Paint Or Seek Controls
Master every binding before your first ranked round. This reference covers PC keyboard and mouse, mobile touch UI, and role-specific actions for hiders and seekers. Jump to a section: PC controls, mobile controls, hider actions, or seeker actions.
Control Overview
Paint Or Seek splits controls between movement, paint tool actions, and role abilities. Hiders spend prep phase using the eyedropper and HSV sliders, then freeze before seekers spawn. Seekers rely on systematic movement and the sniper left-click. Mobile players use on-screen buttons for the same functions with slightly slower paint fine-tuning.
Pair this page with the camouflage guide for paint workflow details and the seeker route guide for how bindings translate into room coverage. New players should read the beginner guide first for round timing.
PC Controls
PC offers the fastest HSV adjustments and precise rotation. Competitive hiders almost always use keyboard and mouse for prep phase speed.
| Input | Action |
|---|---|
W / A / S / D | Move during prep and hunt phases |
Left Mouse Button | Paint as hider; snipe and tag as seeker |
Right Mouse Button | Aim down sights for precision sniper shots (seeker) |
E or Paint Button | Open paint tool and color dropper during prep |
F | Freeze your pose as a hider once camouflage is complete |
C | Crouch to lower your silhouette near walls and props |
R | Rotate your character to align with walls and corners |
Mobile Controls
Mobile controls mirror PC features but require tapping paint menus during prep. Practice sampling colors quickly before the timer ends.
| Input | Action |
|---|---|
Virtual Joystick | Move around the map |
Paint Button | Open paint tool and apply colors during prep phase |
Dropper Button | Sample color from walls, floors, and objects |
Freeze Button | Lock your pose once painted |
Rotate Button | Turn to fit corners and shelf edges |
Aim / Shoot Button | Seeker sniper fire at suspected hiders |
Hider Actions
Hider actions focus on color accuracy and staying frozen. Movement after freeze is the fastest way to get tagged.
| Input | Action |
|---|---|
Color Dropper | Sample the exact surface you will lean against |
Paint Brush | Coat visible limbs to match environment color |
Freeze (F) | Stop all movement before seekers begin hunting |
Spot First | Choose hiding angle before painting — not the reverse |
On Catch | You join the seeker team and can snipe remaining hiders |
Seeker Actions
Seeker actions emphasize scanning discipline over raw speed. Pause at doorways to catch micro-movement from nervous hiders.
| Input | Action |
|---|---|
Shoot / Snipe | snipe hiders with sniper shots when you spot mismatches |
Movement Scan | Pause briefly to detect micro-movement before firing |
Shape Detection | Look for human silhouettes against flat surfaces |
Systematic Sweep | Cover high-traffic zones room by room |
Converted Hiders | Caught players join your team — coordinate late sweeps |
Prep Phase vs Seeker Phase
During prep, hiders can move freely and access the full paint tool including eyedropper, HSV sliders, and roughness. When the seeker spawns, unfrozen hiders who move are easy targets. Press Freeze (F) only when your color, rotation, and position are final. Seekers cannot tag during prep but should memorize high-traffic zones on the current map — start with Mansion routes before tackling Pirate Cove torch layouts.
Short rotations between color zones require repainting. See the repaint section of our camouflage guide for when to break freeze safely versus staying still for the full round.
Platform Tips
PC advantages
Mouse precision speeds eyedropper sampling on detailed textures like Warehouse concrete. Bind muscle memory for F freeze and C crouch so you never hunt keys under pressure.
Mobile advantages
Touch joysticks allow subtle position tweaks before freeze. Use rotate button bursts to align with shelf edges on Library without overshooting.
Frequently Asked Questions
What key freezes your pose as a hider?
Press F on PC or tap the Freeze button on mobile after you finish painting. You must freeze before the seeker phase begins or movement will expose you immediately.
How do I crouch in Paint Or Seek?
Press C on PC or use the Crouch button on mobile. Crouching lowers your silhouette near props like sofa backs and bookshelf end-caps on Library.
How do seekers aim with the sniper?
Yes. Seekers use right-click to aim down sights for precision sniper shots in rhythm to escape the minigame. Practice timing so you are not stuck during critical late-round sweeps.
Where is the eyedropper on mobile?
Tap the Paint button during prep phase to open the paint tool, then select eyedropper to sample surface colors at your standing height.
Does rotating matter for camouflage?
Yes. Press R on PC or use Rotate on mobile to align flat avatar edges with walls and shelves. Poor rotation leaves protruding limbs visible even with perfect color.