Keyboard shortcuts
Below, Ctrl/Cmd means Cmd on macOS and Ctrl on
Windows/Linux. In the app, macOS shows glyphs (⌘ ⇧ ⌥) and Windows/Linux shows
Ctrl+Shift+….
Open the in-app shortcut sheet any time with Keyboard shortcuts… (Ctrl/Cmd+/), and the command palette with Ctrl/Cmd+K to run any command by name. Both speak your chosen language, and the palette matches on the names you actually see.
File and app
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| New design | Ctrl/Cmd+N |
| Open (.vemb)… | Ctrl/Cmd+O |
| Save (cloud on web; asks once on desktop, then remembers) | Ctrl/Cmd+S |
| Save to this computer / Download (.vemb) | Ctrl/Cmd+Shift+S |
| Export embroidery… | Ctrl/Cmd+E |
| Export Run Sheet (PDF)… | Ctrl/Cmd+Shift+E |
| Preferences (Settings)… | Ctrl/Cmd+, |
| Command palette… | Ctrl/Cmd+K |
| Keyboard shortcuts… | Ctrl/Cmd+/ |
| Report a bug… | Ctrl/Cmd+Shift+B |
Edit
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Undo | Ctrl/Cmd+Z |
| Redo | Ctrl/Cmd+Shift+Z |
| Cut | Ctrl/Cmd+X |
| Copy | Ctrl/Cmd+C |
| Paste | Ctrl/Cmd+V |
| Select all | Ctrl/Cmd+A |
| Deselect | Ctrl/Cmd+Shift+A |
| Delete selection | Delete (or Backspace) |
| Escape / cancel | Esc |
| Commit draft (pen / satin) | Enter |
| Group selection | Ctrl/Cmd+G |
| Ungroup selection | Ctrl/Cmd+Shift+G |
| Hide / show selection | Ctrl/Cmd+Shift+H |
| Send forward | Ctrl/Cmd+] |
| Send to front | Ctrl/Cmd+Shift+] |
| Send backward | Ctrl/Cmd+[ |
| Send to back | Ctrl/Cmd+Shift+[ |
Nudge the selection
Arrow keys move the selected objects. The step depends on the modifier:
| Step | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| 0.1 mm | Arrow key |
| 1 mm | Shift + Arrow |
| 10 mm | Ctrl/Cmd + Arrow |
View and zoom
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Zoom in | Ctrl/Cmd+= |
| Zoom out | Ctrl/Cmd+- |
| Zoom to fit | Ctrl/Cmd+0 |
| Zoom 1:1 (actual size) | Ctrl/Cmd+1 |
| Zoom 3× | Ctrl/Cmd+3 |
| Zoom 6× | Ctrl/Cmd+6 |
| Zoom 0.5× (half size) | (no key) |
| Cycle render mode | Shift+S |
| Toggle snapping | Shift+Y |
| Toggle jumps overlay | Shift+J |
| Toggle trims overlay | Shift+T |
| Toggle penetration points | Shift+P |
| Toggle grid | Shift+G |
Toggle snapping and Toggle penetration points have keys but no View menu entry. Snapping is also in Settings; the penetration overlay has a button in the canvas HUD.
Tools
Single keys, no modifier. These are the default (Illustrator) preset; you can change any of them or switch presets under Customizing shortcuts.
| Tool | Key |
|---|---|
| Select | V |
| Pen | P |
| Individual stitch | S |
| Text | T |
| Color select | C |
| Polygon | Y |
| Rectangle | M |
| Ellipse | L |
| Freehand | N |
| Lasso select | Q |
| Ruler (guide line) | Backslash (\) |
| Cutter | K |
| Pan | H |
The Satin column and Star tools, the Ruler's Rectangle guide / Ellipse guide variants, and New pixel art have no keyboard shortcut.
The pixel editor is its own mode with its own keys: while it is open, the design canvas does not see your keystrokes.
Customizing shortcuts
Open Settings → Keyboard Shortcuts to remap commands. Pick a Preset to match an app you already know:
- Illustrator (the default): Rectangle M, Ellipse L, Freehand N, Lasso Q.
- Affinity Designer: the same tool letters as Illustrator.
- Inkscape: Select S, Pen B, Freehand P, and Individual stitch moves to I.
To rebind one command, click Change, press the key combination, and confirm. If those keys are already in use, Boldbobbin offers to swap the two. Unbind clears a shortcut, Reset returns a command to the preset's key, and Reset all to defaults restores the whole preset. Canvas gestures (copy/paste, Escape, Enter, Delete) keep their standard keys and can't be remapped.
The tool rail shows each tool's current shortcut, so a tool's badge always matches your active preset and any changes you've made.
Palette colors
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Pick palette color 1–9 | 1 … 9 |
Many actions (Import SVG/PDF, Import embroidery, New from Template, Duplicate, Translate…, Rotate…, Add shape, New Pixel Art, Publish to community, Calibrate display, and others) have no key. Run them from the menus, the tool rail, or the command palette (Ctrl/Cmd+K).