What is this page about?

This page lists keyboard shortcuts for PureRef, a tool for collecting and organizing reference images on a canvas. The 292 shortcuts here cover five areas: Actions, Controls, Draw, Note, and System.

Which sections should I focus on first?

Start with Controls and Actions - those handle how you move, scale, and interact with images on the canvas, which is what you will do most often. Draw and Note are useful once you are comfortable with the basics.

Do the shortcuts differ between Mac and Windows?

Yes. PureRef runs on both MacOS and Windows, and modifier keys differ - Mac uses Cmd where Windows typically uses Ctrl. Check the Mac or Windows tab on this page to see the version that applies to your setup.

Which sections are worth memorizing versus just keeping as reference?

Controls and Actions are worth learning by hand since you trigger them constantly while working. Draw, Note, and System shortcuts are more occasional - bookmark this page and look them up as needed.

App Cheat Sheet

PureRef Hotkeys

All your reference images in one place.

PureRef keyboard shortcuts are organized by category and available for Windows, macOS, and Linux. Search by keyword or browse by section.

292 hotkeysmacOS

Actions74

Action	Hotkey
Comment	`⌥`+`C`
Decrease application opacity	`⇧`+`⌘`
Preset Custom2	`⌥`+`5`
Transparent to mouse	`⌘`+`T`
Close	`⌘`+`Q`
Preset Custom3	`⌥`+`6`
Export selected images	`⇧`+`⌘`+`I`
Paste	`⌘`+`V`
Increase application opacity	`⇧`+`⌘`+`+`
Always on top	`⇧`+`⌘`+`A`
Reset cropping	`⇧`+`⌘`+`C`
Ungroup	`⇧`+`⌘`+`G`
Toggle bilinear sampling	`⌥`+`T`
Copy	`⌘`+`C`
Preset Dark	`⌥`+`1`
Distribute vertical	`⌥`+`⇧`+`⌘`+`↓`
Reset transform	`⇧`+`⌘`+`T`
Pack all and optimize	`⌥`+`⌘`+`P`
Arrange by name	`⌥`+`⌘`+`N`
Command palette	`⇧`+`⌘`+`P`
Toggle locked	`⌥`+`L`
Clear selection	`⎋`
Always on bottom	`⇧`+`⌘`+`B`
Preset Custom4	`⌥`+`7`
Open	`⌘`+`L`
Hierarchy	`⌘`+`J`
Open images	`⌘`+`I`
Crop image	`⌥`+`⇧`+`⌘`+`C`
Align top	`⌘`+`↑`
Cancel progress	`⎋`
Relink missing images	`⌥`+`⇧`+`⌘`+`R`
Increase application opacity	`⇧`+`⌘`+`=`
Overlay selection	`⌘`+`Y`
Group	`⌘`+`G`
Resize to selection	`⇧`+`⌘`+`R`
Normalize height	`⌥`+`⌘`+`←`
Note	`⌘`+`N`
Arrange optimal	`⌘`+`P`
Optimize canvas	`⌘`+`O`
Settings	`⌘`+`U`
Toggle grayscale	`⌥`+`G`
Undo	`⌘`+`Z`
New window	`⌥`+`⇧`+`⌘`+`N`
Export selected as scene	`⇧`+`⌘`+`E`
Save as	`⇧`+`⌘`+`S`
Always on top of...	`⌥`+`⇧`+`⌘`+`A`
Draw	`⌘`+`D`
Redo	`⇧`+`⌘`+`Z`
Align bottom	`⌘`+`↓`
Normalize width	`⌥`+`⌘`+`→`
Help	`⌃`+`H`
Normalize size	`⌥`+`⌘`+`↑`
Open source	`⇧`+`⌘`+`O`
Maximize	`⌘`+`F`
Distribute horizontal	`⌥`+`⇧`+`⌘`+`↑`
Align right	`⌘`+`→`
Export all images	`⌥`+`⌘`+`I`
Preset Light	`⌥`+`2`
Export scene	`⌘`+`E`
Lock window	`⌘`+`W`
Cut	`⌘`+`X`
Normalize scale	`⌥`+`⌘`+`↓`
New scene	`⌘`+`K`
Preset Custom1	`⌥`+`4`
Open most recent	`⇧`+`⌘`+`L`
Minimize	`⌘`+`M`
Arrange by addition	`⌥`+`⌘`+`A`
Arrange by order	`⌥`+`⌘`+`O`
Lock canvas	`⌘`+`R`
Preset Glass	`⌥`+`3`
Save	`⌘`+`S`
Stack	`⌥`+`⌘`+`S`
Align left	`⌘`+`←`
Arrange by path	`⌥`+`⌘`+`D`

PureRef Hotkeys

Actions74

PureRef Hotkeys

Actions74

Frequently Asked Questions

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PureRef Hotkeys

Actions74

PureRef Hotkeys

Actions74

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this page about?

Which sections should I focus on first?

Do the shortcuts differ between Mac and Windows?

Which sections are worth memorizing versus just keeping as reference?

Related Apps

AutoCAD

InDesign

Affinity Photo

Inkscape

PhotoShop

Illustrator