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Illustrator (Desktop) Feature Requests

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173 results found

  1. Copy the style of stroke when using eyedropper tool

    When I use the eyedropper tool on a stroke with arrowhead, the full style does not get copied - only color and weight (not arrowhead). I think it is expected for the arrowhead to get copied too, just like the color AND font get copied when you use the eyedropper tool on text.

    9 votes

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    7 comments  ·  Other...  ·  Admin →
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    As mentioned in comments, arrowheads are strangely the part of Appearance and not the basic stroke, and to get it copied you should tick 'Appearance' in Eyedropper tool settings (hit Enter when the tool is chosen). Then everything works. Please comment back if it does not for you.
  2. Position elements relative to artboards.

    Since several improvements to artboards are in the pipeline, I think It would be worth considering positioning elements relative to the top left corner of the artboard. I haven't found a good use for keyboard entry of x and y positions. Positioning elements relatively would make it relatively easy to maintain padding / grids across multiple artboards by entering an exact value.

    5 votes

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  3. Replace objects with an object

    example:
    I have created a circle with text in it, and grouped it all together, however I have a pattern of Circles, and only want some of the circles in the pattern to look like the one I have created and grouped, so I can click the ones I want to replace, and then with a tool, select the group I've created, and it will replace the ones I've selected. Not too sure if this feature exists, though it would be a beneficial tool to have.

    2 votes

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    2 comments  ·  Tools  ·  Admin →
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    The intended solution for this is to use Global Edit feature.

    Copy the object you want to replace with, then select one of many copies you want to replace and use Select > Start Global Edit command.

    Using Shift, unmark those copies you don’t want to affect.

    Isolate the targeted copy.

    Paste the copied object and position it correctly relatively the old object.

    Delete the old object.

    Exit the isolation and end Global Edit.

    It may sound convoluted at first, but once you master the method, you’d be able to easily replace almost anything.

    Global Edit has its limitations: it doesn’t work for images, text objects, clipped masks, linked objects, and third-party plugins.

    Read more about it here: https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/using/global-edit.html

  4. Delete hidden layers

    Would it be great if add the option of deleting all hidden layers as in photoshop..

    5 votes

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    3 comments  ·  Other...  ·  Admin →
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    There is a command in the Layers panel’s menu, called Delete Hidden Layers... Unfortunately, it deletes not only hidden layers, but also all hidden content. There is a separate request to rename the comment or add another, to distinct two operations: https://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/333657-illustrator-desktop-feature-requests/suggestions/43634643-delete-hidden-layers-command-innapropriately-nam Please vote. Also, there is another request to delete unused/empty layers: https://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/333657-illustrator-desktop-feature-requests/suggestions/40696027-delete-unused-layers
  5. Change shortcut for paste in place/paste on all artboards to match Indesign

    I'm in a workflow where I work simultaneously with Illustrator and Indesign, linking illustrator files to indesign (they could probably be integrated more!).

    However, it is probably my most irritated moments when I realize I have used cmd-alt-shift-V (shortcut to paste in place in Indesign) instead of cmd-shift-V. If you work on one artboard, it looks the same, and you don't realize your mistake until you go to another artboard and see that the pasted thing has been pasted on all artboards. And you've worked far enough to not having the possibility to undo...

    2 votes

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  6. Eyedropper shortcut

    If I have a box with a gradient stroke (as an example) and I want to then fill it, if I use the eyedropper to grab the color from another object, it overrides and deletes the stoke. I would like to be able to use the eyedropper on fill or stroke without deleting it's counterpart. Right now it's a long process of clicking off my shape, eyedropping the color, copying the color value, reselecting the object, double clicking the fill or stroke, and pasting in the value. It adds up to a lot of time lost for something that should…

    1 vote

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    To make Eyedropper pick and apply only fill, without modifying the stroke, you need to open the tool’s options, and uncheck the ‘Focal Stroke’ option in the left column. This will force Illustrator to ignore the stroke from the source object, and your target object will keep its original stroke.

    Use other options there to fine tune the tool to your needs.

    There is a similar resolved request that is about the same thing — https://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/333657/suggestions/38241262

  7. Unlink assets from Creative Libraries

    After I drop an asset from the library in a document, I want to be able to unlink it, and remove dependencies to an external library.
    In my case, I'm using library to build products that I'm selling, so when I export the products for sale, I need to remove the dependencies to these libraries.

    Any designer who sell his products, or share with people external to a team, would have the same need.

    We need to keep the flexibility of using a library (to update changes through multiple documents), but we need to make these documents self sufficient.

    3 votes

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    As stated in the comments, one can place a library item as an unlinked copy with Opt/Alt+dragging on canvas. To embed linked copies, a user can press the Embed button in Control / Properties panels, or choose Embed Image(s) command from the Links panel's flyout menu.

  8. Mapping artwork on 3d object surface

    Now we need every time to convert /or update/ artwork into symbol before mapping in on the surface of 3D objects that are created with 3d effects. That process is annoying and complex. Simplifying of that can help profs and beginners to use it quickly and pass some steps.

    Now many programs like Adobe Dimension CC, 3d paint allows to do that very easy and in real time.

    Also adding some new feature like uv maps or tiling 3d effects can be very helpful.

    2 votes

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    Modern 3D and Materials allows to map symbols directly on a object on canvas, across its multiple surfaces. A user can move it, rotate, scale.

    The tech is not perfect still, and it won’t be supported for now Classic 3D effects, but is potent enough already to try.

  9. Presentation screen mode

    Add presentation screen mode, similar to InDesign

    5 votes

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  10. Copy parts from multiple layers into multiple layers

    I work with a lot of parts that I need to keep separated for output. A simple example is a complex, compound shape with 20 elements. I have 10 on a "cut" layer and 10 on a "print" layer. If I copy and paste them, I can only paste them into one layer. I might want them to go back into the same layers or into 2 new layers. I never want them in the same layer. I now have to go in and separate them all into the proper layers.

    This is important because the layers tell our output…

    5 votes

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    You can enable Paste Remembers Layers in the panel’s menu to make Illustrator remember layers your objects were copied from and insert them on layers with same name when pasted. If these layers don’t exist, Illustrator will create them. Be careful and disable it when not needed, if might make a mess when not needed. Also note that with this option enable everything copied from an isolation mode creates a separate 'Isolation mode' layer, which is stupid — vote here if you think this should be addressed: https://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/601447-illustrator-desktop-bugs/suggestions/37935496-paste-remembers-layers-bug-with-isolation-mode
  11. I would like to pick a colour from the fill for the stroke

    I would like to pick a colour from the fill for the stroke.

    So if I choose fill to be the main I would like to change it regardless if I am picking from the fill or the stroke.

    1 vote

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  12. Artboards should have a purpose

    1. What is the purpose of having an artboard if anything drawn beyond it shows up as part of your drawing? I exported an artwork as a png file and everything beyond the artboard showed up as part of the artwork. The workspace around the artboard should be able to be used for ideas that may be relevant to future versions of your art or to assist in creating your art.
    2. When I drew the attached image, I expected that anything beyond the artboard would not show as part of the artwork.
    2 votes

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    Illustrator can respect artboards when exporting a raster image, if Use Artboards option in the Export dialog gets checked. In this case everything beyond artboards’ boundaries will get trimmed.

    Export for Screens method will respect either artboards or assets, depending on the user’s choice.

    Also, there is a view to just hide these excess temporarily with View > Trim View command, but this won’t make changes when exporting.

  13. Extended Tools Panel

    Less frequently used tools (in my case: Scissors, Paint Bucket) are hard to find in the standard Tools Palette. Wouldn't it be great when Illustrator had a preset to show all tools at a glance (on my 30" screen...)?

    I know that it is possible to create custom tools panels - but especially when creating those, it's nice to have a view on all tools at once!

    2 votes

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  14. No strokes on linked files

    Illustrator CC 2017 (up to date) Windows 64bit
    Place a linked file, eg. a jpg
    Add a stroke to the linked file object in the appearance panel
    Try and change the stroke weight.
    Expected a stroke. like any other.

    2 votes

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    1 comment  ·  Strokes  ·  Admin →
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    To have strokes around your linked images, you should do some additional steps:

    1. Apply a stroke (obviously)

    2. Open Appearance panel

    3. Focus the applied stroke attribute

    4. Apply Path > Outline Object effect

    It should be placed 'inside' of the stroke attribute, not the object itself. You can always drag-n-drop it if you missed.


    Why does it work?

    The image does not have a path for a stroke to be applied to. If you aplly the effect to the image directly, its pixel data is replaced by a path around the bounding box. Applied to stroke, it give it 'rails' to be stroked along.

    Not easy to grasp, but once you get it, Appearance panel becomes your best friend.

  15. Remove F1 key as help key

    I use the F-keys frequently for Actions. However, F1 is defaulted to launching Illustrator's help screen and I'm regularly hitting the key by mistake. Could we please have a different way to launch the help screen and free up the F1 key for other, customisable, uses?

    1 vote

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    Thank you Ryan for your help.
    Here is the way to customise the keys – please thank Ryan if you found it useful.

    “You can go to edit/keyboard shortcuts, then choose menu commands. Find help, and clear the F1 key from it or pick it as another one. Save it as your own custom keyboard preset and you’re good to go.”

  16. Screen resolution of Illustrator 23.0 - Not recognising retina display?

    Just downloaded the new Adobe Apps as an update. All fine except illustrator. It looks massive on my screen. Seems it's not seeing retina display or can't work out the size of my display. Attached are two screenshots. One is illustrator window looking massive and Photoshop looking as it should.

    3 votes

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  17. Blend shapes or lines along a curved path, like a "spline".

    Type can be arranged along a custom curved path. Why not blends? As it is now, if I want to arrange repeating vertical lines along a curved horizontal path, I have to: create the blend in a straight line, then: line by line, go along the blend cutting off bits to match the curved horizontal baseline. I can make it look decent, but it takes quite a while.

    1 vote

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    2 comments  ·  Tools  ·  Admin →
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  18. change stroke color of custom brush

    I've downloaded a few custom brushes & their colors don't change. They're black, that's it, no matter what stroke color I choose in the palette. I don't like having to expand their appearance just to change their color. In a few projects that I'm working on, I want to be able to try a few different brushes in the color that I like (and be able to change that color, too) + at any point that I wish to change that brush again in the future & maintain that color. You get it. Hoping this is a simple thing the…

    1 vote

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    1 comment  ·  Tools  ·  Admin →
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  19. The ability to save a direct selection

    Sometimes geometric transformations require a complex selection of certain vertices on one or more objects. Losing the selection because of a misclick is so common and frustrating... One should be able to save current selection to recall it if lost. This little buffer can be really very temporary, i.e. stop working if object topology has changed in the meantime. It would already prevent frustration on many occasions.

    3 votes

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    1 comment  ·  Tools  ·  Admin →
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    Illustrator allows to save, load and managed partial and full  selection with Select > Save / Edit Selection commands.

    UI is archaic, but it does the thing you want.

    Please leave any comments regarding this feature here.


    As for having a selection operation as an undoable operation — there is a separate feature request for this you can vote for: https://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/333657/suggestions/34934953

  20. Please allow fonts to be found by typing in the name in the drop down list.

    Please go back to allowing fonts to be found by typing in the name into the drop down menu.

    2 votes

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    This is exactly what Illustrator allows already.

    In fact, it allows two ways you can toggle, using the 'looking glass' icon at the left of the Font Family input: 'Search Entire Font Name' or 'Search First Word only'.

    Perhaps it got changed for you?

    Anyway — if it does not behave like it should — please log a separate bug request about this in the proper forums’ section.

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