How Many Keyboard Shortcuts Do You Use?

[Cornelius Robinson]

I am working on an idea and have some questions for you guys. I hope this discussion is welcome. How many keyboard shortcuts do you remember when using a creative software (i.e. photoshop, gimp, illustrator, ableton, after effects, etc.)? How long does it take you to remember a new shortcut? Would you use more shortcuts if they were more obvious?

Thanks for any responses!

[Oshino Shinobu]

If a program allows me to set my own shortcuts, I use them a lot. In something like C4D and Premiere Pro I use shortcuts a lot as it cuts down the time it takes to do things so much. In Photoshop I very rarely use shortcuts. 

 

Most common shortcuts are for MPC-HC and MusicBee (global shortcuts for controlling music)

 

EDIT: Pretty much the only Windows shortcuts I use are Ctrl+Shift+Esc and Win+L

[Mina Darsh]

I work a lot in Photoshop and sometimes in Illustrator, with Photoshop I use the shortcut keys for most of the tools, like Brush (B), Pen Tool (P), Lasso Tools(L), and many more. I also do use the Shift modifier to swap between Tools within a category. Other often used shortcuts are Image resize, Canvas Size, Repeat Effect and Save for Web. (And ofcourse the more basic ones like Opening, Saving, Saving As, Copy, Cut and Paste.)

 

I actually already changed that the Convert Point Tool is also added to the Shift - P rotation, though lately that became obselete as I noticed Alt can be added as a modifier to Convert Anchor points.

[PlayStation 2]

I really don't use much in the way of shortcuts. Most I really use is for Microsoft Word and GIMP, and that's basically Ctrl+C and Ctrl+V.

That and whatever ShareX uses for shortcuts.

[Enderman]

CTRL-C

CTRL-V

[Guest]

Blender 3d...

s scale, r rotate,

g translate, z transparency, x x axis, y y axis, z z axis, shift x y and z axis, shift y x and z axis, shift z x and y axis, numpad 1 front, numpad 3 side, numpad 7 top, 5 orthographic, and perspective, b box select, tab switch edit mode, shift a add object, w is a list of specials, alt m is merge, f is face, control j is join

that's 21...

 

arma3 with arma 2 controls, wsad move, double w sprint, shift walk, double shift walk mode, v vault, b binoculars, g gear, l light, n nightvision, q and e lean, f firemode, t throw, k compass, double k lock compass out, o is clock, and move head, double alt free move head, numpad 741 turn head left different degrees, 963 turn right set degrees, r reload, m map/gps, c stand, x crouch, z prone, period and comma change chat type, / text chat, \ and ' for special poses, q for aircraft throttle up, z for throttle dow, wsad for tilting aircraft, x and c for turning, f1-f12 access squad members, 1-0 special commands, backspace exit context menu, enter accept context menu.

 

70 keyboard shortcuts.

 

I know a bit of maya's controls but most of it is clicking.

tap space for viewports, hold for marking menu. shift rightclick for context sensitive menus, g for last command, j or x depending on version for snapping, insert or d for pivot point editing, qwer for main tools. Then most of the rest is just clicking because reasons. Or I didn't learn the shortcuts yet.

12 or more controls depending on how many times you want to count context menu.

 

 

EDIT

would do I use shortuts more obvious? Sometimes yes. But over time I get used to having the most commonly used tools next to each other.

for instance in Maya you switch between select Q translate W rotate E and scale R a lot, having them close really helps. However in contrast with blender it revolves a lot around the mouse movements than clicking on a GUI handle.

I snap to sides with the numberpad and then scale rotate and translate are kinda close but mostly set for what their first initial is. Same for x y and z axis. Shift and axis allows movement in the 2 axis you didn't select and that is fairly easy. However because blender is mouse based and it is tough to type in exact values, maya is often more beneficial to some people.

[Lethalmonk]

just counted, 82 for solidworks...... 

[themctipers]

Ctrl x

ctrl v

E

q

scrl lck

end

home

f3

 

┬┴┬┴┤ ͜ʖ ͡°) ├┬┴┬┴ 

[DrMikeNZ]

If the shortcut is labelled in the mouse over tool-tip of an icon, or next to the item in the menu I use the shortcut. If I use the shortcut 2-3 times, then I remember it.

If the program hides the shortcuts and only displays them in documentation deep within the program notes, then I don't find them very user friendly and tend to move on to more user friendly alternatives if available.

Most people won't be able to list or count all the shortcuts that they use, partly because it would take too long to type, but mostly because their use is so natural that it isn't something that is consciously done.

[Trav_X]

28 minutes ago, Mina Darsh said:

I work a lot in Photoshop and sometimes in Illustrator, with Photoshop I use the shortcut keys for most of the tools, like Brush (B), Pen Tool (P), Lasso Tools(L), and many more. I also do use the Shift modifier to swap between Tools within a category. Other often used shortcuts are Image resize, Canvas Size, Repeat Effect and Save for Web. (And ofcourse the more basic ones like Opening, Saving, Saving As, Copy, Cut and Paste.)

 

I actually already changed that the Convert Point Tool is also added to the Shift - P rotation, though lately that became obselete as I noticed Alt can be added as a modifier to Convert Anchor points.

It seems like P and L would be far away from your left hand when it's on a keyboard. I guess I'm thinking your hand would be at WASD, but I guess not everybody games a ton  

[Trav_X]

1 minute ago, wrathoftheturkey said:

You have two hands for a reason, m8. 

But if you're using photoshop, wouldn't your hand be on the mouse? I never take my hands off the mouse unless I'm literally typing. Do people really take their hand off the mouse just to press one key and then go back?

[ARikozuM]

As many as needed or wanted.

[Mina Darsh]

12 hours ago, Trav_X said:

But if you're using photoshop, wouldn't your hand be on the mouse? I never take my hands off the mouse unless I'm literally typing. Do people really take their hand off the mouse just to press one key and then go back?

Yes, I take my hand off the mouse as I don't need it...

 

It goes on the keyboard, and my left will control a Pen Tablet, I draw in Photoshop. So a mouse is a recipe for disaster then. 

[minibois]

In Gimp I use quite a few shortcuts.

Undo, Redo, plus and minus (to zoom in and out), X (to switch colors), I have set up C to M for other commonly used tools (brush, airbursh, pencil, etc.) and of course Ctrl+S. Occasionally I use brackets open or close to increase or decrease the size of my pencil. Likely I use more shortcuts I didn't even think of now.

 

Because I have been using Gimp for so long, I can do some actions seemingly with my eyes closed, where as other might prefer shortcuts for these actions. For example when I want to do something with a selection, I actually go to the Selection menu, instead of doing the relevant shortcut for it.

 

[Cornelius Robinson]

On 2/11/2017 at 5:19 PM, Oshino Shinobu said:

If a program allows me to set my own shortcuts, I use them a lot. In something like C4D and Premiere Pro I use shortcuts a lot as it cuts down the time it takes to do things so much. In Photoshop I very rarely use shortcuts. 

 

Most common shortcuts are for MPC-HC and MusicBee (global shortcuts for controlling music)

 

EDIT: Pretty much the only Windows shortcuts I use are Ctrl+Shift+Esc and Win+L

 

Do you use every letter of the alphabet for a shortcut or like a handful? Also, why is it you don't use many shortcuts in photoshop? Is it because it takes a long time to memorize them?

[Cornelius Robinson]

On 2/11/2017 at 5:24 PM, Mina Darsh said:

I work a lot in Photoshop and sometimes in Illustrator, with Photoshop I use the shortcut keys for most of the tools, like Brush (B), Pen Tool (P), Lasso Tools(L), and many more. I also do use the Shift modifier to swap between Tools within a category. Other often used shortcuts are Image resize, Canvas Size, Repeat Effect and Save for Web. (And ofcourse the more basic ones like Opening, Saving, Saving As, Copy, Cut and Paste.)

 

I actually already changed that the Convert Point Tool is also added to the Shift - P rotation, though lately that became obselete as I noticed Alt can be added as a modifier to Convert Anchor points.

 

I love illustrator and photoshop. Many of the shortcuts between the two are different. Did you memorize both sets of shortcuts or did you change one to match the other? 

[Cornelius Robinson]

On 2/11/2017 at 5:26 PM, Dan Castellaneta said:

I really don't use much in the way of shortcuts. Most I really use is for Microsoft Word and GIMP, and that's basically Ctrl+C and Ctrl+V.

That and whatever ShareX uses for shortcuts.

 

Would you use more shortcuts if they were obvious? Or do you find that using the mouse is just as fast?

[Cornelius Robinson]

On 2/11/2017 at 5:33 PM, fpo said:

Blender 3d...

s scale, r rotate,

g translate, z transparency, x x axis, y y axis, z z axis, shift x y and z axis, shift y x and z axis, shift z x and y axis, numpad 1 front, numpad 3 side, numpad 7 top, 5 orthographic, and perspective, b box select, tab switch edit mode, shift a add object, w is a list of specials, alt m is merge, f is face, control j is join

that's 21...

 

arma3 with arma 2 controls, wsad move, double w sprint, shift walk, double shift walk mode, v vault, b binoculars, g gear, l light, n nightvision, q and e lean, f firemode, t throw, k compass, double k lock compass out, o is clock, and move head, double alt free move head, numpad 741 turn head left different degrees, 963 turn right set degrees, r reload, m map/gps, c stand, x crouch, z prone, period and comma change chat type, / text chat, \ and ' for special poses, q for aircraft throttle up, z for throttle dow, wsad for tilting aircraft, x and c for turning, f1-f12 access squad members, 1-0 special commands, backspace exit context menu, enter accept context menu.

 

70 keyboard shortcuts.

 

I know a bit of maya's controls but most of it is clicking.

tap space for viewports, hold for marking menu. shift rightclick for context sensitive menus, g for last command, j or x depending on version for snapping, insert or d for pivot point editing, qwer for main tools. Then most of the rest is just clicking because reasons. Or I didn't learn the shortcuts yet.

12 or more controls depending on how many times you want to count context menu.

 

 

EDIT

would do I use shortuts more obvious? Sometimes yes. But over time I get used to having the most commonly used tools next to each other.

for instance in Maya you switch between select Q translate W rotate E and scale R a lot, having them close really helps. However in contrast with blender it revolves a lot around the mouse movements than clicking on a GUI handle.

I snap to sides with the numberpad and then scale rotate and translate are kinda close but mostly set for what their first initial is. Same for x y and z axis. Shift and axis allows movement in the 2 axis you didn't select and that is fairly easy. However because blender is mouse based and it is tough to type in exact values, maya is often more beneficial to some people.

 

Wow that's quite a few! How long did it take to memorize all of those?

[PlayStation 2]

24 minutes ago, Cornelius Robinson said:

Would you use more shortcuts if they were obvious? Or do you find that using the mouse is just as fast?

I don't have much use for shortcuts; it's generally easier for me to know where an icon is rather than a shortcut for an action.