Using the keyboard shortcuts (so-called hotkeys) can simplify and speed up the processing. To activate a tool, you can either click its icon or use a shortcut.
Below is a list of shortcuts which can be used in AliveColors. To change a shortcut, use the HotKeys tab in the program's Preferences (click in the upper right corner of the program window).
Windows | Mac | |
Basic Commands: | ||
Ctrl+N | ⌘+N | Create a New Image |
Ctrl+Shift+N | ⌘+⇧+N | Create a New Image from the Clipboard |
Ctrl+O | ⌘+O | Open an Image |
Ctrl+W | ⌘+W | Close an Image |
Ctrl+Alt+W | ⌘+Option+W | Close All Images |
Ctrl+S | ⌘+S | Save an Image |
Ctrl+Shift+S | ⌘+⇧+S | Save an Image as... |
Ctrl+P | ⌘+P | Print an Image |
Ctrl+Z | ⌘+Z | Undo the Last Action |
Ctrl+Y | ⌘+Y | Redo the Last Action |
Shift+Z | ⇧+Z | Back to the Last Action (switching between two states in History) |
F1 | F1 | Open Tutorial |
Ctrl+Q | ⌘+Q | Exit the Program |
Scaling: | ||
+ or Ctrl++ | + or ⌘++ | Zoom In |
- or Ctrl+- | - or ⌘+- | Zoom Out |
Ctrl+1 | ⌘+1 | Original Size (100%) |
Ctrl+0 | ⌘+0 | Scale an Image to the Window |
Alt+→ | Option+→ | Scale an Image to Fit the Window Width |
Alt+↓ | Option+↓ | Scale an Image to Fit the Window Height |
Adjustments: | ||
Ctrl+L | ⌘+L | Levels |
Ctrl+M | ⌘+M | Curves |
Ctrl+U | ⌘+U | Hue/Saturation |
Ctrl+Alt+Shift+B | ⌘+Option+⇧+B | Black & White |
Ctrl+I | ⌘+I | Invert |
Ctrl+Shift+L | ⌘+⇧+L | Auto Levels |
Ctrl+Alt+Shift+L | ⌘+Option+⇧+L | Auto Contrast |
Resizing: | ||
Ctrl+Alt+I | ⌘+Option+I | Resize an Image |
Ctrl+Alt+C | ⌘+Option+C | Resize Canvas |
Layers: | ||
Ctrl+Alt+G | ⌘+Option+G | Create/Remove Clipping Mask |
Ctrl+G | ⌘+G | Group Layers |
Ctrl+Shift+G | ⌘+⇧+G | Ungroup Layers |
Ctrl+, | ⌘+, | Show/Hide Layers |
Ctrl+Shift+] | ⌘+⇧+] | Bring to Front |
Ctrl+] | ⌘+] | Bring Forward |
Ctrl+[ | ⌘+[ | Send Backward |
Ctrl+Shift+[ | ⌘+⇧+[ | Send to Back |
Ctrl+E | ⌘+E | Merge Selected Layers |
Ctrl+Shift+E | ⌘+⇧+E | Merge Visible Layers |
Selections: | ||
Ctrl+A | ⌘+A | Select all |
Ctrl+D | ⌘+D | Deselect |
Ctrl+Shift+D | ⌘+⇧+D | Reselect |
Ctrl+Shift+I | ⌘+⇧+I | Invert Selection |
Ctrl+X | ⌘+X | Cut Selection |
Ctrl+C | ⌘+С | Copy to Clipboard |
Ctrl+Shift+C | ⌘+⇧+C | Copy Contents of All Layers |
Ctrl+V | ⌘+V | Paste from Clipboard |
Ctrl+J | ⌘+J | Layer via Copy |
Ctrl+Shift+J | ⌘+⇧+J | Layer via Cut |
Ctrl+Alt+R | ⌘+Option+R | Refine Edges |
Delete | Delete | Remove Selected Areas |
Tools: | ||
M | M | Selection Tools |
W | W | Quick Selection Tools |
C | C | Crop Tool |
V | V | Move Tool |
Ctrl+T | ⌘+T | Transform Tool |
T | T | Text Tools |
I | I | Eyedropper Tool |
H | H | Hand Tool |
Z | Z | Zoom Tool |
B | B | Painting & Drawing Tools |
E | E | Erasing Tools |
G | G | Filling Tools |
S | S | Clone Stamp Tool |
J | J | Chameleon Brush Tool |
K | K | Blur, Sharpen, and Smudge Tools |
O | O | Lighten, Darken, and Saturation Tools |
D | D | Deformation Tools |
X | X | FX Brushes |
A | A | Artistic Brushes |
U | U | Shape Tools |
[ and ] | [ and ] | Decrease/Increase Brush Size |
N+mouse wheel | N+mouse wheel | Change the size of the brush |
Shift+[ and Shift+] | ⇧+[ and ⇧+] | Decrease/Increase Brush Hardness |
Scroll an Image in a Window (the Hand tool is temporarily active while you hold down the spacebar) | ||
Panels (enable/disable): | ||
F5 | F5 | Expanded Tool Options Panel |
F6 | F6 | Color Panel |
F7 | F7 | Layers Panel |
F8 | F8 | File Info Panel |
F9 | F9 | Actions Panel |
Auxiliary Lines: | ||
Ctrl+R | ⌘+R | Show Rulers |
Ctrl+' | ⌘+' | Show Grid |
Ctrl+; | ⌘+; | Show Guidelines |
Ctrl+Shift+; | ⌘+⇧+; | Snap to Edges |
Ctrl+Alt+; | ⌘+Option+; | Fix Guidelines |
In addition: | ||
Ctrl+F | ⌘+F | Apply the Last Effect |
Shift+mouse click | ⇧+mouse click | Draw a Straight Line |