Pixelmator Pro keyboard shortcuts
You can use keyboard shortcuts to quickly accomplish many tasks in Pixelmator Pro. To use a keyboard shortcut, press all the keys in the shortcut at the same time.
While Pixelmator Pro comes with many pre-assigned keyboard shortcuts, you can also create some custom ones yourself to best suit your workflow. See Customize keyboard shortcuts to learn more.
Navigate an image
Zoom in
Command ⌘ + Plus +
Zoom out
Command ⌘ + Minus -
Temporarily turn on scrubby zoom
Press and hold Option ⌥ + Space on your keyboard, then click and drag on canvas
Zoom to fit
Command ⌘ + 0
View actual size
Command ⌘ + 1 or
Option ⌥ + Command ⌘ + 0
Select the Zoom tool
Z
Navigate using the Zoom tool
Click to zoom in, Option ⌥ – click to zoom out, drag over an area to zoom in to it
Scroll an image (use the Hand tool)
Press and hold Space, then drag the image or press H on your keyboard
Freely rotate the canvas
Press and hold Space + R, then click and drag to rotate the canvas
Select tools
Style
S
Arrange
V
Color Picker
I
Free Selection
L (selects the last used selection tool)
Rectangular Selection
M
Cycle through Free, Magnetic, and Polygonal selection tools
Shift ⇧ + L
Elliptical Selection
Y
Color Selection
W
Quick Selection
Q
Paint
B
Erase
E
Color Fill
N
Gradient Fill
G
Repair
R
Clone
O
Shape
U (selects the last used Shape)
Cycle through commonly used shape tools
Shift ⇧ + U
Pen
P (selects the last used Pen tool)
Cycle through Pen and Freeform Pen tools
Shift ⇧ + P
Type
T
Cycle through the Circular, Path, Freeform and the regular type tools
Shift ⇧ + T
Color Adjustments
A
Effects
F
Crop
C
Slice
K or Shift ⇧ + Command ⌘ + E
Zoom
Z
Hand
H
Open, save, and export images
Create a new image or template
Command ⌘ + N
Create a new image using a mockup
Option ⌥ + Shift ⇧ + Command ⌘ + N
Create a new image from clipboard
Option ⌥ + N
Open an image
Command ⌘ + O
Save an image
Command ⌘ + S
Duplicate an image
Shift ⇧ + Command ⌘ + S
Save an existing image as a new image
Option ⌥ + Shift ⇧ + Command ⌘ + S
Export an image
Command ⌘ + E
Export an image optimized for the web
Shift ⇧ + Command ⌘ + E
Create a new image from your Photos library
Option ⌥ + Command ⌘ + N
Basic edits
Undo last action
Command ⌘ + Z
Redo last action
Shift ⇧ + Command ⌘ + Z
Cut
Command ⌘ + X
Copy
Command ⌘ + C
Copy Merged
Option ⌥ + Shift ⇧ + Command ⌘ + C
Paste
Command ⌘ + V
Paste and match style
Option ⌥ + Shift ⇧ + Command ⌘ + V
Paste and match colors
Control ⌃ + Option ⌥ + Shift ⇧ + Command ⌘ + V
Duplicate layer or selected area
Command ⌘ + J or
Shift ⇧ + Command ⌘ + D
Cut and paste selected area
Shift ⇧ + Command ⌘ + J
Duplicate a layer and move it by a pixel
Press Option ⌥ and an arrow key
Duplicate a layer and move it by 10 pixels
Press Option ⌥ + Shift ⇧ and an arrow key
Change the size of the image
Option ⌥ + Command ⌘ + I
Use Super Resolution to increase the resolution of an image
Option ⌥ + Command ⌘ + U
Remove background
Shift ⇧ + Backspace ⌫
Change the size of the image canvas
Option ⌥ + Command ⌘ + C
Change the color profile of the image
Shift ⇧ + Command ⌘ + K
Replace layer
Shift ⇧ + Command ⌘ + R
Enter the color picker mode
Press and hold the Option ⌥ key and pick a color from an image
Work with layers
Create an empty new layer
Shift ⇧ + Command ⌘ + N
Insert an image or video as a layer from Finder
Shift ⇧ + Command ⌘ + V
Insert an image or video as a layer from Photos
Shift ⇧ + Command ⌘ + P
Delete selected layer(s) or clear selections
Backspace ⌫ key
Select all layers
Option ⌥ + Command ⌘ + A
Merge selected layers
Option ⌥ + Command ⌘ + E
Merge all layers
Option ⌥ + Shift ⇧ + Command ⌘ + E
Group layers
Command ⌘ + G
Ungroup layers
Shift ⇧ + Command ⌘ + G
Lock or unlock layers
Forward slash / key
Toggle layer visibility on and off
Option ⌥ + Command ⌘ + , (Comma)
Copy layer mask
Option ⌥ – drag a layer mask from one layer to another
Temporarily disable layer mask
Shift ⇧ – click a layer mask
Link or unlink a layer mask
Double–click the mask link line
Create a layer mask from image, shape or text
Command ⌘ – drag the image, shape or text onto a layer you'd like to mask
Create clipping mask
Option ⌥ – click between two layers in the Layers sidebar or press
Option ⌥ + Command ⌘ + G
Select next layer in layer list
Option ⌥ + Right bracket ]
Select previous layer in layer list
Option ⌥ + Left bracket [
Select top layer in layer list
Option ⌥ + Period .
Select bottom layer in layer list
Option ⌥ + Comma ,
Bring selected layer(s) forward
Command ⌘ + Right Bracket ]
Send selected layer(s) to the front
Option ⌥ + Command ⌘ + Right Bracket ]
Bring selected layer(s) backward
Command ⌘ + Left Bracket [
Send selected layer(s) to the back
Option ⌥ + Command ⌘ + Left Bracket [
Move a layer while any tool is active
Command ⌘ – drag the layer
Equally space objects horizontally
Option ⌥ + Command ⌘ + Control ⌃ + H
Equally space objects vertically
Option ⌥ + Command ⌘ + Control ⌃ + V
Style tool
Cycle through blend modes
Shift ⇧ + Plus + or Minus -
Set layer opacity
Press a number key once or twice quickly in succession. Press the 0 key once for 100% and twice for 0%
Temporarily view original layer without styles applied
Control ⌃ + M
Arrange tool
Resize a layer
Drag a layer handle
Duplicate a layer
Shift ⇧ + Command ⌘ + D or
Option ⌥ – drag
Disable alignment guides while moving or resizing
Command ⌘ – drag
Resize a layer from the center
Option ⌥ – drag a layer handle
Constrain the aspect ratio when resizing a layer
Shift ⇧ – drag
Constrain the aspect ratio when resizing a layer from the center
Option ⌥ + Shift ⇧ – drag a layer handle
Open the shortcut menu for the selected layer
Control ⌃ – click the layer
Rotate a layer
Command ⌘ – drag a layer handle
Rotate a layer in 15º steps
Shift ⇧ + Command ⌘ – drag a layer handle
Move a layer in a straight or diagonal line
Shift ⇧ – drag a layer
Align multiple layers according to their edges
Press Control ⌃ + Command ⌘ and an arrow key
Align multiple layers according to their centers
Control ⌃ + Command ⌘ + H (for horizontal centers) or V (for vertical centers)
Crop tool
Turn on the Crop tool
C
Adjust the position of the crop
Press an arrow key
Resize the crop box using constrained proportions
Shift ⇧ – drag a crop box handle
Keep the center of the crop box fixed when resizing
Option ⌥ – drag a crop box handle
Reset the original image height
Double-click the top-middle crop handle. Press and hold the Shift ⇧ key while double-clicking to reset the image height using constrained crop
Reset the original image width
Double-click the left or the right side handle. Press and hold the Shift ⇧ key while double-clicking to reset the image width using constrained crop
Reveal hidden areas of an image
Double-click inside the crop box
Crop to fit image contents
Command ⌘ – click a crop box handle
Switch from straightening to rotation
Command ⌘ – drag outside the crop box
Cycle through crop overlays
Command ⌘ + G
Rotate the crop overlay
Shift ⇧ + Command ⌘ + G
Free transform
Turn on Free Transform
Command ⌘ + T
Skew
Drag a transform handle while holding Shift ⇧ + Command ⌘
Distort
Drag a transform handle while holding the Command ⌘ key
Perspective Transform
Drag a transform handle while holding Option ⌥ + Shift ⇧ + Command ⌘
Selection tools
Select the entire image
Command ⌘ + A
Deselect an active selection
Command ⌘ + D
Invert a selection
Shift ⇧ + Command ⌘ + I
Load the outline of a layer as a selection
Option ⌥ + Command ⌘ + L or
Command ⌘ – click the thumbnail of a layer
Load grayscale selection
Shift ⇧ + Option ⌥ + Command ⌘ + L
Turn on Select and Mask
Option ⌥ + Command ⌘ + R
Turn on Smart Refine selection
Option ⌥ + Shift ⇧ + Command ⌘ + R
Select subject
Control ⌃ + S
Copy a selected area
Command ⌘ + C
Cut a selected area
Command ⌘ + X
Paste a selected area
Command ⌘ + V
Duplicate a selected area
Shift ⇧ + Command ⌘ + D
Constrain selection to a circle or a square
Press and hold Shift ⇧ after starting a selection
Add to a selection
Press and hold Shift ⇧ before starting to select
Subtract from a selection
Press and hold the Option ⌥ key before starting to select
Intersect a selection
Press and hold the Shift ⇧ and Option ⌥ keys before starting to select
Paint and erase
Reset foreground and background colors to white and black
D
Switch between foreground and background color
X
Paint or erase a vertical or horizontal line
Press and hold the Shift ⇧ key before starting to paint
Temporarily switch from painting to erasing
Press and hold ` or ~ on your keyboard
Navigate the brushes
Choose the next brush in the collection . or choose the previous brush ,
Stroke with brush
Option ⌥ + Command ⌘ + B
Increase or decrease brush size
Right bracket ] or Left bracket [
Increase or decrease brush softness
Shift ⇧ + Right bracket ] or Shift ⇧ + Left bracket [
Constrain gradient to 15º angle
Shift ⇧ – drag gradient
Pick a color from an image
Option ⌥ – click
Fill layer with color
Option ⌥ + Command ⌘ + F
Fill layer with background color
Command ⌘ + Backspace ⌫
Fill layer with foreground color
Option ⌥ + Backspace ⌫
Set Paint tool opacity
Press a number key once or twice quickly in succession. Press the 0 key for 100%, or 00 for 0%
Cycle through blend modes
Shift ⇧ + Plus + or Minus -
Clone tool
Choose the Clone tool
O
Set clone source
Option ⌥ – click
Draw shape
Choose the Shape tool
U
Unite a shape with the selected shape
Press and hold the Shift ⇧ key before starting to draw
Subtract a shape from the selected shape
Press and hold the Option ⌥ key before starting to draw
Intersect a shape with the selected shape
Press and hold Option ⌥ + Shift ⇧ before starting to draw
Move a shape on the canvas while using any shape tool
Command ⌘ – drag a shape
Select a different shape on the canvas while using any shape tool
Command ⌘ – click a shape
Select multiple shapes on the canvas while using any shape tool
Press and hold Command ⌘ + Shift ⇧ then click or drag to select shapes
Move multiple shapes on the canvas while using any shape tool
After selecting multiple shapes, press and hold the Command ⌘ key and drag the shapes
Edit shapes
Make a shape editable
Return ↵ key
Adjust the corner radius of a rounded rectangle shape
Command ⌘ – drag a corner radius handle
Adjust the radius of a single corner of a rounded rectangle shape
Option ⌥ + Command ⌘ – drag a corner radius handle
Break apart the direction lines of a smooth anchor point
Option ⌥ – drag a direction point
Rejoin the direction lines of a smooth anchor point
Option ⌥ – drag the opposite direction point
Select or deselect multiple anchor points
Shift ⇧ – click an anchor point or
Shift ⇧ – drag to draw a selection over multiple anchor points
Delete the selected anchor point(s)
Backspace ⌫ key
Stop editing a shape
Esc key
Draw paths with the Pen tool
Add a sharp point
Click anywhere in the image
Add a smooth point
Drag anywhere in the image
Delete the most recently added anchor point
Backspace ⌫ key
Adjust the direction lines of a smooth anchor point after adding it
Command ⌘ – drag a direction line
Break apart the direction lines of a smooth anchor point while adding it
Press and hold the Option ⌥ key while dragging to add an anchor point
Break apart the direction lines of a smooth anchor point after adding it
Option ⌥ – drag a direction point
Adjust the direction lines of a smooth anchor point after adding it
Command ⌘ – drag a direction line
Finish drawing a path and close it
Shift ⇧ + Return ↵ key
Finish drawing a path and leave it open
Return ↵ key
Type tool
Insert a text layer
Shift ⇧ + Command ⌘ + T
Insert a circular text layer
Option ⌥ + Shift ⇧ + Command ⌘ + T
Expand the text box to both directions
Option ⌥ – drag a text box handle
Move the text box along the path (when editing text on a path)
Shift ⇧ – drag a text box handle
Continue typing text from a new line instead of a new paragraph
Shift ⇧ + Return ↵
Color Adjustments
Color Adjustments
Add a color adjustments layer
Shift ⇧ + Command ⌘ + A
Automatically enhance the colors of an image (ML Enhance)
Shift ⇧ + Command ⌘ + M
Remove camera noise and image compression artifacts (Denoise)
Control ⌃ + Shift ⇧ + D
Remove color banding and compression artifacts from low-quality images (Deband)
Control ⌃ + Shift ⇧ + B
Apply the Hue & Saturation adjustment
Command ⌘ + U
Apply the Color Balance adjustment
Command ⌘ + B
Apply the Levels adjustment
Command ⌘ + L
Apply the Curves adjustment
Command ⌘ + K
Invert colors destructively
Command ⌘ + I
Temporarily view original layer without adjustments
Control ⌃ + M
Enter the Split Comparison view
Press Control ⌃ + C , Option ⌥ – click the Show Original button, or force click the canvas
Enable color soft proofing
Press Command ⌘ + Y
Effects
Add an effects layer
Shift ⇧ + Command ⌘ + F
Apply the Color Fill effect
Option ⌥ + Command ⌘ + F
Temporarily view original layer without effects
Control ⌃ + M
Edit videos
Play or pause all videos
Space
Play or pause selected video layers
Option ⌥ + Space
Move the video trimming bar without changing duration
Command ⌘ – one of the trimming handles
Templates browser
Open the templates browser
Command ⌘ + N
Show a preview of the selected template
Space
Show recent documents and templates
Command ⌘ + R
Open the list of image size presets
Option ⌥ + Command ⌘ + P
Photo browser
Open the Photo browser
Option ⌥ + Command ⌘ + N
Show a preview of the selected image or video
Space
Open image or video shortcut menu with more opening options
Control ⌃ – click the image or video thumbnail
Open original, unedited image
Option ⌥ – click the Open button in the Photo browser
Change the size of thumbnails in the Photo browser
Command ⌘ + Plus + or Command ⌘ + Minus -
General
Show Pixelmator Pro welcome screen
Command ⌘ + Shift ⇧ + 1
Show Pixelmator Pro settings
Command ⌘ + Comma ,
Show Pixelmator Pro help
Command ⌘ + Question mark ?
Show guides
Option ⌥ + Command ⌘ + Semicolon ;
Show rulers
Command ⌘ + R
Show grid
Option ⌥ + Command ⌘ + Apostrophe '
Show colors
Shift ⇧ + Command ⌘ + C
Show tool names
Control ⌃ + O
View document info
Shift ⇧ + Option ⌥ + Command ⌘ + I
Show Info bar
Command ⌘ + Forward slash /
Hide toolbar
Option ⌥ + Command ⌘ + T
Show or hide overlay
Shift ⇧ + Command ⌘ + H
Show or hide interface
Control ⌃ + H
Hide Tools sidebar
Option ⌥ + T
Hide or show the Layers sidebar
Option ⌥ + L
Switch Layers sidebar to List view
Option ⌥ + Shift ⇧ + L
Switch Layers sidebar to Thumbnails view
Control ⌃ + Shift ⇧ + L
Enter full screen
Fn + F or Control ⌃ + Command ⌘ + F
Close window
Shift ⇧ + Command ⌘ + W
Close all windows
Option ⌥ + Command ⌘ + Shift ⇧ + W
Close tab
Command ⌘ + W
Close other tabs
Option ⌥ + Command ⌘ + W
Show Next Tab
Control ⌃ + Tab ⇥
Show Previous Tab
Control ⌃ + Shift ⇧ + Tab ⇥
View All Tabs
Shift ⇧ + Command ⌘ + Backlash \
Cycle through windows
Command ⌘ + Grave `
Minimize window
Command ⌘ + M
Minimize all windows
Option ⌥ + Command ⌘ + M
Hide Pixelmator Pro
Command ⌘ + H
Hide others
Option ⌥ + Command ⌘ + H
Command ⌘ + P
Quit Pixelmator Pro
Command ⌘ + Q
Quit Pixelmator Pro and keep windows
Option ⌥ + Command ⌘ + Q
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