Keyboard Shortcuts
Speed is everything. These shortcuts will make you 10x faster once they're in your muscle memory. Print this page, stick it next to your monitor, and thank me later!
The Essential Five
Learn these FIRST. Seriously, these alone will change your life:
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| Ctrl+Z | Undo |
| Ctrl+S | Save |
| Delete | Delete layer |
| Arrow Keys | Nudge selection |
| F1/F2 | Set animation points |
Master these five before worrying about any others.
File Operations
The "I need to do stuff with my project" shortcuts:
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| Ctrl+S | Save |
| Ctrl+P | Publish |
| Ctrl+U | Upload assets |
| Esc | Exit project |
Editing & Manipulation
The "I'm building stuff" shortcuts:
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| Ctrl+Z | Undo |
| Ctrl+Y | Redo |
| Ctrl+C | Copy layer |
| Ctrl+V | Paste layer |
| Delete | Delete layer |
| Arrow Keys | Nudge 1 pixel |
| Shift+Arrows | Nudge 10 pixels |
| Ctrl (hold) | Disable snapping |
Pro tips:
- Ctrl+C then Ctrl+V to duplicate layers super fast!
- Hold Ctrl while dragging to temporarily disable snapping - useful when guides get in the way!
Canvas & View
The "I need to see stuff" shortcuts:
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| Ctrl + (Plus) | Zoom in |
| Ctrl - (Minus) | Zoom out |
| Ctrl+0 (Zero) | Fit to screen |
| Ctrl+Scroll | Zoom at cursor |
Pro tip: Ctrl+0 is SUPER useful when you've zoomed way in and lost your bearings!
Animation & Timeline
The "making things move" shortcuts:
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| F1 | Set start point |
| F2 | Set end point |
| Delete | Delete animation |
Handle Control
The "these handles are in my way" shortcuts:
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| Alt+H (tap) | Cycle handle opacity (10% → 25% → 50% → 100%) |
| Alt+H (hold) | Hide handles temporarily |
When to use:
- Taking screenshots → Hide handles
- Fine detail work → Lower opacity
- Precise clicking → Hide temporarily
Selection & Organization
The "organizing my chaos" shortcuts:
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| Click | Select layer |
| Ctrl+Click | Multi-select |
| Shift+Click | Range select |
| Drag (in Layers tab) | Reorder layers |
Hidden Productivity Boosters
These aren't menu shortcuts but they'll save you tons of time:
Mouse Shortcuts
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Drag asset from Library | Click and drag |
| Double-click animation | In animation list |
| Drag animation block | On timeline |
| Drag block edges | On timeline |
| Shift+Drag corner handle | On canvas |
Double-Click Shortcuts
| Where | What Happens |
|---|---|
| Layer name (Layers tab) | Rename layer |
| Animation (animation list) | Add to selected layer |
| Asset (Library) | Preview asset |
The Speed Workflow
Here's how pros actually work:
- Drag asset from Library to canvas
- Arrow keys to position
- Shift+Drag corners to resize (keeps proportions)
- Ctrl+C, Ctrl+V if you need duplicates
- Double-click animation from list
- Ctrl+Z if you don't like it
- Repeat until awesome
- Ctrl+S when done
All keyboard and mouse. Zero menu clicking. That's the speed zone.
Modifier Key Cheat Sheet
Understanding modifier keys unlocks everything:
Ctrl (Control)
- Ctrl+Letter = Commands (Save, Copy, Paste, Undo, etc.)
- Ctrl+Symbols = View (Zoom +/-, Fit)
- Ctrl+Click = Multi-select
- Ctrl (hold while dragging) = Disable snapping temporarily
Shift
- Shift+Drag = Constrain proportions
- Shift+Arrows = Larger nudges (10 pixels)
- Shift+Click = Range selection
Alt
- Alt+H (tap) = Cycle handle opacity (10% → 25% → 50% → 100%)
- Alt+H (hold) = Hide handles temporarily (300ms delay)
Context Matters
Some shortcuts only work in specific contexts:
On Canvas:
- Arrow keys nudge
- Delete removes layer
- F1/F2 set animation points
On Timeline:
- Delete removes animation
- Drag adjusts timing
In Layers Tab:
- Delete removes layer
- Drag reorders
Everywhere:
- Ctrl+Z/Y work
- Ctrl+S works
Building Muscle Memory
Week 1: The Big Three
- Ctrl+Z (undo)
- Arrow keys (nudge)
- F1/F2 (animation points)
Week 2: File Stuff
- Ctrl+S (save)
- Ctrl+C/V (copy/paste)
- Delete (remove)
Week 3: View Control
- Ctrl+0 (fit screen)
- Ctrl +/- (zoom)
- Alt+H (handles)
Week 4: Advanced
- F1/F2 (animation points)
- Shift+modifiers
- Multi-select
Don't try to memorize everything at once. Learn what you use, when you use it.
Shortcut Combinations
Power moves that combine shortcuts:
The Duplicator
1. Ctrl+C (copy)
2. Ctrl+V (paste)
3. Arrow keys (nudge to new position)
4. Repeat Ctrl+V and nudge for more copies
The Quick Adjuster
1. Click layer
2. Adjust with arrows
3. Ctrl+Z if wrong
4. Repeat until right
The Zoom Inspector
1. Ctrl+0 (see whole canvas)
2. Click area of interest
3. Ctrl+ (zoom way in)
4. Fine-tune with arrows
5. Ctrl+0 (back to overview)
The Clean Slate
1. Click layer
2. Delete
3. Repeat for each layer
4. Or Ctrl+Z if you regret it
Platform Differences
On Mac:
- Ctrl = Command (⌘)
- Alt = Option (⌥)
- Everything else is the same
So Ctrl+S on Windows = Cmd+S on Mac. Easy!
Printable Cheat Sheet
The "tape this to your monitor" version:
ESSENTIAL
Ctrl+Z Undo
Ctrl+S Save
Delete Remove
Arrows Nudge
F1/F2 Anim Points
EDITING
Ctrl+C/V Copy/Paste
Alt+H Hide Handles
VIEW
Ctrl+0 Fit Screen
Ctrl+/- Zoom
Advanced User Secrets
Once you're comfortable, these workflows are chef's kiss:
The Navigator:
- Hold Ctrl and scroll to zoom at cursor
- Learn to zoom without looking at zoom controls
- Becomes automatic after a while
The Efficient Editor:
- Left hand stays on Ctrl/Shift/Alt
- Right hand on mouse
- Rarely move to mouse with left hand
The Rapid Prototyper:
- Drag from library
- Arrow key position (don't use mouse)
- Double-click animations
- Undo/adjust/repeat
- Never stop moving
When Shortcuts Don't Work
Troubleshooting:
Nothing happens when I press shortcuts:
- Click on the canvas first (focus issues)
- Check if you're in text editing mode
- Make sure layer is selected
Arrows don't nudge:
- You might be in text editing (click canvas)
- Make sure a layer is selected
- Check if timeline has focus
Next Level: Create Your Own Shortcuts
Your brain will naturally create "shortcuts" by combining actions:
Your "Add and Animate" combo:
- Drag asset
- Position
- Double-click animation
- Adjust with F1/F2
Do this 50 times and it becomes ONE action in your mind. That's real speed.
The Real Secret
The best "shortcut" isn't a key combination. It's:
Using Undo/Redo liberally
Don't be afraid to experiment. With Ctrl+Z/Y, you can try anything and instantly revert. This fearless experimentation is what makes you fast.
Next Steps
- Best Practices - Pro tips and techniques
- Interface Overview - Where everything lives
- Quick Start - Build while learning shortcuts
Challenge: Try working for 10 minutes using ONLY keyboard shortcuts and mouse. No clicking menus. See how many shortcuts you can naturally incorporate. That's your current skill level—now level it up! ⚡