Chapter 19: Keyboard Shortcuts
Keyboard shortcuts help you work faster in FX Express. This chapter provides a complete reference of all available shortcuts.
Modifier Key Note
Throughout this guide:
- ⌘ refers to the Command key on Mac
- Ctrl refers to the Control key on Windows/Linux
- Use the appropriate modifier for your operating system
File Operations
| Action | Mac | Windows/Linux |
|---|
| Open file | ⌘O | Ctrl+O |
| Save | ⌘S | Ctrl+S |
| Save As | ⇧⌘S | Shift+Ctrl+S |
Edit Operations
| Action | Mac | Windows/Linux |
|---|
| Undo | ⌘Z | Ctrl+Z |
| Redo | ⇧⌘Z or ⌘Y | Shift+Ctrl+Z or Ctrl+Y |
| Copy | ⌘C | Ctrl+C |
| Paste | ⌘V | Ctrl+V |
| Duplicate | ⌘D | Ctrl+D |
| Select all | ⌘A | Ctrl+A |
| Deselect | Escape | Escape |
| Delete | Delete or Backspace | Delete or Backspace |
| Group elements | ⌘G | Ctrl+G |
| Ungroup elements | ⇧⌘G | Shift+Ctrl+G |
Element Selection
| Action | Mac | Windows/Linux |
|---|
| Select element | Click | Click |
| Add to selection | ⇧+Click | Shift+Click |
| Select all elements | ⌘A | Ctrl+A |
| Deselect all | Escape | Escape |
| Marquee select | Click+drag on canvas | Click+drag on canvas |
Element Movement
| Action | Mac | Windows/Linux |
|---|
| Nudge element | Arrow keys | Arrow keys |
| Nudge large step | ⇧+Arrow keys | Shift+Arrow keys |
| Move element | Drag | Drag |
| Constrain movement | ⇧+Drag | Shift+Drag |
Scene Navigation
| Action | Mac | Windows/Linux |
|---|
| Previous scene | ⌘← | Ctrl+Left Arrow |
| Next scene | ⌘→ | Ctrl+Right Arrow |
| Select scene | Click thumbnail | Click thumbnail |
View Controls
| Action | Mac | Windows/Linux |
|---|
| Zoom in | ⌘+ or ⌘= | Ctrl++ or Ctrl+= |
| Zoom out | ⌘- | Ctrl+- |
| Reset zoom | ⌘0 | Ctrl+0 |
| Fit to view | ⌘1 | Ctrl+1 |
Preview
| Action | Mac | Windows/Linux |
|---|
| Play/Pause | Spacebar | Spacebar |
| Close preview | Escape | Escape |
Text Editing
When editing text content:
| Action | Mac | Windows/Linux |
|---|
| Bold | ⌘B | Ctrl+B |
| Italic | ⌘I | Ctrl+I |
| Select all text | ⌘A | Ctrl+A |
| Undo text edit | ⌘Z | Ctrl+Z |
| Exit text edit | Escape | Escape |
Layer Order
| Action | Mac | Windows/Linux |
|---|
| Bring forward | ⌘] | Ctrl+] |
| Send backward | ⌘[ | Ctrl+[ |
| Bring to front | ⇧⌘] | Shift+Ctrl+] |
| Send to back | ⇧⌘[ | Shift+Ctrl+[ |
Timeline
| Action | Mac | Windows/Linux |
|---|
| Toggle timeline | Click Timeline button | Click Timeline button |
| Move playhead | Click on ruler | Click on ruler |
| Scrub | Drag playhead | Drag playhead |
Dialog Shortcuts
| Action | Key |
|---|
| Confirm/OK | Enter |
| Cancel | Escape |
| Close dialog | Escape |
Context-Specific Shortcuts
When Canvas is Focused
- Arrow keys: Nudge selected elements
- Shift+Arrow: Large nudge
- Delete/Backspace: Remove selected elements
- Escape: Deselect all
When Text is Being Edited
- Standard text editing shortcuts apply
- Escape: Exit text editing mode
- Undo/Redo affects text, not canvas
When Preview is Open
- Spacebar: Play/Pause
- Escape: Close preview
Tips for Efficient Workflow
Navigation
- Use ⌘+Arrow keys to quickly move between scenes
- Click scene thumbnails for direct access
- Use Escape frequently to clear selection state
Editing
- Copy/paste works across scenes
- Duplicate (⌘D) is faster than Copy+Paste
- Undo works for most operations
Precision
- Hold Shift while nudging for larger movements
- Use Properties panel for exact values
- Arrow keys give pixel-level control
Organization
- Use layer shortcuts to manage z-index
- Select All (⌘A) then delete to clear a scene
- Keep keyboard focus on canvas for shortcuts
Troubleshooting Shortcuts
Shortcut Not Working
- Check keyboard focus (click on canvas)
- Some shortcuts don’t work while editing text
- Verify modifier key is correct for your OS
Unexpected Behavior
- Text inputs capture keyboard events
- Click outside text to restore canvas shortcuts
- Escape typically resets state
Browser Conflicts
- Some browser shortcuts may override
- Consider using the application in fullscreen
- Check for conflicting browser extensions
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