Pan image (does not work while typing with the Text tool)

Hold Spacebar + drag with Left Mouse Button

Scroll up / down

Mouse Wheel up / down or PgUp / PgDn

Scroll left

Shift + Mouse Wheel up, Shift + PgUp or Home x 1

Scroll right

Shift + Mouse Wheel down, Shift + PgDn or End x 1

Scroll image to top left of editing window

Home x 2 or Shift + Home

Scroll top left image to center screen

Ctrl + Home

Scroll image to bottom right of editing window

End x 2 or Shift + End

Scroll bottom right image to center screen

Ctrl + End

Zoom in / out

Ctrl + Mouse Wheel
Ctrl + - and +
Ctrl + 0 (sets actual size)
In the Status Bar drag the slider or type a value in the percentage text box
Options in the View Menu

Center Image

Ctrl + B (twice). First combination zooms to Window, the second restores the previous zoom level

Pan canvas

Spacebar + Left Mouse Button
Spacebar + Arrow keys ↑ ← ↓ →
Click and drag with Middle Mouse Button

Pan canvas x 10

Spacebar + Ctrl + Arrow keys ↑ ← ↓ →

Deselect active selection

Ctrl + D or Enter

Shift current tool per pixel

Arrow keys ↑ ← ↓ → (may not work with all tools)

Shift current tool 10 pixels

Hold Ctrl + Arrow keys ↑ ← ↓ → (may not work with all tools)

Show Menu Hotkey

Alt

Use Menu Hotkey

Alt + underlined letter in menu

Show / Hide Tools Window

F5

Show / Hide History Window

F6

Show / Hide Layers Window

F7

Show / Hide Colors Window

F8

Commit text or tool drawing to layer

Esc or Enter or Ctrl + D or Click Finish in the Tool Bar

Next image

Ctrl + PgDn or Ctrl + Tab

Previous image

Ctrl + PgUp or Ctrl + Shift + Tab

Shift image tab left

Ctrl + Shift + PgUp

Shift image tab right

Ctrl + Shift + PgDn

Switch to image number X

Ctrl + X or Alt + X

Open context menu (current image)

Alt + - (minus symbol)

Open Tool Dropdown

Alt + T

Decrease Brush Width by 1

[

Increase Brush Width by 1

]

Decrease Brush Width by 5

Ctrl + [

Increase Brush Width by 5

Ctrl + ]

Brush Width presets via Mouse Wheel

Position pointer over Brush Width value in the Tool Bar and use Mouse Wheel

Brush Width presets via Arrow Keys

Click in Brush Width value box in the Tool Bar and use ↑ or ↓

Open File menu

Alt + F

New Image

Ctrl + N

Open Image

Ctrl + O

Open Recent

Alt + F , R

Acquire

Alt + F , Q

Close Image

Ctrl + W or Ctrl + F4

Save Image

Ctrl + S

Save Image As

Ctrl + Shift + S

Save All Images

Ctrl + Alt + S

Print

Ctrl + P

Exit Paint.NET

Alt + F4 or Alt + F then X

Open Edit menu

Alt + E

Undo

Ctrl + Z

Redo

Ctrl + Y

Cut

Ctrl + X or Shift + Delete

Copy

Ctrl + C or Ctrl + Insert

Copy Merged

Ctrl + Shift + C

Paste

Ctrl + V or Shift + Insert

Paste into New Layer

Ctrl + Shift + V

Paste into New Image

Ctrl + Alt + V

Copy Selection

Ctrl + Alt + Shift + C

Paste Selection (Replace)

Ctrl + Alt + Shift + V

Erase Selection

Delete

Fill Selection

Backspace

Invert Selection

Ctrl + I

Select All

Ctrl + A

Deselect active selection

Ctrl + D or Enter

Open View menu

Alt + V

Zoom In

Ctrl + +

Zoom Out

Ctrl + -

Zoom to Window

Ctrl + B

Zoom to Selection

Ctrl + Shift + B

Actual Size

Ctrl + 0

Open Image menu

Alt + I

Crop to Selection

Ctrl + Shift + X

Resize

Ctrl + R

Canvas Size

Ctrl + Shift + R

Rotate 90° Clockwise

Ctrl + H

Rotate 90° Counter-clockwise

Ctrl + G

Rotate 180°

Ctrl + H + H or Ctrl + G + G

Flatten

Ctrl + Shift + F

Open Layers menu

Alt + L

Add New Layer

Ctrl + Shift + N

Delete Layer

Ctrl + Shift+ Delete

Duplicate Layer

Ctrl + Shift + D

Merge Layer Down

Ctrl + M

Toggle Layer Visibility

Ctrl + ,

Rotate / Zoom

Ctrl + Shift + Z

Go to Top Layer

Ctrl + Alt + PgUp

Go to Layer Above

Alt + PgUp

Go to Layer Below

Alt + PgDn

Go to Bottom Layer

Ctrl + Alt + PgDn

Move active layer to top of list

Ctrl + Click with Left Mouse Button

Move active layer to bottom of list

Ctrl + Click with Left Mouse Button

Layer Properties

F4

Open Adjustments menu

Alt + A

Auto-Level

Ctrl + Shift + L

Black & White

Ctrl + Shift + G

Brightness / Contrast

Ctrl + Shift+ T

Curves

Ctrl + Shift + M

Hue / Saturation

Ctrl + Shift + U

Invert Alpha

Ctrl + Alt + I

Invert Colors

Ctrl + Shift + I

Levels

Ctrl + L

Posterize

Ctrl + Shift + P

Sepia

Ctrl + Shift + E

Open Effects menu

Alt + C

Repeat last effect

Ctrl + F

Open Settings dialog

Alt + X

Open Help menu

Alt + H

Online documentation

F1

Toggle visibility of window

F5 or

Reset window

Ctrl + Shift + F5 or Ctrl + Shift +

Toggle visibility of window

F6 or

Reset window

Ctrl + Shift + F6 or Ctrl + Shift +

Undo

Ctrl + Z

Redo

Ctrl + Y

Toggle visibility of window

F7 or

Reset window

Ctrl + Shift + F7 or Ctrl + Shift +

Add New Layer

Ctrl + Shift + N

Delete Layer

Ctrl + Shift+ Delete

Duplicate Layer

Ctrl + Shift + D

Merge Layer Down

Ctrl + M

Rotate / Zoom

Ctrl + Shift + Z

Go to Top Layer

Ctrl + Alt + PgUp

Go to Layer Above

Alt + PgUp

Go to Layer Below

Alt + PgDn

Go to Bottom Layer

Ctrl + Alt + PgDn

Shift editing focus to new layer

Click new layer with Left Mouse Button

Move active layer to top of list

Ctrl + Click with Left Mouse Button

Move active layer to bottom of list

Ctrl + Click with Left Mouse Button

Layer Properties

F4

Toggle visibility of window

F8 or

Reset window

Ctrl + Shift + F8 or Ctrl + Shift +

Swap Primary and Secondary colors

X

Switch active color

C

Install color to ACTIVE color slot

Click Color Wheel with Left Mouse Button

Install color to INACTIVE color slot

Click Color Wheel with Right Mouse Button

Color Wheel - change Hue only

Hold Ctrl and drag color selector

Color Wheel - change Saturation only

Hold Alt and drag color selector

Color Wheel - change Saturation while snapping Hue to 15° intervals

Hold Shift and drag color selector

Color Wheel - snap Hue to 15° intervals

Hold Ctrl and Shift and drag color selector

Open Tool Dropdown

Alt + T

Rectangle Select

S or Shift + S x 4

Lasso Select

S x 2 or Shift + S x 3

Ellipse Select

S x 3 or Shift + S x 2

Magic Wand Tool

S x 4 or Shift + S

Paint Bucket

F

Paintbrush

B

Pencil

P

Clone Stamp

L

Text

T

Shapes

O x 2 or Shift + O

Move Selected Pixels

M

Move Selection

M x 2 or Shift + M

Zoom

Z

Pan

H (temporary activation: hold Spacebar + drag with Left Mouse Button / keyboard arrow keys)

Gradient

G

Eraser

E

Color Picker

K

Recolor

R

Line / Curve

O

Rectangle Select

S or Shift + S x 4

Lasso Select

S x 2 or Shift + S x 3

Ellipse Select

S x 3 or Shift + S x 2

Create selection

Drag + Left or Right Mouse Button

Add to selection

Ctrl + Drag + Left Mouse Button

Subtract from selection

Alt + Drag + Left Mouse Button

Invert selection mode

Ctrl + Drag + Right Mouse Button

Intersect selection mode

Alt + Drag + Right Mouse Button

Force Rectangle Select to square

Shift + Drag

Force Ellipse Select to circle

Shift + Drag

Move selection while dragging

Drag + Left + Right Mouse Button

Move a Copy of selection

Move Selected Pixels tool + Ctrl

Activate Magic Wand

S x 4 or Shift + S

Create selection of like pixels

Left Mouse click

Add to selection

Ctrl + Left Mouse click

Subtract from selection

Alt + Left Mouse click

Invert a portion of selection

Ctrl + Right Mouse click

Intersect selection mode

Alt + Right Mouse click

Global selection

Shift + other Magic Wand action

Reposition click point

Drag four arrow icon

Move Selected Pixels tool

M

Move Selection tool

M x 2 or Shift + M

Resize the selection

Drag corner or edge nub.

Resize & keep proportions

Shift + drag corner nub

Resize about selection center

Alt + drag corner nub

Resize about selection center & keep proportions

Hold both Shift + Alt + drag corner nub

Move selection

Drag with Left Mouse Button when pointer is a four-way arrow

Move selection by 1px

Press any of the keyboard arrow keys ↑ ← ↓ →

Move selection by 10px

Hold Ctrl and press any arrow key ↑ ← ↓ →

Move copy of selection

Hold Ctrl and drag with Left Mouse Button

Rotate selection

Drag with Left Mouse Button when pointer is a double headed arrow or drag with Right Mouse Button

Rotate copy of selection

Hold Ctrl and drag with Left Mouse Button when pointer is a double headed arrow or drag with Right Mouse Button

Rotate by 15° increments

Hold Shift down while rotating

Activate Zoom tool

Z

Zoom in

Click with Left Mouse Button

Zoom out

Click with Right Mouse Button

Pan while zoomed

Click and drag with Middle Mouse Button or Mouse Wheel

Activate Pan tool

H

Pan the canvas

Click and drag with Left or Right Mouse Button or
Click and hold either mouse button + arrow keys ↑ ← ↓ →

Reposition Pan tool

Move mouse or keyboard arrow keys ↑ ← ↓ →

Activate Paint Bucket

F

Fill area with Primary color

Click with Left Mouse Button or Backspace

Fill area with Secondary color

Click with Right Mouse Button or Shift + Backspace

Global fill mode

Hold Shift in Contiguous mode

Contiguous fill mode

Hold Shift in Global mode

Reposition click point

Drag four arrow icon

Activate Gradient tool

G

Primary → Secondary gradient

Drag with Left Mouse Button

Secondary → Primary gradient

Drag with Right Mouse Button

Move start/end point

Drag either control nub

Swap gradient direction (i.e. swap color roles)

Click either nub with Right Mouse Button

Move gradient

Drag four arrow icon

Constrain gradient to 15 degree increments

Hold Shift while dragging either nub

Activate Paintbrush tool

B

Draw in Primary color

Click or Drag with Left Mouse Button

Draw in Secondary color

Click or Drag with Right Mouse Button

Activate Pencil tool

P

Draw in Primary color

Click or Drag with Left Mouse Button

Draw in Secondary color

Click or Drag with Right Mouse Button

Activate Eraser tool

E

Erase an area

Click or Drag with either Mouse Button

Activate Color Picker

K

Set Primary color

Click with Left Mouse Button

Set Secondary color

Click with Right Mouse Button

Sample Composite Image

Hold down the Ctrl button while clicking

Activate Recolor tool

R

Recolor Secondary color with Primary

Drag with Left Mouse Button

Recolor Primary color with Secondary

Drag with Right Mouse Button

Activate Clone Stamp tool

L

Set source point

Ctrl + Click with Left Mouse Button

Copy pixels

Drag with Left or Right Mouse Button

Activate Text tool

T

Commit text to layer

Esc or Click Finish in Tool Bar

Move text (before committing)

Drag four arrow icon

Activate Line/Curve tool

O

Draw Line/Curve from a center point

Hold Alt while dragging

Start Cap style

, (comma key)

Line style

. (period key)

End Cap style

/ (forward slash key)

Move Line/Curve nubs

Drag nub with either Mouse Button or click & hold the nub and use the arrow keys ↑ ← ↓ →

Relocate entire Line/Curve

Drag four-way arrow icon with Left Mouse Button

Move Line/Curve by 1px

Press any of the keyboard arrow keys ↑ ← ↓ →

Move Line/Curve by 10px

Hold Ctrl and press any arrow key ↑ ← ↓ →

Rotate Line/Curve

Drag with Right Mouse Button

Lock rotation to 15° increments

Hold Shift while rotating

Activate Shapes tool

O x 2 or Shift + O

Draw shape in Primary color

Drag with Left Mouse Button

Draw shape in Secondary color

Drag with Right Mouse Button

Cycle forward through shapes

A

Cycle backward through shapes

Shift + A

Move Shape nubs

Drag nub with either Mouse Button or click & hold the nub and use the arrow keys ↑ ← ↓ →

Lock Shape height and width ratio

Hold Shift while dragging any nub

Resize Shape about its center

Hold Alt while dragging any nub

Resize Shape about its center maintaining height and width ratio

Hold both Shift + Alt keys while dragging any nub

Drag entire Shape

Drag four-way arrow icon with Left Mouse Button or position pointer inside Shape and drag with Left Mouse Button

Move Shape by 1px

Press any of the keyboard arrow keys ↑ ← ↓ →

Move Shape by 10px

Hold Ctrl and press any arrow key ↑ ← ↓ →

Rotate Shape

Drag with Right Mouse Button

Lock rotation to 15° increments

Hold Shift while rotating

Increase corner value change to 5px (Rounded Rectangle only)

Hold Ctrl while clicking the - or + corner size keys in the toolbar

Diagnostic Aid

Ctrl + Alt + Shift + ˜ (tilde)

This diagnostic aid forces a full .NET garbage collection and also performs internal PDN-specific cleanup [including the dumping of GPU context/memory]. This should only be used to diagnose a Paint.NET problem. NOTE: ˜ refers to a US standard keyboard. Oemtilde may be associated with different keys on other keyboard layouts

Start Paint.NET & load an image

Start > Run + paintdotnet:"C:\Users\"[USERNAME]\[PATH TO IMAGE]\imagename.png"