# e-Picture Shortcuts and Hidden Tricks

This document contains a brief list of shortcuts and hidden tricks that are not currently documented elsewhere in the e-Picture beta package.

- Circles and Squares - Hold down the SHIFT key when drawing using the Ellipse, Rectangle or Rounded Rectangle tool to create perfect circles and squares.
- Lines - Hold down the SHIFT key when drawing using the Line tool to create lines only at multiples of a 45 degree angle.
- Maintaining Object Proportionality - Hold down SHIFT key to maintain an object's proportions while resizing.
- Selecting Multiple Objects - Hold down the SHIFT key while clicking to select multiple objects.
- Selecting Obscured Objects - Hold down the ALT key and click to select an object that may be obscured by other objects.
- Selecting Objects in Sequence - Press the TAB key to change the currently selected object to the next object listed in the Objects panel.
- Moving a Selected Objects - Use the arrow keys to move any selected object 1 pixel in the direction indicated. Hold down the SHIFT key while using the arrow keys to move any selected object 8 pixels in the direction indicated.
- Resizing a Selected Object - Hold down the CTRL key while using the arrow keys to resize any selected object as follows:
  - CTRL+Left Arrow: Reduce horizontal size by 1 pizel on each size
  - CTRL+Right Arrow: Increase horizontal size by 1 pizel on each size
  - CTRL+Down Arrow: Reduce vertical size by 1 pizel on each size
  - CTRL+Up Arrow: Increase vertical size by 1 pizel on each size
  Hold down the SHIFT key in addition to the CTRL key above to resize the selected object in 8 pixel increments.
- Rotating the Selected Object - Use the "X" key and the "Z" key to rotate any selected object 1 degree clockwise and counter-clockwise, respectively. Hold down the SHIFT key while pressing the "X" key and the "Z" key to rotate any object clockwise and counter-clockwise in 8 degree increments, respectively.
- Deselecting Objects - Hold down the CTRL key and click on the canvas to deselect aa selected object (when Live Updating is checked in the Tool Inspector panel).
- Deleting Selected Objects - Press the DELETE key to delete the selected objects from your document.
- Modifying Points on a Bezier Curve - Double-click on a selected bezier curve to display the points. To modify the path that the bezier takes through a point, press the Insert key to display the point modification handle. Press the Delete key to hide the handle when through.
- Bitmap Selections - Hold down the SHIFT key while using the Rectangle/Ellipse selection tool (the selection shape is specified in the tool inspector) to add to an existing selection. Hold down the ALT key to subtract from an existing selection. While drawing a selection area, hold down the CTRL key to change the point of the initial selection from the corner to the center of the selection.
- Saving and Reusing Gradients - Gradients can be saved for later use in one of two ways:
  1. Hold down the CTRL key and drag the Preview from the Gradient Composer to the Gradient Catalog in order to add it to the Gradient Catalog. Note that currently there is no way to delete items from the Gradient Catalog.
  2. Hold down the CTRL key and drag the Gradient Preview to the Desktop and choose Copy Here from the resulting popup menu to save a gradient as a separate file. To use a previously saved gradient, drag it from the Desktop back into the Gradient Preview window.