Controls and Shortcuts

The following is a list of input device controls and shortcuts providing quick access to functionality in Gaffer’s Viewers and Editors.

Guide

Keyboard Shortcuts

Keyboard shortcuts, or hotkeys, are shown as they would typically appear on a keyboard:

Example Action	Shortcut
Type the letter `g`	`G`
Press a modifier key	`Ctrl`
Press multiple keys together	`Ctrl` + `C`
Press one of the following keys	`A`, `B`, `C`, `D`
Press either of the following keys	`Enter` or `Return`

Tip

macOS users: replace Ctrl with Command ⌘.

Mouse Controls

Mouse controls are shown as icons representing the action to perform:

Example Action	Mouse control
Press the left mouse button
Press the middle mouse button
Press the right mouse button
Scroll the mouse wheel

General

Action	Control or shortcut
New node graph	`Ctrl` + `N`
Open node graph	`Ctrl` + `O`
Save node graph	`Ctrl` + `S`
Save node graph as	`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `S`
Quit the application	`Ctrl` + `Q`
Undo	`Ctrl` + `Z`
Redo	`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `Z`
Step one frame forward	`→`
Step one frame backward	`←`
Play forward	`Ctrl` + `→`
Play backward	`Ctrl` + `←`
Stop playback	`→`, `←`, `Ctrl` + `→`, `Ctrl` + `←`
Fullscreen mode	`F11`
Hide tabs of current panel	`Ctrl` + `T`
Maximise current panel	`Space`

Note

Gaffer has many interactions requiring drag and drop of UI elements. As an alternative to holding Left click for the duration of a drag, G can be pressed once to start a drag and then once again to complete the drag.

Action	Control or shortcut
Begin a drag	Hover cursor over drag target, `G`
Complete a drag	While dragging, hover cursor over drop target, `G`

Pinnable Editors and Inspectors

Action	Control or shortcut
Follow the focus node	Hover cursor over editor, `
Pin the node selection	Hover cursor over editor, `P`
Pin numeric bookmark 1-9	Hover cursor over editor, `1` - `9`
Follow to the node selection	Hover cursor over editor, `N`

Graph Editor

Note

For the following controls and shortcuts, the cursor must hover over the Graph Editor.

Navigation

Action	Control or shortcut
Pan	`Alt` + and drag
Zoom	`Alt` + and drag or
Pan/Zoom, fine precision	Hold `Shift` during action
Frame selected nodes	`F`
Enter `Box` node (subgraph)	`↓`
Leave `Box` node (subgraph)	`↑`
Search for nodes	`Ctrl` + `F`
Frame to numeric bookmark	`1` … `9`
Frame to focus node	`

Node creation

Action	Control or shortcut
Show node menu	or `Tab`
Insert `Dot` at connection	`Ctrl` + connection or connection > Insert Dot

Node selection

Action	Control or shortcut
Select all	`Ctrl` + `A`
Clear selection	`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `A`
Select node
Add node to selection	`Shift` +
Add/remove node from selection	`Ctrl` +
Select nodes	and drag marquee, then release
Add nodes	`Shift` + and drag marquee, then release
Deselect nodes	`Ctrl` + and drag marquee, then release
Select upstream nodes	`Shift` + `Alt` + node
Select downstream nodes	`Ctrl` + `Alt` + node

Node dispatch

Note

For these dispatch-related shortcuts, the cursor does not need to hover over the Graph Editor.

Action	Control or shortcut
Dispatch selected node(s)	`Ctrl` + `E`
Redo last dispatch	`Ctrl` + `R`

Node copying and deletion

Tip

For a Box node to be disableable, it must first be set up for pass-through.

Action	Control or shortcut
Cut node(s)	`Ctrl` + `X`
Copy node(s)	`Ctrl` + `C`
Paste node(s)	`Ctrl` + `V`
Duplicate node(s) with inputs	`Ctrl` + `D`
Delete node(s)	`Backspace` or `Delete`
Enable/disable node(s)	`D`
Rename node(s)	`F2`

Node connections and layout

Action	Control or shortcut
Connect plug	and drag plug to another plug
Disconnect plug	and drag connection to background
Insert node onto connection	and drag node onto connection
Auto-arrange selected nodes	`Ctrl` + `L`
Duplicate outgoing connection	`Shift` + and drag connection just before in plug
Disconnect connections under cursor	`X` +
Disconnect connections under line	`X` + and drag to draw a line, then release

Focus Node

Action	Control or shortcut
Jump to focus node	Hover cursor over editor, ` or , select Focus Node
Assign focus to selected node	Hover cursor over node graph, `Ctrl` + ` or Click on top right of node
Assign focus to numeric bookmark	`Alt` + `1` … `9`

Node bookmarks

Action	Control or shortcut
Bookmark node	node > Bookmark
Connect to bookmarked node	plug > Connect Bookmark > select node
Jump to bookmarked node	Hover cursor over editor, `Ctrl` + `B` > select bookmarked node or , select Bookmark > …
Assign numeric bookmark	`Ctrl` + `1` … `9`
Remove numeric bookmark	`Ctrl` + `0`

Node Editor

Numeric plugs

Action	Control or shortcut
Increment/decrement value, specific precision	Position cursor next to a number position in plug field, then hit `↑` / `↓`
Scrub value, coarse precision	`Ctrl` + and drag the field left/right
Scrub value, fine precision	`Ctrl` + `Shift` + and drag the field left/right
Gang plugs together	`Ctrl` + `G`

Tip

Numeric fields support basic mathematical operators to adjust their values. For example, appending +1 to a plug with an existing value of 2, will set it to 3. You can use +, -, /, * and % to modify the existing value.

Path plugs

Action	Control or shortcut
Autocomplete path component	`Tab`
Path-level contents menu	Select path component or Position text cursor in path component, then hit `↓`
Path hierarchy menu	Select all

3D scenes

Action	Control or shortcut
Edit source node of selection	`Alt` + `E`
Edit tweaks node for selection	`Alt` + `Shift` + `E`

Viewer

Note

For the following controls and shortcuts, the cursor must hover over the Viewer.

General controls

Action	Control or shortcut
Pan	`Alt` + and drag
Zoom/dolly	`Alt` + and drag or
Pan/Zoom, fine precision	Hold `Shift` during action
Frame view to contents	`F`
Pause processing	`Escape`
Selection Tool	`Q`
Translate Tool	`W`
Rotate Tool	`E`
Cycle Transform Tool Orientation	`O`
Scale Tool	`R`
Camera Tool	`T`
Crop Window Tool	`C`
Crop Window Tool and crop enabled	`Alt` + `C`
Light Position Tool	`D`
Pin to numeric bookmark	`1` … `9`

3D scenes

Action	Control or shortcut
Tumble	`Alt` + and drag
Tumble, fine precision	Hold `Shift` during action
Select objects	and drag marquee, then release
Add/remove object from selection	`Ctrl` +
Add objects to selection	`Shift` + and drag marquee, then release
Deselect objects	`Ctrl` + and drag marquee, then release
Expand selection	`↓`
Fully expand selection	`Shift` + `↓`
Collapse selection	`↑`
Edit source node of selection	`Alt` + `E`
Edit tweaks node for selection	`Alt` + `Shift` + `E`
Fit clipping planes to scene	> Clipping Planes > Fit To Scene
Fit clipping planes to selection	> Clipping Planes > Fit To Selection or `Ctrl` + `K`
Frame view, and fit clipping planes	`Ctrl` + `F`
Reset clipping planes	> Clipping Planes > Default
Toggle Inspector	`I`
Prune selected objects from current EditScope	`Ctrl` + `Delete` or `Ctrl` + `Backspace`
Turn off visibility for selected objects from current EditScope	`Ctrl` + `H`

Transform tools

Note

For the following controls and shortcuts, a Transform Tool must be active.

Action	Control or shortcut
Increase manipulator size	`+`
Decrease manipulator size	`-`
Add animation key to transform of selected object(s)	`S`
Adjust, fine precision	Hold `Shift` during action
Adjust, snapping to rounded increments	Hold `Ctrl` during action
Target mode (Translate and Rotate only)	Hold `V` then on target geometry

Light Tool

Note

For the following controls and shortcuts, the Light Tool must be active

Action	Control or shortcut
Adjust, fine precision	Hold `Shift` during action
Constrain to aspect ratio (Quad lights only)	Hold `Ctrl` during action

Light Position Tool

Note

For the following controls and shortcuts, the Light Position Tool must be active.

Action	Control or shortcut
Set shadow target position	`V` +
Set shadow pivot position	`Shift` + `V` +

2D images

Action	Control or shortcut
Isolate red channel	`R`
Isolate green channel	`G`
Isolate blue channel	`B`
Isolate alpha channel	`A`
View luminance of RGB	`L`
Previous layer	`PgUp`
Next layer	`PgDn`
First layer (RGBA)	`Ctrl` + `PgUp`
Previous view	`[`
Next view	`]`
Center image at 1:1 scale	`Home`
Previous Catalogue image	`↑`
Next Catalogue image	`↓`
Duplicate current Catalogue image	`Ctrl` + `D`
Toggle image comparison	`Q`
Toggle wipes	`W`

Crop window tool

Action	Control or shortcut
Draw new region anywhere	`Shift` + click and drag

Hierarchy View

Action	Control or shortcut
Expand selected location	`→`
Fully expand selected location	`Shift` + `→`
Collapse selected location	`←`
Fully collapse selected location	`Shift` + `←`
Copy selected paths	`Ctrl` + `C`
Edit source node of selection	`Alt` + `E`
Edit tweaks node for selection	`Alt` + `Shift` + `E`
Frame selection	`F`

Python Editor

Text entry

Note

When using the following drag and drop controls and shortcuts, drop the UI element onto the input field of the Python Editor.

Action	Control or shortcut
Drop node into Python Editor	and drag node from Node Graph
Drop plug into Python Editor	and drag plug from Node Graph or and drag plug label from Node Editor
Drop plug value into Python Editor	`Shift` + and drag plug label from Node Editor
Drop color value into Python Editor	and drag a pixel from Viewer
Drop scene location path(s) into Python Editor	and drag selection from Viewer or Hierarchy View
Indent selection	`Ctrl` + `]`
Unindent selection	`Ctrl` + `[`
Comment/uncomment selection	`Ctrl` + `/`
Select current line	`Ctrl` + `L`

Execution

Note

For the following controls and shortcuts, the input field of the Python Editor must be in focus.

Action	Control or shortcut
Execute and clear	`Ctrl` + `Enter`
Execute selection	Select code, then hit `Ctrl` + `Enter`

Animation Editor

Note

For the following controls and shortcuts, the cursor must hover over the Animation Editor.

Action	Control or shortcut
Pan	`Alt` + and drag
Zoom	`Alt` + and drag or
Zoom x/y axes independently	Hold `Ctrl` during action
Pan/Zoom, fine precision	Hold `Shift` during action
Adjust frame range	`Ctrl` + `Alt` + and drag left/right
Adjust key value range	`Ctrl` + `Alt` + and drag up/down
Frame all curves (no selection)	`F`
Frame selected key(s)	`F`
Add key to a curve	`Ctrl` +
Add key to all selected curves at current frame	`I`
Delete selected key(s)	`Delete` or `Backspace`
Adjust selected key(s)	and drag
Adjust frame(s) of selected key(s)	`Shift` + and drag left/right
Adjust value(s) of selected key(s)	`Shift` + and drag up/down

Interactive Render Log

Action	Control or shortcut
Next message of level	`E`, `W`, `I`, `D`
Previous message of level	`Shift` + `E`, `W`, `I`, `D`
Search	`Ctrl` + `F`
Next match (search field focus)	`Enter`
Next match (log focus)	`N`
Previous match (log focus)	`P`
Scroll to bottom	`B`

Spreadsheet

Action	Control or shortcut
Toggle/edit selected cells	`Return` or
Toggle Enabled state of selected cells	`D`
Copy/Paste selected cells or rows	`Ctrl` + `C`/`V`
Move cell selection	`↑`, `↓`, `←`, `→`
Extend cell selection	`Shift` + `↑`, `↓`, `←`, `→`
Move keyboard focus	`Ctrl` + `↑`, `↓`, `←`, `→`
Toggle selection state of cell with keyboard focus	`Space`

Light Editor

Action	Control or shortcut
Edit source node of selection	`Alt` + `E`
Edit tweaks node for selection	`Alt` + `Shift` + `E`
Move cell selection	`↑`, `↓`, `←`, `→`
Extend cell selection	`Shift` + or `Shift` + `↑`, `↓`, `←`, `→`
Toggle cell selection	`Ctrl` + or `Ctrl` + `↑`, `↓`, `←`, `→`
Edit selected cells	`Return` or `Enter`
Disable Edit	`D`
Remove Attribute	`Delete`

Set Editor

Action	Control or shortcut
Copy names of selected sets	`Ctrl` + `C`
Copy members of selected sets	`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `C`

Render Pass Editor

Action	Control or shortcut
Move cell selection	`↑`, `↓`, `←`, `→`
Extend cell selection	`Shift` + or `Shift` + `↑`, `↓`, `←`, `→`
Toggle cell selection	`Ctrl` + or `Ctrl` + `↑`, `↓`, `←`, `→`
Edit selected cells	`Return` or `Enter`
Disable edit	`D`
Toggle a render pass as active	`Return` or a cell within the column