GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) is an open-source photo editor which is available on Windows, Mac or Linux, that boasts a huge number of features and functions that rival Photoshop. Unlike Adobe’s offering, however, GIMP is totally free to install and use, which certainly helps boost its appeal. Like you’d expect, GIMP has a large number of default keyboard shortcuts that can speed up your workflow considerably. We’ve aggregated them into a single post, so you can quickly view them at a glance.
Download this Cheatsheet
Enter your email below to receive this PDF cheatsheet in your Inbox.
Selection Tools
Selection tools are designed to help you select certain regions from the active layer, so you can work on then without affecting the unselected areas.
| Windows & Linux | Mac | Function |
|---|---|---|
| R | R | Rectangle select |
| E | E | Ellipse select |
| F | F | Free select |
| U | U | Fuzzy select |
| Shift + O | Shift + O | Select by color |
| I | I | Scissors |
| Shift + V | Shift + V | Select from Path |
| O | O | Color Picker |
Selections
The table below includes shortcuts to help you interact with selection more easily.
| Windows & Linux | Mac | Function |
|---|---|---|
| Ctrl + T | Command + T | Toggle selections |
| Ctrl + A | Command + A | Select all |
| Shift + Ctrl + A | Shift + Command + A | Select none |
| Ctrl + I | Command + I | Invert selection |
| Shift + Ctrl + L | Shift + Command + L | Float selection |
| Shift + V | Shift + V | Select from path |
Editing
GIMP’s Toolbox allows you to quickly perform several actions by clicking on them. Alternatively, you can use the keyboard shortcuts below to make life easier.
| Windows & Linux | Mac | Function |
|---|---|---|
| M | M | Move |
| Shift + C | Shift + C | Crop and resize |
| Shift + R | Shift + R | Rotate |
| Shift + T | Shift + T | Scale |
| Shift + S | Shift + S | Shear |
| Shift + P | Shift + P | Perspective |
| Shift + F | Shift + F | Flip |
| T | T | Text |
| Shift + B | Shift + B | Bucket fill |
| L | L | Blend |
| N | N | Pencil |
| P | P | Paintbrush |
| Shift + E | Shift + E | Eraser |
| A | A | Airbrush |
| K | K | Ink |
| C | C | Clone |
| S | S | Smudge |
| Shift + D | Shift + D | Dodge / Burn |
| X | X | Swap colors |
| D | D | Default colors |
File
Access and interact with new files and images with these keyboard shortcuts.
| Windows & Linux | Mac | Function |
|---|---|---|
| Ctrl + N | Command + N | Open new file |
| Ctrl + O | Command + O | Open image |
| Ctrl + Alt + O | Command + Option + O | Open image as new layer |
| Ctrl + 1 Ctrl + 2 Ctrl + 3 and so on | Command + 1 Command + 2 Command + 3 and soon | Open recent image 01 Open recent image 02 Open recent image 03 |
| Shift + Ctrl + V | Shift + Command + V | Create a new image from Clipboard |
| Shift + Ctrl + S | Shift + Command + S | Save under a new name |
| Shift + Ctrl + W | Shift + Command + W | Close All |
| Ctrl + Q | Command + Q | Quit |
View
The shortcuts in this table will make interacting with the various elements in GIMP a lot easier.
| Windows & Linux | Mac | Function |
|---|---|---|
| F10 | F10 | Main menu |
| Shift + F10 | Shift + F10 | Drop-down menu |
| F11 | F10 | Switch to full screen |
| Shift + Q | Shift + Q | Toggle quickmask |
| Ctrl + W | Command + W | Close document window |
| Ctrl + E | Command + E | Shrink wrap |
| Shift + Ctrl + E | Shift + Command + E | Fit image in window |
| Shift + Ctrl + R | Shift + Command + R | Toggle rulers |
| Shift + Ctrl + T | Shift + Command + T | Toggle guides |
| Ctrl + Z | Command + Z | Undo |
| Ctrl + Y | Command + Y | Redo |
| Ctrl + C | Command + C | Copy selection |
| Ctrl + X | Command + X | Cut selection |
| Ctrl + Shift + C | Command + Shift + C | Copy visible |
| Ctrl + Shift + V | Command + Shift + V | Paste as new image |
| Ctrl + V | Command + V | Paste clipboard |
| Ctrl + K | Command + K | Clear selection |
| Shift + Ctrl + C | Shift + Command + C | Named copy selection |
| Shift + Ctrl + X | Shift + Command + X | Named cut selection |
| Shift + Ctrl + V | Shift + Command + V | Named paste clipboard |
| Ctrl + , | Command +, | Fill with FG color |
| Ctrl + . | Command +. | Fill with BG color |
| Ctrl + : | Command +: | Fill with pattern |
Dialogs
In GIMP, dialogs are moving windows which contain options for a tool for or is dedicated to a specific task. With these shortcuts you’ll be able to manipulate them more easily.
| Windows & Linux | Mac | Function |
|---|---|---|
| Ctrl + L | Command + L | Layers |
| Shift + Ctrl + B | Shift + Command + B | Brushes |
| Shift + Ctrl + P | Shift + Command + P | Patterns |
| Shift + Ctrl + T | Shift + Command + T | Tool options |
| Ctrl + P | Command + P | Palettes |
| Shift + Ctrl + I | Shift + Command + I | Info window |
| Shift + Ctrl + N | Shift + Command + N | Navigation window |
| Alt + F4 | Option + F4 | Close the window |
| Tab | Tab | Go to the next widget |
| Shift + Tab | Shift + Tab | Jump to the previous widget |
| Enter | Option | Set new value |
| Space | Space | Activate current button on the list |
| Ctrl + Alt + Page Up | Command + Option + Page Up | Switch tabs, when in a multi-tab dialog |
| Shift + L | Shift + L | Open location |
| Alt + ↓ | Option + ↓ | Down folder |
| Alt + ↑ | Option + ↑ | Up folder |
| Alt + Home | Option + Home | Home folder |
| Esc | Esc | Close dialog |
Layers
Manipulate layers with ease with these shortcuts.
| Windows & Linux | Mac | Function |
|---|---|---|
| Shift + Ctrl + N | Shift + Command + N | New layer |
| Shift + Ctrl + D | Shift + Command + D | Duplicate layer |
| Ctrl + H | Command + H | Anchor layer |
| Page Up | Page Up | Select the above layer |
| Page Down | Page Down | Select the layer below |
| Home | Home | Select the first layer |
| End | End | Select the last layer |
| Ctrl + M | Command + M | Merge visible layers |
| Ctrl + H | Command + H | Anchor layer |
Plug-ins
| Windows & Linux | Mac | Function |
|---|---|---|
| Ctrl + F | Command + F | Repeat last plug-in |
| Shift + Ctrl + F | Shift + Command + F | Reshow last plug-in |
Our latest tutorials delivered straight to your inbox
