Illustrator (Desktop) Feature Requests
When entering a new feature request, please provide:
- Description
- Why is this valuable to you?
134 results found
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Allow to rename attributes and make folders in Appearance Panel
Appearance are the most powerful feature of Illustrator, but the learning curve is difficult and for Advanced User it's difficult to manage and remember what are doing what in a Complex Appearance (cf. Screenshot where I had to use Colors to identify properties…)
Adding features like:
– Renaming (fill, stroke and effects)
– Folders (like in Ps: "Pass Trough" blend mode, knockout, vector mask based on "Convert to shape" with 9 points proxy…)It will be more easier to understand Complex Appearance samples and for Advanced users, it will be way more efficient.
19 votes -
Alt+click in Appearance hides all effects except clicked one
Sometimes I need to isolate one particular effect and work on it.
I always try to alt+click it, like I do with layers in Photoshop, but fail, of course.
Why not to add this in AI?19 votes -
Add Reference Point to "Convert to Shape" effect
When using the convert to shape effect, it would be useful to be able to specify a reference point to the dialog, about which the effect can transform. For example, the current implementation distributes the effect from the centre across the height/width axes. A reference point would allow you to add extra dimension to the left/right/top/bottom (as required) and would be extremely useful in UI construction, among other things.
19 votes -
'Reverse Order' option for Transform Effect
When you set several copies in Transform effect, Illustrator makes them stack under original art, 'going backwards'. Sometimes it's better to have an opposite behaviour, with copies stacking up, 'towards' viewer.
Please add this checkbox near 'Copies" field.
16 votes -
Add numerical control over light sources in 3D Extrude & Bevel Effect Options
When applying and tweaking 3D Extrude & Bevel Effect, user has to manipulate light by precise mouse twitching over the small sphere.
It should be at least twice as big to provide fine control (I won't note this as separate request), but there should also be numerical fields to control the lights' position over sphere — angle, elevation, choose any.Also, why Depth and Height values there are immune to document Units settings? 56.96pt is nonsense to me, while 20mm makes sense.
16 votes -
Drop shadow distribution curves
Right now shadow is just blurred silhouette.
Please add option to tweak it's distribution, as PS does ('profiles').15 votes -
Can't select and edit two effects from two separate fills in single appearance
I can't select two effects, applied to different fills in one appearance — AI restricts to select both of them. Therefore, if I have same effect applied to all of my object's fills, I have to edit EACH of them one by one, instead of just Ctrl+click all of them and edit at once.
It means that if I want to change Drop shadow's parameters, scattered across different appearances, no graphic style won't help me. And I already mentioned in separate enquiry that Drop shadow and other color-based effects ignore global swatches.
This is nuts. I waste so much time.14 votes -
Bring Back Hold Shift to Restrict Gradient Movement
In prior versions of Illustrator, when adjusting the composition of a gradient using the gradient tool, you used to be able to hold shift to constrict the gradients movement to the Y or X axis.
Please bring this back as it is a quick and seamless way to align the gradient composition exactly instead of eyeballing it.
13 votes -
Bevel and Emboss effect
This is something i've waited for years and it's a feature that Photoshop had for decades, was introduced in InDesign 2.0. Even FreeHand MX featured it in 2001... but it never came to Illustrator.
When will we count with the Bevel and Emboss effect?Why not all the Effects InDesign has featured too on Illustrator?
It will add a great bang of options to AI...I let a screenshot of it on actual InDesign CC
12 votes -
Make Appearance work for Type objects
More specifically, with type objects, the Appearance palette just says 'Characters', without reflecting the current stroke and fill state of the object. New stroke and fill have to be added to make the Appearance palette useful.
11 votes -
Perspective mode for Free Distort effect
Free Distort effects, being a bit outdated with it's detached preview window, comes out Super Tool with Stylism plugin installed. But it could do so much better if there would be a tick, that turns distortion into a perspective one, as the tool with the same name allows to do. That would allow us to distort stuff live in perspective (and omit using overcomplicated Perspective Grid for small tasks).
11 votes -
Let Drop Shadow effects ignore each other
In Photoshop we can have multiple dropped shadows be applied to a single object, and they all get layered upon each other. It gives users flexibility to use different colors, densities, feathering, etc.
In Illustrator, on the other hand, the Appearance works differently. Each new Drop Shadow get applied to the previous dropped shadow. The larger the blur is, the more useless the next shadow gets.
To get a layered shadow the same way we do it in Photoshop, we have to apply each shadow to its own fill.
10 votes -
Convert to Line effect
If you try to apply 'Convert to Rectangle' effect, Ai will limit you minimal width/height to 0.01mm — not zero. It means we can't use it to create 'lines'. And this is something appearance and styles will hugely benefit from.
Of course, it should allow to set a reference point too:
https://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/333657-illustrator-feature-requests/suggestions/32052073-add-reference-point-to-convert-to-shape-effectAnd although we have a Transform effect to deal with the angle, having it for the line is obviously needed.
10 votes -
Square wave live effect.
Gears. Crenelations on castles. Zippers. These are a few things whose border can be described by a square wave. Or by a rectangular wave.
But you can't do this easily in Illustrator. Oh, you can add a dotted line to a shape - but that's an awkward workaround. How about a new live effect?
effect->distort & transform->crenelation would bring up a new live effect where you can apply square waves to whatever object you're affecting.
Suggested parameters:
- size - similar to the size parameter in roughen/zigzag, this would control how far the generated path deviates from the original path
- pulse…
10 votes -
Fractional resolution value in Document Raster Effects Settings
I live in a metric part of the world and use millimeters as my main measuring unit, including type, strokes, and raster effects.
Since inch a s SI unit, it now equals exactly 2.54mm.
For me it means 254ppi is 100ppcm, 127ppi is 50ppcm, and instead of 300ppi I use 120ppcm (equals 304.8ppi) — which gives me exact integer dimensions for all of images I use. The grid becomes meaningful and all objects behave and befriend each other.Unfortunately for me, Illustrator plays this game not as good as I want it to — I can’t enter 304.8 to Resolution…
9 votes -
Effect units bound to global units.
I am working with "mm" most of the time. However, when I use effects, I have to guess the right amount, since those are in "pixel" most of the time.
As an example, feather or blur, and many more.It would be nice if the units would change with the units used in the file.
9 votes -
Enhancing the Convert to Shape Effects
The Rectangle, Eplise and Polygon tools had been updated with dynamic properties in CC 2014.
That will be huge to have these properties added to the "Convert to Shape" Effect and to add the Polygon and Star tools to the "Convert to Shape" list.
It will allow more Advanced Appearances and Graphic Styles.
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+Adding the Reference Point:
https://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/333657-illustrator-feature-requests/suggestions/32052073-add-reference-point-to-convert-to-shape-effect9 votes -
Please re-add 3D mapping with Symbols to new 3D functionality
Please re-add 3D mapping with Symbols to the new 3D functionality.
I know it's included in the "3D (Classic)" Effects menu, but it needs to be added to the new 3D functionality. Calling it "Classic" means Adobe is going to abandon it (for something worse). I use 3D mapping with Symbols ALL THE TIME. PLEASE add it back.
Thank you!8 votesMapping is now available in Beta. There are some known issues with it, but even more unknown ones, so the team encourages you to try it and write back about your experience with it, to help to make it better.
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Grayscale as an Effect
I would like to be able to apply a non-destructive "Convert to Grayscale" Effect to Objects, Groups or Layers.
8 votes -
Attach Symbol Effect
Adding a new Effect to Attach a Symbol would heavily simplify the creation of Appearances (Graphic Styles) like the one in my Screenshot.
Of course a Reference Point and Liquid constraints like in InDesign would be amazing.
And that will open all new horizons of possibilities!
8 votes
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