Illustrator (Desktop) Feature Requests
When entering a new feature request, please provide:
- Description
- Why is this valuable to you?
458 results found
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Swap Tool or Transform Option
I would like a tool or feature whereby I can select two objects, hit the tool or possible transform option and the objects swap their exact positions. This would save an incredible amount of time especially when updating an existing document. There used to be a script for this way back in the day but I think it's time to bring in this very effective feature.
6 votes -
A new tool that copies exactly the color that's seen by the user on the screen through transparent objects
Currently, when I like a certain color that's formed through the combination of 2 or more transparent objects (or objects with blend modes applied), I can't copy that exact color. The eye-dropper tool simply copies the color from the topmost object. I often find myself taking a snap of the display and then paste that image within illustrator and copying the color I want from that image.
Request: I'd like a tool, similar to the eye-dropper, but instead, it picks the RESULTANT color(s) that is displayed through transparent objects or even objects with BLEND-MODES applied to them.
I've attached an…
6 votes -
Allow Free Distort and Perspective to work with Live Text.
Allow Free Distort and Perspective to work with LIVE Text.
Having to convert text to curves before distorting is too destructive.
There's no way to edit the text after distorting. Corel Draw let me do this back in the 90's.6 votes -
An option to ignore locked layers with the eyedropper tool
At the moment, if you have a locked layer above the layer you are working in, the eyedropper tool selects colors and properties of the top layer - the locked layer - instead of the (unlocked) layer you are working on.
This causes frustration as every time you want to eyedrops something, you have to make a bunch of layers invisible first.
If an option could be added to the eyedropper tool, such as "ignore locked layers", this problem would be gone completely and working with Illustrator would be a lot smoother and faster.
This could be an option under…
6 votes -
Join Separate paths
If you have lots of separate, exploded lines (say from DWG/DXF import, then you should be able to use an alternative of Ctrl+J to join them back together without them trying to join end to end.
That is to say, if paths are adjacent to each other they are joined. But the ends of non adjacent paths aren't then closed up as well. Really basic idea, but somehow overlooked.
Sure, it's easy to Ctrl+J a few disparate, exploded paths. But for 20+, 50+, it's a joke.
6 votes -
Lasso select tool selection lines should be always be visible, even when selecting over black fills.
I often use the lasso select tool and often i am selecting over top of objects that are black filled, and the lasso line is invisible over these black objects.
Conversely, in photoshop, the lasso line is drawn so it always contrasts the colors behind it, so no matter what colors we are selecting over top of, the lasso line is still visible.
Illustrator desperately needs to replicate this functionality from photoshop
6 votes -
Hide Pie Widget
In the same way as we can hide the corner widget I'd really appreciate the ability to hide the pie widget (while still being able to see the bounding box) I've never used, but I often scale eclipses from the centre right anchor point. Which is impossible with the pie widget thing.
View > Hide Pie Widget.
Job Jone.6 votes -
Remove Single Handle from Within the Pen-Tool
If you want to REMOVE a handle by clicking, this can be achieved by using the Convert Anchor Point-Tool and Clicking on it.
Now, all other Pen-Tool Functions can be accessed by pushing modifier keys like Ctrl and Alt, except for this one. It requires you to change out of the tool.
I therefore suggest adding the functionality to the ALT-Mode of the Pen-Tool, which activates the Anchor Point-Tool, that if you click on a handle, this handle gets removed.
This does NOT conflict with the current function, which is to disconnect handles, since this require Click and Drag.
6 votes -
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE add the Alt/Option key functionality from XD!!!
I know there is the measure tool. I wish it functioned like XD where holding Alt/Option and hovering over an object will give you the exact distance.
It's super frustrating to switch between Adobe products and have no consistency. One shortcut to zoom in an app does something entirely different in another.
Yes, I understand they are different apps but you force people to subscribe to multiple apps instead of allowing people to see a project to completion in one single app. I can learn one or two apps inside out and backward - I cannot learn 50...
Thanks.
6 votes -
Correct direction of the object rotate function
When rotating objects in a positive angle direction, objects SHOULD rotate CLOCKWISE
When rotating objects in a negative angle direction, they SHOULD rotate COUNTER CLOCKWISEIllustrator seems to be BACKWARDS from all other programs I have ever used...
6 votes -
path eraser tool - erasing multiple path selection (worked in CS5, does not in CC)
I jumped from CS5 to the current CC version of illustrator. As a technical illustrator, I often need to erase portions of paths. The easiest method for accomplishing this task is to select all the paths I intend to erase portions of using the "path eraser tool" and simply go from path to path erasing what I need using the "path eraser tool". This function works properly in CS5 but at some point afterwards has been lost.
However, as soon as you erase a portion of the first path, all selected paths are unselected except for the current path being…
6 votes -
Contextual Pie-menus, like Radiant menus by Wacom
creating a contextual "shortcut" menu overlapping layer to access quickly Tools. This is a kind of Radiant Menu developed by Wacom on their tablet for example or Alias marking menu. This should really improve workflow ergonomics.
6 votes -
Use Key Object to allow precise control for in-back and in-front level changes
Allow Key Object to define which object is moved and which object is used to define movement. If I select two objects and then highlight one as a key object, it would be nice to use the same hotkeys for "send to back" and "send to front" and have it only work in relation to the two selected objects, putting the keyed object either directly in front of or behind in the layer order of the other object.
As it is now, the hotkeys either work too much by sending objects all they way to the back or front, or…
6 votes -
Rotate objects separately
If we make a selection of objects, and then rotate it with a corner marker of the bounding box (or with the Rotate tool), they get rotated all at once, as a single object.
If we want to rotate all separate objects in the selection separately, the only way to do it is with the Transform Each dialog, with Preview option on, with arrow keys, changing the Angle value. Doable, but not fun.
What if we get a mode, at least for the Rotate tool (since it’s a special tool for rotating), let’s say, with Ctrl/Cmd held, to rotate object…5 votes -
Toggle Radii in Ellipse Properties
When editing Ellipse Properties in the transform palette, it's be great to be able to turn off the radiuses in the ellipse, enabling a live shape which is an arc. At the moment you are limited to filled/joined sections.
5 votes -
Scissors tool should be aware of stroke width profiles and brush tool data.
At present, if you use the Scissors tool on a path with a width profile, the resulting paths will both inherit the entire width profile. This always feels wrong; I would much prefer that the resulting paths had new width profiles that match the original look of the path.
5 votes -
Straighten/unrotate object
As far as I can tell, there's no way to re-straighten an object after rotating it. There's nothing retaining what the degree of rotation was. That would be really helpful.
5 votes -
Could the Width Tool scale Pattern Brush tiles proportionately instead of squeezing them down distortingly?
Greetings!
I'm not sure, if this feature is already there (would be grateful for a response if it already is!). I googled, didn't find anything. It's also too many keywords...
So. The width tool can varyingly alter the width of a stroke to which a pattern brush is applied to. What I have been struggling with, is that, the width tool only squeezes the pattern tiles perpendicular to the spine of the stroke, and thus distorting the proportions and original composition of the pattern tile itself.
Is there a way to perhaps, distort the tiles in a manner that they…
5 votes -
Unify point tangent, angle\length\direction
Short rationales:
Point Angle - I need a way to control the exact angle of point handles to unify them across a design. Currently the only way to control the angle is to constrain it to vertical, horizontal, or 45 degree angles.Point Handle Length\Direction - If you grab a point handle and make it a different length or direction than the handle on the other side of a point, there is currently no way to re-unify them besides re-drawing the curve.
There is also no also no way to scale handle length along the direction or angle you’ve already…5 votes -
More vector brushes
Have more brushes! (like a tapered brush), allow to add, export, and make custom brushes.
Easily delete overlapping lines like in CSP.
Include patterns like half tones for comics we can drag and drop inside shapes.
Allow gradients and patterns to be applied to the stroke.
We can choose which part of the stroke to change the width instead of all of it.
Have an option to do an even width change or freehand.
Be able to fill color within the visible strokes/lines instead of shapes.5 votes
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