + +click +	+ pick stroke color +
+ mouse drag +	+ average fill color +
+ + Shift + +mouse drag +	+ average 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 + +click +	+ pick inverse color +
+ If Alt is pressed, picking color (with or without Shift, by click or by drag) picks the inverse of the color. +
+ + Ctrl + +C +	+ copy color +
+ This copies the color under cursor to the clipboard, as text in RRGGBBAA format (8 hex digits). +

+

Inkscape keyboard and mouse reference

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)

+ Handles visibility

+ 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

+ Edit fills and path effects

+ Cancel

Tweak tool

+ Operation

+ Modes

+ Parameters

Zoom tool

Rectangle tool