Lil Cactus keyboard shortcuts for Windows and Mac

Find and test a shortcut in four steps

1. 1

   Open the command shortcut list

   Open the sample from this page, then choose More› then Keyboard Shortcuts… Preferences opens directly to Shortcuts.

   

2. 2

   Find Duplicate Layer

   Type Duplicate Layer into Search commands. The row reads Layer ▸ Duplicate Layer. Its default is Ctrl+J or ⌘J. If you have changed the binding, your list shows the replacement instead.

   

3. 3

   Close Preferences and duplicate the layer

   Click Close. Choose Layer› then Duplicate Layer, or press the key combination from the list: Ctrl+J or ⌘J with the defaults.

   With the sample, Background copy appears above Background in the Layers panel. The photo looks the same because the identical copy covers the original.

   

4. 4

   Try Undo and Redo

   Choose Edit› then Undo or press Ctrl+Z or ⌘Z. The new layer disappears. Choose Edit› then Redo or press Ctrl+Shift+Z or ⇧⌘Z to bring it back.

   

Change a command shortcut

In More› then Keyboard Shortcuts…, find the command and click its key button. Press your chosen combination. This example assigns Ctrl+Alt+Shift+2 or ⌥⇧⌘2 to Duplicate Layer. Changes take effect immediately and remain after reopening the editor in the same browser.

If the combination belonged to another command, the Reassigned from: message names it: that command has lost the binding. The row’s × button removes a shortcut. Restore defaults resets all command bindings, including changes outside the current search.

File and transform defaults

Browsers keep Ctrl+N, Ctrl+T and Ctrl+W (⌘N, ⌘T, ⌘W on a Mac) for windows and tabs, so Lil Cactus adds Alt (Option) to New and Close, and Alt+Shift to Free Transform.

The Export As… shortcut opens the export dialog directly. For a menu route, choose File› then Export and a format such as PNG…

Save uses the current file’s format; the first JPEG save opens Save Image. After File› then Save As› then Lil Cactus Project…, Save saves the project. Export writes a new file.

Editing and selection defaults

With the workspace focused, Delete or Backspace runs Clear (either Delete key on a Mac). Text fields keep their own editing keys.

View defaults

These combinations can also control browser zoom or tabs. Click an empty area of the workspace after entering a field value, and use the View menu if the browser handles the shortcut.

Canvas and painting keys

Finish text entry and focus the workspace before using these keys.

Tools with a Strength or Exposure control use that amount for number keys.

Tool letters and shared keys

When switching from tools with another letter, the key returns to the last tool you used under that letter, or its default tool if you have not used one yet. If a tool under that letter is already active, pressing the key selects the next available one. Repeated presses follow the cyclic order in this table, which can differ from the flyout. Shift is optional for these tool letters: Shift with the letter follows the same cycle. To choose a specific tool, right-click its toolbar button and select its name.

For brush-like tools, [ decreases size and ] increases it. D resets foreground/background to black/white; X swaps them.

What to do next

• Understand the copy you created: how layers work.
• Keep an editable file: saving and exporting.
• Repeat a whole sequence of edits: record actions and run Batch.

Keyboard shortcuts: questions and answers