Illustrator (Desktop) Feature Requests
When entering a new feature request, please provide:
- Description
- Why is this valuable to you?
194 results found
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Pattern origin
Why is the pattern anchored to the art board and not the item? I often create shapes and apply a pattern (lets say a plaid) and I adjust the alignment of the pattern so that it is equal on all sides. If I then copy the shape containing the pattern so that I can then offer the client a different color combination of the pattern, I now have to nudge the pattern of the new shape to align properly again! Because the pattern is anchored to the art board not the shape.
2 votesThis behavior can be toggled in Preferences > General > Transform Pattern Tiles.
Once enabled, the pattern stays relative to the object it’s applied to, when you move or copy it between documents.
It also makes it deform if you stretch, resize, rotate, skew or transform the object, because it’s all a part of 'transformations' we can make.
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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 votesIllustrator 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
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Add a search bar in the Swatches panel for color books
I would like to be able to search swatch books from the Swatches menu. This could be implemented globally for various search items, menus, tools, etc. (Similar to Photoshop's new search function.)
5 votesThe Swatches panel has an option to show the Find field, in the panel’s flyout menu
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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 votesThis 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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Alignment Hierarchy and Auto Align to Artboard
Alignment should work (Like most other design software) where there is a Parent/Child hierarchical relationship. Currently only "Align to left, and top" behave this way. Align to Center causes the two objects to meet halfway between their artboard positions. This is has been a major issue for years.
- Touch Parent object (anchored in artboard position)
- Holding Shift, Touch Child object
- Selection alignment task
- Child moves to parent
In addition, the selection of "Align to Artboard" should be an automatic default state for single or grouped objects. There is no need to have a selection for "Align to Artboard".
3 votesAs per the comment, this can be done by clicking one of the selected objects to define it a key, to make all other object in the selection to align to this key.
Other apps rely on order of selection, and this is something users request to able to toggle here: http://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/333657/suggestions/39711583
As for the Align to Artboard switch — it is useful when you have a selection of objects and want to align all of them to an artboard. In these cases the default mode Illustrator enables is Align to Selection, and you have to toggle it manually.
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CINEWARE AS A NATIVE TOOL
You should add the Cineware plug-in into Illustrator's architecture as a native tool, such as After Effects and its Cineware.
1 voteIt’s up to Maxon to build a third-party tool to allow a seamless bridge, and the solution already exists: www.maxon.net/cinema-4d/features/cineware-for-illustrator
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Show link image while resizing or moving
Instead of seeing just the bounding box when transforming linked files, why not show the content of the link? Transforming linked files, image or vector based, would be more intuitive. This currently requires a workaround.
4 votesThis is what Illustrator is capable of now with Preferences > GPU Performance options turned on.
It should work for both linked or embedded images, vector or raster, exactly as you described.
If it does not happen for you — please report it as a bug, and provide screenshots or screen recordings of the behavior, along with full OS and app specs.
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CANT RE-GROUP THE VECTORIZED TEXT WHY?
when the text is vectorized i cant Group after Un Grouping them ve to make a object in group so it workt the same way i Group the objects by Right click >Group
what i need is.
on Vectorizing the Text and ungrouping them .. gives me the availability to Group them back again.thanks
Awaiting for Repl1 voteAs far as I know, the Group command now is available in the context menu for a selection of multiple objects, after an Image Tracing object gets expanded, no difference from any other selection.
If you still have the issue, please comment back.
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Live preview of gradient (while dragging)
Whenever I'm using the gradient tool I wonder why I can never see the appearance of the gradient while dragging it. resulting in having to tweak it at least a couple of times before I'm content.
16 votesIllustrator now displays the appearance of the gradient interactively when you drag it, but only when GPU preview is on.
Make sure it is on in Preferences > Performance > GPU Performance, that you View > Preview on CPU / GPU Preview is correctly toggled, and that you are not using Overprint Preview.
If the issue still persists with all these checked — please comment back.
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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 voteTo 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
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Preview Mode
Like InDesign, incorporate a preview mode to show only the content inside of the artboard to see the final preview.
28 votesThere are two separate commands that offer this, as stated in comments:
View > Trim View
View > Presentation Mode
Read more about these here
Feel free to add comments if you need something else
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Can't place the anchor point at the spot I want
Anchor point keeps on placing at the spot I do not want. If I click on the canvas to place an anchor point, it places distances away from where I wish to place.
1 voteMost probably caused by having the Snap to Grid option enabled (or other snapping options) in View menu
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Key command for scrolling thru blend modes
You know how Photoshop has a quick key command for scrolling thru blend modes? Why not one for Illustrator?
6 votesYou can assign your own custom hotkeys for these commands, using Keyboard Shortcuts dialog: select Tools from the drop-down menu (yes, that’s an unexpected place), and search for ‘blend’ — last two found commands are ‘Blend Mode – Next Mode’ and ‘’Blend Mode – Previous Mode’ — assign any keys you want or use Photoshop-like keys, Shift+Plus and Shift+Minus.
The only difference between Ai and Ps is that Illustrator does not loop the list like Photoshop does… There is another request for this: https://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/333657/suggestions/44406693 — please vote there if you believe this should be addressed. -
Default input in Color Picker
Older versions of Illustrator used to default in "Hex" field of the Color Picker, but now the default is in "H" of HSB. This breaks up the workflow when copying a low of colors.
5 votes -
Copy/move artboards with the content
Why have you deleted the function "copy/move artboards with the content" in the last update? It was really gorgeous! Now I have to unlock and make visible all the layers again to create several version of my graphic design, and it is really annoying! I would like the possibility to copy/move one or more artboards with the content, even if it is on locked or hidden layers, and without the content when it is on locked or hidden layers.
Please, consider both functions, the copy/move with content was one of the best updates that you have ever made!!!
5 votesUsers have an option in Illustrator CC (22.1).
Preferences>Selection & Anchor Display>"Move Locked and Hidden Artwork with Artboard"
Please email us on sharewithai@adobe.com if it still does not solve your problem. -
Panel Stroke
After the upgrade to version 22.1, the profile is no longer open on the stroke panel
1 vote -
Properties Panel, values are not selected by clicking on the symbol in front of their field
If I click on a symbol in a panel for a property like W or H or X or Y the current value gets selected. This does not work in the Properties panel, nothing gets selected and I have to double click inside the property field to select it.
It slows down and is not consistent with the way it has worked for years.9 votes -
the ability to zoom in on the gradient panel for complex gradients
the ability to zoom in on the gradient panel for complex gradients. If I am creating a gradient some time I feel like I need to zoom into the panel so I can ensure I get the color pointers as accurate as possible
3 votesYou can grab the edge of the Gradient panel and resize it, making the gradient strip larger.
Please comment back if the solution is not sufficient for you.
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Customize Transparency Grid Size and Color...
It would be nice to customize the transparency grid's color and relative size.
11 votesIt is possible to do in Illustrator as well — not in Preferences, but in File > Document Setup dialog (Cmd/Ctrl + Alt +P) — because these settings are local for a document and not global. Same exact controls.
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Increase contrast between selected font and other fonts in Font list in Character palette
Not long ago the contrast between current font and other fonts in list in Character menu was quite sufficient (see image 1). Now it's barely visible (image 2). It makes locating current font in list rather difficult.
Please reconsider colors chosen.
22 votesThe contrast is much better in recent versions
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