Direct Selection tool

`A`

All hotkeys for Adobe Illustrator

Frequently used shortcuts Undo	`Ctrl` + `Z`
Frequently used shortcuts Redo	`↑ Shift` + `Ctrl` + `Z`
Frequently used shortcuts Cut	`Ctrl` + `X`
Frequently used shortcuts Copy	`Ctrl` + `C`
Frequently used shortcuts Paste	`Ctrl` + `V`
Frequently used shortcuts Paste in front	`Ctrl` + `F`
Frequently used shortcuts Paste at back	`Ctrl` + `B`
View artwork Hide bounding box	`↑ Shift` + `Ctrl` + `B`
Edit shapes Finish adding objects to the blend	`Alt` + `↑ Shift` + `Ctrl` + `B`
Frequently used shortcuts Check spelling	`Ctrl` + `I`
Frequently used shortcuts Open the Color Settings dialog box	`↑ Shift` + `Ctrl` + `K`
Frequently used shortcuts Open the Keyboard Shortcuts dialog box	`Alt` + `↑ Shift` + `Ctrl` + `K`
Frequently used shortcuts Open the Preferences dialog box	`Ctrl` + `K`
Work with documents Create a document	`Ctrl` + `N`
Work with type Insert en space	`↑ Shift` + `Ctrl` + `N`
Work with documents Create a document without opening the New Document dialog box	`Alt` + `Ctrl` + `N`
Work with documents Open a document	`Ctrl` + `O`
Work with documents Place a file in the document	`↑ Shift` + `Ctrl` + `P`
Work with documents Open the File Information dialog box	`Alt` + `↑ Shift` + `Ctrl` + `I`
Work with documents Open the Document Setup dialog box	`Alt` + `Ctrl` + `P`
Work with documents Browse in Adobe Bridge	`Alt` + `Ctrl` + `O`
Work with documents Close the document window	`Ctrl` + `W`
Work with documents Save changes made to the document	`Ctrl` + `S`
Work with documents Open the Save As dialog box	`↑ Shift` + `Ctrl` + `S`
Work with documents Save a copy of the document	`Alt` + `Ctrl` + `S`
Work with documents Save the document as script files	`Ctrl` + `F12`
Work with documents Open the Export for screens dialog box	`Alt` + `Ctrl` + `E`
Work with documents Open the Save For Web dialog box	`Alt` + `↑ Shift` + `Ctrl` + `S`
Work with documents Package the document	`Alt` + `↑ Shift` + `Ctrl` + `P`
Work with documents Print	`Ctrl` + `P`
Work with documents Exit the application	`Ctrl` + `Q`
Select tools Artboard tool	`↑ Shift` + `O`
Draw Increase the skew value for horizontal dividers in a rectangular grid or radial dividers in a polar grid by 10%	`V`
Select tools Direct Selection tool	`A`
Select tools Magic Wand tool	`Y`
Select tools Lasso tool	`Q`
Select tools Pen tool	`P`
Select tools Curvature tool	`↑ Shift` + `~`
Select tools Blob Brush tool	`↑ Shift` + `B`
Select tools Add Anchor Point tool	`+`
Select tools Delete Anchor Point tool	`-`
Select tools Switch to Anchor Point tool	`↑ Shift` + `C`
Select tools Type tool	`T`
Select tools Touch Type tool	`↑ Shift` + `T`
Select tools Line Segment tool	`\`
Select tools Rectangle tool	`M`
Select tools Ellipse tool	`L`
Select tools Paintbrush tool	`B`
Select tools Pencil tool	`N`
Select tools Shaper tool	`↑ Shift` + `N`
Select tools Rotate tool	`R`
Select tools Reflect tool	`O`
Select tools Scale tool	`S`
Select tools Warp tool	`↑ Shift` + `R`
Select tools Width tool	`↑ Shift` + `W`
Select tools Free Transform tool	`E`
Edit shapes Select the Shape Builder tool	`↑ Shift` + `M`
Draw Perspective Grid Tool	`↑ Shift` + `P`
Draw Perspective Selection Tool	`↑ Shift` + `V`
Select tools Symbol Sprayer tool	`↑ Shift` + `S`
Select tools Column Graph tool	`J`
Select tools Mesh tool	`U`
Gradient panel View Gradient annotator in selected gradient filled object	`G`
Select tools Eyedropper tool	`I`
Select tools Blend tool	`W`
Select tools Live Paint Bucket tool	`K`
Select tools Live Paint Selection tool	`↑ Shift` + `L`
Select tools Slice tool	`↑ Shift` + `K`
Select tools Eraser tool	`↑ Shift` + `E`
Draw Increase the skew value for vertical dividers in a rectangular grid or concentric dividers in a polar grid by 10%	`C`
Select tools Hand tool	`H`
Select tools Zoom tool	`Z`
Work with type Switch between Area Type and Path Type, Vertical Area Type and Vertical Path Type tools	`Alt`
Draw Decrease the skew value for horizontal dividers in a rectangular grid or radial dividers in a polar grid by 10%	`F`
Color panel (double click to right of a numerical field) Switch between percentage and 0-255 values for RGB	`Mouse double click`
View artwork Magnify 100%	`Ctrl` + `1`
View artwork Move Zoom marquee while dragging with the Zoom tool	`Space`
View artwork Switch to Zoom tool in magnify mode	`Ctrl` + `Space`
View artwork Switch to Zoom tool in reduce mode	`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `Space`
View artwork Hide unselected artwork	`Control` + `Alt` + `↑ Shift` + `3`
Swatches panel (drag a swatch over another) Replace swatch with another	`Alt` + `Mouse movement`
View artwork (double click guide) Release guide	`Ctrl` + `↑ Shift` + `Mouse double click`
View artwork Show document template	`Ctrl` + `H`
View artwork Show/Hide artboards	`Ctrl` + `↑ Shift` + `H`
View artwork Show/Hide artboard rulers	`Ctrl` + `R`
View artwork Show transparency grid	`↑ Shift` + `Ctrl` + `D`
View artwork View all artboards in window	`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `0`
View artwork Paste in place on the active artboard	`Ctrl` + `↑ Shift` + `V`
Create variable width points Deselect a width point	`Esc`
Gradient panel Constrain Gradient tool or Gradient annotator while dragging	`↑ Shift` + `Mouse movement`
Swatches panel (click New Swatch button) Create new spot color	`Ctrl` + `Mouse left click`
View artwork Navigate to next document	`Ctrl` + `F6`
View artwork Navigate to previous document	`Ctrl` + `↑ Shift` + `F6`
View artwork Navigate to next document group	`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `F6`
View artwork Navigate to previous document group	`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `↑ Shift` + `F6`
View artwork Toggle between Outline and GPU Preview of the document	`Ctrl` + `Y`
View artwork Toggle between GPU and CPU Preview of the document	`Ctrl` + `E`
View artwork View the document in Overprint Preview mode	`Alt` + `↑ Shift` + `Ctrl` + `Y`
View artwork View the document in Pixel Preview mode	`Alt` + `Ctrl` + `Y`
View artwork Zoom in	`Ctrl` + `=`
View artwork Zoom out	`Ctrl` + `-`
View artwork Hide guides	`Ctrl` + `;`
View artwork Lock guides	`Alt` + `Ctrl` + `;`
View artwork Make guides	`Ctrl` + `5`
View artwork Release guides	`Alt` + `Ctrl` + `5`
View artwork Show/ hide smart guides	`Ctrl` + `U`
Draw Perspective Grid	`Ctrl` + `↑ Shift` + `I`
View artwork Show grid	`Ctrl` + `'`
View artwork Snap to grid	`↑ Shift` + `Ctrl` + `'`
View artwork Snap to point	`Alt` + `Ctrl` + `'`
Work with selections Switch to last-used selection tool (Selection tool, Direct Selection tool, or Group Selection tool)	`Ctrl` + `
Transparency panel (click on disabled mask thumbnail) Re-enable opacity mask	`↑ Shift` + `Mouse left click`
Transparency panel (click on mask thumbnail) Change mask to grayscale image for editing	`Alt` + `Mouse left click`
Work with selections Change pointer to cross hair for Lasso tool	`⇪ Caps Lock`
Work with selections Select artwork in active artboard	`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `A`
Work with selections Create crop marks around selected object	`Alt` + `C` + `O`
Work with selections Select all	`Ctrl` + `A`
Work with selections Deselect	`↑ Shift` + `Ctrl` + `A`
Work with selections Reselect	`Ctrl` + `6`
Work with selections Select the object above the current selection	`Alt` + `Ctrl` + `]`
Work with selections Select the object below the current selection	`Alt` + `Ctrl` + `[`
Work with selections Select behind in isolation mode	`Ctrl` + `Mouse left click`
Work with selections Group the selected artwork	`Ctrl` + `G`
Work with selections Ungroup the selected artwork	`↑ Shift` + `Ctrl` + `G`
Work with selections Lock a selection	`Ctrl` + `2`
Work with selections Unlock a selection	`Alt` + `Ctrl` + `2`
Work with selections Hide a selection	`Ctrl` + `3`
Work with selections Show all selections	`Alt` + `Ctrl` + `3`
Work with selections Move selection in user-defined increments	`← ↑ → ↓`
Work with selections Move selection in 10x user-defined increments	`↑ Shift` + `← ↑ → ↓`
Work with selections Lock all deselected artwork	`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `↑ Shift` + `2`
Work with type Switch between Type and Vertical Type, Area Type and Vertical Area Type, and Path Type and Vertical Path Type tools	`↑ Shift`
Work with selections Bring a selection forward	`Ctrl` + `]`
Work with selections Move a selection to the front	`↑ Shift` + `Ctrl` + `]`
Work with selections Send a selection backward	`Ctrl` + `[`
Work with selections Move a selection to the back	`↑ Shift` + `Ctrl` + `[`
Edit shapes Move current anchor point while drawing with Pen tool	`Space` + `Mouse movement`
Character and Paragraph panels Increase/decrease the selected value by a small increment	`↑ ↓`
Draw (hold down) Keep the inner radius of a star constant	`Ctrl`
Draw Change the decay rate of a spiral	`Ctrl` + `Mouse movement`
Work with type Move one character left or right	`← →`
Work with objects Toggle between fill and stroke	`X`
Work with objects Increase Bristle brush size	`]`
Work with objects Decrease Bristle brush size	`[`
Draw Switching between drawing modes	`↑ Shift` + `D`
Draw Join two or more paths	`Ctrl` + `J`
Draw Average two or more paths	`Alt` + `Ctrl` + `J`
Draw Create corner or smooth join	`↑ Shift` + `Ctrl` + `Alt` + `J`
Draw Create a compound path	`Ctrl` + `8`
Draw Release a compound path	`Alt` + `↑ Shift` + `Ctrl` + `8`
Draw Edit a pattern	`↑ Shift` + `Ctrl` + `F8`
Draw (drag object) Moving objects perpendicularly	`5` + `Mouse movement`
Draw Copying objects in perspective	`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `Mouse movement`
Work with objects Reapply a transformation to an object	`Ctrl` + `D`
Edit shapes Cut at 45° or 90° with Knife tool	`↑ Shift` + `Alt` + `Mouse movement`
Edit shapes Increase the intensity of symbols (when using Symbolism tool)	`↑ Shift` + `}`
Edit shapes Decrease the intensity of symbols (when using Symbolism tool)	`↑ Shift` + `{`
Edit shapes Blend objects	`Alt` + `Ctrl` + `B`
Edit shapes Distort objects using a warp-shaped envelope	`Alt` + `Ctrl` + `↑ Shift` + `W`
Edit shapes Distort objects using a mesh as the shape of the envelope	`Alt` + `Ctrl` + `M`
Edit shapes Distort objects using another object as the shape of the envelope	`Alt` + `Ctrl` + `C`
Work with objects (click Eyedropper tool) Sample style and append appearance of currently selected item	`Alt` + `↑ Shift` + `Mouse left click`
Work with Live Paint groups (click Live Paint Bucket tool) Fill across unstroked edges into adjacent faces	`Mouse left click`
Work with Live Paint groups (click Live Paint Bucket tool) Fill all faces that have same fill and stroke all edges that have same stroke	`Mouse left click`
Work with Live Paint groups (click Live Paint Selection tool) Select all faces/edges with same fill/stroke	`Triple` + `Mouse left click`
Work with objects Transform pattern (independent of object) when using Selection tool, Scale tool, Reflect tool, or Shear tool	`~` + `Mouse movement`
Work with objects Apply last pathfinder effect to the selected object	`Ctrl` + `4`
Work with type Insert em space	`↑ Shift` + `Ctrl` + `M`
Work with objects Open the Transform Each dialog box	`Alt` + `↑ Shift` + `Ctrl` + `D`
Work with objects Make a clipping mask	`Ctrl` + `7`
Work with objects Release a clipping mask	`Alt` + `Ctrl` + `7`
Work with objects Set fill and stroke to default	`D`
Work with objects Swap fill and stroke	`↑ Shift` + `X`
Work with objects Select gradient fill mode	`>`
Work with objects Hide gradient annotator (when using the Gradient tool)	`Alt` + `Ctrl` + `G`
Work with objects Select color fill mode	`<`
Work with objects Select no stroke/fill mode	`/`
Work with objects Add new fill	`Ctrl` + `/`
Work with objects Add new stroke	`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `/`
Work with objects Make Live Paint (when using the Paint Bucket tool)	`Alt` + `Ctrl` + `X`
Create variable width points Delete selected width point	`Del`
Work with type Move one word left or right	`Ctrl` + `← →`
Character and Paragraph panels Increase/decrease the selected value by a fraction	`Ctrl` + `↑ ↓`
Work with type Select one word left or right	`↑ Shift` + `Ctrl` + `← →`
Work with type Select one paragraph before or after	`↑ Shift` + `Ctrl` + `↑ ↓`
Work with type Align paragraph left	`Ctrl` + `↑ Shift` + `L`
Work with type Align paragraph right	`Ctrl` + `↑ Shift` + `R`
Work with type Align paragraph center	`Ctrl` + `↑ Shift` + `C`
Work with type Justify text left	`Ctrl` + `↑ Shift` + `J`
Work with type Justify all lines	`↑ Shift` + `Ctrl` + `F`
Work with type Toggle line composer	`Alt` + `↑ Shift` + `Ctrl` + `C`
Transform panel Apply a value and keep focus in edit field	`↑ Shift` + `⤶ Enter`
Work with type Highlight kerning	`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `K`
Work with type Reset horizontal scale to 100%	`Ctrl` + `↑ Shift` + `X`
Work with type or , Increase or decrease font size	`Ctrl` + `↑ Shift` + `.`
Work with type Increase or decrease font size by steps	`Alt` + `Ctrl` + `↑ Shift` + `.`
Work with type Increase or decrease font size by steps	`Alt` + `Ctrl` + `↑ Shift` + `,`
Work with type Increase or decrease kerning and tracking (vertical text)	`Alt` + `↑ ↓`
Work with type Increase or decrease baseline shift (vertical text)	`Alt` + `← →`
Work with type Select tracking value	`Alt` + `Ctrl` + `K`
Work with type Reset tracking/kerning to 0	`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `Q`
Work with type Increase or decrease kerning and tracking by five times (horizontal text)	`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `← →`
Work with type Increase or decrease kerning and tracking by five times (vertical text)	`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `↑ ↓`
Work with type Increase or decrease baseline shift (horizontal text)	`Alt` + `↑ Shift` + `↑ ↓`
Work with type Create outlines	`↑ Shift` + `Ctrl` + `O`
Character and Paragraph panels Open the Character panel	`Ctrl` + `T`
Character and Paragraph panels Open the Paragraph panel	`Alt` + `Ctrl` + `T`
Work with type Open the Tabs panel	`↑ Shift` + `Ctrl` + `T`
Work with type Open the OpenType panel	`Alt` + `↑ Shift` + `Ctrl` + `T`
Work with type Insert bullets	`Alt` + `8`
Work with type Insert copyright symbol	`Alt` + `G`
Work with type Insert ellipsis	`Alt` + `;`
Work with type Insert paragraph symbol	`Alt` + `7`
Work with type Insert section symbol	`Alt` + `6`
Work with type Insert trademark symbol	`Alt` + `2`
Work with type Insert registered trademark symbol	`Alt` + `R`
Work with type Superscript	`↑ Shift` + `Ctrl` + `=`
Work with type Subscript	`Alt` + `↑ Shift` + `Ctrl` + `=`
Work with type Insert em dash	`Alt` + `↑ Shift` + `-`
Work with type Insert en dash	`Alt` + `-`
Work with type Insert discretionary hyphen	`↑ Shift` + `Ctrl` + `-`
Work with type Toggle auto-hyphenation	`Alt` + `↑ Shift` + `Ctrl` + `H`
Work with type Insert double left quotation marks	`Alt` + `[`
Work with type Insert double right quotation marks	`Alt` + `↑ Shift` + `[`
Work with type Insert single left quotation marks	`Alt` + `]`
Work with type Insert single right quotation marks	`Alt` + `↑ Shift` + `]`
Work with type Insert thin space	`Alt` + `↑ Shift` + `Ctrl` + `M`
Work with type Show hidden characters	`Alt` + `Ctrl` + `I`
Using panels Switch units of measurement	`Alt` + `↑ Shift` + `Ctrl` + `U`
Using panels Show/Hide all panels	`⭾ Tab`
Using panels Show/Hide all panels except the Tools panel and Control panel	`↑ Shift` + `⭾ Tab`
Character and Paragraph panels Increase/decreases the selected value by a large increment	`↑ Shift` + `↑ ↓`
Brushes panel (drag brush to New Brush button) Duplicate brush	`Mouse movement`
Character and Paragraph panels Highlight the font name field in the Character panel	`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `↑ Shift` + `F`
Layers panel (click New Layer button) Place layer below selected layer	`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `Mouse left click`
Swatches panel (click New Swatch button) Create new global process color	`Ctrl` + `↑ Shift` + `Mouse left click`
Color panel (click color bar) Select the inverse for the nonactive fill/stroke	`Ctrl` + `↑ Shift` + `Alt` + `Mouse left click`
Color panel Open Color Guide	`↑ Shift` + `F3`
Gradient panel Show/Hide gradient arrow	`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `G`
Layers panel Add a layer	`Ctrl` + `L`
Layers panel Add a layer while opening the New Layer dialog box	`Alt` + `Ctrl` + `L`
Transform panel Apply a value and copy object	`Alt` + `⤶ Enter`
Transform panel Apply a value and scale option proportionately for width or height	`Ctrl` + `⤶ Enter`
Transparency panel Apply last effect to the selected object	`↑ Shift` + `Ctrl` + `E`
Transparency panel Apply last effect to the selected object by adjusting the values in the effects dialog box	`Alt` + `↑ Shift` + `Ctrl` + `E`
Transparency panel (click opacity field then up or down) Increase/decrease opacity in 1% increments	`Mouse left click` + `↑ ↓`
Transparency panel (Shift + click opacity field then up or down) Increase/decrease opacity in 10% increments	`↑ Shift` + `Mouse left click` + `↑ ↓`
Function keys Invoke Help	`F1`
Function keys Cut	`F2`
Function keys Copy	`F3`
Function keys Paste	`F4`
Function keys Show/hide Brushes panel	`F5`
Function keys Show/hide Color panel	`F6`
Function keys Show/hide Layers panel	`F7`
Function keys Create new symbol	`F8`
Function keys Show/hide Info panel	`Ctrl` + `F8`
Function keys Show/hide Gradient panel	`Ctrl` + `F9`
Function keys Show/hide Stroke panel	`Ctrl` + `F10`
Function keys Show/hide Attributes panel	`Ctrl` + `F11`
Function keys Revert	`F12`
Function keys Show/hide Graphic Styles panel	`↑ Shift` + `F5`
Function keys Show/hide Appearance panel	`↑ Shift` + `F6`
Function keys Show/hide Align panel	`↑ Shift` + `F7`
Function keys Show/hide Transform panel	`↑ Shift` + `F8`
Function keys Show/hide Pathfinder panel	`↑ Shift` + `Ctrl` + `F9`
Function keys Show/hide Transparency panel	`↑ Shift` + `Ctrl` + `F10`
Function keys Show/hide Symbols panel	`↑ Shift` + `Ctrl` + `F11`