Design Tools Cheat Sheet: Figma, Photoshop, Illustrator, Canva (2026)
Keyboard shortcuts for four design applications on one page: Figma, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator and Canva. Figma is the most requested design reference on this site by a wide margin, so it comes first; Photoshop and Illustrator follow, and Canva closes the page for people moving between the browser-based tool and the desktop ones.
Shortcuts are listed per application exactly as on the individual pages. Where the same action exists in several tools the key often differs (for example, duplicate is Ctrl + D in Figma and Canva but Ctrl + J in Photoshop), which is the main reason to keep them side by side rather than learn one set and assume it carries over. Mac users should read Ctrl as Cmd and Alt as Option throughout.
- Figma (53)
- Photoshop (69)
- Illustrator (30)
- Canva (32)
Figma — 53 entries, full reference
| Shortcut | Action | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| V | Move Tool | Select and move objects. Most basic tool. |
| F | Frame Tool | Create frames. Basic container for designs. |
| P | Pen Tool | Draw vector paths. For precise shapes. |
| R | Rectangle Tool | Draw rectangles. Hold Shift for squares. |
| O | Ellipse Tool | Draw circles. Hold Shift for perfect circles. |
| L | Line Tool | Draw straight lines. Hold Shift for horizontal/vertical. |
| Shift + L | Arrow Tool | Draw arrows. |
| T | Text Tool | Add text. Click or drag to create text box. |
| H | Hand Tool | Pan canvas. Spacebar for temporary use. |
| C | Comment Tool | Add comments for collaboration. |
| K | Scale Tool | Scale objects proportionally. |
| Cmd + A | Select All | Select all objects. |
| Cmd + Click | Deep Select | Select object inside group/frame. |
| Enter | Enter Group | Enter group or frame for editing. |
| Shift + Enter | Exit Group | Exit group or frame. |
| Tab | Next Layer | Select next sibling layer. |
| Shift + Tab | Previous Layer | Select previous sibling layer. |
| Cmd + G | Group | Group selected objects. |
| Cmd + Shift + G | Ungroup | Ungroup selected group. |
| Cmd + D | Duplicate | Duplicate selected objects. |
| Cmd + R | Rename | Rename selected layer. |
| Cmd + Option + C | Copy Style | Copy object style. |
| Cmd + Option + V | Paste Style | Paste copied style. |
| Delete | Delete | Delete selected objects. |
| Cmd + ] | Bring Forward | Move layer forward one step. |
| Cmd + [ | Send Backward | Move layer backward one step. |
| Cmd + Option + ] | Bring to Front | Move layer to front. |
| Cmd + Option + [ | Send to Back | Move layer to back. |
| Option + H | Distribute Horizontally | Distribute objects horizontally. |
| Option + V | Distribute Vertically | Distribute objects vertically. |
| Cmd + 0 | Zoom to Fit | Fit all objects on screen. |
| Cmd + 1 | Zoom to 100% | View at actual size. |
| Shift + 1 | Zoom to Selection | Fit selected objects on screen. |
| Shift + 2 | Previous Frame | Navigate to previous frame. |
| N | Next Frame | Navigate to next frame. |
| Cmd + + | Zoom In | Zoom in on canvas. |
| Cmd + - | Zoom Out | Zoom out from canvas. |
| Space + Drag | Pan Canvas | Move canvas view. |
| Cmd + \ | Toggle Layers | Show/hide layers panel. |
| Cmd + . | Toggle Properties | Show/hide properties panel. |
| Cmd + Option + \ | Hide UI | Hide all UI panels. |
| Ctrl + G | Toggle Grid | Show/hide grid. |
| Ctrl + R | Toggle Rulers | Show/hide rulers. |
| Cmd + Option + K | Create Component | Convert selection to component. |
| Cmd + Option + B | Detach Instance | Detach instance from component. |
| Option + 2 | Go to Main Component | Navigate to main component. |
| Cmd + Shift + O | Team Library | Open team library. |
| Cmd + Enter | Presentation Mode | Enter presentation mode. |
| Shift + Space | Play Prototype | Play prototype from current frame. |
| Cmd + / | Quick Actions | Open quick actions menu. |
| Cmd + P | Quick Action | Quick action search. |
| Cmd + Shift + ? | Keyboard Shortcuts | Show keyboard shortcuts list. |
| Cmd + Option + P | Run Last Plugin | Run most recently used plugin. |
Photoshop — 69 entries, full reference
| Shortcut | Action | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| V | Move Tool | Move layers or selections. Most fundamental tool. |
| M | Marquee Tool | Select rectangular or elliptical areas. Hold Shift for square/circle. |
| L | Lasso Tool | Select freeform areas. Hold Alt for Polygonal Lasso. |
| W | Quick Selection | Automatically select similar colors and textures. Great for background removal. |
| Q | Quick Mask Mode | Edit selections with red overlay for precision. |
| C | Crop Tool | Crop image to desired size. Press Enter to apply. |
| I | Eyedropper | Sample colors from image. Hold Alt to sample background color. |
| J | Spot Healing Brush | Auto-remove small blemishes. Great for wrinkles and acne. |
| B | Brush Tool | Paint with brush. [ ] for size, Shift+[ ] for hardness. |
| S | Clone Stamp | Hold Alt to set source, then clone to another area. |
| Y | History Brush | Selectively restore to previous state. |
| E | Eraser Tool | Erase pixels. Layer masks are safer alternative. |
| G | Gradient Tool | Create smooth color transitions. Hold Shift for straight lines. |
| O | Dodge/Burn | Lighten (dodge) or darken (burn) areas. |
| R | Rotate View | Rotate canvas for comfortable drawing angle. Esc to reset. |
| T | Type Tool | Add text. Ctrl+T to transform. |
| P | Pen Tool | Draw precise paths. Perfect for logos and selections. |
| A | Path Selection | Select and edit existing paths. |
| U | Shape Tool | Draw vector shapes: rectangles, circles, polygons. |
| H | Hand Tool | Move canvas. Spacebar temporarily activates this. |
| Z | Zoom Tool | Zoom in/out. Hold Alt to zoom out. |
| Ctrl + J | Duplicate Layer | Duplicate selected layer. Essential for non-destructive editing. |
| Ctrl + Shift + N | New Layer | Create new layer with dialog for naming. |
| Ctrl + Alt + Shift + N | New Layer (Quick) | Create new layer instantly without dialog. |
| Ctrl + G | Group Layers | Group selected layers. Essential for organization. |
| Ctrl + Shift + G | Ungroup | Ungroup layers. |
| Ctrl + E | Merge Down | Merge layer with layer below. |
| Ctrl + Shift + E | Merge Visible | Merge all visible layers. Duplicate first to preserve originals. |
| Ctrl + Alt + E | Stamp Visible | Create new layer with all visible layers merged. Non-destructive. |
| Ctrl + [ | Send Backward | Move layer back one step. |
| Ctrl + ] | Bring Forward | Move layer forward one step. |
| Ctrl + Shift + [ | Send to Back | Move layer to bottom. |
| Ctrl + Shift + ] | Bring to Front | Move layer to top. |
| Alt + [ ] | Navigate Layers | Alt+[ for previous, Alt+] for next layer. |
| Ctrl + Alt + A | Select All Layers | Select all layers in document. |
| Ctrl + A | Select All | Select entire canvas. |
| Ctrl + D | Deselect | Remove current selection. |
| Ctrl + Shift + D | Reselect | Restore last deselected selection. |
| Ctrl + Shift + I | Inverse Selection | Invert selection. Useful after background removal. |
| Alt + Ctrl + R | Select and Mask | Open workspace for refining selections. |
| Shift + F6 | Feather Selection | Soften selection edges. |
| Ctrl + Alt + D | Feather (Dialog) | Feather selection with specified radius. |
| Ctrl + 0 | Fit on Screen | Zoom to fit entire image on screen. |
| Ctrl + 1 | 100% View | View image at actual size (100%). See exact pixels. |
| Ctrl + + | Zoom In | Zoom in on image. |
| Ctrl + - | Zoom Out | Zoom out from image. |
| Space + Drag | Hand Tool (Temp) | Hold Spacebar to temporarily use Hand tool. |
| F | Screen Mode | Cycle through: Standard → Full with Menu → Full screen. |
| Ctrl + R | Show/Hide Rulers | Toggle rulers for precise alignment. |
| Ctrl + ; | Show/Hide Guides | Toggle guide visibility. |
| Ctrl + ' | Show/Hide Grid | Toggle grid visibility. |
| Ctrl + H | Show/Hide Extras | Toggle all extras: selections, guides, grid. |
| Tab | Hide/Show Panels | Hide or show all panels. Maximize workspace. |
| Shift + Tab | Hide Panels (Keep Toolbox) | Hide all panels except toolbox. |
| D | Default Colors | Reset foreground to black, background to white. |
| X | Swap Colors | Swap foreground and background colors. |
| Ctrl + L | Levels | Open Levels dialog for brightness/contrast. |
| Ctrl + M | Curves | Open Curves dialog for precise tonal control. |
| Ctrl + U | Hue/Saturation | Adjust hue, saturation, and lightness. |
| Ctrl + B | Color Balance | Adjust color balance. |
| Ctrl + I | Invert | Invert image colors. |
| Ctrl + Z | Undo | Undo last action. |
| Ctrl + Shift + Z | Redo | Redo undone action. |
| Ctrl + Alt + Z | Step Backward | Step backward through multiple states. |
| Ctrl + N | New Document | Create new document. |
| Ctrl + O | Open | Open file dialog. |
| Ctrl + S | Save | Save current document. |
| Ctrl + Shift + S | Save As | Save with new name or format. |
| Ctrl + W | Close | Close current document. |
Illustrator — 30 entries, full reference
| Shortcut | Action | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| V | Selection Tool | Select and move objects |
| A | Direct Selection | Select anchor points |
| P | Pen Tool | Draw paths |
| T | Type Tool | Add text |
| M | Rectangle | Draw rectangle |
| L | Ellipse | Draw ellipse |
| B | Paintbrush | Paint with brush |
| N | Pencil | Draw freeform |
| Shift + C | Convert Anchor | Convert anchor point type |
| Shift + W | Width Tool | Adjust stroke width |
| Ctrl + 0 | Fit Artboard | Fit artboard on screen |
| Ctrl + 1 | 100% View | View at actual size |
| Ctrl + + | Zoom In | Zoom in |
| Ctrl + - | Zoom Out | Zoom out |
| Ctrl + Y | Outline Mode | View outlines only |
| Ctrl + H | Hide/Show Guides | Toggle guides |
| Ctrl + R | Show Rulers | Display rulers |
| Ctrl + ; | Show Guides | Display guides |
| Ctrl + ' | Show Grid | Display grid |
| Space + Drag | Hand Tool | Move artboard |
| Ctrl + G | Group | Group selected objects |
| Ctrl + Shift + G | Ungroup | Ungroup objects |
| Ctrl + 2 | Lock Object | Lock selected object |
| Ctrl + Alt + 2 | Unlock All | Unlock all objects |
| Ctrl + ] | Bring Forward | Move layer forward one step |
| Ctrl + [ | Send Backward | Move layer backward one step |
| Ctrl + Shift + ] | Bring to Front | Move layer to front |
| Ctrl + Shift + [ | Send to Back | Move layer to back |
| Shift + Ctrl + F7 | Pathfinder | Open Pathfinder panel |
| Ctrl + 8 | Compound Path | Create compound path |
Canva — 32 entries, full reference
| Shortcut | Action | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ctrl + C | Copy | Copy the selected element. |
| Ctrl + V | Paste | Paste the copied element. |
| Ctrl + D | Duplicate | Duplicate the selected element. |
| Ctrl + Z | Undo | Undo the last action. |
| Ctrl + Shift + Z | Redo | Redo the last undone action. |
| Ctrl + A | Select All | Select all elements on the current page. |
| Delete | Delete | Delete the selected element. |
| Ctrl + G | Group | Group the selected elements. |
| Ctrl + Shift + G | Ungroup | Ungroup grouped elements. |
| T | Add Text | Add a text box. |
| Ctrl + B | Bold | Apply or remove bold formatting. |
| Ctrl + I | Italic | Apply or remove italic formatting. |
| Ctrl + U | Underline | Apply or remove underline. |
| Ctrl + E | Center Align | Center-align the text. |
| Ctrl + L | Left Align | Left-align the text. |
| Ctrl + R | Right Align | Right-align the text. |
| Ctrl + Shift + . | Increase Font Size | Increase font size by 1pt. |
| Ctrl + Shift + , | Decrease Font Size | Decrease font size by 1pt. |
| Ctrl + ] | Bring Forward | Move the selected element one layer forward. |
| Ctrl + [ | Send Backward | Move the selected element one layer backward. |
| Ctrl + Shift + ] | Bring to Front | Move the selected element to the top layer. |
| Ctrl + Shift + [ | Send to Back | Move the selected element to the bottom layer. |
| Arrow | Nudge (1px) | Move the selected element by 1px. |
| Shift + Arrow | Nudge (10px) | Move the selected element by 10px. |
| Alt + Drag | Duplicate & Move | Duplicate the element while dragging. |
| Ctrl + Enter | Add Page | Add a new page after the current one. |
| Ctrl + Shift + P | Presentation Mode | Switch to presentation mode. |
| Ctrl + + | Zoom In | Zoom in on the canvas. |
| Ctrl + - | Zoom Out | Zoom out on the canvas. |
| Ctrl + 0 | Fit to Screen | Fit the canvas to the screen. |
| Ctrl + S | Save | Save the design. |
| Ctrl + P | Print/Download | Open print or download options. |
Rows on this page are identical to the per-tool reference pages; the per-tool pages carry source links and category notes. Other bundles: CLI Essentials · AI Coding Tools · Cloud & DevOps · Office & Productivity · AI Prompt Commands · all bundles.