Keyboard Shortcuts

Master these shortcuts to speed up your Pencil workflow.

AI & Prompts

Shortcut	Action
`Cmd/Ctrl + K`	Open prompt panel (AI assistant)

Selection

Shortcut	Action
Click	Select element
`Cmd/Ctrl + Click`	Direct select (deepest element under cursor)
`Shift + Click`	Add to selection
`Cmd/Ctrl + A`	Select all
`Shift + Enter`	Select parent of current element
`Cmd/Ctrl + Enter`	Select parent (alternate shortcut)

Components

Shortcut	Action
`Cmd/Ctrl + Option/Alt + K`	Convert element to reusable component

Note: After converting to a component, you may need to deselect and reselect to see the updated purple highlight.

Organization

Shortcut	Action
`Cmd/Ctrl + G`	Group selected elements
`Cmd/Ctrl + Option/Alt + G`	Create frame from selection

Editing

Shortcut	Action
`Cmd/Ctrl + D`	Duplicate selected element(s)
`Cmd/Ctrl + C`	Copy
`Cmd/Ctrl + V`	Paste
`Cmd/Ctrl + X`	Cut
`Delete/Backspace`	Delete selected element(s)

Shortcut	Action
`Spacebar + Drag`	Pan canvas
`Shift + Scroll`	Horizontal pan
`Cmd/Ctrl + Scroll`	Zoom in/out
`Cmd/Ctrl + 0`	Zoom to fit all
`Cmd/Ctrl + 1`	Zoom to 100%
`Cmd/Ctrl + 2`	Zoom to 200%

File Operations

Shortcut	Action
`Cmd/Ctrl + S`	Save file
`Cmd/Ctrl + N`	New file
`Cmd/Ctrl + O`	Open file

IDE Integration

Shortcut	Action
`Cmd/Ctrl + Shift + P`	Command Palette (access Pencil commands)

Tips for Efficiency

Combine shortcuts to quickly navigate complex designs:

Find nested element:
- Cmd/Ctrl + Click on the element you want
Move up the hierarchy:
- Shift + Enter to select parent
- Repeat to keep moving up
Back to specific element:
- Cmd/Ctrl + Click again

Component Workflow

Create design element (shapes, text, etc.)
Group if needed: Cmd/Ctrl + G
Convert to component: Cmd/Ctrl + Option/Alt + K
Deselect and reselect to verify purple highlight
Duplicate instances: Cmd/Ctrl + D

Quick Design Iteration

Open AI prompt: Cmd/Ctrl + K
Ask for changes to your design
Save frequently: Cmd/Ctrl + S (no auto-save yet!)

Platform Differences

macOS

Use Cmd for all shortcuts listed as Cmd/Ctrl
Use Option for shortcuts listed as Option/Alt

Windows / Linux

Use Ctrl for all shortcuts listed as Cmd/Ctrl
Use Alt for shortcuts listed as Option/Alt

Context Menus

Right-click on the canvas or elements for context-specific options:

Canvas right-click:

Open Welcome File
Create new frame
Paste

Element right-click:

Copy / Paste
Delete
Group / Frame
Convert to component
Export

Customization

Currently, keyboard shortcuts are not customizable. The default shortcuts are designed to match common design tool conventions (Figma, Sketch) and IDE standards.

Next Steps

Practice these shortcuts in your next design
Explore Core Concepts for deeper understanding
Check out AI Integration to maximize AI-powered shortcuts
See FAQ for specific questions about features

Printable Cheat Sheet

Essential Shortcuts:


AI:              Cmd/Ctrl + K
Save:            Cmd/Ctrl + S
Direct Select:   Cmd/Ctrl + Click
Select Parent:   Shift + Enter
Make Component:  Cmd/Ctrl + Option/Alt + K
Duplicate:       Cmd/Ctrl + D
Group:           Cmd/Ctrl + G
Frame:           Cmd/Ctrl + Option/Alt + G
Pan:             Spacebar + Drag