Illustrator shortcuts in Linearity Curve: the complete mapping guide

A complete mapping of Adobe Illustrator keyboard shortcuts to their Linearity Curve equivalents: tools, file management, editing, path operations, arrangement, and navigation. Essential reference for designers switching from Illustrator to Curve.

By Nadya Kunze

18 Feb 2025

2 minutes

In this article

Tools

File and document

Basic editing

Arrange and align

Path and node editing

Canvas navigation

Shortcuts with no Curve equivalent

Customising shortcuts in Curve

Muscle memory is the biggest practical obstacle when switching design tools. You reach for a shortcut that's been automatic for years and nothing happens — or worse, something unexpected does. This guide maps the most commonly used Adobe Illustrator keyboard shortcuts to their Linearity Curve equivalents so you can maintain momentum from day one.

The good news: the majority of core shortcuts are identical or very close. The differences are mostly in selection tools, node editing, and layer management — the areas worth focusing your retraining on first.

Part of the switching from Illustrator to Linearity Curve guide — a complete walkthrough of the migration process.

Tools

The tool shortcuts are where the most significant differences appear. The most important one to retrain: Direct Select is A in Illustrator, N in Curve.

Action	Illustrator	Linearity Curve	Notes
Selection Tool	`V`	`V`	Identical
Direct Select / Node Edit	`A`	`N`	Key difference — retrain first
Pen Tool	`P`	`P`	Identical
Pencil Tool	`N`	`W`	Different key
Text Tool	`T`	`T`	Identical
Rectangle / Shape Tool	`M`	`R`	M draws rectangle in AI; R in Curve
Ellipse / Oval Tool	`L`	`O`	Different key
Zoom Tool	`Z`	`Z`	Identical
Hand Tool (Pan)	`H` or `Space`	`H` or `Space`	Identical
Eyedropper / Colour Picker	`I`	`I`	Identical
Scissors Tool	`C`	`C`	Identical
Eraser Tool	`Shift` + `E`	`E`	Curve uses E without Shift
Rotate Tool	`R`	—	No shortcut — use the Inspector
Scale Tool	`S`	—	No shortcut — use the Inspector
Artboard Tool	`Shift` + `O`	—	Artboards managed via document settings

File and document

These are almost entirely identical between the two tools.

Action	Illustrator	Linearity Curve	Notes
New document	`Cmd` + `N`	`Cmd` + `N`	Identical
Open	`Cmd` + `O`	`Cmd` + `O`	Identical
Save	`Cmd` + `S`	`Cmd` + `S`	Identical
Save As	`Cmd` + `Shift` + `S`	`Cmd` + `Shift` + `S`	Identical
Export	`Cmd` + `Shift` + `E`	`Cmd` + `Shift` + `E`	Identical
Print	`Cmd` + `P`	`Cmd` + `P`	Identical
Close document	`Cmd` + `W`	`Cmd` + `W`	Identical
Quit	`Cmd` + `Q`	`Cmd` + `Q`	Identical
Undo	`Cmd` + `Z`	`Cmd` + `Z`	Identical
Redo	`Cmd` + `Shift` + `Z`	`Cmd` + `Shift` + `Z`	Identical
Preferences	`Cmd` + `,`	`Cmd` + `,`	Identical

Basic editing

Action	Illustrator	Linearity Curve	Notes
Copy	`Cmd` + `C`	`Cmd` + `C`	Identical
Cut	`Cmd` + `X`	`Cmd` + `X`	Identical
Paste	`Cmd` + `V`	`Cmd` + `V`	Identical
Paste in Place	`Cmd` + `Shift` + `V`	`Cmd` + `Shift` + `V`	Identical
Paste in Front	`Cmd` + `F`	`Cmd` + `F`	Identical
Paste in Back	`Cmd` + `B`	`Cmd` + `B`	Identical
Duplicate	`Cmd` + `D` (repeat transform)	`Cmd` + `D`	Similar function, slightly different behaviour
Select All	`Cmd` + `A`	`Cmd` + `A`	Identical
Deselect All	`Cmd` + `Shift` + `A`	`Cmd` + `Shift` + `A`	Identical
Delete / Remove	`Delete`	`Delete`	Identical
Group	`Cmd` + `G`	`Cmd` + `G`	Identical
Ungroup	`Cmd` + `Shift` + `G`	`Cmd` + `Shift` + `G`	Identical
Lock object	`Cmd` + `2`	—	Lock via Layers panel
Unlock all	`Cmd` + `Alt` + `2`	—	Unlock via Layers panel
Hide object	`Cmd` + `3`	—	Use layer visibility toggle
Show all	`Cmd` + `Alt` + `3`	—	Use layer visibility toggle

Arrange and align

Action	Illustrator	Linearity Curve	Notes
Bring to Front	`Cmd` + `Shift` + `]`	`Cmd` + `Shift` + `]`	Identical
Bring Forward	`Cmd` + `]`	`Cmd` + `]`	Identical
Send Backward	`Cmd` + `[`	`Cmd` + `[`	Identical
Send to Back	`Cmd` + `Shift` + `[`	`Cmd` + `Shift` + `[`	Identical
Fit artboard to window	`Cmd` + `0`	`Cmd` + `0`	Identical
Fit all artboards	`Cmd` + `Alt` + `0`	—	Use zoom controls manually
Actual size (100%)	`Cmd` + `1`	`Cmd` + `1`	Identical

Path and node editing

These shortcuts are mostly active when the Pen Tool or Node Tool is in use.

Path & node editing

Action	Illustrator	Linearity Curve	Notes
Add anchor point	`+` (with Pen active)	Click path with Pen Tool	Same behaviour, no dedicated key
Delete anchor point	`−` (with Pen active)	Click node with Pen Tool	Same behaviour, no dedicated key
Convert anchor point	`Shift` + `C`	`Alt` + drag handle	Different modifier
Join paths	`Cmd` + `J`	`Cmd` + `J`	Identical
Average	`Cmd` + `Alt` + `J`	—	No direct equivalent
Outline Stroke	`Cmd` + `Shift` + `O`	Object menu	Via Object menu in Curve
Make Clipping Mask	`Cmd` + `7`	`Cmd` + `M`	Different shortcut
Release Clipping Mask	`Cmd` + `Alt` + `7`	`Cmd` + `Shift` + `M`	Different shortcut
Make Compound Path	`Cmd` + `8`	—	Use Boolean operations in Curve
Release Compound Path	`Cmd` + `Alt` + `8`	—	Use Boolean operations in Curve

Pen Tool modifiers — Linearity Curve only

Action	Linearity Curve
Create corner node (while drawing)	Click without dragging
Create smooth curve node	Click and drag
Break handle symmetry	`Alt` + drag handle
Close path	Click first node
End open path	`Esc` or double-click end node
Lock aspect ratio while drawing	`Shift` (hold)

Action	Illustrator	Linearity Curve	Notes
Zoom in	`Cmd` + `+`	`Cmd` + `+`	Identical
Zoom out	`Cmd` + `−`	`Cmd` + `−`	Identical
Fit to screen	`Cmd` + `0`	`Cmd` + `0`	Identical
Pan / Hand tool	`Space` (hold)	`Space` (hold)	Identical
Zoom to selection	`Cmd` + `3`	—	Not available
Show / hide rulers	`Cmd` + `R`	`Cmd` + `R`	Identical
Show / hide grid	`Cmd` + `'`	`Cmd` + `'`	Identical
Snap to grid	`Cmd` + `Shift` + `'`	`Cmd` + `Shift` + `'`	Identical
Show / hide guides	`Cmd` + `;`	`Cmd` + `;`	Identical
Lock guides	`Cmd` + `Alt` + `;`	—	Lock guides via settings in Curve

Shortcuts with no Curve equivalent

These Illustrator shortcuts have no direct keyboard equivalent in Linearity Curve. The underlying function exists — it's just accessed through the menu or Inspector rather than a shortcut.

Illustrator shortcut	Function	In Linearity Curve
`Cmd` + `2`	Lock object	Layers panel — tap lock icon on layer
`Cmd` + `3`	Hide object	Layers panel — tap visibility icon
`Cmd` + `8`	Make Compound Path	Boolean operations in Inspector
`Cmd` + `Alt` + `0`	Fit all artboards	Manual zoom
`Shift` + `M`	Shape Builder Tool	Shape Builder — click in toolbar, no shortcut
`W`	Width Tool	Not available — use stroke weight profiles
`Cmd` + `Alt` + `J`	Average	Not available — align manually via Inspector

Most of these are tools that Curve handles differently by design — the Shape Builder is a toolbar tool, compound paths are handled by Boolean operations, and object locking and hiding live in the Layers panel. The muscle memory adjustment here is smaller than it might seem because these operations happen in a different part of the workflow.

Customising shortcuts in Curve

Linearity Curve on Mac allows you to customise tool shortcuts via Mac System Settings. If there's a specific Illustrator shortcut you use constantly and its equivalent in Curve is mapped to a different key, you can remap it:

Open System Settings on your Mac
Go to Keyboard → Keyboard Shortcuts → App Shortcuts
Click + to add a new shortcut
Select Linearity Curve from the application dropdown
Enter the exact menu item name and assign your preferred key combination

This is particularly useful for: remapping the Node tool from N to A if your muscle memory for Direct Select is strong, or remapping frequently used menu items that don't have default shortcuts in Curve.

Full Linearity Curve shortcuts reference — Linearity Academy