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.
- New imageCtrlN
- Rectangle SelectR
- UndoCtrlZ
- New layerCtrlShiftN
- Zoom inCtrl=
- Open imageCtrlO
File
7 shortcuts
New image
CtrlN
WinCtrlNMac⌘NLinuxCtrlN
Open image
CtrlO
WinCtrlOMac⌘OLinuxCtrlO
Save (overwrite)
CtrlS
WinCtrlSMac⌘SLinuxCtrlS
Export as
CtrlShiftE
WinCtrlShiftEMac⌘ShiftELinuxCtrlShiftE
Overwrite file
CtrlAltShiftS
WinCtrlAltShiftSMac⌘⌥ShiftSLinuxCtrlAltShiftS
Revert to saved
—
Win—Mac—Linux—
Quit
CtrlQ
WinCtrlQMac⌘QLinuxCtrlQ
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
ShiftO
WinShiftOMacShiftOLinuxShiftO
Move tool
M
WinMMacMLinuxM
Crop
ShiftC
WinShiftCMacShiftCLinuxShiftC
Scale / Transform
ShiftT
WinShiftTMacShiftTLinuxShiftT
Rotate
ShiftR
WinShiftRMacShiftRLinuxShiftR
Perspective
ShiftP
WinShiftPMacShiftPLinuxShiftP
Flip
ShiftF
WinShiftFMacShiftFLinuxShiftF
Paintbrush
P
WinPMacPLinuxP
Pencil
N
WinNMacNLinuxN
Eraser
ShiftE
WinShiftEMacShiftELinuxShiftE
Bucket fill
ShiftB
WinShiftBMacShiftBLinuxShiftB
Blend / Gradient
L
WinLMacLLinuxL
Clone tool
C
WinCMacCLinuxC
Heal tool
H
WinHMacHLinuxH
Smudge
S
WinSMacSLinuxS
Dodge / Burn
ShiftD
WinShiftDMacShiftDLinuxShiftD
Text tool
T
WinTMacTLinuxT
Path tool
B
WinBMacBLinuxB
Color picker / Eyedropper
O
WinOMacOLinuxO
Zoom tool
Z
WinZMacZLinuxZ
Edit & Selection
11 shortcuts
Undo
CtrlZ
WinCtrlZMac⌘ZLinuxCtrlZ
Redo
CtrlY
WinCtrlYMac⌘YLinuxCtrlY
Cut
CtrlX
WinCtrlXMac⌘XLinuxCtrlX
Copy
CtrlC
WinCtrlCMac⌘CLinuxCtrlC
Paste
CtrlV
WinCtrlVMac⌘VLinuxCtrlV
Select all
CtrlA
WinCtrlAMac⌘ALinuxCtrlA
Deselect all
CtrlShiftA
WinCtrlShiftAMac⌘ShiftALinuxCtrlShiftA
Invert selection
CtrlI
WinCtrlIMac⌘ILinuxCtrlI
Feather selection
CtrlShiftF
WinCtrlShiftFMac⌘ShiftFLinuxCtrlShiftF
Fill with foreground
Ctrl,
WinCtrl,Mac⌘,LinuxCtrl,
Fill with background
Ctrl.
WinCtrl.Mac⌘.LinuxCtrl.
Layers
6 shortcuts
New layer
CtrlShiftN
WinCtrlShiftNMac⌘ShiftNLinuxCtrlShiftN
Duplicate layer
CtrlShiftD
WinCtrlShiftDMac⌘ShiftDLinuxCtrlShiftD
Merge visible layers
CtrlM
WinCtrlMMac⌘MLinuxCtrlM
Flatten image
CtrlShiftM
WinCtrlShiftMMac⌘ShiftMLinuxCtrlShiftM
Move layer up
CtrlPageUp
WinCtrlPageUpMac⌘PageUpLinuxCtrlPageUp
Move layer down
CtrlPageDown
WinCtrlPageDownMac⌘PageDownLinuxCtrlPageDown
View
7 shortcuts
Zoom in
Ctrl=
WinCtrl=Mac⌘=LinuxCtrl=
Zoom out
Ctrl--
WinCtrl--Mac⌘--LinuxCtrl--
Zoom to fit
ShiftCtrlE
WinShiftCtrlEMac⌘ShiftELinuxShiftCtrlE
Zoom 100%
CtrlShiftJ
WinCtrlShiftJMac⌘ShiftJLinuxCtrlShiftJ
Toggle guides
Ctrl;
WinCtrl;Mac⌘;LinuxCtrl;
Toggle snap to guides
CtrlShift;
WinCtrlShift;Mac⌘Shift;LinuxCtrlShift;
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.
