# Cut, copy and paste

> Copy and paste in PlexiiDraw: paste in front, in back, in place or on every artboard, copy by Option-dragging, and paste your artwork into other apps.

Source: https://plexiidesk.com/help/draw-copy-and-paste
Section: Office > PlexiiDraw
Plans: All plans
Updated: 2026-10-21

PlexiiDraw has Illustrator's paste commands. As well as a plain paste, you can paste exactly in front of or behind what you have selected, in the same spot, or on every artboard at once. Every copy is independent: editing a copy never changes the original.

## Before you start

- Copy and paste are on every plan.
- Open an artwork. See [Start an artwork and set up the artboard](https://plexiidesk.com/help/draw-start-artwork).
- On Windows, press `Ctrl` for `⌘` and `Alt` for `⌥`.

## Copy and paste

1. Select a shape with **Select** (`V`).
2. Press `⌘` `C` to copy it, or `⌘` `X` to cut it.
3. Press `⌘` `V`. The copy appears in the middle of the view.

A cut shape goes from the artwork, and `⌘` `V` brings it back. The same commands are in the **Edit** menu, and `F2`, `F3` and `F4` also cut, copy and paste.

## Paste exactly where you want it

Copy first, then choose one of these. Each is also in the **Edit** menu.

| Command | Mac | Windows | Where the copy goes |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| **Paste** | `⌘` `V` | `Ctrl` `V` | The middle of the view. |
| **Paste in Front** | `⌘` `F` | `Ctrl` `F` | Directly in front of the selection. |
| **Paste in Back** | `⌘` `B` | `Ctrl` `B` | Directly behind the selection. |
| **Paste in Place** | `⇧` `⌘` `V` | `Ctrl` `Shift` `V` | The same spot it was copied from. |
| **Paste on All Artboards** | `⌥` `⇧` `⌘` `V` | `Ctrl` `Alt` `Shift` `V` | One copy on each artboard. |

**Paste on All Artboards** is one step to undo: one `⌘` `Z` takes away every copy it made.

## Copy by dragging

Hold `⌥` (`Alt` on Windows) and drag a shape. The original stays exactly where it was, and the copy lands where you let go.

To copy a shape a set distance, hold `⌥` and press an arrow key: a copy is nudged across. Press `⌘` `D` (**Transform Again**) to make another copy one more step along. See [Transform and align objects](https://plexiidesk.com/help/draw-transform-and-align).

## Duplicate

Choose **Edit** > **Duplicate** to copy the selection. `⌘` `D` is **Transform Again**, as in Illustrator, so **Duplicate** has no key. You can give it one in the **Keyboard shortcuts** dialog. See [PlexiiDraw keyboard shortcuts](https://plexiidesk.com/help/draw-keyboard-shortcuts).

## Copy part of a path

With **Direct Selection** (`A`), you can select a single point of a path. Press `⌘` `C` with one point selected and the whole path is copied. See [Edit points and paths](https://plexiidesk.com/help/draw-points-and-paths).

## Paste into other apps

Copy a shape in PlexiiDraw, then paste it into another app, such as Pages, Keynote or a web page in your browser. It arrives as a picture or as a vector drawing.

To paste SVG copied from Figma into PlexiiDraw, see [Place and import pictures, PDFs and SVGs](https://plexiidesk.com/help/draw-place-and-import).

## Common questions

**My paste landed in the middle of the screen, not where I copied it.** That is what **Paste** does. Use **Paste in Place** (`⇧` `⌘` `V`) to paste in the same spot.

**If I change a copy, does the original change too?** No. Copies you paste, duplicate or Option-drag are independent of the original.

**⌘D no longer duplicates.** `⌘` `D` is now **Transform Again**, as in Illustrator. Use **Edit** > **Duplicate** instead.

## Related tasks

- [PlexiiDraw overview](https://plexiidesk.com/help/draw-overview)
- [PlexiiDraw keyboard shortcuts](https://plexiidesk.com/help/draw-keyboard-shortcuts)
- [Transform and align objects](https://plexiidesk.com/help/draw-transform-and-align)
- [Place and import pictures, PDFs and SVGs](https://plexiidesk.com/help/draw-place-and-import)
- [Edit points and paths](https://plexiidesk.com/help/draw-points-and-paths)
- [Export artwork](https://plexiidesk.com/help/draw-export)