Scale Objects in Adobe Illustrator Via Keyboard

Oct 02

Illustrator, Tools & Tips

scale-vector-objects-via-keyboard-header

I’m a big fan of resolution-independent vector art. I’m also a big fan of keyboard shortcuts. It’s been driving me a bit batty that there is no way in Adobe Illustrator to scale objects using just the keyboard. I use this method all the time within InDesign, and feel like I have handcuffs on when jumping back to Illustrator and wanting to do the same.

With some clever usage of Illustrator Actions, this can indeed be achieved. Here’s how:

Create a new Action via the Actions panel. Name your Action “Scale Up” and assign an F-key to the Action (I chose Shift-F8 on my Mac). Recording will start automatically.

new-action

Next, go to the menubar and choose Object > Transform > Scale…

scale

Set your scale to Uniform and enter 101%. Hit the OK button.

scale-OK

Hit the Stop Recording button on the Actions panel.

stop-recording-action

Repeat the above step, only this time name your Action “Scale Down”, add the Command key to the shortcut, and enter 99% as your scale percentage.

Now you have a handy keyboard shortcut to scale selected objects within Illustrator.

Thanks to Adobe consultant & trainer Jean-Claude Tremblay for the tip via Twitter!

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action, Adobe, Illustrator, Illustrator action, key command, keyboard shortcut, productivity, tips

This post was written by:

George Coghill - who has written 41 posts on GoMediaZine.

George Coghill is the editor of Go Media 'Zine and a freelance humorous illustrator/cartoonist specializing in mascot cartoon character design. His cartooning & illustration work can be seen at CoghillCartooning.com and at his cartooning and illustration blog. Be sure to follow me on Twitter here!

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  • Eric O.
    Absolutely brilliant! Thank you for this!
  • Cool! Thanks
  • That is PRETTY SMART!
    Honestly, I've never thought of having a keyboard shortcut for finer scaling. I just accepted that there was none and used the transform tool with awkward decimal measurements.

    Thanks so much for this!
  • I like it! Can't wait o add it to AI

    Thanks for the tip!
  • EXCELLENT tip, George!
  • Glad you all like this one, and of course credit goes the Jean-Claude Tremblay, he replied like 2 seconds after I asked on Twitter if anyone knew a way to do this.

    Now I just have to remember to *use* it :)
  • Nice and fast. Thanks!
  • jon a
    Nice Share.

    I've been doing keyboard based scaling for a while now - although my method isn't perhaps as eloquent - it is helpful when moving from computer to computer in the design department where my actions may not always arise.
    1.Select objects.
    2.Hit (S) for scale.
    3.Hit Enter on the Numeric Keypad.
    4.Drop in your value into the uniform box. Hit Enter
    5.Command+D until it's scaled up/down to the value your looking for.
    Seems a little cumbersome at first but after you do it for a few dozen times it locks into your muscle memory.
  • Sweet... this one is much needed for me. I've also been messing with the free transform way of doing it and just never thought about there should actually be a better way of doing it. Funny how we sometimes just move past the issue and deal with it for so long!

    Thanks, George.
  • Great tip this will help me a lot when I create new icons!
  • very smart) saving so much time! thanx!!!
  • Wow great tip! Very smart. Thanks!
  • It gonna help me a lot. Thanks for sharing dear and post more on such topic for us.
  • MattS
    Cool. The sort of thing that just has to hit you to come up with.
  • jonathanpatterson
    Sweetness!

    How can one scale text in Indesign CS4 with the keyboard?

    In InDesign CS3 you could select your type, and in the character palette increase or decrease the size by clicking with the mouse once, after that you could hold down shift and press up or down arrow to scale quickly. That's not the case anymore. Is there some new way in CS4? I'd love to know!
  • The method you describe works for me in InDesign CS4.

    To resize text via keyboard, highlight the text or select the text box, then hit Command-Shift-Period to increase, Command-Shift-Comma to decrease (Mac).

    Leave out the Shift key to increase/decrease the text box itself as well as the text.
  • jonathanpatterson
    SWEET! Works perfectly!
  • Thanks! Really Helpfull!!!
  • Glad this helped!
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