Web Design • Illustrations • Graphic Design

Blender 3D Shortcuts

Keys for working with Blender windows and files

Key Function
F1 Loads a file
F2 Saves a file
F3 Saves an image in the format set in the Display button
F4 Lamp buttons
F5 Material buttons
F6 Texture buttons
F7 Animation buttons
F8 World buttons
F9 Edit buttons
F10 Display buttons
F11 Moves the Render window to the front or back
F12 Renders current image
Shift-F1 Loads individual elements from a scene file
Shift-F2 Saves the current scene as a DXF file
Shift-F4 Data select window
Shift-F5 3D view window
Shift-F6 IPO window
Shift-F7 Button window
Shift-F8 Sequence window
Shift-F9 Oops window
Shift-F10 Image window
Shift-F11 Text edit window
Shift-F12 Image select window
A Selects or deselects all files (only in File window)
Ctrl-U Saves current scene as the default sene (z.B.blend)
Ctrl-O Opens a file
Alt-W Saves a file in Videoscape format
Ctrl-W Quick save without calling up the File window
Ctrl-X Erases the current scene and starts over with the default scene
RMB * Selects a file
Shift-RMB   Multiple selection
Q Quits blender
 
  *RMB = Right Mouse Button

The number pad keys

Key Function
/ Local view
* Rotate view to object
+ Zooms in on most windows
- Zooms out of most windows
. Centers and zooms in the active object
0 Camera view
Ctrl-0 Makes the active object the camera
Alt-0 Restores last camera to view
1 Front view
3 Side (right) view
7 Top view
2 Rotates view down
4 Rotates view to the left
6 Rotates view to the right
8 Rotates view up
Shift-1 Back view
Shift-2 Translates view down
Shift-4 Translates view to the left
Shift-6 Translates view to the right
Shift-8 Translates view up
5 Toggles between perspective and orthogonal view
9 Redraws
Ctrl-MMB* Zooms in or out of view
Shift-MMB   Translates view
   
  *MMB = Middle mouse button

Keys for selecting objects and files

Key Function Window Mode Conditions
A Select all 3D, File, IPO, Sequence, Image   Object, Edit none
B Border select 3D, IPO, Sequence Object, Edit none
B-B Circle Select 3D Edit none
L Selects vertices linked to cursor 3D Edit none
Ctrl-L Selects vertices linked to selected vertex   3D Edit Mesh vertices
Shift-R Selects row of NURBS 3D Edit Curve handles
RMB* Selects 3D, IPO, Sequence Object, Edit    none
Shift-RMB*    Multiple selection 3D, IPO, Sequence Object, Edit none
 
*RMB = Right Mouse Button

Keys for working with objects

Key Function Window Mode Conditions
Spacebar or Shift-A Brings up the Toolbox 3D, File, IPO, Sequence, Image Object, Edit none
Ctrl-A Applies location and rotation 3D Object Object
Shift-Ctrl-A Applies lattice deformation to an object's mesh 3D Object Object
Alt-C Brings up the Convert menu 3D Object Object
Ctrl-C Brings up the Copy menu 3D Object Object
Alt-D Adds linked duplicates 3D Object Object
Ctrl-D Displays alpha of image as a wire 3D Object Object
Shift-D Adds duplicate object 3D, Sequence Object Object, Datablock, Sequence Strip
E Extrudes vertices 3D Edit Datablock
F Connects selected vertices into an edge or face 3D Edit Mesh vertices, Curve handles
Alt-F Beauty fill (forms equally sized faces) 3D Edit Datablock
Ctrl-F Sorts faces of active mesh object 3D Object Object
Shift-F Fills selected closed polygons with triangular faces 3D Edit Mash vertices
G Grab (translate) mode 3D, IPO, Sequence Object, Edit Sequence Strip, IPO, keys, Datablock, Object
Alt-G Clears location 3D Object Object
H Hides selected vertices and faces 3D Edit none
Shift-H Hides deselected vertices and faces 3D Object Mesh vertices
Ctrl-J Joins selected objects to active objects 3D Object Object
Shift-L Brings up the Select links menu (selects objects linked to the same datablock as the active object) 3D Object Object
Ctrl-L Brings up the Make links menu (for copying lnks) 3D Object Object
N Calls up Number menu (for example, to specify exact value of the x coordinate) 3D, Sequence Object, Edit If in EditMode, Mesh vertices must be selected
Ctrl-N Recalculates normals and sets them in the same direction outward 3D Edit Mesh vertices
Shift-Ctrl-N Recalculates normals and sets them in the same directions inward 3D Edit Mesh vertices
Alt-O Clears origin 3D, IPO Object, Edit Object
P Separates vertices into objects 3D Edit Datablock
Ctrl-P Makes active object a parent 3D Object Object
Ctrl-P Makes selected vertices (you must have either 1 or 3 vertices selected) parent 3D Edit Object, Datablock
Alt-P Clears parent (unlinks child objects) 3D Object Object
R Rotate mode 3D Object, Edit Datablock, Object
Alt-R Clears rotation 3D Object Object
S Scaling mode 3D, IPO Object, Edit Datablock, Object
Alt-S Clears size 3D, IPO Object, Edit Datablock, Object
Ctrl-S Shear (makes selected forms slant) 3D Edit Datablock
Shift-S Calls up the Snap menu 3D, IPO Object, Edit Datablock, Object
T Texture space mode (lets you change size and position of texture space) 3D Object Object
Alt-T Clears track 3D Object Object
Ctrl-T Converts selected faces to triangles 3D Edit Mesh vertices
Ctrl-T Makes track (gives selected objects rotation constraint toward active object) 3D Object Object
TAB Starts / Ends EditMode 3D none none
U Reloads original data upon entering EditMode 3D Edit none
V Vertex point mode 3D Object none
Alt-V Sets selected objects' dimension to aspect of image texture 3D Object Object
W Specials menu 3D Edit none
Shift-W Warps selected vertices around cursor 3D Edit Datablock
X Brings up the Erase menu 3D, IPO, Sequence Object, Edit Datablock, Object
Y Splits selected part of a mesh 3D Edit Mesh vertices
Z Toggles between wireframe and solid view 3D Object, Edit none
Shift-Z Toggles between wireframe and shaded view 3D Object, Edit none
Ctrl-LMB* Adds vertex 3D, IPO Edit none
 
*LMF = Left Mouse Button

Keys for working with curves and surfaces

Key Function Window   Mode   Conditions
C Sets selected curves or surfaces to cyclic 3D Edit Mesh vertices
E Extrudes a curve; extrudes selected curves into a surface 3D Edit Datablock
F Connects two curves at selected end vertices 3D Edit Mesh vertices, Curve handles
H Toggles between aligned and free handles 3D, IPO Edit IPO handles, Curve handles
Shift-H   Changes to an auto handle 3D, IPO Edit IPO handles, Curve handles
Ctrl-H Automatic handle calculation 3D, IPO Edit Curve handles
L Selects vertex nearest the mouse and all vertices of curve or surface 3D Edit none
Shift-L Deselects selected vertex and all vertices of curve or surface 3D Edit none
Shift-R Selects row of NURBS in a surface 3D Edit Curve handles
T Tilt mode 3D Edit Curve handles
Alt-T Clears tilt 3D Edit Curve handles
V Vector handle 3D, IPO Edit IPO handles, Curve handles

Keys for working with IKAs

Key Function Window Mode Conditions
E Extrudes the IKA (adds a limb) 3D Object, Edit Object
Ctrl-K Makes skeleton 3D Object Object
Ctrl-P Makes parent (3 options: vertex, limb, or skeleton) 3D Object Object

Manipulating the 3D cursor

Key Function Window Mode Conditions
C Centers window on 3D cursor 3D none none
Shift-C Puts cursor on origin and window on home 3D Object, Edit none
Shift-S Calls up the Snap menu 3D, IPO Object, Edit Datablock, Object
LMB* Sets 3D cursor 3D none none
 
*LMB = Left Mouse Button

Keys for working with Layers

Key Function
0-9 Changes layers (1-10)
Shift-0-9   Changes layers (11-20)
M Moves to layer (or layers) (view or chane layer setting of all selected objects)

Keys for working with animations

Key Function
Alt-A Plays the animation in the window the mouse is in
Shift-Alt-A Plays the animation in all 3D windows
ESC Stops animation
I Calls up the Insert keyframe menu (in 3D or IPO windows, either ObjectMode or EditMode)
Ctrl-J Joins selected keys
K Shows keys of selected objects (PgUp and PgDn switch between keys)
Shift-K Shows and selects all keys
-> Advances one frame
Shift--> Displays the last frame (set in the Display buttons)
<- Goes back one frame
Shift-<- Goes to the first frame
[arrow up] Advances ten frames
[arrow down]   Goes back ten frames
C Snaps current frame to selected key