Keyboard shortcuts

January 13, 2025 · 5 min read

Master Acme with keyboard shortcuts for maximum efficiency.

Essential Shortcuts

The most important shortcuts to memorize.

Tools

Action	Mac	Windows
Selection Tool	`V`	`V`
Move Tool	`Space` (hold)	`Space` (hold)
Frame Tool	`F`	`F`
Rectangle	`R`	`R`
Circle	`O`	`O`
Line	`L`	`L`
Pen Tool	`P`	`P`
Text Tool	`T`	`T`
Artboard Tool	`A`	`A`
Eyedropper	`I`	`I`
Comment	`C`	`C`
Hand Tool	`H`	`H`

View

Action	Mac	Windows
Zoom In	`Cmd +`	`Ctrl +`
Zoom Out	`Cmd -`	`Ctrl -`
Zoom to 100%	`Cmd 0`	`Ctrl 0`
Zoom to Fit	`Cmd 1`	`Ctrl 1`
Zoom to Selection	`Cmd 2`	`Ctrl 2`
Show/Hide UI	`Cmd \`	`Ctrl \`
Show Rulers	`Shift R`	`Shift R`
Show Grid	`Ctrl G`	`Ctrl G`
Pixel Preview	`Cmd P`	`Ctrl P`
Outline Mode	`Cmd Y`	`Ctrl Y`

File Operations

Action	Mac	Windows
New File	`Cmd N`	`Ctrl N`
Open File	`Cmd O`	`Ctrl O`
Save	`Cmd S`	`Ctrl S`
Save as Version	`Cmd Option S`	`Ctrl Alt S`
Export	`Cmd Shift E`	`Ctrl Shift E`
Close File	`Cmd W`	`Ctrl W`
Quit Acme	`Cmd Q`	`Ctrl Q`

Editing Shortcuts

Edit faster with these shortcuts.

Basic Editing

Action	Mac	Windows
Undo	`Cmd Z`	`Ctrl Z`
Redo	`Cmd Shift Z`	`Ctrl Shift Z`
Cut	`Cmd X`	`Ctrl X`
Copy	`Cmd C`	`Ctrl C`
Paste	`Cmd V`	`Ctrl V`
Paste Over Selection	`Cmd Shift V`	`Ctrl Shift V`
Duplicate	`Cmd D`	`Ctrl D`
Delete	`Backspace`	`Delete`
Rename Layer	`Cmd R`	`Ctrl R`

Selection

Action	Mac	Windows
Select All	`Cmd A`	`Ctrl A`
Select All Siblings	`Cmd Shift A`	`Ctrl Shift A`
Deep Select	`Cmd Click`	`Ctrl Click`
Select Next Layer	`Tab`	`Tab`
Select Previous Layer	`Shift Tab`	`Shift Tab`
Select Parent	`Enter`	`Enter`
Select Children	`Shift Enter`	`Shift Enter`
Add to Selection	`Shift Click`	`Shift Click`
Toggle Selection	`Cmd Click`	`Ctrl Click`

Transform

Action	Mac	Windows
Move 1px	`Arrow Keys`	`Arrow Keys`
Move 10px	`Shift Arrow`	`Shift Arrow`
Resize Precisely	Hold `Cmd` while dragging	Hold `Ctrl` while dragging
Resize from Center	Hold `Option`	Hold `Alt`
Maintain Aspect Ratio	Hold `Shift`	Hold `Shift`
Rotate	`R` then drag	`R` then drag
Rotate 15°	Hold `Shift` while rotating	Hold `Shift` while rotating
Scale	`K`	`K`
Flip Horizontal	`Cmd →`	`Ctrl →`
Flip Vertical	`Cmd ↓`	`Ctrl ↓`

Arrange

Action	Mac	Windows
Bring Forward	`Cmd ]`	`Ctrl ]`
Send Backward	`Cmd [`	`Ctrl [`
Bring to Front	`Cmd Option ]`	`Ctrl Alt ]`
Send to Back	`Cmd Option [`	`Ctrl Alt [`
Group	`Cmd G`	`Ctrl G`
Ungroup	`Cmd Shift G`	`Ctrl Shift G`
Frame Selection	`Cmd Option G`	`Ctrl Alt G`
Unframe	`Cmd Shift Option G`	`Ctrl Shift Alt G`

Component Shortcuts

Work with components efficiently.

Components & Instances

Action	Mac	Windows
Create Component	`Cmd K`	`Ctrl K`
Detach Instance	`Cmd Option B`	`Ctrl Alt B`
Go to Main Component	`Cmd Option E`	`Ctrl Alt E`
Swap Instance	Select instance, then click component	Same
Reset Instance	`Option Reset button`	`Alt Reset button`
Create Component Set	`Cmd Shift K`	`Ctrl Shift K`

Styles

Action	Mac	Windows
Copy Style	`Cmd Option C`	`Ctrl Alt C`
Paste Style	`Cmd Option V`	`Ctrl Alt V`
Edit Color Style	Click style + `Cmd`	Click style + `Ctrl`
Edit Text Style	Click style + `Cmd`	Click style + `Ctrl`
Detach Style	`Option Detach`	`Alt Detach`

Text Shortcuts

Typography and text editing.

Text Editing

Action	Mac	Windows
Bold	`Cmd B`	`Ctrl B`
Italic	`Cmd I`	`Ctrl I`
Underline	`Cmd U`	`Ctrl U`
Increase Font Size	`Cmd Shift >`	`Ctrl Shift >`
Decrease Font Size	`Cmd Shift <`	`Ctrl Shift <`
Increase Line Height	`Option Shift >`	`Alt Shift >`
Decrease Line Height	`Option Shift <`	`Alt Shift <`
Increase Letter Spacing	`Cmd Option >`	`Ctrl Alt >`
Decrease Letter Spacing	`Cmd Option <`	`Ctrl Alt <`

Text Alignment

Action	Mac	Windows
Align Left	`Cmd Option L`	`Ctrl Alt L`
Align Center	`Cmd Option T`	`Ctrl Alt T`
Align Right	`Cmd Option R`	`Ctrl Alt R`
Justify	`Cmd Option J`	`Ctrl Alt J`

Shape Shortcuts

Vector editing and boolean operations.

Boolean Operations

Action	Mac	Windows
Union	`Cmd Option U`	`Ctrl Alt U`
Subtract	`Cmd Option S`	`Ctrl Alt S`
Intersect	`Cmd Option I`	`Ctrl Alt I`
Exclude	`Cmd Option X`	`Ctrl Alt X`
Flatten	`Cmd E`	`Ctrl E`

Path Editing

Action	Mac	Windows
Edit Path	`Enter` or double-click	`Enter` or double-click
Finish Editing	`Esc`	`Esc`
Bend Path	Hold `Cmd` and drag	Hold `Ctrl` and drag
Remove Fill	`/`	`/`
Swap Fill/Stroke	`Shift X`	`Shift X`
Round Corners	Select + drag corner handles	Same
Mirror Path	Select path, then `M`	Same

Effects

Action	Mac	Windows
Add Shadow	`Cmd Option Y`	`Ctrl Alt Y`
Add Blur	`Cmd Option B`	`Ctrl Alt B`
Toggle Opacity	`0-9` (10%-90%)	`0-9` (10%-90%)
100% Opacity	`0` twice	`0` twice

Layout Shortcuts

Organize and align elements.

Alignment

Action	Mac	Windows
Align Left	`Option A`	`Alt A`
Align Right	`Option D`	`Alt D`
Align Top	`Option W`	`Alt W`
Align Bottom	`Option S`	`Alt S`
Align Horizontal Centers	`Option H`	`Alt H`
Align Vertical Centers	`Option V`	`Alt V`
Distribute Horizontal	`Ctrl Option H`	`Ctrl Alt H`
Distribute Vertical	`Ctrl Option V`	`Ctrl Alt V`

Auto Layout

Action	Mac	Windows
Add Auto Layout	`Shift A`	`Shift A`
Remove Auto Layout	`Shift Option A`	`Shift Alt A`
Add Padding	Select frame, `Shift A` twice	Same
Flip Direction	`Shift Option A`	`Shift Alt A`

Constraints

Action	Mac	Windows
Set Constraints	Select + Constraints panel	Same
Toggle Constraints	Click constraint handles	Same

Layers Panel

Navigate and organize layers.

Action	Mac	Windows
Collapse All Layers	`Option Click` triangle	`Alt Click` triangle
Expand All Layers	`Option Click` triangle	`Alt Click` triangle
Rename Layer	`Cmd R`	`Ctrl R`
Search Layers	`Cmd F`	`Ctrl F`
Lock Layer	`Cmd L`	`Ctrl L`
Unlock Layer	`Cmd Shift L`	`Ctrl Shift L`
Hide Layer	`Cmd Shift H`	`Ctrl Shift H`
Show Layer	`Cmd Shift H` (toggle)	`Ctrl Shift H` (toggle)

Layer Organization

Action	Mac	Windows
Collapse Group	`Option Left`	`Alt Left`
Expand Group	`Option Right`	`Alt Right`
Move Layer Up	`Cmd Option ↑`	`Ctrl Alt ↑`
Move Layer Down	`Cmd Option ↓`	`Ctrl Alt ↓`

Prototyping

Create interactive prototypes.

Prototype Mode

Action	Mac	Windows
Present	`Cmd Option P`	`Ctrl Alt P`
Restart Prototype	`R` (in present mode)	`R` (in present mode)
Exit Present	`Esc`	`Esc`
Add Connection	Click + drag from node	Same
Show Hotspots	Hold `Shift` (in present mode)	Hold `Shift` (in present mode)

Plugins & Quick Actions

Action	Mac	Windows
Run Last Plugin	`Cmd Option P`	`Ctrl Alt P`
Quick Actions	`Cmd /`	`Ctrl /`
Plugin Settings	Access from Plugins menu	Same

Panels & Interface

Action	Mac	Windows
Toggle Layers Panel	`Cmd Option 1`	`Ctrl Alt 1`
Toggle Assets Panel	`Cmd Option 2`	`Ctrl Alt 2`
Toggle Properties Panel	`Cmd Option 3`	`Ctrl Alt 3`
Toggle All Panels	`Cmd .`	`Ctrl .`
Search Files	`Cmd P`	`Ctrl P`
Show Comments	`Cmd Option /`	`Ctrl Alt /`

Measurement & Spacing

Action	Mac	Windows
Show Measurements	Hold `Option` while selecting	Hold `Alt` while selecting
Show Distance to Layer	`Option` + hover over other layer	`Alt` + hover over other layer
Copy CSS	Right-click → Copy CSS	Same
Inspect Code	`Cmd Shift C`	`Ctrl Shift C`

Custom Shortcuts

Create your own shortcuts for frequent actions:

Acme → Preferences → Keyboard Shortcuts
Search for command
Click to set custom shortcut
Press key combination
Click Save

Recommended Custom Shortcuts

Consider setting up:

Create artboard preset (e.g., iPhone 14)
Insert favorite components
Apply common styles
Run frequently used plugins

Productivity Tips

Keyboard-First Workflow

Start with tools: V, F, R, T etc.
Quick Actions: Cmd / for any command
Stay in flow: Minimize mouse usage
Learn gradually: Master 5 shortcuts per week

Chaining Shortcuts

Combine shortcuts for complex operations:

Example: Duplicate and Align

Cmd D - Duplicate
→ 10 times - Move right
Cmd D - Duplicate again
Repeat for evenly spaced copies

Modifier Combos

Remember modifier patterns:

Cmd: Primary action Shift: Constrain or extend Option/Alt: Alternative or duplicate Ctrl: Context or special mode

Platform Differences

Mac vs Windows

Most shortcuts are identical except:

Mac	Windows
`Cmd`	`Ctrl`
`Option`	`Alt`
`Backspace`	`Delete`
`Fn+Backspace`	`Backspace`

Linux

Linux shortcuts follow Windows conventions with some variations depending on window manager.

Print This Guide

For quick reference:

File → Print Shortcuts
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