Blender User Interface

File Shortcuts

• Ctrl-Z: undo
• Shift-Ctrl-Z or Ctrl-Y: redo
• Alt-U: history
• Ctrl-W or Ctrl-S: save file
• Ctrl-X: clear workspace/project memory (does not automatically save current file)
• Ctrl-Q: quit Blender

Workspace Arrangements

Screens

Preset arrangements of windows and contexts customized for specific steps in the work flow.

Defaults to SR:2 in a new scene. Navigate using Ctrl-left arrow and Ctrl-right arrow to move up or down the list.

• SR:1 - Animation
• SR:2 - Model
• SR:3 - Material
• SR:4 - Sequence
• SR:5 - Scripting

Function Keys

• F1: Open file
• Shift-F1: Load library
• F2: Save as
• F3: Save render (when in render window)
• F11: Show render window
• F12: Render current frame
• Ctrl-F12: Render animation
• F5: Shading
• F7: Object
• F9: Editing
• F10: Scene

3D View Window

Free Navigating

• Scroll wheel: zoom in and out
• Shift-scroll wheel: pan up and down
• Ctrl-scroll wheel: pan left and right
• MMB click and drag: rotate view
• Home: return to default orientation for view

Changing Viewing Mode

• Numpad 0: Camera view
• Numpad 1: Front view
• Numpad 3: Right side view
• Numpad 7: Top view
• Shift-Numpad 1: Behind view
• Shift-Numpad 3: Left side view
• Shift-Numpad 7: Bottom view

• Numpad 5: Toggle between Orthographic and Perspective views
• Z: Toggle solid and wireframe view of objects
• Shift-P: Display preview window (fast preview of whatever is under the resizable, draggable panel)

Working with Objects

Place Cursor

• LMB: place the cursor
• Shift-C: returns cursor to center
• Shift-S: open Snap menu
• Tab: toggle Object and Edit modes

Select

• RMB: select object (or deselect if selected)
  • Shift-RMB: add to selection (or make active object if already selected; click again to deselect)
• A: toggle select/deselect all
• B: border select mode
  • LMB: select with marquee
  • MMB: deselect with marquee
• C: circle select mode
• Shift-S: open Snap menu

Transform

• G/S/R: translate ("grab"); scale; rotate
  • G/S/R then X/Y/Z: constrain transformation to selected axis
  • G/S/R then Shift-X/Y/Z: constrain transformation to other two axes (plane)
  • G/S/R then X/Y/Z twice: constrain transformation to selected axis in alternate transform space ("local" is default)
  • Alt-G/S/R: reset transformation
• N: display transform properties panel to directly edit values
• Mouse gestures
  • "Line" - translate
  • "V" - scale
  • "C" - rotate

Extrude

• E: extrude menu
• Ctrl-LMB: extrude current selection to point of mouse click

Duplicate

• Shift-D: duplicate selected object(s) at cursor point
• Alt-D: duplicate selected object(s) at cursor point, with linked data

Parent

• Ctrl-P: make Active object the parent of all other selected objects
• Alt-P: remove selected child from its parent

Miscellaneous Actions

• M: move-to-layer menu
• X: delete menu

Animation

• I: Insert Key menu
• K: toggle key view in 3D or Ipo windows
• Alt-A: play animation
• Ctrl-Alt-C: add constraint to Active object using other selected object as target