# \[Resolved\] Hotkey to alternate between frames
**URL:** https://community.aseprite.org/t/resolved-hotkey-to-alternate-between-frames/28582
**Category:** Features
**Created:** [July 25, 2026, 3:22am UTC](https://community.aseprite.org/t/resolved-hotkey-to-alternate-between-frames/28582 "2026-07-25T03:22:38Z")
**Posts on this page:** 4
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@andygoth](https://community.aseprite.org/u/andygoth)
#### Post date: [July 25, 2026, 3:22am UTC](https://community.aseprite.org/t/resolved-hotkey-to-alternate-between-frames/28582/1 "2026-07-25T03:22:38Z")
Very often I need to alternate between two frames, generally one for reference and the other for drawing. I have in mind a traditional animation artist with a stack of pages, looking at one, lifting it up, then drawing on the one beneath.
My current methods for doing this are:
- Have the frames be consecutive, then use any of “←→,.” to go back and forth
- Not always lucky enough for them to be consecutive
- Sometimes temporarily create extra frames linked to the ones I want to see
- Annoying to juggle multiple hotkeys
- Disruptive when I accidentally switch frames in the wrong direction
- Open a new view and move it to be side-by-side
- Side-by-side is better than nothing
- Click on the frames
- Slower than a hotkey
- Takes my mouse away from the drawing surface
- Onionskin
- Good for outlines but not fine details and precise colors
Any other solutions? Edit: here’s another obvious one I forgot at first:
- Tabs
- Works best when only two are open
- Otherwise have to juggle Ctrl+Tab and Ctrl+Shift+Tab
- Need to ensure scrolling and zooming are exactly in sync between tabs
I propose a hotkey to alternate between the current and previously displayed frame so I can very quickly flip back and forth. Bonus points if there’s a configuration option to control the number of frames to cycle between: current and last one, two, three, etc.
Maybe this feature already exists and I’ve just not found it yet. I’m curious to know!
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### Author:  [@CrashTestJava](https://community.aseprite.org/u/CrashTestJava)
#### Post date: [July 25, 2026, 2:41pm UTC](https://community.aseprite.org/t/resolved-hotkey-to-alternate-between-frames/28582/2 "2026-07-25T14:41:13Z")
Nice idea! This can be scripted with a plugin: [Aseprite - Api](https://www.aseprite.org/api/).
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### Author:  [@andygoth](https://community.aseprite.org/u/andygoth)
#### Post date: [July 26, 2026, 5:43am UTC](https://community.aseprite.org/t/resolved-hotkey-to-alternate-between-frames/28582/3 "2026-07-26T05:43:47Z")
Okay, I made such an extension. Please give it a try and let me know what you think.
This adds a Frame Cycle menu underneath View, as well as sets apostrophe as the default hotkey for the new Cycle Frames menu command.
[FrameCycle-0.1.aseprite-extension](https://andy.junkdrome.org/devel/FrameCycle/FrameCycle-0.1.aseprite-extension)
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### Author:  [@andygoth](https://community.aseprite.org/u/andygoth)
#### Post date: [July 26, 2026, 10:39pm UTC](https://community.aseprite.org/t/resolved-hotkey-to-alternate-between-frames/28582/4 "2026-07-26T22:39:06Z")
Ongoing discussion moved [here](https://community.aseprite.org/t/extension-frame-cycle/28585). This includes my announcement of version 0.2.