Illustrator (Desktop) Feature Requests
When entering a new feature request, please provide:
- Description
- Why is this valuable to you?
150 results found
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Export artboards with the correct sequential order
I am creating multiple page presentations and often I have to insert or move artboards. When I export the artboards to JPG or PNG they are named after their original artboard number which creates a lot of extra work for me.
2 votesIllustrator uses the actual order of artboards in the Artboards panel for numbering, not the one you have on canvas (because artboards can be used not only as pages, but viewports, intersect and contain each other). To get the order you need, you should re-arrange the list manually in the panel.
There is also a request for automating the matching inverted process: https://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/333657-illustrator-desktop-feature-requests/suggestions/44105052-rearrange-artboards-on-canvas-accordingly-to-their
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flip artboard dimensions/orientation
Many versions ago, there used to be a little arrow next to the artboard dimensions that would switch the width and height values. Meaning, if I had 8.5x11, I could hit the button to change the dimensions to 11x8.5. Where did it go?
2 votesYou can change an artboard’s orientation by clicking a corresponding album or portrait button in the Control panel. For some reason there is not one in Properties, so please add your votes if you want to have it there
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Unlock individual items
Please add the ability to unlock individual items (instead of having to unlock all, then relock all but the one you need). We've been working around this for years, so when I noticed it was available in XD, I thought I'd ask for it to available in Illustrator
2 votesIllustrator allows to unlock individual objects on canvas, if you enable 'Select and Unlock object on Canvas' option in Preferences, Selection & Anchor Display section.
Also, you can right click on the spot that has your locked object, choose Unlock and then this item by its name, without enabling that option.
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Allow for graphics placed from CC Library to be expanded and converted to curves
Right now, when you place a vector from the CC Library, you can't use it as if it were a vector created on the spot. This hinders speed of creation and prevents 2 crucial things:
- You can't change colors of the vector without editing the original CC item
- You can't use it with pathfinder for a print job for example (imagine you want to cut a shape out of PVC or something). Right now, to do this, you must double click the library item, copy and paste it on your document.
Altough it might not seem much work, if, for…
2 votesYou can drag an asset with the Alt/Opt key held to embed it instead of placing.
However, please note a PDF-copy of an asset is used, and not the original artwork you had imported into a Library, which means the embedded copy can have extra clipping masks and expanded effects.
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Stretching objects
A stretch function allows to e.g. move a door in a wall. The door is moved, one wall is enlarged and the other wall is shortened. This is done by drawing a box through the walls and around the door, and then by moving the selection. Object that are completely within the selection are moved. Object that cross the selection box are stretched.
2 votesSelect points needed with the Direct Selection tool and move them altogether.
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correct measurements
In the attached screen shot you can see that the height of each of these objects, when looking at the blue illustrator guidelines, is measured the same but in reality, as is clearly obvious from the stroke attached to one of them, they are not the same size. One of them is clearly bigger in size due to the stroke. This discrepancy is very and constantly confusing when trying to work in precision measurements. Please could you fix so the stoked object calculates the stroke outer edge as additional width, as that is what it is. Thanks James
2 votesThere's an option 'Used Preview Bounds' for that in Preferences, which toggles the behavior. When it’s on, Illustrator includes stroke weight into dimensions, and does not when it’s off.
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Button to reveal a Layer on "Layer window"
Is there a possibility to create a right-clic option to "reveal on Layer window" from any object? Sometimes when I receive some .ai files, everything is un-organized and must travel over layers and layers... This option is in After Effects and is very helpful.
Thanks for reading!2 votesYou can do this now with the Locate Object button in the bottom of the Layers panel.
However, this is not an automatic thing. If you wish to have an option for it to be automatic, vote here: https://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/333657-illustrator-feature-requests/suggestions/39104935-automatic-locate-object
If you want to be able to assign a hotkey to it without wrapping it into an action, vote here: https://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/333657-illustrator-feature-requests/suggestions/34798945-add-keyboard-shortcut-for-locate-object-button-in
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Would like to be able to entries in the Appearance Panel and perform Pathfinder functions to them. .
Example: Select 2 strokes in the appearance panel, one transformed some distance from the other, and apply the pathfinder Unite function (Fx) and have them become functionally one entry on one layer of the selected object.. This could eliminate some what are sometimes complicated procedures when outputting files to various RIP/machines/printers.
2 votesYou can group fills first and then apply an additional stroke to this group using the Assistance panel
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2 votes
We need your help to build this product right. We have a few open questions that we would like to discuss with you please join us on our pre-release program using this link : https://adobe.ly/1o2SDsg
Hoping to meet and greet you on the prerelease forum and seek your input to build this product right.
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Freeform gradients to grayscale
It would be awesome if we could convert freeform gradients to grayscale just like with a normal gradient.
2 votesYou can do this by executing Edit > Edit Colors > Convert to Grayscale
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Recolor Artwork flip 2 colors
I want to quickly flip 2 colors within a multi-colored design.
Lets say I have Object A (RED) and Object B (Blue) I want A to be Blue and B to be red. I try to find tutorials about it but couldn't find any. I have tryed everything in recolor artwork but its not possible to switch simply two colors (withing a multi-colored design, large file to see different color options quickly)
2 votesThis can be done with native Recolor options dialog, just with dragging one chip over the other. Please refer to the comment inside for details.
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disable autocrop suggestions
The aggressive new autocrop suggestions in Illustrator 23.0 are a huge hassle. Every new crop I make I have to move the suggested crop lines back on 2-3 of the sides of my cropping image, or risk losing as much as 70% of the original image. Very much a waste of my time and a headache.
2 votesAs per the comment, disable the 'Enable Content Aware Defaults' in Preferences > General to turn crop suggestions off
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Please allow fonts to be found by typing in the name in the drop down list.
Please go back to allowing fonts to be found by typing in the name into the drop down menu.
2 votesThis is exactly what Illustrator allows already.
In facet, it allows two ways you can toggle, using the 'looking glass' icon at the left of the Font Family input: 'Search Entire Font Name' or 'Search First Word only'.
Perhaps it got changed for you?
Anyway — if it does not behave like it should — please log a separate bug request about this in the proper forums’ section.
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Replace objects with an object
example:
I have created a circle with text in it, and grouped it all together, however I have a pattern of Circles, and only want some of the circles in the pattern to look like the one I have created and grouped, so I can click the ones I want to replace, and then with a tool, select the group I've created, and it will replace the ones I've selected. Not too sure if this feature exists, though it would be a beneficial tool to have.2 votesThe intended solution for this is to use Global Edit feature.
Copy the object you want to replace with, then select one of many copies you want to replace and use Select > Start Global Edit command.
Using Shift, unmark those copies you don’t want to affect.
Isolate the targeted copy.
Paste the copied object and position it correctly relatively the old object.
Delete the old object.
Exit the isolation and end Global Edit.
It may sound convoluted at first, but once you master the method, you’d be able to easily replace almost anything.
Global Edit has its limitations: it doesn’t work for images, text objects, clipped masks, linked objects, and third-party plugins.
Read more about it here: https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/using/global-edit.html
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Change shortcut for paste in place/paste on all artboards to match Indesign
I'm in a workflow where I work simultaneously with Illustrator and Indesign, linking illustrator files to indesign (they could probably be integrated more!).
However, it is probably my most irritated moments when I realize I have used cmd-alt-shift-V (shortcut to paste in place in Indesign) instead of cmd-shift-V. If you work on one artboard, it looks the same, and you don't realize your mistake until you go to another artboard and see that the pasted thing has been pasted on all artboards. And you've worked far enough to not having the possibility to undo...
2 votesYou can customize your hotkeys in Keyboard Shortcuts dialog. Search 'paste' and change 'Paste on All Artboards' to anything else or remove shortcut completely.
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Mapping artwork on 3d object surface
Now we need every time to convert /or update/ artwork into symbol before mapping in on the surface of 3D objects that are created with 3d effects. That process is annoying and complex. Simplifying of that can help profs and beginners to use it quickly and pass some steps.
Now many programs like Adobe Dimension CC, 3d paint allows to do that very easy and in real time.
Also adding some new feature like uv maps or tiling 3d effects can be very helpful.
2 votesModern 3D and Materials allows to map symbols directly on a object on canvas, across its multiple surfaces. A user can move it, rotate, scale.
The tech is not perfect still, and it won’t be supported for now Classic #D effects, but is potent enough already to try.
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Extended Tools Panel
Less frequently used tools (in my case: Scissors, Paint Bucket) are hard to find in the standard Tools Palette. Wouldn't it be great when Illustrator had a preset to show all tools at a glance (on my 30" screen...)?
I know that it is possible to create custom tools panels - but especially when creating those, it's nice to have a view on all tools at once!
2 votesIn latest version one can click small three dots at the bottom of the Tools panel and see all tools at once, including those which are already in the toolbox.
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No strokes on linked files
Illustrator CC 2017 (up to date) Windows 64bit
Place a linked file, eg. a jpg
Add a stroke to the linked file object in the appearance panel
Try and change the stroke weight.
Expected a stroke. like any other.2 votesTo have strokes around your linked images, you should do some additional steps:
1. Apply a stroke (obviously)
2. Open Appearance panel
3. Focus the applied stroke attribute
4. Apply Path > Outline Object effect
It should be placed 'inside' of the stroke attribute, not the object itself. You can always drag-n-drop it if you missed.
Why does it work?
The image does not have a path for a stroke to be applied to. If you aplly the effect to the image directly, its pixel data is replaced by a path around the bounding box. Applied to stroke, it give it 'rails' to be stroked along.
Not easy to grasp, but once you get it, Appearance panel becomes your best friend.
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Illustrator 26.5.2 The new Lock object tool is terrible
Go back to previous old version of the object lock. I do not like the gray border of a locked object. I cannot click through the object on other objects around or near the locked object. The OLD way of locking objects was better. It just sat there visually and did not affect neighboring objects.
1 voteThis can be toggled with 'Select and Unlock objects on canvas' option in Preferences > Selection & Anchor Display section
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Shortcut/button for the "Enter isolation mode"-function
After Illustrator changed the place where to put pasted objects (before the objects where put in the selected layer, now the objects are put in a new layer at the top), I use the "Enter Isolations mode"-function a lot, to get the pasted objects the right place. I know there is a button, but it doesn't always show. So I would really like a shortcut for this function. Or make a button in the properties panel. Or both. Please.
1 voteDisabling 'Paste Remembers Layers' in the Layers panel’s flyout menu solved the problem with pasting in place into a selected layer, therefore a specialized hotkey to the layer isolation is no longer required for the user.
If you still need this hotkey — please comment.
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