You can use Paint.NET to edit your images and photos on Windows, whether you're a graphics designer or a hobbyist. Paint.NET is free to download and easy to install. It features multi-language support and a simple intuitive UI that supports layers, unlimited undo, special effects, and so on.
It's comparable to other popular editing software that you may already be familiar with. Like all editing software, working on Paint.NET can involve many steps that can slow you down and get in the way of your productivity.
To help you out, we've rounded up this list of essential Paint.NET Windows keyboard shortcuts to improve your workflow.
FREE DOWNLOAD: This cheat sheet is available as a downloadable PDF from our distribution partner, TradePub. You will have to complete a short form to access it for the first time only. Download the Paint.NET Keyboard Shortcuts Cheat Sheet.
Paint.NET Keyboard Shortcuts for Windows
| SHORTCUT | ACTION |
|---|---|
| FILE MENU | |
| Alt + F | Open File menu |
| Ctrl + N | New image |
| Ctrl + O | Open image |
| Alt + F, R | Open recent |
| Alt + F, Q | Acquire |
| Ctrl + W or Ctrl + F4 | Close image |
| Ctrl + S | Save image |
| Ctrl + Shift + S | Save image as |
| Ctrl + Alt + S | Save all images |
| Ctrl + P | |
| Alt + F4 or Alt + F, then X | Exit Paint.NET |
| VIEW MENU | |
| Alt + V | Open View menu |
| Ctrl + + | Zoom in |
| Ctrl + - | Zoom out |
| Ctrl + B | Zoom to window |
| Ctrl + Shift + B | Zoom to selection |
| Ctrl + 0 | Actual size |
| IMAGE MENU | |
| Alt + I | Open Image menu |
| Ctrl + Shift + X | Crop to selection |
| Ctrl + R | Resize |
| Ctrl + Shift + R | Canvas size |
| Ctrl + H | Rotate 90° (clockwise) |
| Ctrl + G | Rotate 90° (counter-clockwise) |
| Ctrl + J | Rotate 180° |
| Ctrl + Shift + F | Flatten |
| EDIT MENU | |
| Alt + E | Open Edit menu |
| Ctrl + Z | Undo |
| Ctrl + Y | Redo |
| Ctrl + X or Shift + Delete | Cut |
| Ctrl + C or Ctrl + Insert | Copy |
| Ctrl + Shift + C | Copy merged |
| Ctrl + V or Shift + Insert | Paste |
| Ctrl + Shift + V | Paste into new layer |
| Ctrl + Alt +V | Paste into new image |
| Ctrl + Alt + Shift + C | Copy selection |
| Ctrl + Alt + Shift + V | Paste selection |
| Delete | Erase selection |
| Backspace | Fill selection |
| Ctrl + I | Invert selection |
| Ctrl + A | Select all |
| Ctrl + D or Enter | Deselect active selection |
| TOOL SHORTCUTS | |
| Alt + T | Open Tool dropdown |
| S | Select rectangle |
| S x 2 | Select lasso |
| S x 3 | Select ellipse |
| S x 4 | Magic Wand tool |
| F | Paint Bucket |
| B | Paintbrush |
| P | Pencil |
| L | Clone Stamp |
| T | Text |
| O x 2 | Shapes |
| M | Move selected pixels |
| M x 2 | Move selection |
| Z | Zoom |
| H | Pan |
| G | Gradient |
| E | Eraser |
| K | Color Picker |
| R | Recolor |
| O | Line / Curve |
| TEXT TOOL | |
| T | Activate text tool |
| Esc or click Finish in the toolbar | Commit text to layer |
| Drag the four-way arrow icon | Move text before committing |
| LINE/CURVE TOOL | |
| O | Activate Line/Curve tool |
| , (comma key) | Start Cap style |
| .(period key) | Line style |
| / (forward slash key) | End Cap style |
| Drag nub with left/right mouse buttons or left-click, hold the nub, and use the arrow keys | Move Line/Curve nubs |
| Drag four-way arrow icon with left mouse button | Drag entire Line/Curve |
| Press any of the keyboard arrow keys | Move Line/Curve by 1px |
| Hold Ctrl and press any arrow key | Move Line/Curve by 10px |
| Drag with right mouse button | Rotate Line/Curve |
| Hold Shift while rotating | Lock rotation to 15° increments |
| SHAPES TOOL | |
| O x 2 | Activate shapes tool |
| Drag with left mouse button | Draw shape in primary color |
| Drag with right mouse button | Draw shape in secondary color |
| A | Cycle forward through shapes |
| Shift + A | Cycle backward through shapes |
| Drag nub with left/right mouse buttons or left-click, hold the nub, and use the arrow keys | Move shape nubs |
| Hold Shift while dragging any nub | Lock shape height and width ratio |
| Place pointer inside shape and drag with left mouse button or drag four-way arrow icon with left mouse button | Drag entire shape |
| Press any of the arrow keys | Move shape by 1px |
| Hold Ctrl and press any arrow key | Move shape by 10px |
| Drag with right mouse button | Rotate shape |
| Hold Shift while rotating | Lock rotation to 15° increments |
| MOVE TOOLS | |
| M | Move Selected Pixels tool |
| M x 2 | Move Selection tool |
| Drag corner or edge nub | Resize the selection |
| Shift + drag corner nub | Resize and keep proportions |
| Drag with left mouse button when pointer is a four-way arrow | Move selection |
| Hold Ctrl and drag with left mouse button | Move copy of selection |
| Drag with right mouse button or with left mouse button when pointer is a double-headed arrow | Rotate selection |
| Drag with right mouse button or hold Ctrl + drag with left mouse button when pointer is a double-headed arrow | Rotate copy of selection |
| Hold Shift down while rotating | Rotate by 15° increments |
| PAN TOOL | |
| H | Activate Pan tool |
| Click and drag with either mouse button or click and hold either mouse button + arrow keys | Pan the canvas |
| Move mouse or keyboard arrow keys | Reposition Pan tool |
| ZOOM TOOL | |
| Z | Activate Zoom tool |
| Click with left mouse button | Zoom in |
| Click with right mouse button | Zoom out |
| Click and drag with mouse wheel or middle mouse button | Pan while zoomed |
| PENCIL TOOL | |
| P | Activate Pencil tool |
| Click or drag with left mouse button | Draw in primary color |
| Click or drag with right mouse button | Draw in secondary color |
| ERASER TOOL | |
| E | Activate Erase tool |
| Click or drag with either mouse button | Erase an area |
| COLOR PICKER | |
| K | Activate Color Picker tool |
| Click with left mouse button | Set primary color |
| Click with right mouse button | Set secondary color |
| Hold down the Ctrl button while clicking | Sample Composite Image |
| RECOLOR TOOL | |
| R | Activate Recolor tool |
| Drag with left mouse button | Recolor secondary color with primary |
| Drag with right mouse button | Recolor primary color with secondary |
| PAINT BRUSH | |
| B | Activate Paintbrush tool |
| Click or drag with left mouse button | Draw in primary color |
| Click or drag with right mouse button | Draw in secondary color |
| PAINT BUCKET | |
| F | Activate Paint Bucket |
| Click with left mouse button or Backspace | Fill area with primary color |
| Click with right mouse button or Shift + Backspace | Fill area with secondary color |
| Hold Shift in Contiguous mode | Global fill mode |
| Hold Shift in Global mode | Contiguous fill mode |
| Drag four-way arrow icon | Reposition click point |
Paint.NET Is Easier With Keyboard Shortcuts
You can start using Paint.NET for free for all your image and photo editing needs. You can also support its future development with a donation or a one-time purchase from the Microsoft Store.
Paint.NET is easy to use, but hard to master. As such, get more done with this handy list of Paint.NET Windows keyboard shortcuts. Now go forth and put your new-found image editing skills to the test.
