Illustrator (Desktop) Feature Requests
When entering a new feature request, please provide:
- Description
- Why is this valuable to you?
4704 results found
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Add option to Always update links
Sometimes I make a lot of changes within linked images. AI always asks if I am to update links, and I'd like to have this dialogue temporarily switched off (but enable it later)
18 votesAs per Neeraj: it is possible to control the update behavior of links — automatically or manually. Go to Preferences > File Handling & Clipboard > Update Links.
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Bring back Access Keys Underscores
AI 23.0 Win7x64 hides underscores until Alt is pressed down, while 22.1 shows them always. 22.1 does it rights, and 23.0 does not. Please give us option to always display underscores.
18 votes -
Batching actions can't access files through Windows file shortcuts
If a user has a folder with shortcuts to files in different folders and try to batch this folder, AI can't see files. It would be great if it could.
18 votes -
Add 'Expand shape' button in Transform palette
You can convert live ellipses and rectangles to ordinary paths by using Unite in Transform palette, which is a nice hack. But the only way to convert live lines to paths — is through menu, Object > Shape > Expand shape. Three precise clicks with long distances run in-between.
Please, add button for this in shape properties area in Transform palette. There's plenty of space.
When path can be converted to live shape, change 'Expand live shape' button to 'Convert to live shape'.
And why there's no command for that in contextual menu still?
18 votes -
Introduce a key that allows to choose alternate glyphs from popup with keyboard
When working with text, every time I want to choose one of proposed alternate glyphs I have to move my hand to mouse and click the desired symbol.
This is tiring. I work with text. Why can’t I press a key to move the focus to this popup, use arrows to navigate to a desired one, and press Enter to confirm my choice? Why use mouse while I type?
Or is it a way already and I just can't find it?Please, make a way to access these without mouse.
18 votes -
More precision with the Knife Tool
I'd like to see more adjustment options for the knife tool. Something like the pencil tools option of Tolerances: Fidelity and Smoothness. It sure would help with more precision when I cut and ink my manga characters. Rather than go in after I make a cut and have to move a lot of anchor points and handles around by hand to get the precision I was after in the first place.
I hope you can understand what I'm texting about here and I hope you take this issue up and include it in a future feature update. Oh yea, and…
18 votes -
Add total artboard counter when exporting
When I export my artboards (with 'Export as'), AI sometimes won't show whole range numbers, but stick to previously entered numbers for this file. This is fine.
But my problem is I often need to export all artboards, but not first. And I don't remember exactly how much of them I do actually have — this differs from project to project.
So I have to exit 'Export as' dialogue, go to Artboards palette, see how much artboards are there and return to exporting.Why not to show how much artboards I do have inside dialogue window?
Please see mockup attached.18 votes -
Improve snapping strength
Currently, there is a "snap to point" feature in illustrator. However, I find that it works poorly. Often, I create guides, create geometric shapes on those guides, and move them overlap, join, or intersect to make new shapes. Currently, when I create a shape, I notice the shape will snap to a guide, but when I zoom in all the way, it will not be exact. Also, when I try to move two shapes together, I will experience the snapping effect, but it often is not lined up when I zoom in.
Is it possible to improve the snapping to…
18 votes -
Make copy/paste work between Illustrator and CorelDRAW (and vice versa)
Adobe and Corel are eternal rivals, I know.
But our (and not ours only, as far as I know) workflow requires both whales.
A lot of vynil-cutting shops, laser-engraving and large format printing shops work only in CD. We have to transfer our files back and forth from one program to another each day.We use PDF as a medium, but it's long way.
We also use this magnificent macros for CD:
https://github.com/cdrpro-macros/ai-clipboard
but it's not 100% solution.We need a way to copy/paste from/to AI from/to CD natively.
18 votes -
Allow to choose file version when saving AIT templates
One of our designers still use old version of AI.
We need to share newly created templates (.ait) with her.
But AI doesn't give options when saving templates!
So I'm forced to save to .ai first, choose CS6 version and then change extension by hand.Why can't I see same options for templates?
18 votes -
Add ability to use PPCM along with PPI, as Photoshop does
AI is used worldwide. Despite PostScript, based on points, based on inch, being de-facto a standard for most users, many people use metric system.
English inch, as you know, equals exactly 2.54cm.
This gives us, metric users, mantra for translating PPI into PPCM: 254ppi=100ppcmSince fractional values for resolution are impossible within AI (while Photoshop does!), we have to import via PS or work in scale and are very limited.
Please, add ability to use PPCM along with PPI, as Photoshop does.
18 votes -
Free transform reference point should affect resize too not just rotation (as PS)
When I change the reference point I use it mostly for resize, not rotation. But in Illustrator this has no effect. I believe it should happen while using Alt+resize as that wouldn't change the default. Alt would only change the position of the resized object if the reference point is moved from the middle.
I feel this would be natural to have and I'm really surprised this is not part of the free transform implementation. Photoshop and even Animate works like this! (Animate is erroneous with Alt+drag, but you don't need to hold that there)18 votes -
Allow to disable Rich Tool Tips right from the rich tool tips
'How to hide these popups for tools?' is one of the most common questions I see here and there (the most popular being 'how to show the resizing frame back?').
The answer is 'disable Show Rich Tool Tips in Preferences > General', but it requires knowledge, and Ai never directs new users there.What if we could just CLOSE one or all hints right there, in a hint itself?
17 votes -
Give the choice to change the export resolution with or without changing the number of pixels.
When exporting as an image llustrator will always change the pixel amount when you set a resolution higher or lower than 72 ppi. Photoshop has an option that is missing in Illustrator, the option to check/uncheck “Resample” when changing the resolution. When Unchecked only the ppi metatadata is changed and the pixel amount stays the same. When checked Photoshop behaves like Illustrator does and changes the amount of pixels when the resolution is changed. It would be a welcome addition to have this choice in Illustrator.
17 votes -
Add Search in Preferences
Incorporate a Search function to provide the user the ability to quickly locate a specific preference (refer to Apple's System Preferences Search capability.)
Please also make Preferences user-friendly — http://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/333657/suggestions/42476344
17 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 -
Allow to nudge or rotate individual elements along the path for Objects on Path
Objects on Path needs more options and in its current setup is very limited in its usefulness. This tool feels like it's still in beta. Whilst it's good at doing the one thing it's designed to do, it's missing a lot of useful capabilities.
One of missing bits is the ability to nudge or rotate individual elements along the path.
Other two requests are:
1. Objects on Path needs an ability to keep orientation of objects relative to page/path, similar to blends — http://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/333657/suggestions/48984890
2. Add an option to measure gaps between objects in Objects on Path by their bounds,…17 votes -
OKHSL / OKLCH Color Models Support
The HSL color model has a lot of issues with it and has been improved upon with OKHSL.
See this article—once you see the OKHSL color wheel, you will be sold instantly! Looks way better.
See attached images of HSL vs OKHSL.
Full article: https://bottosson.github.io/posts/colorpicker/
Would be great to have this in Illustrator.
17 votes -
Allow us to set up the default and stepped Dimension Line Offset for the Dimension tool
When we Opt/Alt-click the object or just click a segment, Ai creates a dimension with some predefined distance between the object and the dimension line.
We can’t control it (plus we can’t choose which sides to use for Opt/Alt mode anymore, unlike in early Betas).Also, we need to be able to hold a modifier while creating a dimension to constrain this offset to a set parameter, in a stepped manner, — something third-party plugins like BPT Pro and CADtools can do.
17 votes -
A hotkey to switch gradient types, Linear/Radial/Freeform
Shift + > and Shift + < are not taken.
We’d assigned them ourselves, but guess what — you forgot to expose these in Keyboard Shortcuts. As 90% of all other commands and buttons we have in panels. But hey, we introduce new features... finish old ones already.
17 votes
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