Illustrator (Desktop) Feature Requests
When entering a new feature request, please provide:
- Description
- Why is this valuable to you?
73 results found
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Add the ability to "freeze" layers.
Once upon a time, back around 2000, there was a natural media vector program called "Expression", by a studio named Creature House. It did a lot of heavy, complex rendering, yet retained pretty speedy performance on the machines of the time. But Microsoft bought Creature House back around 2003 and ended support for it; "Expression" became a Windows-only tool with greatly limited functionality.
One of the ways it kept its performance snappy was by having an additional state for layers. Like Illustrator, they could be visible or invisible, and they could be locked or unlocked - but they could also…
2 votes -
Add an option to create a preset for layers
It would be very helpful if there's an option to create a layers preset where I can customize the names, colors, & etc of the layers & sublayers and save it as a preset for when I needed it.
2 votes -
Setting scale dimensions for each layer
Currently, each layer can only be drawn at a scale of 1:1. If it becomes possible to set the scale for each layer, it will be possible to use it in the architectural field. Please consider this.
2 votes -
Please allow image tracing of individual colours to individual layers rather than 16 million objects.
Being able to trace one colour to one layer would make laser cutting so much easier. e.g. 16 colours to 16 layers
2 votes -
Make renaming layers consistent across Adobe applications.
Currently, the process of renaming layers in Adobe's apps is inconsistent and misleading for new users. It provides a frustrating experience when working in several apps simultaneously. To rename a layer, users need to perform different actions in Photoshop, Illustrator, and After Effects
Please, fix this issue. A universal solution (a shortcut) should exist to rename layers in all Adobe apps.
2 votes -
Illustrator. Paste in Place to keep subfolders.
Illustrator. Paste in Place to keep subfolders instead of merging them into the layer folder.
2 votes -
layer Merge Down
So, what I think could easily be done is just taking the already existing Layer Merge Down code from Photoshop, and literally just pasting it where it would work. I think this would be very useful.
2 votes -
Select the unlocked layer when the top layer is locked on file open
When working in/opening a file and the top layer is locked, the next layer should be selected automatically.
2 votes -
Blending Modes and Transparencies in Search / Filter in Layers
Could you consider incorporating Blending Modes or transparencies as additional filters in the Layers panel's new search feature, which is currently assisting us in sorting by images, text, and more?
2 votes -
Option to turn off the warning about deleting a layer containing artwork
How do I turn off the warning about deleting a layer containing artwork? There's no "don't show again" option in the pop-up. :(
In my line of work I delete layers with artwork constantly and it does take time to click the warning dozens if not hundred times a day. I use Illustrator 27.1.1.2 votes -
New layer ordering
Would LOVE a "preference" option to choose whether your new layers/artboards appear above the existing layers/artboards or below them.
2 votes -
For the love please make it an option to group layers like in Photoshop. Sublayers just get super confusing.
Just like you do in Photoshop, please make it an option to make a folder to group your layers. You can keep sublayers, it's just my layers are constantly getting mixed up because of sublayers and it's just not easy to use.
2 votes -
Source/origin paths and follower paths
I'm looking for a way to set a certain layer/path as the origin so when I duplicate and change the original path, the rest will automatically update.
This would for example be useful in iterative design workflow to quickly change designs and/or clipping mask instances where you need multiple copies of the same path, but only wish to edit one
2 votes -
"Draw In Front" button
We have a "Draw Behind" button that adds objects immediately behind the current selected object in the Layers panel.
However, we need a "Draw in Front" button that adds immediately on top of selected objects.
The "Draw Normal" adds objects to the very top position in the Layer.The attached graphic was created as follows:
1. Magenta rectangle.
2. Cyan rectangle.
3. Select Magenta rectangle
4. Change to "Draw Behind" mode .
5. Yellow rectangle.
6. Select Magenta rectangle.
7. Change to "Draw Normal".
8. Black rectangle.2 votes -
Add 'Paint Brush Mode' to highlight and actually select multiple objects or groups in Layers panel
Add functionality like the view (eyeball ) icon cursor- as you drag down the list in the selection column of the layers menu, the cursor goes into "paint brush" mode and continues to select or deselect items. Also add "Select all objects and groups on highlighted layers or sub layers" to the dropdown function menu.
2 votes -
Right click object to hide that layer/object without opening the Layers panel
Is it possible to create a function with right click object to hide that object or layer? Instead of select object and then hide it in the Layers panel? For some reason I always try to do that though that function doesn't exist.
2 votes -
Invert blending mode
You have Normal, Multiply and Screen, but there is no simple Invert blending transparency mode for layers or objects.
I've seen it in other vector based programs and would love to see it in Ai (and Ps).eg
When a black ring (set to INVERT) overlap a solid black circle, the portion of the ring that overlaps would turn white.eg
When a Blue Circle overlapped a Yellow Circle, the boolean area would turn green.This was VERY popular years ago in design, both in the 1930s and again in the 1980s in early graphics software, but it seems to…
2 votes -
Direct Component Group
Is it possible to create a direct component group that performs certain functions, rather than relying on clickable line options? This way, there's no need to enter a group to select the required component.
1 vote -
The option to define visibility of layers and objects by artboard.
The option to define visibility of layers and objects by artboard.
This way, one could set multiple artboards of the same content with different sets of layers or objects visible in each.
I often have to hide/show some layers before export (for instance when I do the same complex artwork in multiple languages). Of course the default would be the current behavior.1 vote -
Change how lock and hide work
Сan you adjust how hiding layers vs locking layers works?
Lock should prevent edits of any kind.
Hide should allow edits if the master group or layer are adjusted.
Example: Character Animator makes us hide Illustrator layers for various poses, mouths, etc. All the mouths are in a head group. If I move a head group with hidden layers, those layers don't move with the group. They should move. They should just not be seen while doing it because they are not locked.
If hide works this way, can you explain the difference between lock and hide?
I find this…
1 vote
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