How to use keyboard shortcuts in BioRender

BioRender offers a range of keyboard shortcuts to help you work faster and more efficiently when creating scientific illustrations. This guide explains how to access the full list of shortcuts within the BioRender app for both Mac and PC users.

How to view keyboard shortcuts in BioRender

To find and view the full glossary of keyboard shortcuts:

1. Open any illustration in the BioRender Canvas.
2. Click on Help in the top toolbar.
3. Select Keyboard Shortcuts from the dropdown.
4. A complete list of shortcuts will appear on the right-hand side of the Canvas.

Troubleshooting

Can't find the Keyboard Shortcuts menu?

• Make sure you're inside an open illustration in the Canvas view. The shortcut menu is only visible from within an active project.
• Try refreshing your browser and checking your internet connection if the panel does not appear.

Keyboard Shortcuts

Common actions

• Confirm: Enter
• Cancel: Escape
• Enter comment mode: C
• Duplicate: Cmd + D or Option + drag
• Cut: Cmd + X
• Copy: Cmd + C
• Paste: Cmd + V
• Paste in place: Cmd + Shift + V
• Save: Cmd + S
• Delete: Delete or Backspace
• Undo: Cmd + Z
• Redo: Cmd + Shift + Z or Cmd + Y

Selection actions

• Group: Cmd + G
• Ungroup: Cmd + Shift + G
• Lock: Cmd + L
• Unlock: Cmd + Shift + L
• Select all: Cmd + A
• Add to selection: Shift + click or Cmd + click
• Toggle alignment snapping: Cmd
• Toggle guidelines snapping to ruler: Cmd

View actions

• View in grayscale: Option + G

Move actions

• Move left: ArrowLeft
• Move right: ArrowRight
• Move up: ArrowUp
• Move down: ArrowDown
• Move big step left: Shift + ArrowLeft
• Move big step right: Shift + ArrowRight
• Move big step up: Shift + ArrowUp
• Move big step down: Shift + ArrowDown

Arrange actions

• Send to back: Cmd + Shift + {
• Send backward: Cmd + [
• Bring to front: Cmd + Shift + }
• Bring forward: Cmd + ]

Text actions

• Bold: Cmd + B
• Italic: Cmd + I
• Underline: Cmd + U
• Bullet list: Cmd + Shift + 8
• Numbered list: Cmd + Shift + 7

Navigation actions

• Zoom: Cmd + scroll or Option + scroll
• Pan: Space + scroll or Space + drag

Slides actions

• Select all slides: Cmd + A
• Previous slide: ArrowLeft or ArrowUp
• Next slide: ArrowRight or ArrowDown
• First slide: Option + ArrowUp
• Last slide: Option + ArrowDown
• Delete slide: Delete or Backspace
• Duplicate slide: Cmd + D
• Copy slide: Cmd + C
• Cut slide: Cmd + X
• Paste slide: Cmd + V

What’s next

Looking for more tips on using BioRender? Visit our How to BioRender Guides in our Help Centre for more ways of creating the best illustrations on our platform!

Need help?

1. Email: support@biorender.com
2. Live Chat: Available by clicking on the "Help" bubble in the app on the bottom right-hand corner.