---
title: Keymap
order: 11
---

Chisel's shortcuts split into two groups. **Tool-local** keys are defined in the Chisel active tool's keymap and only fire while that tool is the active tool in the 3D viewport. They never shadow Blender's defaults anywhere else. **Global** keys work from any tool. Everything is customizable in `Edit → Preferences → Keymap` (search for *Chisel*).

> The Chisel tool's tooltip (hover the toolbar icon) lists the full hotkey set inline, starting with the addon version.

## Global

These two work from any tool in the 3D viewport.

| Key | Action |
|---|---|
| `Alt + Q` | Activate the Chisel tool from anywhere |
| `Alt + V` | Unveil: show hidden objects related to the selection |
| `Shift + Alt + V` | Unveil + swap selection to the unveiled objects |

> `Q` on its own is *tool-local*. It opens the Chisel pie menu only inside the Chisel tool, so it no longer shadows Blender's Quick Favourites elsewhere. Use `Alt + Q` to jump into the tool first.

## Tool-local

Everything below works only while the Chisel tool is the active tool.

### Drawing & selection

| Key | Action |
|---|---|
| `LMB` drag | Mode-dependent, see [tool modes](interface/active-tool.md#modes) |
| `LMB` click | Select under cursor, deselect everything else |
| `Shift + LMB` drag | Box-select (add to selection) |
| `RMB` | Chisel object context menu |
| `D` | Mode picker with the current mode's options |
| `Shift + A` | Add a Chisel primitive (tool-local add menu) |
| `Q` | Chisel pie menu |

> What `LMB` drag does depends on the tool's **Mode**: *Select* (default) hands the drag to Blender's own Tweak / Box / Circle / Lasso tool, *Create* draws a new SDF primitive using the tool's Shape / Operation / Align, and *Bisect* draws a cutting line across the selected SDF objects.

### Modifiers & editing

| Key | Action |
|---|---|
| `B` | Adjust rounding modal (selected primitives) |
| `Ctrl + B` | Adjust blend modal (boolean and carve modifiers targeting the selection) |
| `Ctrl + D` | Chisel Duplicate: clone a shape with its modifier graph |
| `[` / `]` | Cycle primitive type of the selected shapes (previous / next) |
| `;` / `'` | Cycle the boolean / displace operation on targeting modifiers |
| `V` | Veil: hide non-rendered objects (keeps the current selection visible) |

> `[` / `]` and `;` / `'` repeat while held. Cycling primitive type never crosses families: mesh shapes stay mesh, curve shapes stay curve. The operation cycle runs Difference → Union → Intersect → Emboss → Engrave → Carve (Slice is excluded).

### Quick booleans

Each binds to both the keyboard row and the numpad. Use whichever your keyboard offers. The selected shapes are booleaned into the active one.

| Key | Action |
|---|---|
| `Alt + −` (or `NumPad −`) | Quick Boolean Difference |
| `Alt + =` (or `NumPad +`) | Quick Boolean Union |
| `Alt + \\` (or `NumPad /`) | Quick Boolean Intersect |

### Viewport handles

These work on any tool, whenever the gizmo is visible (see [Render Engine: Gizmos](render-engine/gizmos.md) for what decides that):

| Key | Ngon | Sweep | Lattice | Bisect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drag a **blue** dot | Move that polygon point | Move that path point | — | Slide the plane along its arrow |
| Drag an **orange** handle | Set that corner's rounding | Set that corner's rounding | — | Ring: cut-edge blend. Corner dot: that corner's blend |
| Click a **green** dot | Insert a point on that edge | Insert a point on that segment | — | — |
| Drag a **violet** dot | — | — | Move that cage point | — |
| `X` / `Delete` | Delete the hovered point (minimum three) | Delete the hovered point (minimum two) | — | — |

When no dot is hovered, `X` and `Delete` fall through to Blender's own delete.

## Modal keys

Once a drag is running (rounding `B`, blend `Ctrl + B`, a pie or right-click value, an arc, or a viewport handle) these apply:

- `1`–`5`: snap the edge profile to *Round* / *Sharp* / *Soft* / *Tight* / *Chamfer* (NumPad `1`–`5` work too). Available in every rounding and blend drag, the Ngon and bisect corner handles, the bisect blend ring, and the Smooth modifier's radius
- `S`: jump to/from the Chamfer Smooth adjustment (only when a target is on Chamfer; not in the Smooth radius drag)
- `Shift`: precision mode (finer steps); `Ctrl`: snap to round increments. The Sweep and Lattice point drags take no modifier keys
- `LMB`, `Enter` or `Space`: confirm; `RMB` or `Esc`: cancel and restore every value the drag touched

### Bisect gesture

While drawing a cut in the tool's [Bisect mode](interface/active-tool.md#bisect-mode):

- `F`: flip which side is kept
- `Ctrl`: toggle angle snap; `Shift`: precision
- **Line**: `LMB` release or `Enter` confirms
- **Polyline**: `LMB` click adds a corner, `Space` / `Enter` accepts, `Backspace` removes the last corner
- `RMB` or `Esc`: cancel

### Create gesture

While drawing a shape in [Create mode](interface/active-tool.md#create-mode): `Shift` precision, `Ctrl` snap, `LMB` release / `Enter` / `Space` confirm, `RMB` / `Esc` cancel.

## Customizing

1. `Edit → Preferences → Keymap`
2. Search for **Chisel**
3. Edit, disable, or rebind any operator

## See also

- [Interface: Pie Menu](interface/pie-menu.md): `Q` menu contents
- [Interface: Active Tool](interface/active-tool.md): tool modes and the drag-to-place workflow
- [Interface: Gizmos](interface/gizmos.md): every viewport handle
- [Modifiers: Boolean](modifiers/boolean.md): operations triggered by the boolean hotkeys
- [Modifiers: Bisect](modifiers/bisect.md): what the Bisect gesture creates
- [Operations: Veil & Unveil](operations/veil.md): what `V` / `Alt + V` hide and reveal