Illustrator (Desktop) Feature Requests
When entering a new feature request, please provide:
- Description
- Why is this valuable to you?
4592 results found
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Symmetrical Anchor Point Handles snapping
It would be incredibly helpful if the handles of an anchor point could be positioned symmetrically and equidistant, as shown in the attached image. This feature would streamline the design process by eliminating the need to create half a path, copy it, and mirror it.
Thank you for considering this feature request!
56 votes -
Add TIFF format into Export for Screens / Assets dialog
We need a way to export assets (and artboards) as TIFFs using modern Export for Screens / Assets dialog.
83 votes -
Add ability to hyperlink text (properly this time)
In June of 2023 the Illustrator team fixed a old bug with hyperlinks added through Attributes panel being dropped while exporting as PDF.
The team thought of it as a solution to this request: http://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/333657/suggestions/40418827 — and marked it as such.I do not agree.
The solution is nowhere final, done in the most basic way possible, merely a bug fixed, like if no-one in the team did try to make it useful at the level of today's standards.
— A partial text selection can't be made into a hyperlink.
— No widgets are given on the canvas to see…47 votes -
Improve Trim Mark Settings When Exporting PDFs
Posted using Illustrator 2025 (29.4)
In the Japanese printing industry, it is common practice to require both corner crop marks and center crop marks when exporting PDFs.
Currently, in Illustrator’s PDF export settings, enabling the “Trim Marks” option only adds corner marks. To include center crop marks, users must also check the “Registration Marks” option, which results in registration marks being added as well.
However, these registration marks are generally disliked and considered unnecessary in Japanese print workflows. There needs to be an option to add only corner and center crop marks without registration marks.
InDesign allows users to…
20 votes -
Allow to 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…)
Please allow to have folders in the panel (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.
Another related request:
Allow to rename attributes (fills, strokes, effects)…27 votes -
Make Enclosed Selection Mode a permanent option
Illustrator now allows to use Enclosed Mode to select objects within the marquee (originally requested here: http://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/333657/suggestions/31863601), but the only way to do it is tap E key.
I agree that this basic feature is essential, but I don't agree that any modifier keys or specific dragging directions (like requested here: http://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/333657/suggestions/49489604) should be required. Shift-drag is already used to add to the selection, so that won't work.
Opt/Alt toggles duplication, and both can be toggled mid-drag (unlike in Photoshop).
This should be a selectable selection mode (also with a hotkey), and in fact there should be a…
19 votes -
CAD like selection (direction of the marquee toggles Enclosed mode)
Illustrator now allows to use Enclosed Mode to select objects within the marquee (originally requested here: http://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/333657/suggestions/31863601), but the only way to do it is tap E key.
Make an option to enable this method also:
Click - Left drag: select everything INSIDE the marquee.
Click - Right drag: select everything CROSSING the marquee.Many CAD programs work this way. It makes selections much simpler.
17 votes -
Add Transform Again Individually / Transform Sequence Again / Sequence Again Individually commands, as in InDesign
Illustrator has Transform Again command (and it’s rather useful), but InDesign has three additional commands:
Transform Again Individually:
Applies the last single transform operation to each selected object individually, rather than as a group.Transform Sequence Again:
Applies the last sequence of transform operations to the selection.Transform Sequence Again Individually:
Applies the last sequence of transform operations to each selected object individually.
As described here: https://helpx.adobe.com/indesign/using/transforming-objects.html#repeat_transformations
Here is a video demonstrating the difference between these: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4gLe9LeRKI
Sure, we have Transform Each as a workaround, but it doesn’t support custom pivots as tools do, and these are just faster.
If…
11 votes -
Display color values for named swatches when hovering
Illustrator automatically names swatches by their color values and displays these names when we hover over swatches in panels.
But if we rename a swatch, Illustrator displays just the name, but not the color formula.
InDesign does the opposite — always shows the color values when we hover, but not the name.I’d like to see both. Yes, I know that for the automatically named swatches it’d mean both the name made of values will be displayed along with the actual values... but you can solve it with the InDesign’s 'Name with Color Value' option for swatches.
12 votes -
Global Edit should allow searching within current and chosen artboards
Global Edit have some options to limit searching with artboards and/or canvas... but the choices are rather odd: Portrait, Landscape, Square and All.
It’s strange though we can’t limit it to the current artboard... or some chosen artboards, even though today the selection of artboards on canvas is allowed within the scope of the Artboard tool — but I’ll take the field to put numbers, or selecting artboards in the Artboards panel!
Select > Same and Select > Object commands don’t have these options at all. Must have — here’s the request: http://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/333657/suggestions/35752063
9 votes -
Center Pattern Command
Draw a vector shape and fill with a pattern, notice this is not centered. To do this is a long meticulous process prone to error.
https://forums.adobe.com/thread/2390290.
Can we get an option in the Align panel to do this?
20 votes -
Allow to customize the Contextual Task Bar
I want to be able to customize the Contextual Task Bar, add the functions I need to the panel (tools, menus, actions, scripts, etc.). Please add a configurator like in the toolbar.
15 votes -
Thumbnails in Layers always show full previews even when outline mode for the layer is toggled
This is relatively new within recent Ai upgrades.
Can we please revert back to preview mode ONLY for layer thumbnails regardless of how we view the layer on the artboard. This was changed recently. Why? If you choose to make changes like this, please make it an optional preference, as long time users probably don't like these changes.
3 votes -
File > Adobe PDF Presets menu, to have even faster PDF export options
Starting with build 28.6, we can now Export As PDF (thanks to this request: http://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/333657/suggestions/32841790)
This works alongside with a pervious lesser known method: Save a Copy, as PDF.
However, exporting a PDF copy to make a quick 'snapshot' still feels slow — we get a dialog and have to choose a preset we want to use.
Meanwhile InDesign offers a handy configurable menu that allows to skip format options and go with a chosen preset, like the attached screenshot shows.
Please make a similar menu.
38 votes -
Unstacking tools
As I understand it, it is not longer possible to unstack tools in the Toolbar (ver 29.5) (unless you build a new Toolbar from scratch). Could this basic functionality, which existed before, please be restored in a future update?
1 vote -
Allow to set custom default layer colors, with options
In 2017 we asked to allow to customize colors for layers, so that edges drawn for object didn’t burn our eyes out: http://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/333657/suggestions/31535431
In 2020 Illustrator team removed yellow color from the default 5th color for new layers, shifting the order, but never did anything with cyan, gray, black...
We need an ability to set up our own order for these colors.
We need to be able to store these as presets, so we can switch these.
We need a way to make a certain order preferred in a template or a document profile.
We need an ability to remap…
36 votes -
Please allow currentColor for SVG export
Using SVG in web development frequently requires manual editing of the svg code, to use currentColor instead of a fixed fill or stroke colour.
2 votes -
Allow to use raster images with Mockup
(Not sure exactly what category this request falls under...) The mockup tool as it is now is pretty limiting. If you have a raster image as part of what you want to mock up, the mockup tool doesn't work. I design food packaging, most of which has an image of the item in the package. Being able to mock up packages that include images would be a godsend!
(And if anyone has a workaround, please share! I use the legacy 3d tool for cylindrical objects. But for things like pouches I haven't figured a way to do it. Thanks.)
4 votes -
Add Image Trace presets for QR codes and other barcodes
One of the most common issues I have is receiving QR codes or barcodes from a customer as low-resolution JPEGs or PNGs. Asking customers to understand which formats from online generators are vector formats is always an issue.
While I know I can technically regenerate the QR code with an online generator, it feels like a natural extension of the existing Image Trace function to be able to recognise QR codes or barcodes and to snap the vector artwork to a proper grid.
This could be implemented with something like "snap points to 90° angles" or something, but I think…
3 votes -
Editable text in dimensions
Please let designer edit the text inside the dimensions. Sometimes for mockup purpose is not possible to set a proper scale and if you place a dimension obviously the size has to be changed. Now you need to expand the aspect to let the text be editable. It would be great if the text can be editable by default.
There is no worries for people with right scales since the value will be correct, but it will be a smart edit for others who have to change it.2 votes
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