PhotoCraft Shortcuts: Searchable Keyboard Cheat Sheet

Everyday PhotoCraft shortcuts

Command	Windows / Linux	macOS
Layer via Copy	`Ctrl+J`	`⌘J`
Free Transform	`Ctrl+T`	`⌘T`
Deselect	`Ctrl+D`	`⌘D`
Inverse Selection	`Ctrl+Shift+I`	`⌘⇧I`
Undo	`Ctrl+Z`	`⌘Z`
Redo	`Ctrl+Shift+Z`	`⌘⇧Z`
Save As…	`Ctrl+Shift+S`	`⌘⇧S`
Fit on Screen	`Ctrl+0`	`⌘0`

menu_catalog.rs shortcuts.rs

Reading the keys

Ctrl on Windows and Linux is ⌘ on macOS. The source writes this as Cmd.
Alt is ⌥ (Option) on macOS, and Shift is ⇧.
Modifiers match exactly: Ctrl+Alt+I is Image Size, never Invert (Ctrl+I). Delete also matchesBackspace, and Zoom In answers to both = and +.

shortcuts.rs

Tool keys

Each tool group has a single letter. Press it to select the group’s tool, and press it again to cycle through the group. If you turn on Preferences › Tools › Use Shift Key for Tool Switch, only Shift+letter cycles, and the plain letter keeps the group’s current tool. The Blur group (Blur, Sharpen, Smudge) has no key.shortcuts.rs state.rs

Key	Tools in the group
`A`	Path Selection, Direct Selection
`B`	Brush, Pencil, Mixer Brush
`C`	Crop, Slice, Slice Select
`E`	Eraser, Background Eraser, Magic Eraser
`G`	Gradient, Paint Bucket
`H`	Hand
`I`	Eyedropper, Ruler, Note, Count
`J`	Remove, Spot Healing Brush, Healing Brush, Patch, Content-Aware Move, Red Eye
`L`	Lasso, Polygonal Lasso, Magnetic Lasso
`M`	Rectangular Marquee, Elliptical Marquee
`O`	Dodge, Burn, Sponge
`P`	Pen
`R`	Rotate View
`S`	Clone Stamp, Pattern Stamp
`T`	Type, Vertical Type
`U`	Rectangle, Ellipse, Triangle, Polygon, Line, Custom Shape
`V`	Move
`W`	Magic Wand, Quick Selection, Object Selection
`Y`	History Brush
`Z`	Zoom

Hold-to-use tools

These last only while you hold the key and hand control back to your previous tool on release.shortcuts.rs

Tool	Windows / Linux	macOS
Hand Tool (hold)	`Space`	`Space`
Zoom In (hold, drag to scrub)	`Ctrl+Space`	`⌘Space`
Zoom Out (hold)	`Ctrl+Alt+Space`	`⌘⌥Space`

Number keys

The number row 1 to 0 sets opacity, and Shift+1 to 0 sets flow or fill.shortcuts.rs

Default shortcuts by menu

File

Command	Windows / Linux	macOS
Open…	`Ctrl+O`	`⌘O`
Save	`Ctrl+S`	`⌘S`
Save As…	`Ctrl+Shift+S`	`⌘⇧S`
Exit	`Ctrl+Q`	`⌘Q`
Export As…	`Ctrl+Alt+Shift+W`	`⌘⌥⇧W`
New…	`Ctrl+N`	`⌘N`
Close	`Ctrl+W`	`⌘W`
Close All	`Ctrl+Alt+W`	`⌘⌥W`
Close Others	`Ctrl+Alt+P`	`⌘⌥P`
Revert	`F12`	`F12`
Save a Copy…	`Ctrl+Alt+S`	`⌘⌥S`
Open As…	`Ctrl+Alt+Shift+O`	`⌘⌥⇧O`
File Info…	`Ctrl+Alt+Shift+I`	`⌘⌥⇧I`
Print…	`Ctrl+P`	`⌘P`
Print One Copy	`Ctrl+Alt+Shift+P`	`⌘⌥⇧P`
Save for Web (Legacy)…	`Ctrl+Alt+Shift+S`	`⌘⌥⇧S`

Edit

Command	Windows / Linux	macOS
Free Transform	`Ctrl+T`	`⌘T`
Free Transform a Copy	`Ctrl+Alt+T`	`⌘⌥T`
Search (command palette)	`Ctrl+F`	`⌘F`
Undo	`Ctrl+Z`	`⌘Z`
Redo	`Ctrl+Shift+Z`	`⌘⇧Z`
Fill…	`Shift+F5`	`⇧F5`
Clear	`Delete`	`⌫`
Cut	`Ctrl+X`	`⌘X`
Copy	`Ctrl+C`	`⌘C`
Copy Merged	`Ctrl+Shift+C`	`⌘⇧C`
Paste	`Ctrl+V`	`⌘V`
Paste in Place	`Ctrl+Shift+V`	`⌘⇧V`
Toggle Last State	`Ctrl+Alt+Z`	`⌘⌥Z`
Again	`Ctrl+Shift+T`	`⌘⇧T`
Transform Again on a Copy	`Ctrl+Alt+Shift+T`	`⌘⌥⇧T`
Fade…	`Ctrl+Shift+F`	`⌘⇧F`
Content-Aware Scale	`Ctrl+Alt+Shift+C`	`⌘⌥⇧C`
Paste Into	`Ctrl+Alt+Shift+V`	`⌘⌥⇧V`
Fill with Foreground Color	`Alt+Backspace`	`⌥Backspace`
Fill with Background Color	`Ctrl+Backspace`	`⌘Backspace`
Fill with Foreground Color, Preserve Transparency	`Alt+Shift+Backspace`	`⌥⇧Backspace`
Fill with Background Color, Preserve Transparency	`Ctrl+Shift+Backspace`	`⌘⇧Backspace`
Menus…	`Ctrl+Alt+Shift+M`	`⌘⌥⇧M`
Color Settings…	`Ctrl+Shift+K`	`⌘⇧K`
Settings…	`Ctrl+K`	`⌘K`

Select

Command	Windows / Linux	macOS
Select and Mask…	`Ctrl+Alt+R`	`⌘⌥R`
Edit in Quick Mask Mode	`Q`	`Q`
All	`Ctrl+A`	`⌘A`
Deselect	`Ctrl+D`	`⌘D`
Inverse Selection	`Ctrl+Shift+I`	`⌘⇧I`
Reselect	`Ctrl+Shift+D`	`⌘⇧D`
All Layers	`Ctrl+Alt+A`	`⌘⌥A`
Find Layers	`Ctrl+Alt+Shift+F`	`⌘⌥⇧F`
Feather…	`Shift+F6`	`⇧F6`

Image

Command	Windows / Linux	macOS
Desaturate	`Ctrl+Shift+U`	`⌘⇧U`
Auto Tone	`Ctrl+Shift+L`	`⌘⇧L`
Auto Contrast	`Ctrl+Alt+Shift+L`	`⌘⌥⇧L`
Auto Color	`Ctrl+Shift+B`	`⌘⇧B`
Levels…	`Ctrl+L`	`⌘L`
Curves…	`Ctrl+M`	`⌘M`
Hue/Saturation…	`Ctrl+U`	`⌘U`
Color Balance…	`Ctrl+B`	`⌘B`
Black & White…	`Ctrl+Alt+Shift+B`	`⌘⌥⇧B`
Invert	`Ctrl+I`	`⌘I`
Image Size…	`Ctrl+Alt+I`	`⌘⌥I`
Canvas Size…	`Ctrl+Alt+C`	`⌘⌥C`

Layer

Command	Windows / Linux	macOS
Layer…	`Ctrl+Shift+N`	`⌘⇧N`
Group Layers	`Ctrl+G`	`⌘G`
Bring Forward	`Ctrl+]`	`⌘]`
Send Backward	`Ctrl+[`	`⌘[`
Bring to Front	`Ctrl+Shift+]`	`⌘⇧]`
Send to Back	`Ctrl+Shift+[`	`⌘⇧[`
Create Clipping Mask	`Ctrl+Alt+G`	`⌘⌥G`
Layer via Copy	`Ctrl+J`	`⌘J`
Layer via Cut	`Ctrl+Shift+J`	`⌘⇧J`
Merge Visible	`Ctrl+Shift+E`	`⌘⇧E`
Ungroup Layers	`Ctrl+Shift+G`	`⌘⇧G`
Hide Layers	`Ctrl+,`	`⌘,`
Merge Layers	`Ctrl+E`	`⌘E`
Toggle Layer Mask Overlay	`\`	`\`
Stamp Visible	`Ctrl+Alt+Shift+E`	`⌘⌥⇧E`
Stamp Down	`Ctrl+Alt+E`	`⌘⌥E`
Make Selection from Path	`Ctrl+Enter`	`⌘↩`
Quick Export as PNG	`Ctrl+Shift+'`	`⌘⇧'`
Export As…	`Ctrl+Alt+Shift+'`	`⌘⌥⇧'`

Filter

Command	Windows / Linux	macOS
Liquify…	`Ctrl+Shift+X`	`⌘⇧X`
Last Filter	`Ctrl+Alt+F`	`⌘⌥F`
Lens Correction…	`Ctrl+Shift+R`	`⌘⇧R`
Adaptive Wide Angle…	`Ctrl+Alt+Shift+A`	`⌘⌥⇧A`
Camera Raw Filter…	`Ctrl+Shift+A`	`⌘⇧A`
Vanishing Point…	`Ctrl+Alt+V`	`⌘⌥V`

View

Command	Windows / Linux	macOS
Rulers	`Ctrl+R`	`⌘R`
Grid	`Ctrl+'`	`⌘'`
Guides	`Ctrl+;`	`⌘;`
Snap	`Ctrl+Shift+;`	`⌘⇧;`
Lock Guides	`Ctrl+Alt+;`	`⌘⌥;`
Extras	`Ctrl+H`	`⌘H`
Target Path	`Ctrl+Shift+H`	`⌘⇧H`
Cycle Screen Mode	`F`	`F`
Zoom In	`Ctrl+=`	`⌘=`
Zoom Out	`Ctrl+-`	`⌘-`
Fit on Screen	`Ctrl+0`	`⌘0`
100%	`Ctrl+1`	`⌘1`
Proof Colors (soft proof)	`Ctrl+Y`	`⌘Y`
Gamut Warning	`Ctrl+Shift+Y`	`⌘⇧Y`

Window

Command	Windows / Linux	macOS
Layers	`F7`	`F7`
Color	`F6`	`F6`
Brush Settings	`F5`	`F5`
Show/Hide All Panels	`Tab`	`Tab`
Show/Hide Panels	`Shift+Tab`	`⇧Tab`
Keyboard Shortcuts…	`Ctrl+Alt+Shift+K`	`⌘⌥⇧K`
Actions	`Alt+F9`	`⌥F9`
Info	`F8`	`F8`

Tools and painting

Command	Windows / Linux	macOS
Decrease Brush Size	`[`	`[`
Increase Brush Size	`]`	`]`
Decrease Brush Hardness	`Shift+[`	`⇧[`
Increase Brush Hardness	`Shift+]`	`⇧]`
Switch Foreground and Background Colors	`X`	`X`
Default Foreground and Background Colors	`D`	`D`

Channels

Command	Windows / Linux	macOS
Target Composite Channel	`Ctrl+2`	`⌘2`
Target Channel 3	`Ctrl+3`	`⌘3`
Target Channel 4	`Ctrl+4`	`⌘4`
Target Channel 5	`Ctrl+5`	`⌘5`
Target Channel 6	`Ctrl+6`	`⌘6`
Target Channel 7	`Ctrl+7`	`⌘7`
Target Channel 8	`Ctrl+8`	`⌘8`
Target Channel 9	`Ctrl+9`	`⌘9`

Change or import shortcuts

Rebind any command in the Keyboard Shortcuts dialog. Its default key isCtrl+Alt+Shift+K (⌘⌥⇧K on macOS), the same combination Photoshop uses. A command whose binding you remove simply shows no shortcut. shortcuts.rs menu_catalog.rs Adobe shortcuts
PhotoCraft can import a Photoshop shortcut set (.kys, an XML file). Rows are matched to PhotoCraft commands by menu label, and tool letters are not imported because they are fixed. kys.rs

If a PhotoCraft shortcut does not work

Check your bindings in Edit › Keyboard Shortcuts, then check whether a text field or dialog has focus. The tables describe defaults, so a key you have changed in the app may do something else.shortcuts.rs menu_catalog.rs

On Windows, Shift+Delete opens Fill; it would otherwise arrive as a Cut. Ctrl+Insert copies andShift+Insert pastes on Windows and Linux. shortcuts.rs
In a focused text field, typing and editing keys stay with the field, but menu shortcuts such as Ctrl+J,Ctrl+S and F7 still run. While a dialog is open, only the canvas zoom keys keep working.shortcuts.rs

Compared with Photoshop

Photoshop opens the same dialog from Edit › Keyboard Shortcuts with Alt+Shift+Ctrl+K on Windows orOption+Shift+Command+K on macOS, and groups shortcuts into Application Menus, Panel Menus and Tools.Adobe shortcutsPhotoCraft follows Photoshop’s placement, but one reviewer cautions that matching placement is not the same as matching behavior.OMG! Ubuntu See the full PhotoCraft vs Photoshop comparison.

PhotoCraft shortcuts: quick answers

What are the most useful PhotoCraft keyboard shortcuts?

On Windows and Linux: Ctrl+J Layer via Copy, Ctrl+T Free Transform, Ctrl+D Deselect, Ctrl+Shift+I Inverse Selection, Ctrl+Z Undo, Ctrl+Shift+Z Redo, Ctrl+Shift+S Save As…, Ctrl+0 Fit on Screen. On macOS the same commands use ⌘J, ⌘T, ⌘D, ⌘⇧I, ⌘Z, ⌘⇧Z, ⌘⇧S, ⌘0 in that order.

What are PhotoCraft’s tool shortcut keys?

Each tool group has one letter, and pressing it again cycles through the group: A for Path Selection, Direct Selection; B for Brush, Pencil, Mixer Brush; C for Crop, Slice, Slice Select; E for Eraser, Background Eraser, Magic Eraser; G for Gradient, Paint Bucket; H for Hand; I for Eyedropper, Ruler, Note, Count; J for Remove, Spot Healing Brush, Healing Brush, Patch, Content-Aware Move, Red Eye; L for Lasso, Polygonal Lasso, Magnetic Lasso; M for Rectangular Marquee, Elliptical Marquee; O for Dodge, Burn, Sponge; P for Pen; R for Rotate View; S for Clone Stamp, Pattern Stamp; T for Type, Vertical Type; U for Rectangle, Ellipse, Triangle, Polygon, Line, Custom Shape; V for Move; W for Magic Wand, Quick Selection, Object Selection; Y for History Brush; Z for Zoom. The Blur group has no key.

Does PhotoCraft use the same shortcuts as Photoshop?

PhotoCraft deliberately follows Photoshop’s menu layout and default shortcuts, for example Ctrl+J for Layer via Copy and Ctrl+T for Free Transform. A reviewer warns that matching placement is not the same as matching behavior, so test any shortcut your workflow depends on.

Can I change PhotoCraft’s keyboard shortcuts?

Yes. Open the Keyboard Shortcuts dialog (Ctrl+Alt+Shift+K, or ⌘⌥⇧K on macOS) to rebind commands, and import a Photoshop .kys shortcut set if you have one. Tool letters are fixed and are not imported.

Need the editor first? Use the PhotoCraft download guide. For code, documentation or bug reports, see PhotoCraft on GitHub.

Sources

Every fact on this page comes from one of these pages, each opened and read on the date shown. Where a number is the project’s own measurement, the text says so.

crates/ui-egui/src/menu_catalog.rs (Photoshop menu tree with default shortcuts) — PhotoCraft contributors (GitHub). Read 2026-10-10. Pinned to commit 05e0b1f.
crates/ui-egui/src/shortcuts.rs — PhotoCraft contributors (GitHub). Read 2026-10-10. Pinned to commit 05e0b1f.
crates/ui-egui/src/state.rs (single-key tool shortcuts) — PhotoCraft contributors (GitHub). Read 2026-10-10. Pinned to commit 05e0b1f.
crates/engine/src/kys.rs (Photoshop .kys shortcut-set import) — PhotoCraft contributors (GitHub). Read 2026-10-10. Pinned to commit 05e0b1f.
PhotoCraft roadmap and honest parity assessment — ArtCraft Team / PhotoCraft contributors (GitHub). Read 2026-10-10; page updated 2026-10-08. The assessment section is dated 2026-10-05; the page header says updated 2026-10-08.
View keyboard shortcuts in Photoshop — Adobe Help Center. Read 2026-10-10; page updated 2026-09-08.
PhotoCraft is an open-source, AI-built clone of Photoshop — OMG! Ubuntu (Joey Sneddon). Read 2026-10-10. Hands-on review of an early build (v0.3.0). Observations are the reviewer’s own.