The VectorScribe plugin is oriented towards ensuring the creation of your vector masterpieces is easier, faster and more flexible. I hope you have already experienced it (if not, download a 7 day full trial now!).

Today we launch a series of articles dealing with the operation of VectorScribe tools using keyboard shortcuts. This information, along with the instructional product movies, will help you create vector artwork using the keyboard like on a piano…

Notes:

1. Mac key names are used throughout here, but it understood that for Windows, Alt = Option, and Ctrl = Command.
2. The left and right bracket keys are used by some of VectorScribe’s tools, but these keys can be changed by the user through Illustrator’s Keyboard Shortcuts … Tools dialog, under Increase Diameter and Decrease Diameter. This is of use to users who local language format keyboards do not provide quick access to the square bracket keys. An asterisk will indicate this use, but note that this does not apply if the mouse button is held down.
3. Some shortcuts do not work in earlier versions of the plugin. Update the plugin version to v1.1.0 by following the link www.astutegraphics.com/download/vectorscribe-download.html

When a shape (except a square or rectangle) is selected:

‘[’* and ‘]’* change the number of sides

When a shape is being dragged out:

‘Esc’ cancels shape creation

‘1’ through ‘7’ change the shape type

‘B’ changes the shape to its basic appearance

‘C’ rotates through the different corner types

‘R’ (5-pointed or greater stars only) makes the star regular

‘S’ toggles the creation mode (from center/from corner of bounding box)

‘[' and ']‘ change the number of sides

‘Up-arrow’ and ‘down-arrow’ change the number of sides

‘Space’ moves the shape

‘Shift’ constrains the shape’s angle

‘Option’ adjusts corner radii instead

‘Command’ alters only one of the two dimensions

When editing a shape by dragging a corner point:

‘Esc’ cancels the operation

‘Space’ moves the shape

‘Option’ adjusts corner radii instead

‘Command’ modifier When applied to rectangles and ellipses, it can adjust the aspect ratio of rectangles and ellipses When applied to stars and donuts, it adjusts the inner or outer radius independently, depending on which was clicked on

When editing a shape’s corners by dragging a corner radius point:

‘Option’ adjusts only the dragged corner

When dragging a slice edge:

‘Esc’ cancels the operation

‘Option’ moves both sides of the slice simultaneously

‘Command’ rotates the entire shape

When moving a shape by dragging its centerpoint:

‘Esc’ cancels the operation

‘Shift’ constrains the angle of motion

‘Option’ duplicates the shape

When dragging out a marquee:

‘Esc’ cancels the marquee

Shift’ + ‘Option’ is normal marquee (replaces selection)

‘Shift’ alone adds to selection

‘Option’ alone subtracts from selection

When double-clicking a corner radius point to remove corners:

‘Option’ only removes the double-clicked corner