GIMP keyboard shortcuts
GIMP is a free, open source image editor for retouching photos and making graphics. Most of its keys pick a tool, so you can go from selection to brush to text without the toolbox; others create, save, and export images and open docks.
Windows, macOS, Linux · 55 shortcutsToolbox
Switch tools from the keyboard, then continue editing with the active tool instead of returning to the toolbox.
| Action | Shortcuts |
|---|---|
| Open Help | Windows / macOS / LinuxF1 |
| Open Context Help | Windows / macOS / LinuxShift + F1 |
| Rectangle Select | Windows / macOS / LinuxR |
| Ellipse Select | Windows / macOS / LinuxE |
| Free Select | Windows / macOS / LinuxF |
| Fuzzy Select | Windows / macOS / LinuxU |
| Select by Color | Windows / macOS / LinuxShift + O |
| Scissors Select | Windows / macOS / LinuxI |
| Paths | Windows / macOS / LinuxB |
| Color Picker | Windows / macOS / LinuxO |
| Move | Windows / macOS / LinuxM |
| Crop or Resize | Windows / macOS / LinuxShift + C |
| Rotate | Windows / macOS / LinuxShift + R |
| Scale | Windows / macOS / LinuxShift + T |
| Shear | Windows / macOS / LinuxShift + S |
| Perspective | Windows / macOS / LinuxShift + P |
| Flip | Windows / macOS / LinuxShift + F |
| Text | Windows / macOS / LinuxT |
| Bucket Fill | Windows / macOS / LinuxShift + B |
| Blend | Windows / macOS / LinuxG |
| Pencil | Windows / macOS / LinuxN |
| Paintbrush | Windows / macOS / LinuxP |
| Eraser | Windows / macOS / LinuxShift + E |
| Airbrush | Windows / macOS / LinuxA |
| Ink | Windows / macOS / LinuxK |
| Clone | Windows / macOS / LinuxC |
| Blur or Sharpen | Windows / macOS / LinuxShift + U |
| Smudge | Windows / macOS / LinuxS |
| Dodge or Burn | Windows / macOS / LinuxShift + D |
| Swap foreground and background colors | Windows / macOS / LinuxX |
| Restore default colors | Windows / macOS / LinuxD |
Image files
Create, open, save, duplicate, and export images using the file commands in GIMP's quick reference.
| Action | Shortcuts |
|---|---|
| Create a new image | Windows / macOS / LinuxCtrl + N |
| Open an image | Windows / macOS / LinuxCtrl + O |
| Open an image as a new layer | Windows / macOS / LinuxCtrl + Alt + O |
| Duplicate the image | Windows / macOS / LinuxCtrl + D |
| Save the image | Windows / macOS / LinuxCtrl + S |
| Save under a new name | Windows / macOS / LinuxCtrl + Shift + S |
| Export to a file | Windows / macOS / LinuxCtrl + E |
| Export to a new file | Windows / macOS / LinuxCtrl + Shift + E |
| Close the image | Windows / macOS / LinuxCtrl + W |
| Quit GIMP | Windows / macOS / LinuxCtrl + Q |
Dialogs and view
Open commonly used docks, move through dialog controls, and change the GIMP window view from the keyboard.
| Action | Shortcuts |
|---|---|
| Open the Layers dialog | Windows / macOS / LinuxCtrl + L |
| Open the Brushes dialog | Windows / macOS / LinuxCtrl + Shift + B |
| Open the Patterns dialog | Windows / macOS / LinuxCtrl + Shift + P |
| Open the Gradients dialog | Windows / macOS / LinuxCtrl + G |
| Open Tool Options | Windows / macOS / LinuxCtrl + Shift + T |
| Open the Palettes dialog | Windows / macOS / LinuxCtrl + P |
| Open the Navigation dialog | Windows / macOS / LinuxCtrl + Shift + N |
| Close the current dialog | Windows / macOS / LinuxAlt + F4 |
| Move to the next widget | Windows / macOS / LinuxTab |
| Move to the previous widget | Windows / macOS / LinuxShift + Tab |
| Toggle fullscreen | Windows / macOS / LinuxF11 |
| Toggle QuickMask | Windows / macOS / LinuxShift + Q |
| Open the main menu | Windows / macOS / LinuxF10 |
| Open the context menu | Windows / macOS / LinuxShift + F10 |
Source
official GIMP keyboard shortcuts quick reference · Checked
The official GIMP one-page quick reference publishes one set of desktop bindings without operating-system columns. The listed keys are kept as published on Windows, macOS, and Linux; individual installations may differ.