Boolean modes for Selection tool: Add / Remove instead of Invert with Shift only
If you drag Selection Tool while holding Shift over already selected objects it deselects them. This can be very frustrating in some cases, for example if you have to carefully select and delete multiple patches of overlapping shapes. Instad of just holding Shift and dragging a selection box multiple times and then deleting, you have to select, delete, select again, delete and so on.
It would be nice for Shift key to only add to selection without deselecting, and (for example) for Alt key - to only subtract.
Pyos
shared this idea
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Someone75
commented
Asking for 20 years, now.
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Jinmu
commented
I can't express how incredibly useful this would be. Every other vector graphics or 3D software I've ever used has had this basic quality-of-life feature.
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Aaron Sheffield commented
The main issue for me is that if I Shift-box through some elements that I already have selected, instead of adding to the selection, it removes some of the already selected objects (toggles). I wish Shift/Ctrl would be like any other CAD/graphics program (including Photoshop!) where Shift=add, Ctrl=subtract. The toggle is absolutely maddening.
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CK someone commented
The current selection method is really terrible for handling complex designs
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Boolean mode, by the way, is available with the Super Marquee Tool from Astute Graphics plugin suite:
https://docs.astutegraphics.com/colliderscribe/super-marquee-tool/super-marquee-tool-operations -
asd
commented
Still nothing? Seriously? We pay how many $$$ every year to not get something as simple as this done? What a worthless company
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@Jinmu, the tool is a part of their ColliderScribe pack, for a historical reasons (before SaaS model they used to sell these in packs).
https://astutegraphics.com/learn/update/select-like-a-pro-with-super-marqueeYou can search for it at YT with an ease also:
https://youtu.be/l9QuUIK_HxQSome written documentation is being made although, but not published yet, AFAIK.
By default the tool works in the default 'toggle' mode and the 'boolean' mode has to be enabled, in options on on the fly with a dedicated button press.
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Jinmu
commented
Egor, I'm not seeing a SuperMarquee tool on Astute's website. Is this just like how I open the fridge and can't find things that are right there in front of me or do they not offer it anymore? Some of the other plugins sound great though.
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Piotr Stopniak commented
Surprisingly, Affinity Designer doesn't have this either. Inkscape comes close but it only has this on a point level - not object level.
As someone mentioned earlier, any 3d/cad software did this from the dawn of time.
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Jinmu
commented
I know I've already commented, but I can't stress enough how much this would improve the usability of Ai. I'm surprised that more people aren't asking for this because I think about it every single time I use illustrator.
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Meanwhile Astute Graphics has this Boolean mode in their SuperMarquee tool. The plugin is paid, but it exists and it works, and it provides a feedback on what is selected before the section is made. Worth trying.
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this is the single most infuriating thing in illustrator.
Selecting complex patterns is impossible.
Every time I run into problems with only being able to TOGGLE the selection I go on a search for alternative software.... monopolies suck though. -
You should look at the Super Marquee Tool from AstuteGraphics plugins pack. It feels like it does exactly what you want.
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Mo'men Khalaf commented
We need it like in 3D Apps ( 3DS Max - C4D)
Shift to only add to selection and Ctrl ( or ALT ) to minus from selection
Nice and Clean
Please make this happen
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Jinmu
commented
I've wanted this for like 15 years. I've seen it requested over and over again. Seems like a pretty basic function that anyone who has used CAD/3D software knows is super useful. They could just make it an opt-in feature so as not to bug users who aren't familiar with it.
Would save sooo much time and frustration when you're working on something with a lot of objects or points crammed together. Also, I'm not a developer, but it seems like a relatively easy thing to implement?
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I like this one.
A Boolean mode instead of a Toggle mode we have now.
And of course, as an option! -
Meanwhile there is a trick that allows us to convert a partial selection to a full selection of selected paths — double Invert Selection command. By default it dies not have an assigned hotkey, but I changed it manually to be Ctrl+Shift+I, to be consistent with Photoshop (and moving Spellcheck to something else — it should be real-time anyway).
The only problem is that you have to be sure that you need to run it, that is the partial selection has to be obvious.As for the Boolean modes — yes, we have no workarounds. Voted.
(Edited by admin) -
[Deleted User]
commented
If I may suggest, an option in the selection menu would help.
I'm mostly using white arrow tool + alt to select more. In some situations (here, different strokes), click and selecting the lines and realizing I didn't select all the other points, I would have LOVED to get an option somewhere (selection menu ? anchor point tool bar ?) to EXPAND that "some paths" selection into an "full path" selection. I even used the black arrow selection tool… but my previous selection acted. Of course it's not what I wanted. Here we're talking about 3 strokes but I'm sure it could be many more.
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Kylem1701
commented
It's insane that this has been missing from Illustrator for decades when Photoshop, Animate, and thousands of other platforms have it. Please add this ASAP.
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Anonymous commented
Please. It is immoral for you to release any new updates without correcting this. You've literally had decades to address this most simple of requests.
Give us updates we actually want, something so simple, so banal, but that will drastically improve the user experience. We don't need anything flashy and new, just let us select with shift and remove from selection with command, control, or literally any other key.
