Illustrator (Desktop) Feature Requests
When entering a new feature request, please provide:
- Description
- Why is this valuable to you?
563 results found
-
Show the angle between two paths when dragging anchors
A new feature I'd like to see is a Smart Guides tool tip which shows the angle that is created between two paths, when manually dragging an anchor.
There could be the option of...
1. ... always displaying the relative angle.
2. ...only displaying the tool tip of common angles, such as 15, 30, 45, 60 degrees.In the attached mock-up, the bottom right-hand anchor of a square is being dragged to the right. The angle that is created relative to the top of the square displays as a tooltip, in this instance 33 degrees.
3 votes -
Circle tool unexcpected results CTRL + SHIFT
using the Circle tool and cntrl + shift produce unexpected results, i excpect some it to create a perfect circle hitting both the starting click down and realease locations like only hitting ctrl dose when creating ovals .
- normal circle tool creates ovals
- holding shift creates circles
- holding ctrl creates a oval from 2 points holding both dose not create a perfect circle from 2 points.
3 votes -
Zoom Tool Controls (Fit to Screen)
Can we make the Zoom Tool have the same Control settings as the Zoom Tool in Photoshop? I design in Large Scale Canvas Files. I like to design Art for Shirt Prints/Broadcasting Graphics for Entertainment Usage/Graphics for Sports Teams.
This means a lot of Re-Scaling Images after put into the documents. When I Re-Scale the images and go to position them. I need to Zoom In onto the destination of the image's positioning.
After I position that image. I can go back to Full-Size Image. But, I have to go to my Magnifier % at the bottom of my program…3 votesIndeed, Illustrator does not have 'Fit to Screen' option in the context menu for the Zoom tool.
But it provides other ways to do that:
View > Fit Artboard in Window (Cmd/Ctrl + 0)
View > Fit All in Window (Opt/Alt + Cmd/Ctrl + 0)
If you are interested in Zoom to Selection command, please vote here: https://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/333657-illustrator-desktop-feature-requests/suggestions/31427962-zoom-to-selection-fit-selection-on-screen-with
-
Move, Scale and Rotate Gizmo
A gizmo, like used on 3D softwares could be a great solution to improve shape transformation. Snapping could also be improved a lot with a gizmo.
Take a look at Cinema 4D for example.
Currently its very annoying to do these operations. Rotate option, appear or not depending on the zoom. We don't have any options for snapping and it its very unfriendly the way it works.
Thank you.
3 votes -
Duplicate while rotating
Please make the ability to hold ALT and rotate in order to duplicate.
3 votes -
Option for drag select to ignore center points of objects
When selecting multiple shapes on top of a large shape, it's difficult to avoid the center point of the background shape. The current workaround is to constantly lock and unlock shapes, or shift click on different objects several times. Drag selection would be easy if it only detected the edges of shapes.
3 votes -
Hot key to cycle through objects when many are close together or stacked and you select one of them...
When zoomed out, or there are many objects in the same area, it would be nice if I could select one, and then hit a hot-key to cycle between other objects that are nearby, or behind the selected object. Right now, I have to lock or hide the selected object to be able to select another one that is very close or behind it.
3 votes -
3 votes
-
Add support for linear arrays when copying.
I'd like to propose that support be added for linear arrays when copying, similar to how it's done in Sketchup (https://tinyurl.com/y9ye5r9a):
When copying an object by holding down the ctrl key, after releasing the mouse, typing in "x3" will result in 3 copies. Likewise, typing in "/3" will repeat the copy but in 1/3 increments. This would be great for rotations and scaling as well.
3 votes -
adjust CUSTOM brush STROKE SIZE with bracket keys realtime
use bracket keys to adjust stroke size of custom brushes for faster editing workflow
(you can do it to calligraphic brushes now but not custom brushes, super annoying since 80% of my character art is with custom brushes).
3 votes -
Changeing force of Bezier handles without changeing their orientation
Case study:
- click Direct Selection Tool (white arrow)
- click a curve segment (not vertex) of any shape
- drag
See how the orientation of Bezier tangents at both ends of the segment change orientation? This is most unhelpful. If, instead of dragging the mouse, you use keyboard increments (arrows), then the tool acts the correct way -- changeing the Bezier handles length, or "force", while retaining their direction, or "azimuth".
I understand the interest of the present behavior, but I believe it would be great if there was a modifier key to activate the "keyboard" behavior when using the mouse drag.
3 votes -
The ability to save a direct selection
Sometimes geometric transformations require a complex selection of certain vertices on one or more objects. Losing the selection because of a misclick is so common and frustrating... One should be able to save current selection to recall it if lost. This little buffer can be really very temporary, i.e. stop working if object topology has changed in the meantime. It would already prevent frustration on many occasions.
3 votesIllustrator allows to save, load and managed partial and full selection with Select > Save / Edit Selection commands.
UI is archaic, but it does the thing you want.
Please leave any comments regarding this feature here.
As for having a selection operation as an undoable operation — there is a separate feature request for this you can vote for: https://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/333657/suggestions/34934953
-
Zoom one-handed with Magic Mouse
I would like to be able to zoom in and out one handed using a Magic Mouse. I think this could work by using two finger gesture up or down to zoom respectively.
3 votes -
Why doesn't ai have "Cloners?" and "Clone-to" functions
Cinema 4D <-> Adobe Illustrator
2D cloner objects seems it would be totally possible in the layers palette.
3 votes -
Don’t zoom in to maximum if I move the cursor 1 pixel with Zoom tool
If I use the Zoom tool and happen to move the cursor 1 pixel, do not zoom in 41500%. Nobody would ever want that to happen.
3 votes -
Tracing with machine learning, Sensei, or something similar
My question is: Is there is any program or chance that the illustrator trace will use less points and be more accurate?
I love using the illustrator and I love tracing pictures with hand, but sometimes I just don't have the time or the energy to do it manually and the available trace solution is just not 10/10 for die cut lines and sometimes logo recreations (when the customer can send only a 100x100 pixel file, because of reasons).
If there was a chance you made something that would check, analyse, and learn from my (and other volunteers') manual tracings…3 votes -
A 'Remove Duplicate/Wholly Obscured Objects' feature
A 'Remove Duplicate/Wholly Obscured Objects' feature
I can pay for a plugin that removes duplicate objects that are immediately above/below a copy. I need something more sophisticated; an option to clean up a drawing by removing all duplicate objects and all wholly obscured objects.
3 votes -
Perspective anchored objects - Advanced perspective manipulation
I've been wanting something to solve the following use-case for a while:
When adjusting a 2D illustration drawn in perspective, to a new position within that perspective (think cereal box rotating on a surface), I find myself spending a lot of time adjusting anchors and curves. The new shape tools have been a huge help, but they can go further!
It would be AMAZING to anchor 2D drawings to a perspective plane and update them with a simple rotation within that plane (like you would in 3D)
How would this work? Illustrator would assume outer lines would move more slowly…
3 votes -
Illustrator - Trace image and turn in to an editable path instead of shapes
I would love to be able to take my drawings and use the live trace feature (or maybe even a feature within the Illustrator app??) that would allow me to trace my hand-drawn sketches (on paper) and turn them into line paths instead of outlined shapes. This way, I don't have to trace my images again, once they are in Illustrator. It would be a huge time saver!
3 votesThere are options for image tracing in AI. Extended panel gives you an ability to select Strokes instead of Fills. Tweaking these can help you with that. Please comment back if you think these should be refined.
-
Smoothing options for drawing tools like in Photoshop
Please add a customizable “tension delay” or “string tension” feature to the Pencil, Paintbrush, and other drawing tools — similar to Photoshop Painter’s input lag option — so that strokes mimic smooth, flowing tension, as if a string or spring is gently guiding the cursor.
Additionally, include the ability to adjust stroke width dynamically within the Pencil and Paintbrush tools, allowing for more expressive and controlled line variation.
Why this is valuable:
- Enables smoother, more controlled freehand strokes — ideal for illustrators seeking precise, fluid lines.
- Adjustable tension slider lets users fine-tune responsiveness to match their drawing style.…2 votes
- Don't see your idea?