Illustrator (Desktop) Feature Requests
When entering a new feature request, please provide:
- Description
- Why is this valuable to you?
4728 results found
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Gradient “easing” / bezier curve control for color stops
Any work that utilizes gradients in Illustrator would benefit greatly from the addition of the ability to manually control/adjust the bezier curves of the gradients’ color stops.
The specifics of how this works are discussed here: https://larsenwork.com/easing-gradients/
Ultimately, this level of control allows for significantly more pleasing and subtle gradients. Relying on midpoints to adjust gradients ultimately results in very obviously visual “steps” from one color stop to the next.
I’ve attached a video demonstrating the easing function, as well as a before and after image to illustrate its effect.
24 votes -
Removing text style while keeping formatting
I'd like to be able to remove a text object's style (in other words: unlink the text block from the style), but still keep the text's formatting as is.
What usually happens is that, when you create new text blocks, for some reason, they automatically get the latest text style applied. If you don't pay attention, then you might create many text objects and format them manually (because they don't need to be linked to any specific style), and at some point, you realize that all these texts are linked to a certain style, and that's not what you intended…
1 vote -
Radial Array Feature (akin to AutoCAD)
I know there's a workaround whereby one can accomplish this, or nearly so, with the rotate/copy function; however, the implementation is somewhat inelegant, especially for new users who might not be aware of the 360/x syntax. It has been a number of years since I have used CAD, but I recall the Polar Array command being much more full-featured and am struck that AI still doesn't have a better way to do this. In point of fact, a liner array wouldn't be a bad addition, either, and would save the headache of trying to do it with patterns or aligns.
1 voteIt does not work exactly like Polar Array in AutoCAD, but recent Radial Repeat is very much similar to this function you wanted. the main difference you do not specify a circle before, but after you generate an array.
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Change forms of Pan-CJK font in language dropdown menu
Super OTC Pan-CJK font like "Source Han Sans" has multiple forms of character in same unicode. In Indesign, we can change them by choosing language in dropdown menu, but in Illustrator, it works only for hyphenation and we can't choose CJK languages.
Please add function to change forms without installing Subset OTF.
2 votes -
Quick Command for Trim View
Quick Command for Trim View. I alternate a lot between normal view and trim view but have to stop to select trim view every time.
19 votesYou can assign your own custom shortcut to this command via Edit > Keyboard Shortcuts. Toggle 'Tools' to 'Menu commands' from the dropdown and search for 'Trim View'.
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In version 24.02 problems with the file information
Hello, in Illustrator version 24.02 I have problems with the file information. Now the title is not saved anymore, I always have to enter it afterwards via Bridge. Also the creation date is no longer saved in the EPS files. When I enter this via Bridge, I always get an error message: "There is a problem with the file. "
It would be great if you could change this.
Gabi
1 vote -
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 -
Grouping / linking objects from different layers
Hi Illustrator ! It would be great if there’s a feature to group objects and not have them in the same layer. Many instances I want to be able to resize/multiple select different objects (frim different layers) at the same time without having to select each of them individually everytime.
89 votesDear users,
Can you please let us know what is that you cannot do with the existing 'save selection' functionality that you expect to do by grouping objects from different layers?
'Save selection' enables you to combine objects from different layers without having to bring them into one single layer.
To use 'save selection' just select your desired objects and save the selection from the select > save selection menu command or from the bottom of the layers panel.
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New version is very slow
Very slow this new version.
Selecting several items and move the canvas by hand is not working on not stable
Older verion was bette!!!!
2 votes -
Recolor Artwork Link Harmony Colors on by default
We only ever need to use the Recolor Artwork feature with the Link Harmony Colors on. Is it possible to have it remember the last setting that you used rather than defaulting to it not being on.
Not a big thing but would be handy!
3 votes -
Find/replace in selected text items only
When using Find and Replace - search on the selected items - or make it an option to search only the selected items.
6 votes -
Show missing link path/locations like InDesign. (To make relinking an image simple)
In the Link Panel - Indesign shows the file path for placed images and links (even when missing or embedded). In Illustrator's Link panel these path/locations are greyed out with no text, thus making finding a missing file purely guess work. Can the Indesign Links Panel be directly replicated to Illustrator so absolutely the same? Cheers
30 votes -
Regression: Illustrator CC saves each instance of symbol in .ai file separately
How to reproduce this problem in Illustrator СС:
Create clean AI file with A4 page.
Place any pixel image (with size ~10 mb) embedded to this page. Save file, it will have size about ~10 mb)
Make this image as symbol and remove object from page.
Place symbol to page one time.
Save file. File size will be, eg, ~10 mb.
Now place same symbol to page more 4 times, total will be 5 images on page.
Save file and check size - it will be increased to ~50 mb.
As result, you will have ai file, containing only 5…
12 votes -
Locking and unlocking objects on a current artboard only
Discussed in our team is the annoying way Illustrator unlocks EVERYTHING on the pasteboard - why can unlocking be isolated to the artboard you are working on? Like indesign. I use locked objects a lot when I am creating concepts and use layers when creating final artwork. Using layers slows down the way you work.
5 votes -
Industrial feedback
My customers REQUIRE all our reruns of our labels to be the same. The color, the fonts, everything. Continuous reissuing of new versions of Illustrator makes this very time consuming and difficult. Most important, often our pressmen (with 50+ years of experience between the two) will not know something has changed until printed.
An industrial press uses about 12 feet of material before the first label even prints, making this a HUGE material and time waster in a busy print house.
Either fix your colors once and stop or tell us PRIOR to release of the changes so that we…
2 votes -
Have the option to arc a shape or line to a specific degree.
Having the option to arc a line or shape to a specific degree would make so much easier. Especially when designing labels for containers that are tapered.
2 votes -
Keyboard shortcuts for Align/Distribute commands and 'Align to' modes
I miss having keyboard shortcuts for align/distribute from my CorelDraw days. I'm a pro designer in a fast turnaround environment, and keyboard shortcuts are essential to my workflow.
As far as I know, the numeric keypad isn't being used in Illustrator. My proposal is: Pressing 0 toggles between absolute to the artboard or relative to last item selected. Pressing 2, 4, 5, 6, 8 will perform the align .2 = bottom, 4 = left, 5 = centre, 6 = right, 8 = top. Additionally 7 = distribute horizontal, 9 = distribute vertical.
Also, please copy the CorelDraw keyboard shortcut Tab…
256 votesThe most recent version finally has the Object > Distribute menu added.
Now both Align and Distribute commands can be accessed via menu and have assigned keyboards shortcuts to them.
The order of the commands though seemingly matches the one the panel has: horizontal first for Align and vertical first for Distribute. If you find this odd and want to change it — vote here: https://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/333657-illustrator-desktop-feature-requests/suggestions/45855823-sync-the-order-of-align-and-distribute-menu-comman
Also, Align To and Distribute Spacing commands are still missing in top menus, so please keep voting here to make them added too.
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Make Limited color palette in Image Trace allow more than 30 colors
Why is "Limited" Color Palette restricted to 30 colors? I often need a few hundred but not as many as Automatic gives. And Automatic would be great if the Color Slider actually worked proportionally but it randomly goes from over 1000 colors to less than 30 or some unsatisfying number, not the smooth curve one would expect. Therefore I have to use the superior Live Trace feature on my old Mac with CS on it. Either lift the restriction on Limited or make Automatic perform according to the slider.
3 votes -
Automatic dimension/measuring tool please
A tool to automatically dimension signs would be an advantage to those of us working in the sign industry who create visuals for clients. It would also assist in maintaining accuracy of the artwork created and automatic checking device. This with the removal of the artboard size limitation would create a full working drawing platform for the manufacture of large signs for the retail industry.
676 votesWe have done further updates to Dimension tool with recently released version - 28.3
You can create and use your custom scale for dimension, hide or show units on dimensions and dimensions are now sticky to the object - they transform as well when you transform the object.
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Command Palette / Panel / Bar
Sublime & Visual Code are text editors that are used to develop applications. One of the favorite functions is "Command Palette" which is activated with the Ctrl + Shift + P keys. This shows a text field at the top, from which almost any program command is invoked, as well as opening files and many other functions. One of the features is that it is not necessary to write the entire command, you can use only the first letters of two words and the results are listed. Visual Code is open source and you can surely study that functionality in…
22 votes
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