Adobe InDesign is a premier publication design software that is widely used to create a variety of print and digital publications. Publishers, graphic designers, and marketing professionals typically use InDesign to create books, brochures, flyers, newsletters, reports, interactive PDFs, posters, and magazines. Key features included enhanced tools for typography, layout, styles, interactivity, and integration with other Adobe services and products.
The list of tools and objects keyboard shortcuts shown below will assist you to be even more efficient with Adobe InDesign on your computer.
Note: Choose Window > Utilities > Tool Hints, and then select a tool to view its shortcuts and modifier keys.
Tools Keyboard Shortcuts
- Selection tool V, Esc
- Direct Selection tool A
- Toggle Selection and Direct Selection tool Command+Control+Tab
- Page tool Shift+P
- Gap tool U
- Pen tool P
- Add Anchor Point tool =
- Add Anchor Point tool = (on the numeric pad)
- Delete Anchor Point tool -
- Delete Anchor Point tool -
- Convert Direction Point tool Shift+C
- Type tool T
- Type On A Path tool Shift+T
- Pencil tool (Note tool) N
- Line tool \
- Rectangle Frame tool F
- Rectangle tool M
- Ellipse tool L
- Rotate tool R
- Scale tool S
- Shear tool O
- Free Transform tool E
- Eyedropper tool I
- Measure tool K
- Gradient tool G
- Scissors tool C
- Hand tool H
- Temporarily selects Hand tool Spacebar (Layout mode), Option (Text mode), or Option+Spacebar (both)
- Zoom tool Z
- Temporarily selects Zoom In tool Command+Spacebar
- Toggle Fill and Stroke X
- Swap Fill and Stroke Shift+X
- Toggle between Formatting Affects Container and Formatting Affects Text J
- Apply Color , (comma)
- Apply Gradient . (period)
- Apply No Color /
- Switch between Normal View and Preview Mode W
- Frame Grid tool (horizontal) Y
- Frame Grid tool (vertical) Q
- Gradient Feather tool Shift+G
Selecting and Moving Objects Keyboard Shortcuts
This list is not a complete list of keyboard shortcuts. It lists only those shortcuts that aren’t displayed in menu commands or tool tips.
- Temporarily select Selection or Direct Selection tool (last used) Any tool (except selection tools) + Command
- Temporarily select Group Selection tool Direct Selection tool+Option; or Pen, Add Anchor Point, or Delete Anchor Point tool+Option+Command
- Select container of selected content Esc or double-click
- Select content of selected container Shift+Esc or double-click
- Add to or subtract from a selection of multiple objects Selection, Direct Selection, or Group Selection tool+Shift–click (to deselect, click center point)
- Duplicate selection Selection, Direct Selection, or Group Selection tool+ Option–drag*
- Duplicate and offset selection Option+Left Arrow, Right Arrow, Up Arrow, or Down Arrow key
- Duplicate and offset selection by 10 times** Option+Shift+Left Arrow, Right Arrow, Up Arrow, Down Arrow key
- Move selection** Left Arrow, Right Arrow, Up Arrow, Down Arrow key
- Move selection by 10th** Command+Shift+Left Arrow, Right Arrow, Up Arrow, Down arrow key
- Move selection by 10 times** Shift+Left Arrow, Right Arrow, Up Arrow, Down Arrow key
- Select parent page item from document page Selection or Direct Selection tool+ Command+Shift–click
- Select next object behind or in front Selection tool+Command–click or Selection tool+Option+ Command–click
- Select next or previous frame in story Option+Command+Page Down/ Option+Command+Page Up
- Select first or last frame in story Shift+Option+Command+Page Down/ Shift+Option+Command+Page Up
Transforming Objects Keyboard Shortcuts
This list is not a complete list of keyboard shortcuts. It lists only those shortcuts that aren’t displayed in menu commands or tool tips.
- Duplicate and transform selection Transformation tool+Option–drag*
- Display Transform tool dialog box Select object+double-click Scale tool, Rotate tool, or Shear tool in Toolbox
- Decrease scale by 1% Command+,
- Decrease scale by 5% Command+Option+,
- Increase scale by 1% Command+.
- Increase scale by 5% Command+Option+.
- Resize frame and content Selection tool+Command–drag
- Resize frame and content proportionately Selection tool+Shift+Command–drag
- Constrain proportion Ellipse tool, Polygon tool, or Rectangle tool+Shift–drag
- Switch image from High Quality Display to Fast Display Command+Option+Shift+Z
