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Inkscape keyboard and mouse reference

Version 1.1.x

Last revision: 2021‐10‐28

This document describes the default keyboard and mouse shortcuts of Inkscape, corresponding to the
share/inkscape/keys/inkscape.xml file in your Inkscape installation. Some of the keyboard short‐
cuts may not be available for non‐US keyboard layouts, but most (not all) of these shortcuts are config‐
urable by the user. You can create custom shortcuts and load custom keyboard shortcut files in the
Inkscape Preferences, or by following the instructions in the default.xml file.

Unless noted otherwise, keypad keys (such as , , , , , ) are supposed to

work the same as corresponding regular keys.

Tools
Dialogs
Open
Toggle visibility
Within a dialog
XML editor

Tool controls bar

Access
Navigate
Change values

Canvas
Zoom
Preset zooms
Zoom history
Scroll (pan)
Guides, grids, snapping
Display/Color mode
Split Canvas

Document
Palette
File
Window
Extensions
Layers
Hide/lock
Object
Undo/redo
Clipboard
Duplicate
Clone
Bitmaps
Patterns
Guides
Group
Align
Z‐order

Path
Convert to path
Boolean operations
Offsets
Combine
Simplify
Path effects

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
Measure tool
Rectangle tool
Draw
Select
Resize by handles
Round corners by handles

3D box tool
Draw
Select
Edit by handles
Edit perspectives

Ellipse tool
Draw
Select
Edit by handles

Star tool
Draw
Select
Edit by handles

Spiral tool
Draw
Select
Edit by handles

Pencil tool
Create dots

Pen (Bezier) tool

Create nodes
Move last node
Create/modify segments
Create dots
Finish
Cancel

Calligraphy tool
Draw
Create dots

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

Spray tool
Modes
Parameters

Eraser tool
Paint Bucket
Gradient tool
Select objects
Create gradients
Select handles
Create/delete intermediate stops
Move handles/stops
Reverse

Dropper tool

Tools
, Selector

Selector (temporary)
Space switches to the Selector tool temporarily; another Space switches back.

When the "Mouse move pans when Space is pressed" option is on in Preferences, Space+mouse drag pans canvas instead of

switching to/from Selector.

, Node tool
+ , Tweak tool

, Zoom tool

Measure tool
, Rectangle tool
+ , 3D box tool

, Ellipse/arc tool
+ , Star tool

, Spiral tool
, Pencil (Freehand) tool
+ , Pen (Bezier) tool

+ , Calligraphy tool

, Text tool
+ , Spray tool

+ Eraser tool

+ , Paint Bucket tool

+ , Gradient tool

, Dropper tool
+ , Connector tool
 Double click on the tool buttons opens the Preferences dialog showing the page of the corresponding tool.

Dialogs
Open

+ + Fill and Stroke

+ + Swatches

+ + Text and Font

+ + Transform

+ + Layers

+ + Align and Distribute

+ + Object Properties

+ + Undo History

+ + XML Editor

+ + Selectors and CSS dialog (experimental)

+ + Document Properties

+ + Inkscape Preferences

+ + Export to PNG

+ Find

+ + Trace Bitmap

+ + Path Effects

+ + Check Spelling
These shortcuts open a new dialog window if it wasn't open yet, otherwise the corresponding dialog gets focus.

Toggle visibility

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

Within a dialog

return to the canvas

+ , + close the dialog

jump to next widget

+ jump to previous widget

set the new value

 This accepts the new value you typed in a text field and returns focus to canvas.

, activate current button or list

+ , + in a multi‐tab dialog, switch tabs

+ open a search field in a dialog with a list

Start typing to select the first match. In some dialogs, this will only find elements starting with the search term (e.g. Text and

Font), in others (e.g. XML editor), it will find all elements that contain the search term. Use the up/down arrows to select the

next matching element.

XML editor

expand all children and subchildren of the cur‐

rently selected element
, + expand direct children of the currently selected
element
, + collapse the currently selected element

, select the topmost/lowermost visible element in

the list
, select the previous/next visible element in the list

, select element on previous/next page of list

+ set the attribute's value
When editing an attribute value in XML Editor, this sets the new value (same as clicking the "Set attribute" button).

Tool controls bar

Access

The tool controls bar at the top of the document window provides different buttons and controls for each tool.

+ jump to the first editable field

Navigate

jump to next field

+ jump to previous field

Use these to navigate between fields in the tool controls bar (the value in the field you leave, if changed, is accepted).

Change values

, change value by 0.1

, change value by 5.0
 accept the new value
This accepts the new value you typed in a text field and returns focus to canvas.

cancel changes, return to canvas

This cancels any changes you made in a text field and returns focus to canvas.

+ 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 , + right click zoom in

+ middle click , + right zoom out

click

+ 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.

+ middle button drag zoom into the area

+ activate zoom field

The zoom field in the lower right corner of the window allows you to specify zoom level precisely.

quick zoom
Zooms to selection, or doubles the current zoom factor if nothing is selected, until key is released.

Preset zooms

zoom 1:1
zoom 1:2

zoom to selection
zoom to drawing
zoom to page
+ , zoom to page width

+ center page in view (without changing zoom

level)
Zoom history

(back quote) previous zoom

+ next zoom
With these keys, you can travel back and forth through the history of zooms in this session.

Scroll (pan)

+ 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

+ right button drag , + pan canvas

right button drag

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.

+ mouse wheel scroll canvas horizontally

When the "Mouse move 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

+ mouse drag drag a guide (not near anchor) to rotate it

+ + mouse drag rotate guide with angle snapping

delete guide

, + toggle guide visibility

For activating / deactivating snapping to guides, use the snap bar or the global snapping toggle (% key).

When you create a new guide by dragging off the ruler, guide visibility is automatically turned on.

, + toggle grids visibility

For activating / deactivating snapping to grids, use the snap bar or 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. The settings in the snap bar determine which snap targets

and snapping points will snap.

Display/Color mode

+ toggle normal/no filters/outline mode

+ toggle normal/grayscale mode

Split Canvas

+ toggle split canvas

Document
+ + resize page to current selection, or to the draw‐
ing if nothing is selected

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

+ click , middle click set stroke color on selection

right click open pop‐up menu

mouse drag drag fill color to objects

+ 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.

mouse wheel scroll palette

File
 + create new document

+ open a document

+ + export to PNG

+ import bitmap or vector

+ print document

+ save document

+ + save under a new name

+ + + save a copy

+ exit Inkscape

Window
+ toggle rulers

+ toggle scrollbars

+ + toggle palette

toggle fullscreen

+ toggle toolbars

+ toggle toolbars and fullscreen

main menu
Menus can also be activated by Alt with the letter underscored in the menu name.

+ , right click drop‐down (context) menu

+ , + close document window

This shuts down Inkscape if it was the only document window open.

+ next document window

+ + previous document window

These cycle through the active document windows forward and backward.

Extensions
+ previous extension

+ + previous extension settings

Layers
 + + create new layer

+ move to layer above

+ move to layer below

These commands move the selected objects from one layer to another.

+ + raise layer

+ + lower layer

+ + raise layer to top

+ + lower layer to bottom

These commands move the current layer among its siblings (normally other layers).

Hide/lock

+ click select a layer and toggle visibility (eye icon) or

lock status (lock icon) on the other layers
+ + click toggle visibility (eye icon) or lock status (lock
icon) on the unselected layers
These commands apply to the Layers dialog's icons only.

Object
Undo/redo

+ + , + undo

+ + , + redo

Clipboard

+ , + copy selection

+ , + cut selection

+ , + 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.

+ + paste in place
This places the clipboard objects into the original location from which they were copied.

+ + 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.

+ paste path effect

This applies the path effect of the copied path to the paths/shapes in the current selection.

Duplicate

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

Clone

+ 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.

+ + unlink clone
Unlinking a clone cuts the link to the original, turning the clone into a plain copy.

+ 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

+ 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 as embed‐

ded bitmap.

The imported bitmap is placed over the original selection and is selected.

+ + trace bitmap
This opens the Trace Bitmap dialog allowing you to convert a bitmap object to path(s).

Patterns

+ object(s) to pattern
This converts the selection to a rectangle with tiled pattern fill.

+ + pattern to object(s)
Each selected object with pattern fill is broken into the same object without fill and a single pattern object.

Guides
 + object(s) to guide(s)

Group

+ + , + group selected objects

Use Ctrl+click to select objects within group.

+ + , + ungroup selected group(s)

This removes only one level of grouping; press Ctrl+U repeatedly to ungroup nested groups.

Align

+ + center selected objects on vertical axis

+ + center selected objects on horizontal axis

+ + center selected objects on horizontal and vertical

axis
+ + align left edges of selected objects

+ + align top edges of selected objects

+ + align right edges of selected objects

+ + align bottom edges of selected objects

Objects are aligned relative to the anchor point set in the "Relative to" field in the "Align and Distribute" dialog.

Z‐order

raise selection to top

lower selection to bottom

raise selection one step
lower selection one step

Path
Convert to path

+ + convert selected object(s) to path

+ + convert stroke to path

Boolean operations

+ union
 Union combines any number of objects into a single path, removing overlaps.

+ difference
Difference works on 2 objects, extracting the top from the bottom.

+ intersection
Intersection creates a path representing the common (overlapping) area of all selected objects.

+ exclusive OR (XOR)
XOR is similar to Union, except that it works on 2 objects and removes areas where the objects overlap.

+ division (cut)
Division cuts the bottom object into pieces by the top object, preserving the fill and stroke of the bottom.

+ + 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

+ inset path (towards center)

+ outset path (away from center)

The default offset distance is 2 px (SVG pixel units, not screen pixels).

+ inset path by 1 pixel

+ outset path by 1 pixel

+ + inset path by 10 pixels

+ + 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.

+ create dynamic offset

+ + create linked offset

These commands produce an offset object, editable by the node tool, standalone or linked to the original.

+ select source
Selecting a linked offset and giving this command will select the source path of the linked offset.

Combine

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

Simplify

+ 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).

Path effects

show next editable path effect parameter

Selector
Select (mouse)

click select an object

When you left‐click on an object, previous selection is deselected.

+ click toggle selection

Shift+click adds an object to the current selection if it was not selected, or deselects it otherwise.

double-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.

+ 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.

+ mouse drag , + + select by touch

mouse drag

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)

select next object

+ 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).

+ select all (current layer)

This works on objects within the current layer (unless you change that in preferences).

+ + select all (all layers)

This works on objects in all visible and unlocked layers.

+ + select all with same type (all layers)

Selects all objects of the same type as the currently selected. 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.

+ invert selection (all layers)

This inverts selection (deselects what was selected and vice versa) in visible and unlocked layers.

deselect
, delete selection

Select within group, select under

+ click select within group

Ctrl+click selects the object at click point disregarding any levels of grouping that this object might belong to.

+ + click toggle selection within group

+ 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.)

+ + click toggle under

+ + click select under, in groups

 + + + click toggle under, in groups

+ enter group

+ go to parent group/layer

Move (mouse)

mouse drag select + move

Dragging an object selects it if it was not selected, then moves selection.

+ 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.

+ mouse drag restrict movement to horizontal or vertical

+ mouse drag select and drag first touched item

When starting the drag motion in an empty area of the canvas and then touching any object, that object will be moved along

with the mouse. You can then let go of the Ctrl key to keep dragging the item without restriction of movement direction.

+ mouse drag temporarily disable snapping

This temporarily disables snapping when you are dragging with snapping activated.

mouse drag + 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)

move selection by the nudge distance

+ move selection by 10x nudge distance
The default nudge distance is 2 px (SVG pixel units, not screen pixels).

+ move selection by 1 pixel

+ + move selection by 10 pixels

The actual distance for pixel movements depends on zoom level. Zoom in for finer movement.

Transform (mouse)

click , + toggle scale/rotation handles

mouse drag scale (with scale handles)

mouse drag rotate or skew (with rotation handles)

Scale by handles

mouse drag scale

+ mouse drag scale preserving aspect ratio

+ mouse drag symmetric transformation

Holding Shift while transforming makes the transformation symmetric around the rotation center of the selection. Combined

with Ctrl, this can be used to scale objects around an arbitrary center point.

+ 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).

+ , + scale selection to 200%

+ , + scale selection to 50%

+ , + scale selection up by 1 pixel

+ , + scale selection down by 1 pixel

The actual size increment for pixel scaling depends on zoom level. Zoom in for finer scaling.

The default size increment is added to (or subtracted from) either the selection's height or width, whichever one is larger.

Scaling is done around the center of the selection's bounding box and keeps the proportions of the selected object(s).

Rotate/skew by handles

mouse drag rotate or skew

+ mouse drag snap skew angle

Holding Ctrl when dragging a skew (non‐corner) handle snaps the skew angle to angle steps (default 15 degrees).

+ mouse drag snap rotation angle

Holding Ctrl when dragging a rotation (corner) handle snaps the rotation angle to angle steps (default 15 degrees).

+ mouse drag rotate around opposite corner

Rotate (keyboard)

, rotate selection by the angle step

The default angle step is 15 degrees. ] rotates clockwise, [ rotates counterclockwise.

+ , + rotate selection by 90 degrees

 + , + 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

flip selection horizontally

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.

+ mouse drag move without snapping

+ click reset rotation center

Resetting rotation center moves it back to the geometric center of the object's or selection's bounding box.

Cancel

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

+ click select under

+ mouse wheel cycle z‐order

+ 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.

+ 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.

+ 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)

select next node

+ select previous node

These keys select nodes within the selected path.

+ 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.

+ + 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.

+ invert selection in path

This inverts selection (deselects what was selected and vice versa) in the entire path.

deselect all nodes

Grow/shrink node selection

, grow/shrink selection (spatial)

mouse wheel grow/shrink selection (spatial)

+ , + grow/shrink selection (along path)

+ mouse wheel grow/shrink selection (along path)

 Your mouse pointer must be over a node for growing/shrinking.

Each key press or turn of the mouse wheel 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

+ mouse drag restrict movement to horizontal or vertical

+ + mouse drag move along handles

This restricts movement to the directions of the node's handles, their counter directions 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.

+ mouse drag temporarily disable snapping

+ 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 + 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."

+ 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 inter‐

mediate 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)

move selected node(s) by the nudge distance

+ move selected node(s) by 10x nudge distance
The default nudge distance is 2 px (SVG pixel units, not screen pixels).

+ move selected node(s) by 1 pixel

+ + 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

+ 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 counter direction and perpendiculars.
 + mouse drag rotate both handles

+ mouse drag lock the handle length

Ctrl, Shift, Alt can be combined when dragging handles.

+ 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.

+ , + scale left handle by the scale step

+ , + scale right handle by the scale step

+ , + scale left handle by 1 pixel

+ , + 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.

+ , + rotate left handle by the angle step

+ , + rotate right handle by the angle step

+ , + rotate left handle by 1 pixel

+ , + rotate right handle by 1 pixel

Handles visibility

+ 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).
 + , + scale nodes up by 1 pixel

+ , + scale nodes down by 1 pixel

The actual size increment for pixel scaling depends on zoom level. Zoom in for finer scaling.

The default size increment is added to (or subtracted from) either the node selection's height or width, whichever one is larger.

Scaling keeps the proportions of the node selection.

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.

+ , + 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.

flip nodes horizontally

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)

+ make line

+ make curve
These commands require that more than two adjacent nodes be selected.

Change node type

+ make cusp
First Shift+C changes type of node; if you do another Shift+C on an already cusp node, it retracts its handles.

+ 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; an‐

other Shift+S will expand a second handle.

+ make symmetric
When making smooth or symmetric, you can lock the position of one of the handles by hovering mouse over it.

+ make auto
 + click toggle smooth/cusp/symmetric/auto

Join/break

+ 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.

+ join selected end nodes with new segment

+ 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

, delete selected node(s)

+ , + 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.

+ delete segment between pairs of adjacent se‐

lected nodes
+ + 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).

double-click create node

Double clicking on the path between nodes creates a node in the click point.

, + 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.

+ duplicate selected node(s)

New nodes are created on the same path; they are placed exactly over the old ones and are selected.

Reverse

+ 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

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

+ mouse drag reverse current mode (when applicable)

+ mouse drag temporarily switch to shrink mode

+ + mouse drag temporarily switch 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

+ , + move mode

+ , + move in/out mode

Drag moves objects inwards to cursor, drag with Shift moves outwards from cursor.

+ , + move jitter mode

+ , + , + scale mode
Drag scales objects down, drag with Shift scales up.

+ , + , + rotate mode
Drag rotates objects clockwise, drag with Shift, counterclockwise.

+ , + duplicate/delete mode
Drag randomly duplicates objects, drag with Shift randomly deletes.

+ , + push path mode

+ , + shrink/grow path mode

Drag insets paths, drag with Shift outsets.

+ , + attract/repel path mode

Drag attracts paths to cursor, drag with Shift repels.

+ , + roughen mode
 + color paint mode

+ color jitter mode

+ blur mode

Parameters

, adjust brush width by 1

, set brush width to its minimum or maximum

, 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

+ click zoom out

mouse drag zoom into the area

Measure tool
mouse drag measure distance and angle between the start
point and the cursor
+ mouse drag set base of angle measurement to cursor position

+ mouse drag snap angle measure to angle steps

The default angle step is 15 degrees.

Rectangle tool
Draw

mouse drag draw a rectangle

+ mouse drag make a square or integer‐ratio rectangle

This restricts width/height ratio or its inverse to a whole number or the golden ratio.

+ 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

 + click , + + click select under

+ click toggle selection

In this tool, selecting by click disregards any grouping (i.e. acts as clicking with Ctrl in Selector).

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.

+ 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.

+ mouse drag lock the corner circular

+ 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.

+ click remove corner rounding

3D box tool
Draw

mouse drag draw a 3D box (X/Y plane)

+ mouse drag draw a 3D box (extrude in Z)

Select

click click to select

+ click , + + click select under

+ click toggle selection

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.

+ mouse drag resize/move (with handle behaviour swapped)

+ 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.

+ , + rotate X‐PLs (if parallel) by 1 pixel

, rotate Y‐PLs (if parallel) by the angle step

+ , + rotate Y‐PLs (if parallel) by 1 pixel

, rotate Z‐PLs (if parallel) by the angle step

+ , + 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

+ mouse drag make circle or integer‐ratio ellipse

This restricts width/height ratio or its inverse to a whole number or the golden ratio.

+ mouse drag draw around the starting point

This creates an ellipse symmetric around the starting point of the mouse drag.

+ + 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

+ click , + + click select under

+ click toggle selection

In this tool, selecting by click disregards any grouping (i.e. acts as clicking with Ctrl in Selector).

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.

+ mouse drag lock circle (resize handles)

+ 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.

+ click make whole (arc/segment handles)

Star tool
Draw

mouse drag draw a star

+ mouse drag snap star to angle steps

The default angle step is 15 degrees.

Select

click click to select

+ click , + + click select under

+ click toggle selection

In this tool, selecting by click disregards any grouping (i.e. acts as clicking with Ctrl in Selector).

deselect

Edit by handles

mouse drag drag a handle to vary the star shape

+ mouse drag keep star rays radial (no skew)

 + mouse drag round the star

+ click remove rounding

+ mouse drag randomize the star

+ click , + + click remove randomization

Spiral tool
Draw

mouse drag draw a spiral

+ mouse drag snap spiral to angle steps

The default angle step is 15 degrees.

Select

click click to select

+ click , + + click select under

+ click toggle selection

In this tool, selecting by click disregards any grouping (i.e. acts as clicking with Ctrl in Selector).

deselect

Edit by handles

mouse drag roll/unroll from inside (inner handle)

Dragging the inner handle adjusts the "inner radius" parameter.

+ mouse drag converge/diverge (inner handle)

+ click , + + click reset divergence (inner handle)

Vertical Alt+drag of the inner handle adjusts the "divergence" parameter, Alt+click resets it to 1.

+ 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.

+ mouse drag lock radius (outer handle)

Roll/unroll without changing radius.

+ mouse drag scale/rotate (outer handle)

Use Shift+Alt+drag to rotate only (locks the radius of the spiral).

 + 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 path

+ mouse drag add to selected path

If a path is selected, Shift+dragging from anywhere starts a new subpath instead of a new independent path.

+ mouse drag temporarily disable snapping

This temporarily disables snapping when you are dragging with snapping activated.

+ mouse drag averaging draw (sketch mode)

+ mouse drag lift pencil

A short press of the Ctrl key discontinues the current path. Release the mouse button and click and drag again to continue. The

loose ends will be connected by straight lines when the path is finished.

click start a straight path (finish with another click)

Create dots

+ click create a dot

This creates a small circle. Its size (relative to the current stroke width) can be set in Preferences.

+ + click create a double‐sized dot

+ + 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.

+ 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

+ mouse drag move only one handle

This moves only one handle (instead of both) while creating a node, making it cusp.

+ 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.

move last node by the nudge distance

+ move last node by 10x nudge distance
The default nudge distance is 2 px (SVG pixel units, not screen pixels).

+ move last node by 1 pixel

+ + move last node by 10 pixels

The actual distance for pixel movements depends on zoom level. Zoom in for finer movement.

Create/modify segments

snap last segment to angle steps

This snaps the new node's angle, relative to the previous node, to angle steps (default 15 degrees).

+ make last segment line

+ make last segment curve

These commands change the last (red) segment of the path to straight line or curve.

Create dots

+ 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.

+ + click create a double‐sized dot

+ + click create a random‐sized dot

Finish

finish current path

+ finish and close current path

right click finish current path

double-click finish current path

Enter or right click finish the current line, discarding the last unfinished (red) segment. Double left click finishes the current line

where double‐clicked.

Cancel

, + cancel current line

 , erase last segment of current line

Calligraphy tool
Draw

mouse drag draw a calligraphic stroke

+ mouse drag add to selected path

Drawing with Shift unions the newly created stroke with the previous selection.

+ mouse drag subtract from selected path

Drawing with Alt subtracts the newly created stroke from the previous selection.

+ mouse drag track a guide path

Drawing with Ctrl tracks a selected guide path at the constant distance.

, adjust pen width by 1

, set pen width to its minimum or maximum
, adjust pen angle
Width and angle can be adjusted while drawing.

deselect

Create dots

click create a dot

+ click create a larger dot

Click in place without moving the mouse to create a dot.

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.

deselect the text object

Navigate in text

move cursor by one character

+ , + move cursor by one word
 + , + move cursor by one paragraph

, go to beginning/end of line

+ , + go to beginning/end of text

, move cursor by one screen

All these commands cancel current text selection, if any. Use them with Shift to add to / subtract from 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.

+ 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)

+ 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.

+ + unflow text from frame

This cuts the flowed text's link to the shape/path, producing a single‐line regular text object.

+ 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

+ 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).

start a new line or paragraph

Enter in regular text creates new line; in flowed text it creates a new paragraph.

+ 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.

+ 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.

+ select text by character

+ + select text by word

+ , + select to beginning/end of line

+ + , + + select to beginning/end of text

+ , + select one screen up/down

double-click select word

click + click + click select line

+ select all text

This selects the entire text of the current text object.

Style selection

+ make selection bold

+ make selection italic

Also, you can use the Text&Font or Fill&Stroke dialogs to assign any style to text selection.

Letter spacing

+ expand line/paragraph by 1 pixel

+ + expand line/paragraph by 10 pixels

+ contract line/paragraph by 1 pixel

+ + 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
 + + make the text object taller by 1 pixel

+ + + make the text object taller by 10 pixels

+ + make the text object shorter by 1 pixel

+ + + 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

+ shift characters by 1 pixel

+ + 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

+ , + rotate character(s) by 90 degrees

+ , + 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

+ copy mode

+ clone mode

+ single path mode

Parameters

, adjust spray width by 1

, adjust spray population by 1

, set spray width to its minimum or maximum

Eraser tool
, adjust eraser width by 1
, set eraser width to its minimum or maximum

Paint Bucket
click fill a bounded area

+ 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.

+ mouse drag fill from each point similar to the 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.

+ click set fill color

+ + 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

+ click select under

+ click toggle selection

Create gradients

mouse drag create gradient

This creates gradient on selected objects. The tool controls bar lets you select linear/radial and fill/stroke for the new gradient.

double-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

 + click add handle to selection

+ mouse drag select by rubberband

select next handle

+ select previous handle

+ select all handles

deselect all handles

Single click outside all handles also deselects all handles.

Create/delete intermediate stops

+ + click , double-click create a stop

Ctrl+Alt+click or double click on a gradient line creates a new intermediate stop.

+ + click delete stop

Ctrl+Alt+click on a stop's handle deletes the stop; if it was an end stop, gradient shortens or disappears.

, + insert new stop(s)

This adds new stop(s) in the middle(s) between adjacent, selected stops or, if only one stop is selected, in the middle of the seg‐

ment that starts with the selected stop.

delete selected stops

Move handles/stops

mouse drag move selected handle(s)

+ 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.

+ 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.

+ simplify selected stops

Simplify looks at adjacent selected stops and removes redundant stops.

move selected handle by the nudge distance

+ move selected handle by 10x nudge distance
The default nudge distance is 2 px (SVG pixel units, not screen pixels).

+ move selected handle by 1 pixel

+ + 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

+ reverse gradient definition

This mirrors the stop positions of the current gradient without moving the gradient handles.

Dropper tool
click pick fill color

+ click pick stroke color

mouse drag average fill color

+ 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.

+ click , + mouse drag , pick inverse color

+ + click , + + mouse

drag

If Alt is pressed, picking color (with or without Shift, by click or by drag) picks the inverse of the color.

+ copy color
This copies the color under cursor to the clipboard, as text in RRGGBBAA format (8 hex digits).

Authors: Sylvain Chiron; Nicolas Dufour; Jabier Arraiza; Lucas Vieites; Gellért Gyuris; Nathan Lee; Maren
Hachmann; Patrick Storz

Inkscape is Free and Open Source Software licensed under the GPL.

Documents Team Language: 'en'