One handed shortcuts, smooth/flowy/unobtrusive drawing setup

Imma share how i finally settled on a non-destructive flow of drawing with PMNG.
Because:

  1. Less finger/hand sports
  2. All the most commonly used shortcuts you need are in one hand
  3. All the drawing is left on the other hand and nothing else.

The idea is basically for the drawing hand to never get off your mouse/pen tablet just to activate a shortcut while drawing.

Caveat:

  • I’m sorry for all the lefties out there. I love you but this setup is tailored for right handed people only.

Shortcuts:

  • Keyboard shortcuts = Shift + Alt + R
  • Single Pixel Brush (round) = Alt + .
  • Single Pixel Brush (square) = .

Other Shortcuts:

  • Adjust Zoom Grid = Alt + Shit + G
  • Invert Stencil = Shift + Ctrl + E
  • Clear Stencil = Shift + Ctrl + D
  • Next Layer = Shift + Alt + X
  • Previous Layer = Shift + Alt + Z
  • Toggle Layer Visibility = Shift + Alt + C
  • Frame: Resize… = Shift + Alt + F
  • Frame: Insert Copy = `
  • Frame: Insert Empty = Alt + `

Toolbox shortcuts:
** This way, you don’t have to memorize or change your hand position for the various default KB shortcuts when all you wanted is that relevant tool in the toolbox.

  • Rectangle, Filled Rectangle = R
  • Circle/Oval, FilledCircle/Oval, Rotated Oval, Filled rotated Oval = C
  • Rectangular, Freehand, Magic Wand Pick up = B

Preferences:

  • Preferences = Alt + R
  • Preferences (window) / Mouse Buttons (tab) / Dropdown selected items = Middle, Key Stroke
  • Preferences (window) / Mouse Buttons (tab) / + Without Modifier Key = Space, + Left Mouse Button - enabled.
  • Preferences (window) / Mouse Buttons (tab) / + Ctrl = .
  • Preferences (window) / Mouse Buttons (tab) / + Shift = Ctrl + Z
  • Preferences (window) / Mouse Buttons (tab) / + Alt = Ctrl + Y
  • Preferences (window) / Mouse Buttons (tab) / + Alt Gr = Alt + .

Tool & Paint Settings (window):

  • Tool & Paint Settings (window) / Control (tab) / Mouse Wheel = Brush Size
  • Tool & Paint Settings (window) / Control (tab) / Shift + Mouse Wheel = Cycle Brushes
  • Tool & Paint Settings (window) / Control (tab) / Ctrl + Mouse Wheel = Switch Color
  • Tool & Paint Settings (window) / Control (tab) / Alt + Mouse Wheel = Zoom + Center

Feel free to modify it to your needs and/or situation/setup.

Side note: The ability of PMNG to provide tools to allow setups like these are one of the reasons why i’m never going back to other popular pixel art-centric software.

1 Like

This is a precious piece of advise you’ve shared with us, thanks!

Nice tip! I achieve a similar effect by just assigning all my hotkeys to a Razer Nostromo game controller.

I do the same thing with a belkin Nostromo N52