If you’ve been around ClickwithSal for a while, you already know we’re exploring the intersection of AI and photography, and how a tool like Aftershoot fits our vision to make your workflow more efficient without flattening your art, but instead elevating it and helping you grow your photography business.
If you’re already using Aftershoot (and judging by our analytics, many of you are), this guide to Aftershoot keyboard shortcuts will show you how to master the commands that actually matter. Your next culling or retouching session will feel faster, smoother, and far less like a chore.
Navigating and Comparing Photos
Arrow Keys: Move between images in Grid, Loupe, or Survey View
Comma (,) → View the previous duplicate
Period (.) → Jump to the next duplicate
S → Swap an image inside a duplicate set
Select, Rating, and Labeling
A → Mark an image as Selected when working with duplicates
P → Flag or unflag an image
X → Clear both the Star Rating and Color Label
Numbers 1–5 → Assign a 1-5 Star Rating
0 → Clear the Star Rating
6–9 → Assign Color Labels:
6 = Red
7 = Yellow
8 = Green
9 = Blue
- = Purple
= → Clear the Color Label
Bonus: Use color labels to separate client selects, print-worthy edits, and social teasers. You’ll never second-guess where your best shots live.
Retouching and Fine-Tuning
CMD/CTRL+C → CMD/CTRL+V → Copy & paste retouch settings between images
TAB / Shift+TAB → Cycle through sliders
Arrow Keys → Adjust values by 1
Shift+Arrow Keys → Adjust by 5 for stronger tweaks
CMD/CTRL+[ or ] → Rotate left/right
Once these shortcuts start saving you time, you’ll wonder how you ever edited without Aftershoot. If you haven’t tried it yet, grab your copy and use promo code CLICKWITHSAL15 for 15% off your subscription. It’s the easiest win you’ll get today.
Subject, Background, and Patch Editing
Shift+F → Jump to Subject Tab
Shift+B → Jump to Background Tab
Shift+J → Jump to Patch Tab
[ ] → Decrease or increase brush size
H → Open History (see every adjustment you’ve made)
\ → Toggle Before/After view
Bonus: All Aftershoot keyboard shortcuts can be customized via Preferences → Keyboard Shortcuts. If, for example, you’re coming from Lightroom, you can mirror familiar layouts to keep muscle memory intact.
Manual RAW Editing and Masking
Aftershoot’s newer manual editing and masking workflow adds several shortcuts worth learning:
R → Open the Crop Tab
M → Open the Masking Tab
[ → Decrease brush size
] → Increase brush size
Shift + [ → Decrease brush softness
Shift + ] → Increase brush softness
O → Show or hide the mask overlay
Alt/Option → Toggle between Brush and Eraser
K → Enable or disable the brush
B → Enable or disable the Manual Brush for a separate mask
Shift → Pan around the image while masking
\ → Toggle Before/After
Spacebar → Toggle zoom levels
CMD/CTRL+Z → Undo
CMD/CTRL+Shift+Z → Redo
Key Takeaways
- Keyboard shortcuts can significantly reduce the time spent navigating, culling, editing, and retouching in Aftershoot.
- Customize shortcuts in Preferences to match your editing style or muscle memory.
- Use color tags and star ratings strategically to organize final selects and client edits.
- Combine Aftershoot with ClickwithSal Lightroom presets for a complete, cinematic editing workflow.
- AI doesn’t steal your shot. It helps clear the clutter so photographers can create.
Use promo code CLICKWITHSAL15 to save 15% off your Aftershoot subscription and make your wallet as happy as your workflow.
Affiliate Disclosure: Some links or promo codes in this article may earn us a commission if you buy through them, at no extra cost to you. That does not change our opinion. We recommend tools based on whether they actually fit the workflow.
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