Give users explicit control over relative and absolute asset paths
This request is different from the relative-path fallback introduced in Illustrator 28.5. That implementation adds automatic recovery when an original file cannot be found. I’m requesting user control over how a document stores and resolves its links.
Users should be able to choose relative or absolute paths, see which mode each link uses, and change that choice through the Links panel.
For example, when I duplicate Project A as Project B, I want to choose relative links so Project B uses its own assets—even while Project A remains accessible. For a shared asset library, I may deliberately choose absolute links instead. Illustrator should let me make that decision explicitly.
The Links panel should also provide richer asset management, taking inspiration from After Effects’ Project panel:
- Show each asset’s resolved location and whether its link is relative or absolute.
- Allow changing the path mode for individual links or multiple selected links.
- Let users define a project root and flag assets linked from outside it.
- Provide bulk relinking to a chosen folder, including links whose original files are still available.
The goal is predictable, visible control over asset dependencies, without requiring packaging, manual relinking of every asset, or making the original files unavailable.
Please allow users to use relative links; take the concept from Web Design.
ESTUARDO RAMOS
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