Since I wrote the list of keyboard shortcuts for Canvas Workspace in 2016, the software has been updated to offer new features, an installable edition and became Mac compatible so I thought that it was high time that I updated that list!
Oh, and I’ve done a downloadable one for you too … come and grab it!
A couple of quick notes, not all shortcuts are available for both editions. Also, not all shortcuts are the same for both Windows and Mac operating systems. I have therefore tried to keep this list as simple as possible but would urge you to save your project as you work, just in case you try using one of these for the first time … you know what I mean ;)
If you would like this list of keyboard shortcuts for Canvas Workspace in a handy downloadable PDF, just hit the nice wee button below. Alternatively, if you are often online, feel free to bookmark this page – and don’t forget to share this post with those that you think may need it!
KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS FOR CANVAS WORKSPACE
Canvas Workspace for PC – The official name for the version of Canvas Workspace that you download and install on your computer.
Canvas Workspace for Web – The official name for the version of Canvas Workspace that you access via your internet browser.
| NAME | DESCRIPTION | SHORTCUT (Canvas Workspace for PC) | SHORTCUT (Canvas Workspace for Web) |
| New Project | Starts a new project. | Windows – CTRL N Mac – ⌘ N | Windows – N Mac – N |
| Save | Saves the current project. In canvas workspace for web, this will be saved as an FCM cut file to your online library. In canvas workspace for pc, this will be saved as a .CWPRJ file and you will be asked where you want to save it to. | Windows – CTRL S Mac – ⌘ S | Windows – S Mac – S |
| Save As | Saves as a new project. | Windows – CTRL SHIFT S Mac – ⌘ SHIFT S | Shortcut Not Available. Function accessible through project menu. |
| Open | Open a saved project. | Windows – CTRL O Mac – ⌘ O | Shortcut Not Available. Function accessible through project menu. |
| Export Transfer FCM File | Export cutting data for use with your Scan N Cut. | Windows – CTRL E Mac – ⌘ E | Shortcut Not Available. Function accessible through download button on edit screen or download icon on library thumbnails. |
| Select Tool | Make the select tool the active tool. | Windows – V Mac – V | Windows – V Mac – V |
| Text Tool | Make the text tool the active tool. | Windows – T Mac – T | Shortcut Not Available. Function available through shapes library on edit screen. |
| Path Tool | Activates the path creator tool. | Windows – P Mac – P | Windows – P Mac – P |
| Freehand Path Tool | Activates the freehand path tool. | Windows – Q Mac – Q | Windows – Q Mac – Q |
| Hand Tool (Scroll) | Activates the hand tool allowing you to move the mat and objects around the screen without affecting the objects. | Windows – H Mac – H | Tool Not Available. |
| Zoom Tool | Activates the zoom tool. | Windows – Z Mac – Z | Windows – Z Mac – Z |
| Undo | To undo the last action(s) during editing a project. | Windows – CTRL Z Mac – ⌘ Z | Windows – CTRL Z Mac – ⌘ Z |
| Redo | Pressed undo to many times? Use this key combination to redo some of the steps. | Windows – CTRL Y Mac – ⌘ Y | Windows – CTRL Y Mac – ⌘ SHIFT Y |
| Cut | ‘Cuts’ the selected item from your project. You can then ‘paste’ it again or, if you do nothing and continue this is the same as deleting it. | Windows – CTRL X Mac – ⌘ X | Windows – CTRL X Mac – ⌘ X |
| Copy | Copies the currently selected item(s) in your project; you can then paste new copies with the paste shortcut. | Windows – CTRL C Mac – ⌘ C | Windows – CTRL C Mac – ⌘ C |
| Paste | Pastes the most recently cut or copied item(s). Repeated pressing of this key combination will paste more copies, one for each time your press it. | Windows – CTRL V Mac – ⌘ V | Windows – CTRL V Mac – ⌘ V |
| Duplicate | Creates a duplicate of the currently selected item(s). A quicker version of the cut/copy and paste method. | Windows – CTRL V Mac – ⌘ V | Windows – CTRL V Mac – ⌘ V |
| Duplicate Move | Similar to the duplicate shortcut however this option moves the duplicated object incrementally in the direction selected with the arrow key. | Windows & Mac – ALT and arrow keys on the number pad of your keyboard. | Windows & Mac – ALT and arrow keys on the number pad of your keyboard. |
| Move | Moves a shape or group incrementally in the direction selected. | Shortcut Not Available. Function available by pressing the arrow keys on the number pad of your keyboard. | Shortcut Not Available. Function available by pressing the arrow keys on the number pad of your keyboard. |
| Select All | Selects all shapes/objects in the current project. | Windows – CTRL A Mac – ⌘ A | Windows – A Mac – A |
| Deselect All | Deselects all currently selected objects. | Windows – CTRL SHIFT A Mac – ⌘ SHIFT A | Shortcut Not Available. To deselect all objects, click anywhere in the design window. |
| Delete | Deletes the currently selected shapes/objects. | Windows – DELETE or BACKSPACE Mac – DELETE | Windows – DELETE or BACKSPACE Mac – DELETE |
| Weld | The outlines of multiple patterns are welded together to create a single outline. | Windows – CTRL 1 Mac – ⌘ 1 | Shortcut Not Available. Function available through edit menu. |
| Divide | When multiple patterns are overlapping, the outlines of the overlapped areas can be cut out as separate patterns. Outlines are created along the cutouts (overlapping area), creating new patterns. | Windows – CTRL 2 Mac – ⌘ 2 | Shortcut Not Available. Function available through edit menu. |
| Remove Overlapped | When multiple patterns are overlapping, the outlines of the overlapped areas are hidden, and outlines for those areas will not be created. The outlines that are hidden differ depending on the order in which the patterns are overlapping. | Windows – CTRL 3 Mac – ⌘ 3 | Shortcut Not Available. Function available through edit menu. |
| Subtract | When multiple patterns are overlapping, the shape on “top” will be subtracted from all selected patterns beneath it. The outlines that are created depend on the order in which the patterns are overlapping. | Windows – CTRL 4 Mac – ⌘ 4 | Shortcut Not Available. Function available through edit menu. |
| Delete Point (Path Editing Mode) | Deletes the currently selected node(s) whilst in path editing mode. | Windows – DELETE or BACKSPACE Mac – DELETE | Windows – DELETE or BACKSPACE Mac – DELETE |
| Show Layer | Makes the selected layer(s) visible in the workspace. | Windows – CTRL COMMA Mac – ⌘ COMMA | Function Not Available. Whilst shapes/objects are applied in layers, there is no layers panel available in the online edition of Canvas Workspace. |
| Hide Layer | Makes the selected layer(s) invisible in the workspace. It can still be selected unless it is also locked. Hidden layers may not be transferred when exporting a design. | Windows – CTRL SHIFT COMMA Mac – ⌘ SHIFT COMMA | Function Not Available. Whilst shapes/objects are applied in layers, there is no layers panel available in the online edition of Canvas Workspace. |
| Lock Layer | Locks the selected layer(s) so that they cannot be selected or exported. | Windows – CTRL L Mac – ⌘ L | Function Not Available. Whilst shapes/objects are applied in layers, there is no layers panel available in the online edition of Canvas Workspace. |
| Unlock All | Unlocks all layers within a project. | Windows – CTRL SHIFT L Mac – ⌘ SHIFT L | Function Not Available. Whilst shapes/objects are applied in layers, there is no layers panel available in the online edition of Canvas Workspace. |
| Group | Groups all selected objects. | Windows – CTRL G Mac – ⌘ G | Windows – G Mac – G |
| Ungroup | Returns grouped objects to individual shapes. | Windows – CTRL SHIFT G Mac – ⌘ SHIFT G | Windows – G Mac – G |
| Bring To Front | Moves the selected pattern(s) to the top of the layer stack. | Windows – CTRL SHIFT ] Mac – ⌘ SHIFT ] | Windows – CTRL SHIFT ] Mac – ⌘ SHIFT ] |
| Bring Forward (One Layer) | Moves the selected pattern(s) up one layer in the layer stack. | Windows – CTRL ] Mac – ⌘ ] | Windows – CTRL ] Mac – ⌘ ] |
| Send Backward | Moves the selected pattern(s) down one layer in the layer stack. | Windows – CTRL [ Mac – ⌘ [ | Windows – CTRL [ Mac – ⌘ [ |
| Send To Back | Moves the selected pattern(s) to the bottom of the layer stack. | Windows – CTRL SHIFT [ Mac – ⌘ SHIFT [ | Windows – CTRL SHIFT [ Mac – ⌘ SHIFT [ |
| Zoom In | Zooms in towards the centre of the mat by 10% each time shortcut is activated. | Windows – CTRL + Mac – ⌘ + | Shortcut Not Available. Function available via the zoom tool or view menu. |
| Zoom Out | Zooms out from current view by 10% each time shortcut is activated. | Windows – CTRL – Mac – ⌘ – | Shortcut Not Available. Function available via the zoom tool or view menu. |
| Show/Hide Ruler | Makes the on-screen ruler visible or invisible. | Windows – CTRL R Mac – ⌘ R | Function Not Available. |
| Show/Hide Mat Image | Makes the on-screen image of the cutting mat visible or invisible. | Windows – CTRL M Mac – ⌘ SHIFT M | Shortcut Not Available. Function available via the view menu. |
| Show/Hide Grid | Makes the on-screen grid visible or invisible. | Windows – CTRL COLON Mac – ⌘ COLON | Function Not Available. |
| Snap to Grid | Activates the snap-to-grid function. Default snapping will be according to the settings in the artboard tab on the right of the workspace. | Windows – CTRL SHIFT COLON Mac – ⌘ ASTERISK | Function Not Available. |
| Quit | Exits Canvas Workspace. | Windows – CTRL Q Mac – ⌘ Q | Shortcut Not Available. Closing your browser window or logging out will quit Canvas Workspace for Web. |
| Minimize Windows | Minimizes a single window (Canvas Workspace). | Windows – Function Not Available. Using the minimize icons top right of the window will work the same. Mac – ⌘ M | Windows – Function Not Available. Using the minimize icons top right of the window will work the same. Mac – ⌘ M |
| Hide Windows | Hides the entire application. The dock shows you running applications, and then shows or lists the applications windows when you click or click and hold, respectively. | Windows – Function Not Available. Mac – ⌘ H | Windows – Function Not Available. Mac – ⌘ H |
More Useful Scan N Cut Stuff
If you found this information useful, you may also like to check out these other resources …
My dedicated Scan N Cut Tutorials YouTube channel, by playlist.
- Scan N Cut Tutorials (CM Models) Playlist
- Scan N Cut Tutorials (SDX Models) Playlist
- Canvas Workspace (for PC) Playlist
- Canvas Workspace (for Web) Playlist
- Canvas Workspace (for Mobile) Playlist
Please remember to like, subscribe and for notifications of future videos, hit the bell notification icon too!
Facebook Group
If you’d like to join a growing group of Scan N Cut enthusiasts then please do come and join Gentleman Crafter’s Scan N Cut Facebook Group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/gentlemancrafters.scanncut.group/
SVG Cutting Files
Want access to a growing library of ready-to-cut projects including layered frames, creative card bases and fun 3D projects? Then please do come and check out my Patreon page at https://www.patreon.com/GentlemanCrafterUK
That’s about it for this one.
If you have any questions or thoughts about the content of this post, please feel free to pop them in the comments section below. I look forward to hearing from you.
Many thanks for stopping by and hope to see you again soon!
Bye for now.
John.
There are literally hundreds more posts in the archives so please do check out the suggested posts at the bottom of this page or visit one of the category archives below or check out the related posts section at the end of this post.
Dear John,
I am so thankful that I found you! I am a very senior, very new user of a pre-owned SDX1200 and am working through your playlists one by one. Thank you for your concise approach and your willingness to share your knowledge. You have one dedicated follower – here from Cape Town in South Africa🥰
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Thank you for the kind words.
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Thank you, thank you!!!!
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I see Im not the only one missing the ruler in the latest update.
Any way to get the older version or to get the ruler back.
The program is pretty much useless wiothout it.
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Sad to hear that you feel the software useless without one feature. A lot of folk have made Brother aware of their dissatisfaction. Hopefully this will result in its return in the future. I would however personally argue that the software is useless without it.
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I really appreciate that you share your expertise with us mortals, lol! I just (reluctantly!) updated my computer version of Canvas Workspace (updated on 05-08-2025), and the “Show Ruler” is no longer under the “Display” tab. And using Control+R is not working, either. Any suggestions on how I can get the ruler to show? If not, any suggestions on how I can undo the update?
I’m kicking myself for clicking on the update. Canvas Workspace was working fine for me, and my philosophy is usually “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” . Don’t know what overcame me to do the update, ha!
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Sorry that you feel this way. A lot of folk have made Brother aware of their dissatisfaction. Hopefully this will result in its return in the future.
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Thank you young man!!
Yahoo Mail: Search, organise, conquer
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Thank you, you’re a treasure xx
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Thanks for the updated list John x
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