Apr
Bella Corporation has announced its latest addition to the KillerKeys family of products, with the new KillerKeys VR.
It is a software that displays keyboard shortcuts through a virtual keyboard (VR), using color codes and adapting to the needs of each user. It is compatible with more than 70 applications, including editing systems such as Final Cut Pro, Avid Media Composer and Premiere Pro; 3D and graphics systems such as Maya and Cinema 4D; and productivity programs such as Microsoft Word and PowerPoint.
Its interactive design recognizes modifier keys (Alt, Shift, Cmd, Ctrl, Fn, etc.), immediately changing the display of shortcuts when pressing any of them.
There are certain programs, such as Microsoft Word, that primarily use these types of keys to activate any of their shortcuts. Therefore, KillerKeys VR includes a lock function that keeps keys such as Command or Control pressed permanently.
Other systems assign more than one shortcut to the same key, so its meaning changes depending on the mode we are in, within the application. For example, in Premiere Pro, the “O” key is assigned the functions “Mark Out” and “Rotate”. In KillerKeys these types of keys will appear with a dotted separation bar (instead of being continuous). If you want to change the name and have the most used one appear, simply press and hold the key and a selection window will appear.
The virtual keyboard is customizable, so we can set a shortcut to show and hide it, or change its display modes. It is possible to choose between standard or extended mode (with numeric keypad), use QWERTY and AZERTY layouts, increase or decrease the size and adjust the background opacity.
Placing the cursor over any key will display an extra description of the function.
In addition, a search tool for any shortcut is included, which highlights the keys required for the desired function.
KillerKeys provides a quick visual reference and serves as a learning tool to help users navigate more quickly through different applications. It can be downloaded for free from the Apple Store, and includes shortcuts for iTunes, Mac OS, Safari, Firefox and Google Chrome. To get the corresponding shortcuts for other applications you need to purchase them individually.
Most of them cost 4.49€: Adobe After Effects, Photoshop, Premiere; Avid Media Composer, ProTools; Apple Final Cut Pro 7, X, Motion; Cinema 4D; Autodesk Maya, Smoke (on which a course is scheduled for June 8 and 9); NukeX; Microsoft Word; etc.
There are also other interesting ones like Adobe SpeedGrade CS6 for 1.79€.
At the moment it is only available for Mac (OS X 10.7 or higher), although a Windows version will be released soon (available here) with three different editions:
- Business Edition: with applications such as Microsoft Word, Excel or PowerPoint.
- Creative Edition: with systems such as Media Composer, Photoshop or Cinema 4D.
- Master Collection: combines the two previous editions.
Here you have all the information about KillerKeys VR.
