Illustrator (Desktop) Feature Requests
When entering a new feature request, please provide:
- Description
- Why is this valuable to you?
4773 results found
-
Add an option to distort objects to conform the path in Objects on Path
Having an envelope distort option on Objects on Path would be nice too.
4 votes -
Overset Text Warning on Export (like InDesign)
InDesign warns you that the document contains overset text when you export a PDF.
If Illustrator has this option, where does it live?
4 votes -
One-Click Unit / Resolution Preset Switching (Print/Web)
As a designer working across both print and web media, I’d like to propose a feature that would greatly improve workflow efficiency in applications like Illustrator and Photoshop.
A one-click unit preset switcher that allows users to toggle between unit / ppi settings optimized for different use cases.
For example:
Print preset: mm, 300dpi
Web preset: px, 72dpiThis could be a simple toggle in the toolbar or a quick-access dropdown in the settings panel.
4 votes -
Reduce the preview quality of the view to improve rendering speed and avoid performance degradation, which is necessary in complex documents
Performance severely declines when there are many paths in the document, which is quite frustrating. Hiding some layers and using a high-performance GPU for rendering the view does not completely resolve the issue. I hope a feature can be added to improve rendering efficiency by reducing the preview quality of the view. Additionally, I have noticed that performance tends to degrade more significantly at smaller view scales, while it improves somewhat when the view is zoomed in. I am unsure if this is a bug
4 votes -
Set Custom Scale based on artwork for Engineering Plans Measurements
I need to add measurements for lighting layouts, outlets, smoke detectors and fans on electric plans. The current measurement tool has a custom option but it's difficult to figure out the scale when it's 1:98 or 1:49. Trial and error gets frustrating and it's not always 100% correct.
**I need a way I could calibrate a custom scale like in CAD/Bluebeam. So, clicking two points and telling Illustrator that space between equals 4ft so it sets the scale for me. This would be more efficient. **
I know there are other programs I could do this in but I…
4 votes -
A key to reverse "object selection by path only" while using selection tools.
Mostly I like to work with this setting off but there are times when it would really be nice to turn it on by holding down a key while clicking in the middle of a path.
I don't know what key to suggest, command swaps selection for direct selection (and vice-versa), alt widens the selection of the direct selection tool and does nothing for selection, shift adds to/subtracts fom the selection. Maybe `?
4 votes -
Perpendicular Line Tool to Path
When I draw a line at any angle with the pen tool, I want to be able to draw a new line exactly perpendicular to that line. The name of the feature I want is "Perpendicular Line Tool". A tool that will ensure that the second line I draw is perpendicular to the first line when I draw a line in any direction, and will find and show me the 90 degree angle to each other. Please add, this should be a default feature in Adobe.
4 votes -
There is no documentation for the vector effects in the Effect menu. Write some, please.
There's three major sections to the Effect menu: Illustrator Effects, Photoshop Effects, and Additional Effects.
Additional Effects is the domain of plug-in effects, and properly documenting these is of course in the hands of whoever wrote the plug-in.
Photoshop Effects is full of bitmap effects. There's a page in the docs that runs down the whole list and describes every one of them with a sentence or three. Great! https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/using/summary-effects.html
Illustrator Effects, though? Some of it's documented. There's a page about the Scribble effect, which is also for some reason about the Object Mosaic menu item. There's a page about…
4 votes -
Rotate Artboards
Enable artboards to be rotated individually. Simple. Here's an example of my currently workflow: if I have a large map with a winding road in illustrator, and I want each of my 5 artboards to be aligned with that road, I have to make rectangles where I wish the artboards could be, and then make the actual artboards encompass the rectangle. Then I export as an image, and rotate and crop in Photoshop to match the rectangle. This becomes especially annoying if the boundaries overlap, and I have to export artboards one by one, turning off the rectangles of other…
4 votes -
Please revert to data recovery files being saved as .ai files instead of .aishm files that can't be opened.
Have the data recovery files save as .ai files that you can actually open and work on, rather than .aishm files that are unopenable.
What's the use of data recovery files that you can't open?
4 votes -
Add Image Trace presets for QR codes and other barcodes
One of the most common issues I have is receiving QR codes or barcodes from a customer as low-resolution JPEGs or PNGs. Asking customers to understand which formats from online generators are vector formats is always an issue.
While I know I can technically regenerate the QR code with an online generator, it feels like a natural extension of the existing Image Trace function to be able to recognise QR codes or barcodes and to snap the vector artwork to a proper grid.
This could be implemented with something like "snap points to 90° angles" or something, but I think…
4 votes -
Play actions WITHOUT expanding them in the panel
When playing an action, it expands.... so that it visibly "walks" through every step.
I have the Playback Options set to "Accelerated", so the walking is rapid, yet the action expands and I see the panel highlight every single step of the action as they are quickly walked through.
I want to click play, and the action runs while it stays collapsed. I only need an action expanded in the panel if I intend to edit it. I find myself collapsing, now open, actions over and over and over.
In addition re Button Mode:
I don't use button mode specifically…
4 votes -
Please allow currentColor for SVG export
Using SVG in web development frequently requires manual editing of the svg code, to use currentColor instead of a fixed fill or stroke colour.
4 votes -
Allow to use raster images with Mockup
(Not sure exactly what category this request falls under...) The mockup tool as it is now is pretty limiting. If you have a raster image as part of what you want to mock up, the mockup tool doesn't work. I design food packaging, most of which has an image of the item in the package. Being able to mock up packages that include images would be a godsend!
(And if anyone has a workaround, please share! I use the legacy 3d tool for cylindrical objects. But for things like pouches I haven't figured a way to do it. Thanks.)
4 votes -
Introduce a tolerance for Snap to Grid / Pixel, so that snapping happens only when points are close enough to grid intersections
When Snap to Grid is enabled, the snapping is hard — a dragged point is always constrained to the grid intersections. While sometimes it’s handy, at other times is just too rigid, especially if you zoom in and try to make tiny adjustments. Paired with the fact we can’t toggle snapping temporarily on the fly, this makes it into 'try, curse, undo, disable, try again' routine. Same applies to Snap to Pixel.
Compare how Affinity Designer handles it (the turquoise GIF) with the way Ai uses (the orange GIF).
4 votes -
4 votes
-
Create a symbol without replacing art with the symbol.
I would like a switch in the New Symbol dialogue to allow me to leave the original art on the canvas instead of replacing it with a symbol.
Also it would be nice to be able to make a symbol out of the entire contents of a layer nested in another layer without the entire layer being replaced by the symbol.
I use symbols in weird ways and both of these behaviors annoy the heck out of me.
4 votes -
Lock Highlight (Unlock) mode
I've always wanted some kind of Lock Highlight feature:
Much like editing a Group after double-click (which grays out all other artboard objects while you edit only that grouped object), I'd like to be able to see a grayed out preview of all the locked objects.
With a keyboard shortcut (e.g. Ctrl + Shift + Alt + Click), you could Unlock individual elements, then exit Lock Highlight mode and keep working.
That would keep you from needing to go back around and relock other elements you didn't want to disturb.
4 votes -
All Inputs / Panels Follow Dimension Tool Scale
I want to be able to create and edit all of my art in scale.
Example
I would like to be able to make a 2" rectangle in 1:2 scale and have it illustrator draw me a 1" square on the page.
This would be very powerful for things when expanded to the object info box to get area and path dimensions, being able to make a font 3' tall in the character panel.
Every place that you can control shapes with math, it would be amazing to be able to do it to scale in the program without having…4 votes -
Knobs.
Just more knobs. There should be a knob next to every input that takes an angle value. The Scribble effect has one. The Gradient palette doesn't. The Transform palette has one but it could use another one along with a couple of text input boxes as an option to move an object a specified distance along a particular angle instead of moving it in X and Y. The angle value in the transform section of Properties doesn't have a knob. Scatter brush options have two horizontal sliders and no knobs. Put a knob next to each of those sliders.
Go…
4 votes
.png){kind=link}
- Don't see your idea?