Most of a comic page can be built without touching the toolbar. BlankComic has single-key shortcuts for every tool, two keys that split panels, and the usual undo, redo and save combinations. This page lists them all, exactly as the editor defines them, then picks the ten worth learning first and shows a 60-second page built with the keyboard alone.
Quick Summary
- On a Mac, use ⌘ wherever this page says Ctrl.
- Tools are single keys: L layout, A panel, B bubble, E text, P picture, D draw.
- H splits a panel across, V splits it down.
- Ctrl + C duplicates the selection; it is not copy.
- Press ? in the editor to see the shortcut list at any time.
The 10 shortcuts to learn first
| # | Shortcut | What it does | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | H | Split the selected panel across (top / bottom) | Builds rows in one keystroke |
| 2 | V | Split the selected panel down (left / right) | Builds columns in one keystroke |
| 3 | B | Add a speech bubble | The tool you use most after panels |
| 4 | Ctrl + Z | Undo | Try things without fear |
| 5 | Ctrl + C | Duplicate what is selected | Identical bubbles and panels in a second |
| 6 | Shift + ←↑→↓ | Nudge the selection 10 px | Line things up without the mouse |
| 7 | X / Y | Centre left to right / top to bottom | Perfect centring on the page |
| 8 | Ctrl + 0 | Fit the page to the screen | Back to the whole page after zooming in |
| 9 | Ctrl + S | Save the project file (.blank) | A backup you can reopen anywhere |
| 10 | Ctrl + E | Download PNG, JPG, PDF or SVG | Export without hunting for the button |
Check this: In BlankComic, Ctrl + C duplicates the selected item directly on the page. There is no separate paste step, and D on its own toggles drawing rather than duplicating.
Full BlankComic shortcut cheat sheet
Editing
| Action | Windows / Linux / ChromeOS | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Undo | Ctrl + Z | ⌘ + Z |
| Redo | Ctrl + Y | ⌘ + Y |
| Duplicate what is selected | Ctrl + C | ⌘ + C |
| Save project file | Ctrl + S | ⌘ + S |
| Download (PNG / JPG / PDF / SVG) | Ctrl + E | ⌘ + E |
| Delete what is selected | Del | Delete |
| Deselect / close a panel | Esc | Esc |
Tools
| Key | Opens or adds |
|---|---|
| L | Layout: page size and the 30 panel layouts |
| A | Add a panel |
| B | Add a speech bubble |
| E | Add a text box |
| P | Add a picture |
| D | Draw on / off |
| T | Label |
Panels and position
| Key | Action |
|---|---|
| H | Split across (top / bottom) |
| V | Split down (left / right) |
| X | Centre left to right |
| Y | Centre top to bottom |
| ←↑→↓ | Nudge the selection 1 px |
| Shift + ←↑→↓ | Nudge the selection 10 px |
View
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Zoom in / out | Ctrl + + / Ctrl + −, Ctrl + scroll, or pinch |
| Fit the page to the screen | Ctrl + 0 |
| Hide / show the side drawer | [ or ] |
| Cycle ruler units (in / cm / px) | Click the ruler corner |
| Show all shortcuts | ? |
Mouse and text
| Action | How |
|---|---|
| Type in a bubble or text box | Click it again, or press Enter |
| Select all its words | Double-click |
| Move an item | Drag it |
| Resize an item | Drag a corner |
| Resize a panel | Drag its edges |
Build a page with the keyboard in 60 seconds
Exercise
- Press L, choose a page size and the Full page layout, then press Esc.
- Click the panel and press H. You now have two rows.
- Click the top row and press V, then click the bottom row and press V. That is a four-panel grid.
- Click the first panel and press B to add a bubble; type a line.
- With the bubble selected, press Ctrl + C to duplicate it, drag the copy into the next panel and change the words.
- Press Ctrl + S to save the project, then Ctrl + E to download a PNG.
How to make shortcuts stick
- One new shortcut per session. Use it every time instead of clicking, and it becomes automatic within a few sessions.
- Start with H, V and B. Splitting panels and adding bubbles are the moves you repeat most.
- Press ? when you forget. The editor shows its own list, so there is no need to memorise everything at once.
- Print the cheat sheet above. Your browser’s print command prints this page cleanly.
New to the editor? Start with your first comic page in 5 minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I split a panel in BlankComic?
Select the panel and press H to split it across into top and bottom halves, or V to split it down into left and right halves.
How do I duplicate something in BlankComic?
Select it and press Ctrl+C (⌘+C on a Mac). The duplicate appears on the page right away; there is no separate paste step. Pages are duplicated from the Pages panel.
What is the shortcut to download a comic?
Ctrl+E (⌘+E on a Mac) opens Download, where you choose PNG, JPG, PDF or SVG.
Do the shortcuts work on a Mac?
Yes. Use ⌘ wherever the shortcut uses Ctrl, for example ⌘+Z to undo and ⌘+S to save.
How can I see all shortcuts inside the editor?
Press the ? key and the editor shows the full shortcut list.
What does the D key do?
D switches drawing on and off, so you can sketch with the pen, marker or brush. It does not duplicate.