What is the shortcut to copy an object in Illustrator?

There are several shortcuts to copy an object in Adobe Illustrator, offering different placement options for the duplicated object:

• Copy and Paste in Front: Command/Ctrl + C (Copy) followed by Command/Ctrl + F (Paste in Front). This places the duplicate directly on top of the original object.

• Copy and Paste in Back: Command/Ctrl + C (Copy) followed by Command/Ctrl + B (Paste in Back). This places the duplicate directly behind the original object.

• Copy and Paste in Place: Shift + Command/Ctrl + V (Paste in Place). This pastes the copied object in the exact same location as the original object, regardless of the current artboard view.

• Dragging with Alt/Option: Select the object, then hold down the Alt (Windows) or Option (Mac) key while dragging the object. This creates a duplicate as you drag.

• Duplicate: Alt + Shift + Drag duplicates the object and constrains the movement to horizontal, vertical, or 45-degree angles.

Here's a table summarizing these shortcuts:

Action	Shortcut (Mac)	Shortcut (Windows)	Description
Copy	Command + C	Ctrl + C	Copies the selected object to the clipboard.
Paste in Front	Command + F	Ctrl + F	Pastes the copied object directly in front of the original.
Paste in Back	Command + B	Ctrl + B	Pastes the copied object directly behind the original.
Paste in Place	Shift + Command + V	Shift + Ctrl + V	Pastes the copied object in the exact same location as the original.
Drag to Copy	Option + Drag	Alt + Drag	Copies the object as you drag it.
Drag to Copy (Constrained)	Option + Shift + Drag	Alt + Shift + Drag	Copies the object as you drag it, constrained to 45-degree increments.

In summary, Illustrator offers several shortcuts for copying objects, allowing for precise placement and efficient workflow. Choose the shortcut that best suits your specific needs for duplicating and positioning objects within your design.