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Illustrator (Desktop) Feature Requests

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4619 results found

  1. Dragging with Gradient tool over object without a gradient fill does nothing

    I have a path I want to be filled with a gradient.
    I select it, pick Gradient tool, drag it over the path... and nothing happens.
    WHY.
    Because AI demands that you apply gradient fill first.
    Well, if I'm dragging over the path with a dedicated tool — what else would I want AI to do? Just apply it in the moment I started dragging.

    13 votes
    1 comment  ·  Gradients  ·  Admin →
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  2. User Customization of Pan + Zoom Interaction

    There are varying requests for dealing with Zoom and Pan interaction.
    I myself would like to use [MMB = Pan], and [alt/opt+RMB+drag = Zoom] to have coherence with 3d apps I switch between all day.

    These are ergonomic functions, subjective to user workflow and comfort, so rather than dictate one or another I suggest making them customizable.

    FEATURE GOAL:
    - Allow customization of basic interactions [Pan and Zoom] in order to:
    -- Enhance ergonomics by meeting users in their comfort zone
    -- Increase interaction coherence (become more 'glovelike') within a maximum number of workflows
    -- Do so in a way…

    13 votes
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  3. Using a character other than underscore for appending artboard names when exporting files.

    Right now when exporting artboards from an .ai file, illustrator names the file with the original filename and the artboard name, separated by an underscore. I would prefer a dash, as the underscore isn't recognized as a non-word character when double-clicking to select text. Giving the user the able to select the prefix character would solve this problem.

    13 votes
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  4. Copy Gradient properties

    Sometimes I need to add new objects with gradient fill to my design and keep gradient annotators in the same position as another existing object.
    It would be great if a function were added that allowed copying the gradient fill properties from one object to another, keeping the gradient annotators in the same position.
    On the other hand, when I add a gradient outline to an object with gradient fill, the gradient annotators do not match between the fill and the outline. This difference is more evident the thicker the contour. Adding the option to keep outline gradient annotators in…

    13 votes
    6 comments  ·  Gradients  ·  Admin →
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  5. Remove welcome messages

    Please remove the welcome messages "Let's design great graphics today, ... " and "Start a new file fast". They are unnecessary and become annoying when you see them all the time. Besides, to me it is totally irritating when a computer program addresses me with my name and even more when it is not at all intended to make a conversation with.

    13 votes
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  6. Remove 'move' function mapping from the Return/Enter key.

    The "move" function pop-up menu is activated by both "Shift + Command M" as well as the Return/Enter key. You are able to clear the "Shift + Command M" function by using Edit Keyboard Shortcuts, but the Return/Enter key will still engage this pop-up menu when an object is selected. Being close to the Shift key, it's constantly triggered on accident and it's not (as far as I can tell) currently possible to remove this function from being mapped to the Return/Enter Key.

    13 votes
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  7. 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
    2 comments  ·  Gradients  ·  Admin →
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  8. Lock angle of bezier handles (hotkey-selectable)

    When drawing with the pen tool, it would be very helpful to be able to lock the angle of the control point handles when drawing the next segment.

    The function works well for the existing fixed snap angles (90-deg, etc) but I would love to have a hotkey to temporarily lock the existing (arbitrary) angle of the point as I draw the next segment.

    Currently, I find it too easy to destroy a perfectly placed curve while drawing the next segment--particularly when the in- and out- handles have dramatically different lengths.

    13 votes
    3 comments  ·  Tools  ·  Admin →
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  9. Keyboard shortcuts for Flip (Reflect, Mirror)

    I flip vertically and horizontally quite often. It'd be very nice to have a shortcut for it. I currently have to create a custom action for it, but that ends up using one of the F1-F14 keys which are inconvenient to use.

    13 votes
    3 comments  ·  Tools  ·  Admin →
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  10. Have a clear path to turn off tool tips/ rich tool tips and tours

    I appreciate you want to make your software more accessible but these features ruin the pro-user experience add better control over libraries while your at it I should be able to disable libraries once and globally.

    13 votes
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  11. CID/GID (Character ID/Glyph ID) are displayed in Glyphs panel.

    In the case of Japanese, there are many variations of Chinese character, so it is useful to know CID/GID.
    Because it does not make a mistake when designing character. Also, I want CID/GID when using many old characters.

    A common UI with InDesign is desirable.

    (Translated to Japanese)
    字形パネルにグリフのCID/GIDを表示して欲しい。
    日本語の場合、漢字のバリエーションが多いので、IDがわかると便利です。
    作字の時などに間違いないようにしたり、また、旧字を多数使用のする時に CID/GID を表示してほしいです。
InDesign と UI を揃えて欲しいです。

    13 votes
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  12. Automatically push guides to a single layer

    It'd be great to have an optional feature that pushes every newly created guide to a dedicated guide layer. I think many people work with an extra layer for guides on top of their layer stack to toggle visibility and lock, and manually collecting all guides gets tedious.

    13 votes
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  13. Move Hidden Layers with Parent

    I can't Move Hidden layers, groups, and objects if they are part of a group. Even if I click the targe icon, nothing hidden selects.

    Sincerest apologies to those familiar with the workflow in Illustrator but coming from photoshop it is mind-boggling that a Parent object does not move its children along with it just because they are invisible.
    Photoshop handles this exactly as one would expect and moves hidden items. Just because I can't see it doesn't also mean that it behaves as if locked.

    Context: when building a character for Character Animator a very complex grouping structure exists…

    13 votes
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  14. Python scripting support

    Illustrator supports vbscript and javascript... But not Python. Python support would be awesome - it's a very common language, easy to use, has lots and lots of libraries to simplify workflows etc.

    13 votes
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  15. Have a "lock" option for the gradient annotator, to transform objects without affecting gradients

    The gradient annotator adjusts itself when you also adjust the object bigger. I would like for there to be an option where I can have the gradient annotator lock in place while I stretch an object bigger. When I am working on a file that has a gradient to the edge of the artboard but has no bleed, this instance is where this option would be super helpful.

    13 votes
    5 comments  ·  Gradients  ·  Admin →
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  16. Ability to toggle snap on/off while moving individual points

    I want snap to be on almost all the time. I only need it off to move a point or two.
    I would like a single key to hold down that would turn off snap while I move that single point.

    13 votes
    4 comments  ·  Snapping  ·  Admin →
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  17. "Actual Size" should work with multiple monitors.

    The new "Actual size" option on the view menu only works with the primary monitor. This should really work with multiple monitors as many AI users have more than one monitor. Please consider extending this feature. If you decide not to, then please display a warning to users stating that it's not actual size unless using the primary monitor as the drawing monitor.

    13 votes
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  18. Allow to customize colors for handle controls, anchors, and paths edges (permanently and context-based / on the fly)

    It would be helpful if you could make the color of pen tool handles distinguishable from the anchor color, even just a slight difference would be helpful.

    13 votes
    8 comments  ·  Tools  ·  Admin →
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  19. Transform Shortcuts / Enter the transform panel with a keyboard shortcut

    I want to be able to transform an object using the keyboard.

    For example, in Sketch, I can manipulate an object by holding the command key (optionally with a 10x Shift-key modifier) and using the arrow keys to increase or decrease the height or width of an object. This tends to be easier than using the mouse or the Transform panel when making quick modifications. (Also, less painful for arthritic users!)

    Please consider it.

    13 votes
    6 comments  ·  Tools  ·  Admin →
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  20. Two or more ruler measurement and document units at a time

    I would like the ability to see multiple ruler measurement units, at a time. The simplest way would be to have multiple color coded rulers. The ruler closest to the art-board would be the active ruler for anything currently displaying unit measurements.

    the other rulers would help relational thinkers and visual learners get a better understanding of how units relate to each other.

    13 votes
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