Cheat sheet guide
GIMP shortcuts worth learning first
This page collects 55 searchable GIMP keyboard shortcuts across 5 categories. Start with the shortcuts for File, Tools, Edit & Selection, Layers, then print the cheat sheet once the important ones are worth keeping nearby.
- Switch OS tabs for Windows, macOS, or Linux shortcuts.
- Use / to jump to search instantly.
- Use Compare mode when moving between machines.
- Print or save the page as a compact PDF cheat sheet.
File
7 shortcuts
New image
Ctrl+N
WinCtrl+NMac⌘NLinuxCtrl+N
Open image
Ctrl+O
WinCtrl+OMac⌘OLinuxCtrl+O
Save (overwrite)
Ctrl+S
WinCtrl+SMac⌘SLinuxCtrl+S
Export as
Ctrl+Shift+E
WinCtrl+Shift+EMac⌘Shift+ELinuxCtrl+Shift+E
Overwrite file
Ctrl+Alt+Shift+S
WinCtrl+Alt+Shift+SMac⌘⌥Shift+SLinuxCtrl+Alt+Shift+S
Revert to saved
—
Win—Mac—Linux—
Quit
Ctrl+Q
WinCtrl+QMac⌘QLinuxCtrl+Q
Tools
24 shortcuts
Rectangle Select
R
WinRMacRLinuxR
Ellipse Select
E
WinEMacELinuxE
Free Select (Lasso)
F
WinFMacFLinuxF
Fuzzy Select (Magic Wand)
U
WinUMacULinuxU
Select by Color
Shift+O
WinShift+OMacShift+OLinuxShift+O
Move tool
M
WinMMacMLinuxM
Crop
Shift+C
WinShift+CMacShift+CLinuxShift+C
Scale / Transform
Shift+T
WinShift+TMacShift+TLinuxShift+T
Rotate
Shift+R
WinShift+RMacShift+RLinuxShift+R
Perspective
Shift+P
WinShift+PMacShift+PLinuxShift+P
Flip
Shift+F
WinShift+FMacShift+FLinuxShift+F
Paintbrush
P
WinPMacPLinuxP
Pencil
N
WinNMacNLinuxN
Eraser
Shift+E
WinShift+EMacShift+ELinuxShift+E
Bucket fill
Shift+B
WinShift+BMacShift+BLinuxShift+B
Blend / Gradient
L
WinLMacLLinuxL
Clone tool
C
WinCMacCLinuxC
Heal tool
H
WinHMacHLinuxH
Smudge
S
WinSMacSLinuxS
Dodge / Burn
Shift+D
WinShift+DMacShift+DLinuxShift+D
Text tool
T
WinTMacTLinuxT
Path tool
B
WinBMacBLinuxB
Color picker / Eyedropper
O
WinOMacOLinuxO
Zoom tool
Z
WinZMacZLinuxZ
Edit & Selection
11 shortcuts
Undo
Ctrl+Z
WinCtrl+ZMac⌘ZLinuxCtrl+Z
Redo
Ctrl+Y
WinCtrl+YMac⌘YLinuxCtrl+Y
Cut
Ctrl+X
WinCtrl+XMac⌘XLinuxCtrl+X
Copy
Ctrl+C
WinCtrl+CMac⌘CLinuxCtrl+C
Paste
Ctrl+V
WinCtrl+VMac⌘VLinuxCtrl+V
Select all
Ctrl+A
WinCtrl+AMac⌘ALinuxCtrl+A
Deselect all
Ctrl+Shift+A
WinCtrl+Shift+AMac⌘Shift+ALinuxCtrl+Shift+A
Invert selection
Ctrl+I
WinCtrl+IMac⌘ILinuxCtrl+I
Feather selection
Ctrl+Shift+F
WinCtrl+Shift+FMac⌘Shift+FLinuxCtrl+Shift+F
Fill with foreground
Ctrl+,
WinCtrl+,Mac⌘,LinuxCtrl+,
Fill with background
Ctrl+.
WinCtrl+.Mac⌘.LinuxCtrl+.
Layers
6 shortcuts
New layer
Ctrl+Shift+N
WinCtrl+Shift+NMac⌘Shift+NLinuxCtrl+Shift+N
Duplicate layer
Ctrl+Shift+D
WinCtrl+Shift+DMac⌘Shift+DLinuxCtrl+Shift+D
Merge visible layers
Ctrl+M
WinCtrl+MMac⌘MLinuxCtrl+M
Flatten image
Ctrl+Shift+M
WinCtrl+Shift+MMac⌘Shift+MLinuxCtrl+Shift+M
Move layer up
Ctrl+PageUp
WinCtrl+PageUpMac⌘PageUpLinuxCtrl+PageUp
Move layer down
Ctrl+PageDown
WinCtrl+PageDownMac⌘PageDownLinuxCtrl+PageDown
View
7 shortcuts
Zoom in
Ctrl+=/
WinCtrl+=/Mac⌘=/LinuxCtrl+=/
Zoom out
Ctrl+-/-
WinCtrl+-/-Mac⌘-/-LinuxCtrl+-/-
Zoom to fit
Shift+Ctrl+E
WinShift+Ctrl+EMac⌘Shift+ELinuxShift+Ctrl+E
Zoom 100%
Ctrl+Shift+J
WinCtrl+Shift+JMac⌘Shift+JLinuxCtrl+Shift+J
Toggle guides
Ctrl+;
WinCtrl+;Mac⌘;LinuxCtrl+;
Toggle snap to guides
Ctrl+Shift+;
WinCtrl+Shift+;Mac⌘Shift+;LinuxCtrl+Shift+;
Toggle fullscreen
F11
WinF11MacF11LinuxF11
Frequently asked questions
What is the fastest way to find GIMP shortcuts on this page?
Use the search box or press /, then type an action such as new image.
Can I print this GIMP shortcut cheat sheet?
Yes. Use the Print / PDF button or your browser print command to save a compact cheat sheet.
Does this page include Windows and Mac shortcuts for GIMP?
Yes. Use the OS tabs to switch between Windows and macOS shortcuts. For example, New image is Ctrl+N on Windows and ⌘N on macOS where available.
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