How to Use the GIMP Keyboard Shortcut Editor
Follow the steps below to start customizing GIMP to better suit the way that you work.
What Is the GIMP Keyboard Shortcut Editor?
If you want to add a keyboard shortcut to a feature that doesn’t have one or change an existing shortcut to one that feels more intuitive to you, GIMP offers an easy way to do this using the Keyboard Shortcut Editor. GIMP keyboard shortcuts can be useful tools for speeding up your workflow when working with GIMP. Many tools and features have keyboard shortcuts assigned by default, and you can see a list of the default options that are assigned to the Toolbox palette in Keyboard Shortcuts in GIMP.
Beware of Reassigning Existing Shortcuts
If you thought our choice of Shift+Ctrl+F was an odd selection, we chose it because it was a keyboard combination that hadn’t already been assigned to any tool or command. If you try to assign a keyboard shortcut that is already in use, an alert will open telling you what the shortcut is currently being used for. If you want to keep the original shortcut, just select the Cancel button, otherwise, select Reassign shortcut to make the shortcut apply to your new selection.
Don’t Go Shortcut Crazy
Don’t feel that every tool or command should have a keyboard shortcut assigned to it and that you need to memorize all of them. We all use applications like GIMP in different ways—often using different tools and techniques to achieve similar results—so concentrate on the tools that you use. Taking some time to customize GIMP to work in a way that suits you can be a good investment of your time. A well thought out series of keyboard shortcuts can have a dramatic effect on your workflow.
Useful Tips
Try to analyze how you work and which tools you use on a regular basis, then look at assigning easily accessed keyboard combinations to these tools and commands only.Don’t be afraid to try out different shortcuts, or to reassign default shortcuts to new tools or commands. You can always easily reset the original default keyboard shortcuts in the User Interface panel of the Preferences dialog at any time.Assigning shortcuts that are grouped together on the keyboard may mean you can select tools without moving your hand, but using shortcuts that are more spaced out may reduce the possibility of you selecting the incorrect tool. This will be down to personal preference.
