Keyboard shortcuts

PhotoGIMP shortcuts, next to Photoshop’s and GIMP’s

Q: How do I change the brush size with the keyboard in GIMP?

With PhotoGIMP and in stock GIMP 3.2, [ makes the brush smaller and ] bigger. We pressed ] three times in GIMP 3.2.6 with PhotoGIMP: the size went from 52 to 55. PhotoGIMP adds { and } for hardness.

PhotoGIMP 3.1 gives 29 GIMP 3.2.6 commands new keys so your Photoshop habits work: tool letters, Ctrl+J, Ctrl+T, Ctrl+D, brush hardness on { }. Everything on this page is generated from PhotoGIMP’s own shortcutsrc and a stock GIMP 3.2.6 profile, and the important keys were pressed in real GIMP.

Checked with PhotoGIMP 3.1 · GIMP 3.2.6Updated October 31, 2026Tested on Windows, macOS and Linux

On this page 7 sections

Press any key
Every PhotoGIMP shortcut
Keys PhotoGIMP shares with GIMP
Photoshop keys PhotoGIMP does not change
Change a shortcut in GIMP 3.2
Cheat sheet
Questions

Short answer

The shortcuts that change most

Tools: V Move · M Rectangle Select · L Free Select (lasso) · W Fuzzy Select (magic wand) · C Crop · I Color Picker · J Healing · B Paintbrush · S Clone · E Eraser · G Gradient · O Dodge/Burn · P Paths · T Text · Z Zoom.

Commands: Ctrl+J duplicate layer · Ctrl+T transform · Ctrl+D deselect · Ctrl+E merge visible · Ctrl+0 fit in window · Ctrl+Alt+I image size · Ctrl+Alt+C canvas size · Alt/Ctrl+Backspace fill with foreground/background · [ ] brush size · { } hardness. On a Mac, Ctrl is Cmd and Alt is Option.

Press any key

Click the keyboard (or press Tab until it is focused) and press any key or combination. Click Ctrl, Alt or Shift to lock them. Keys with a raspberry outline do what Photoshop does with that key.

The interactive keyboard needs JavaScript. Every shortcut is also in the table below.

Press a key: for example V, Ctrl+J or [.

Every PhotoGIMP shortcut

The 39 commands that have a key with PhotoGIMP 3.1 on GIMP 3.2.6 (with the GIMP 3.2 fix, as our install command applies it), with the Photoshop key for the same command (Windows keys, from Adobe’s default shortcut list) and what GIMP 3.2.6 uses without PhotoGIMP. Type in the box to filter.

39 shortcuts

Command	PhotoGIMP	Stock GIMP 3.2	Photoshop
3D Transform	`Shift`+`W`	`Shift`+`W`	—
Align and Distribute	`Q`	`Q`	—
Blur / Sharpen	`Shift`+`R`	`Shift`+`U`	—
Paint BucketGIMP: Bucket Fill	`Shift`+`G`	`Shift`+`B`	`G`(Shift+G cycles)
Clone StampGIMP: Clone	`S`	`C`	`S`
EyedropperGIMP: Color Picker	`I`	`O`	`I`
Crop	`C`	`Shift`+`C`	`C`
Dodge / Burn	`O`	`Shift`+`D`	`O`
Elliptical MarqueeGIMP: Ellipse Select	`Shift`+`M`	`E`	`M`(Shift+M cycles)
Eraser	`E`	`Shift`+`E`	`E`
LassoGIMP: Free Select	`L`	`F`	`L`
Magic WandGIMP: Fuzzy Select	`W`	`U`	`W`
Gradient	`G`	`G`	`G`
Healing Brush / Spot HealingGIMP: HealingGIMP’s Heal tool works like Photoshop’s Healing Brush (Ctrl-click a source in GIMP, Alt-click in Photoshop). There is no Spot Healing or content-aware healing in GIMP itself.	`J`	`H`	`J`
Move toolGIMP: Move	`V`	`M`	`V`
BrushGIMP: Paintbrush	`B`	`P`	`B`
Pencil	`N`	`N`	`B`(Shift+B cycles)
Rectangular MarqueeGIMP: Rectangle Select	`M`	`R`	`M`
Scale	`Shift`+`T`	`Shift`+`S`	—
Select by Color	`Shift`+`O`	`Shift`+`O`	—
Smudge	`R`	`S`	—
Horizontal TypeGIMP: Text	`T`	`T`	`T`
Free TransformGIMP: Unified TransformGIMP’s Unified Transform does scale, rotate, shear and perspective in one tool, like Free Transform.	`Ctrl`+`T`	`Shift`+`T`	`Ctrl`+`T`
Zoom	`Z`	`Z`	`Z`
Add Paths to SelectionPhotoshop uses A for the Path Selection tool. PhotoGIMP uses A for "add path to selection".	`A`	none	—
Brush Hardness (Editor): Decrease by 0.1	`{`	none	—
Brush Hardness (Editor): Increase by 0.1	`}`	none	—
Canvas SizeGIMP: Canvas Size…GIMP calls it Canvas Size; the dialog lets you resize the canvas without scaling pixels.	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`C`	none	`Alt`+`Ctrl`+`C`
New Layer via CopyGIMP: Duplicate Layers	`Ctrl`+`J`	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`D`	`Ctrl`+`J`
Fill with background colorGIMP: Fill with BG Color	`Ctrl`+`Backspace`	`Ctrl`+`.`	`Ctrl`+`Backspace`
Fill with foreground colorGIMP: Fill with FG Color	`Alt`+`Backspace`	`Ctrl`+`,`	`Alt`+`Backspace`
Fit on ScreenGIMP: Fit Image in Window	`Ctrl`+`0`	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`J`	`Ctrl`+`0`
Change screen modeGIMP: Fullscreen	`F`	`F11`	`F`
Merge VisibleGIMP: Merge Visible Layers…PhotoGIMP puts Merge Visible Layers on Ctrl+E. In Photoshop Ctrl+E is Merge Down (Merge Visible is Shift+Ctrl+E).Shares its key with a GIMP default, see collisions.	`Ctrl`+`E`	`Ctrl`+`M`	`Shift`+`Ctrl`+`E`
Image SizeGIMP: Scale Image…	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`I`	none	`Alt`+`Ctrl`+`I`
DeselectGIMP: Select NoneShares its key with a GIMP default, see collisions.	`Ctrl`+`D`	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`A`	`Ctrl`+`D`
Quick Mask modeGIMP: Toggle Quick Mask	`Shift`+`Q`	`Shift`+`Q`	`Q`
Decrease brush sizeGIMP: Tool's Size: Decrease by 1	`[`	`[`	`[`
Increase brush sizeGIMP: Tool's Size: Increase by 1	`]`	`]`	`]`

Keys PhotoGIMP shares with GIMP

PhotoGIMP assigns some keys that GIMP 3.2.6 already uses for something else, and leaves GIMP’s binding in place. In GIMP 3.2.6 with PhotoGIMP 3.1 and the GIMP 3.2 fix these are:

Key	PhotoGIMP gives it to	GIMP 3.2 also uses it for
`Ctrl`+`D`	Select None	Duplicate
`Ctrl`+`E`	Merge Visible Layers…	Export…

We pressed Ctrl+D and Ctrl+E in GIMP 3.2.6 with PhotoGIMP: Ctrl+D removed the selection without duplicating the image, and Ctrl+E opened Merge Layers instead of Export. PhotoGIMP’s action wins, so GIMP’s own action simply loses its shortcut. Without the fix, B is shared too: the release’s line that takes B away from the Paths tool uses the GIMP 3.0 name, so on GIMP 3.2 B selects both the Paintbrush and Paths (the fix removes it from Paths; Paths then has no key, since 3.1 does not bind P).

Real screenshot · Linux (Ubuntu 24.04, X11) · GIMP 3.2.6 AppImageCtrl+E in GIMP 3.2.6 with PhotoGIMP opens “Merge Layers”, not Export. Export moves to Shift+Ctrl+E (Export As) or the File menu.PhotoGIMP: 3.1 + our 3.2 repair · taken 2026-10-31

Upstream master adds two more shared keys:

Key	PhotoGIMP gives it to	GIMP 3.2 also uses it for
`Ctrl`+`D`	Select None	Duplicate
`Ctrl`+`E`	Merge Visible Layers…	Export…
`Shift`+`L`	Scissors Select	Handle Transform
`Shift`+`V`	Align and Distribute	Selection From Paths

Photoshop keys PhotoGIMP does not change

PhotoGIMP covers tools and the most common commands, not every Photoshop habit. This is what happens in GIMP 3.2.6 with PhotoGIMP when you press other Photoshop keys:

Key	In Photoshop	In GIMP 3.2 with PhotoGIMP	Do this instead
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`Z`	Redo	Strong Undo	Ctrl+Y is Redo in GIMP.
`Ctrl`+`L`	Levels	Layers Dialog	Colors → Levels.
`Ctrl`+`M`	Curves	nothing	Colors → Curves.
`Ctrl`+`U`	Hue/Saturation	nothing	Colors → Hue-Saturation.
`Ctrl`+`I`	Invert (colors)	Invert Selection	Colors → Invert. In GIMP, Ctrl+I inverts the selection.
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`I`	Inverse (selection)	nothing	Ctrl+I.
`Ctrl`+`G`	Group Layers	Gradients Dialog	Layer → New Layer Group.
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`E`	Merge Visible	Export As…	Ctrl+E with PhotoGIMP.
`Ctrl`+`B`	Color Balance	Toolbox	Colors → Color Balance.
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`U`	Desaturate	nothing	Colors → Desaturate.
`Ctrl`+`R`	Rulers	nothing	Ctrl+Shift+R.
`Ctrl`+`;`	Show Guides	Fill with Pattern	Ctrl+Shift+T.
`Ctrl`+`K`	Preferences	nothing	Edit → Preferences.
`Ctrl`+`1`	100% zoom	Open Recent Image 1	1 (without Ctrl).
`Ctrl`+`W`	Close document	Close View	Same idea: closes the image view.
`H`	Hand tool	nothing	Hold Space and drag, as in Photoshop.
`R`	Rotate View	Smudge	Shift+drag with the middle button, or View → Flip & Rotate.
`Y`	History Brush	MyPaint Brush	GIMP has no history brush.
`U`	Shape tools	nothing	Ellipse or Rectangle Select, then Edit → Fill with FG Color or Edit → Stroke Selection.
`A`	Path Selection	Add Paths to Selection	Paths tool in Edit mode (pick it in the toolbox; it has no key with PhotoGIMP 3.1).
`K`	Frame tool	Ink	No equivalent.
`Shift`+`F5`	Fill dialog	nothing	Alt+Backspace / Ctrl+Backspace with PhotoGIMP, or Edit → Fill with FG Color / BG Color / Pattern.
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`V`	Paste in Place	Paste as New Image	Edit → Paste In Place.
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`C`	Copy Merged	Copy Visible	Same: Copy Visible.
`Ctrl`+`H`	Show Extras	Anchor Floating Layer or Mask	View menu.

Ctrl+Shift+Z is not Redo

In GIMP, Ctrl+Shift+Z is Strong Undo, which undoes the last step while skipping visibility changes. Redo is Ctrl+Y. PhotoGIMP does not change either. If you redo by habit, bind Redo to Ctrl+Shift+Z yourself (see below).

Change a shortcut in GIMP 3.2

Open the shortcut editor
Edit → Keyboard Shortcuts. (Or press /, type “keyboard”, press Enter.) With PhotoGIMP the window may open very large or off-screen; see the fix.
Find the command
Type part of its name in the search field, for example “redo” or “merge down”.
Assign the key
Click the shortcut column of the command and press the new key. If the key is already used, GIMP asks whether to reassign it.
Close the dialog
GIMP saves your change in shortcutsrc in your settings folder when it quits. Reinstalling PhotoGIMP overwrites that file, so note your changes.

Good candidates: Redo on Ctrl+Shift+Z, Merge Down on Ctrl+E (Photoshop’s meaning), Curves on Ctrl+M, Levels on Ctrl+L, Hue-Saturation on Ctrl+U.

Cheat sheet

Use “Print cheat sheet” above to print just this part, or save it as a PDF from the print dialog.

PhotoGIMP 3.1 shortcuts for GIMP 3.2.6 · photogimp.org

Tool	Windows / Linux	Mac
Brush	`B`	`B`
Crop	`C`	`C`
Free Transform	`Ctrl`+`T`	`Cmd`+`T`
Eraser	`E`	`E`
Gradient	`G`	`G`
Eyedropper	`I`	`I`
Healing Brush / Spot Healing	`J`	`J`
Lasso	`L`	`L`
Rectangular Marquee	`M`	`M`
Pencil	`N`	`N`
Dodge / Burn	`O`	`O`
Align and Distribute	`Q`	`Q`
Smudge	`R`	`R`
Clone Stamp	`S`	`S`
Paint Bucket	`Shift`+`G`	`Shift`+`G`
Elliptical Marquee	`Shift`+`M`	`Shift`+`M`
Select by Color	`Shift`+`O`	`Shift`+`O`
Blur / Sharpen	`Shift`+`R`	`Shift`+`R`
Scale	`Shift`+`T`	`Shift`+`T`
3D Transform	`Shift`+`W`	`Shift`+`W`
Horizontal Type	`T`	`T`
Move tool	`V`	`V`
Magic Wand	`W`	`W`
Zoom	`Z`	`Z`

Command	Windows / Linux	Mac
Brush Hardness (Editor): Decrease by 0.1	`{`	`{`
Brush Hardness (Editor): Increase by 0.1	`}`	`}`
Fill with background color	`Ctrl`+`Backspace`	`Cmd`+`Backspace`
Fill with foreground color	`Alt`+`Backspace`	`Option`+`Backspace`
Merge Visible	`Ctrl`+`E`	`Cmd`+`E`
Canvas Size	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`C`	`Cmd`+`Option`+`C`
Image Size	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`I`	`Cmd`+`Option`+`I`
New Layer via Copy	`Ctrl`+`J`	`Cmd`+`J`
Add Paths to Selection	`A`	`A`
Quick Mask mode	`Shift`+`Q`	`Shift`+`Q`
Deselect	`Ctrl`+`D`	`Cmd`+`D`
Decrease brush size	`[`	`[`
Increase brush size	`]`	`]`
Change screen mode	`F`	`F`
Fit on Screen	`Ctrl`+`0`	`Cmd`+`0`
Redo	`Ctrl`+`Y`	`Cmd`+`Y`
Show toolbox	`Ctrl`+`B`	`Cmd`+`B`
Search any command	`/`	`/`

Questions

How do I change the brush size with the keyboard in GIMP?

With PhotoGIMP and in stock GIMP 3.2, [ makes the brush smaller and ] bigger. We pressed ] three times in GIMP 3.2.6 with PhotoGIMP: the size went from 52 to 55. PhotoGIMP adds { and } for hardness.

What is Ctrl+J in GIMP?

With PhotoGIMP, Ctrl+J duplicates the selected layer, like Photoshop’s Layer via Copy. In stock GIMP 3.2, Ctrl+J is Shrink Wrap (fits the window to the image) and Duplicate Layer is Shift+Ctrl+D.

What is the GIMP equivalent of Ctrl+T (Free Transform)?

The Unified Transform tool. PhotoGIMP puts it on Ctrl+T; in stock GIMP it is Shift+T, and Ctrl+T toggles the selection outline.

How do I deselect in GIMP?

Select → None. With PhotoGIMP the shortcut is Ctrl+D, as in Photoshop; in stock GIMP it is Shift+Ctrl+A.

Can I use Photoshop shortcuts in GIMP without PhotoGIMP?

Yes: change them one by one in Edit → Keyboard Shortcuts, or copy only PhotoGIMP’s shortcutsrc file into your GIMP settings folder. That gives you the shortcuts without the layout and preference changes. More ways.

Are PhotoGIMP shortcuts the same on Mac?

Yes, with Cmd instead of Ctrl and Option instead of Alt. GIMP on macOS translates them automatically.

Keep going

Photoshop to GIMPFind the GIMP 3.2 equivalent of any Photoshop tool or feature.What it changesFile by file: tools, panels, shortcuts and settings PhotoGIMP touches.GIMP 3.2 fixWhy PhotoGIMP 3.1 half-works on GIMP 3.2, and the tested fix.TroubleshootingNothing changed, only the splash changed, it will not launch: fixes.Make GIMP look like PhotoshopPhotoGIMP or by hand: every setting that matters.Install guideFind your exact GIMP settings folder and the commands for it.

Found something wrong or out of date? Tell us: hello@photogimp.org. We fix mistakes within a day.

#Press any key

#Every PhotoGIMP shortcut

#Keys PhotoGIMP shares with GIMP

#Photoshop keys PhotoGIMP does not change

#Change a shortcut in GIMP 3.2

Open the shortcut editor

Find the command

Assign the key

Close the dialog

#Cheat sheet

#Questions