Keyboard and mouse shortcuts are defined in Window > Customization > Command Manager.
Mac users:
The ALT key is labeled OPTION on the keyboard.
The CTRL key is labeled CONTROL. The COMMAND ⌘ key will also work.
Viewport Navigation
Orbit (and pan / tilt in Camera Mode navigation)
ALT + left mouse drag
or 3 + left mouse drag
“Move Camera” (track left / right, pedestal up / down)
ALT + middle mouse drag
or 1 + left mouse drag
“Scale Camera” (dolly or zoom)
ALT + right mouse drag
or 2 + left mouse drag
or mouse wheel
Field of View / Film Zoom
2 + right mouse drag
Frame Geometry
H
Frame Selected Objects
O
Frame Selected Elements (sub-object components)
S
Viewport Display
Shading menu
N
“Gouraud” (shaded / solid)
A
“Gouraud (Lines)” (lines on shaded)
B
Lines (wireframe, isoparms, box, skeleton)
G
Materials
Q
All Views
F5
Single View (perspective, top, right, front)
F1, F2, F3, F4
Toggle Active View (maximize / minimize view)
PageUp
or middle mouse click
NOTE: Strongly recommend disabling the binding of middle mouse click to Toggle Active View. It conflicts with the “Move Camera” shortcut: ALT + middle mouse drag.
Commands
Undo
CTRL + Z
Redo
CTRL + Y
Undo View
CTRL + SHIFT + Z
Redo View
CTRL + SHIFT + Y
Duplicate object (viewport transform or Object Manager)
CTRL + left mouse drag
Group Objects (link to new Null)
ALT + G
Reset Attribute
right mouse click on attribute arrow
Windows / Palettes
Commander (global search)
SHIFT + C
Asset Browser (toggle)
SHIFT + F8
Material Manager (toggle)
SHIFT + F2
Picture Viewer
SHIFT + F6
Node Editor
SHIFT + F2
Transforms
“Move” tool (position / translate)
E
Rotate tool
R
Scale tool
T
Lock Axis (transform without manipulator gizmo)
X, Y, Z
Snap (toggle)
SHIFT + S
Quantize (momentary incremental transform)
left mouse drag + SHIFT in that order
Axis Modification (transform object pivot / origin / anchor)
L
Axis Display (axis and transform gizmo)
ALT + D
Reset Transforms
ALT + 0 (zero)
Selection
Brush Selection
9
Brush Radius
[ ] (angle brackets)
Rectangle Selection
0 (zero)
Select All
CTRL + A
Deselect All
CTRL + SHIFT + A
Add to Selection
SHIFT + left mouse click
Remove from Selection
CTRL + left mouse click
Select Children in Object Manager
middle mouse click
Modeling
Toggle Parent Generator (enable / disable generator of selected object)
Q
Mesh Tools menu
M
Mesh Selection menu
U
Complete operation (e.g. Line Cut, Loop Cut)
ESC
“Toggle Modeling Mode” (cycle through component modes)
ENTER
NOTE: Strongly recommend removing or changing the ENTER shortcut, because it conflicts with standard data entry methods. Also recommend creating shortcuts for Model or Object modes. By default, we can enter component mode with a keystroke, but we can’t exit.
Animation
Record Active Objects (create keyframe)
F9
Autokeying
CTRL + F9
Play / Pause
F8
Go to Start / End
SHIFT + F / SHIFT + G
Previous Keyframe / Next Keyframe
CTRL + F / CTRL + G
Previous Frame / Next Frame
F / G
Notes on function keys:
Function keys may be reserved for operating system commands such as screen brightness. Extra steps may be required to use the function keys within an application. These procedures are specific to different operating systems and hardware manufacturers, and may include the following:
1. Hold the FUNCTION key, labeled FN on the keyboard, then press the desired function key, such as F1.
2. Enable or disable Function Lock to toggle the behavior of function keys. Hold the FUNCTION key, then press the ESC key.
3. Change the keyboard settings within the system BIOS.
4. Change the keyboard settings within the manufacturer software. For example, on macOS, go to Apple Menu > System Settings > Keyboard > Keyboard Shortcuts and enable the option Use all F1, F2, etc. keys as standard function keys.
Cinema 4D Cheat Sheet
Common Shortcuts (Key Bindings)
