Illustrator (Desktop) Feature Requests
When entering a new feature request, please provide:
- Description
- Why is this valuable to you?
179 results found
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Vector Importing for Library Assets
I would like the option to be able to import vector CC Library Assets as live vectors (rather than as a link) in Illustrator.
This is a vector editing software.....and the asset I'm grabbing from the library to bring in as a vector asset (and probably originally built in Illustrator).....why can't I have an alternate means (ex. Shift+Drag for import = import as live vector art) to be able to bring the asset in as an editable piece of art?
1 voteYou can right-click on the asset you want to place as live vector and choose ‘Place Copy’ command to do that.
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Dynamic Swatch
It would be awesome to link colors used in multiple places to a parent color swatch. When wanting to change every instance of a specific hex value you could make the change once and have them all update (similar feature in InDesign, I believe?)
1 voteYou can make a swatch global to achieve this
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1 vote
Custom keyboard shortcuts can be added manually with Edit > Keyboard Shortcuts: Tools / Menu commands
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Keyboard shortcut to invoke the search box under the Help menu
I swear there used to be a keyboard shortcut to do this. Given the relative complexity of Illustrator, I rely on search to locate less frequently performed actions. I currently navigate by mouse up to the Help menu (which automatically gives the Search field focus), where I type in the first few characters of the action I wish to perform (results are refined as I type in more characters); this way, I can simply select the action I want right from the Help menu. It would be great if I could forego the mouse entirely and invoke that Help menu…
1 voteYou definitely can assign a hotkey for Discover, using Keyboard Shortcuts dialog, in Menu Commands.
The problem though it’s named as 'Illustrator Help' there, not 'Discover'. By default it uses F1.
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Select all the value at once
Is it possible when clicking on a value such the shape, dimensions or text height etc. to select all the value so it can be replaced faster. Right now I have to delete the values number by number or select all with Ctrl-A then delete.
It would be appreciated if you have the option to select all when clicking on it.
It will save a lot of time.
Thank you1 vote -
Offset path feature won't become a sharp
Why if I have a curve that has several very small (sharp) angles, when I enter it in the offset path feature (+ offset), then the offset result can't be sharp anyway. but if (-) is offset, then can it turn sharp?
1 voteTo fix that, you have to increase the Miter limit value in this dialog. Read more about Miter limits here:
https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/using/stroke-object.html
The article is about strokes, but the same principle applies to offsets.
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Triangles
Add the use of triangles into shapes as this will help with projects. as there is the only use of lines, square and circles.
1 voteIllustrator has also a Polygon live shape. With only three sides used, it becomes a live triangle. If you have drawn a triangle manually (and it a regular one), you can always convert it into a live shape, using Object > Shape > Convert to Shape menu command.
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Drag and drop objects by specific point of choice.
The Smart Guide function is very helpful and helps with the accuracy and precision we need to handle objects. However, would it be possible for us to have an even more accurate tool? A way to drag and drop using a chosen point within a path to move? This way we wouldn't be bond only by the objects borders.
1 voteThis is exactly what Illustrator does when we hold Cmd/Ctrl while dragging. In this case it prioritizes the position of the cursor, and makes it snap exactly by the point grabbed to the point hovered on. Please, try it and leave the comment if it solves it for you (or not).
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1 vote
We can now use 'Paste without Formatting', which ignores text formatting
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Actions Panel
The Actions Panel in Photoshop is great. Any chance Actions Panels can be added to other programs?
1 voteIllustrator for Desktop has Actions panel. If you meant iPad — please refer to the iPad section of these forums.
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puppet pen tool
it is missing in adobe 2017, how to get it.
1 voteThe only wayt to get the Puppet Warp tool is to upgrade at least to October 2017 version or newer. The tool is hidden in the Basic toolbox, and is located in Free Transform tool group in Advanced toolbox. Switch these in Window > Toolbars menu.
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An ability to size and line space text based on a capital curved letter "C", "O" or "S"
I create a lot of graphics for signage using Illustrator and most depend on actual sizing and spacing of the text. If I put 12" letters and convert to outlines the text is is really 25% smaller. So I either have to outline the text and lose editability or I have to eyeball a clipping mask to the curve letter and resize the clipping mask to the correct size.
1 voteFont Hight Options (can be toggled in the Character panel’s flyout menu) now allow to set the size of the font exactly based on the calculated size of capital glyphs (along with other options).
Read more about it here.
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Allow for artboard to be transparent
I'm working on a logo and I need the artboard to disappear.
1 voteYou can toggle this with View > Hide / Show Artboards (Cmd/Ctrl + Shift + H) to hide borders for artboards.
Also you can apply View > Show / Hide Transparency Grid (Cmd/Ctrl + Shift + D) to view the transparency checkerboard.
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Add a "Ctrl +E" to illustrator for quick export
InDesign has a "Ctrl+ E" for quick export instead of going down the menu bar and selecting it. Can illustrator put in a "Ctrl + E" for export. this is a annoyance since I'm exporting to jpg and tif formats all of the time from Illustrator for photoshop image adjustment
1 voteIllustrator allows to assign your own custom hotkeys to most of the command from menus via Edit > Keyboards Shortcuts dialog.
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Ability to create a new document
I want to create a new document and not one from a template. Please add "Create New Blank Document".
I use this for mobile games and don't think it's fair I have to revert back to Legacy to just create a quick ai file to edit and go.
1 voteThere are several solution on how to create a new document faster. Please refer to the comment inside.
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Image skew potential
Image skew option like photoshop. Here we have to make envelope distort.
1 voteThe intended way to do this in Illustrator is to use a dedicated Shear Tool (nested in the Scale tool group in the tool panel) or a Free Transform tool.
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MAKE. THE. HANDLER. BIGGER
make that tiny little ANCHOR and HANDLER bigger. I'm tired of failing to click that tiny rectangle every single second. PLEASE. I BEG YOU
1 voteThe size of handles can be changed in Preferences > Selection & Anchor Display, using the Size slider.
As for the selection tolerance for these — the problem with it is known and reported in a separate bug report: https://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/601447-illustrator-desktop-bugs/suggestions/20358952-selection-tolerance-for-selecting-handles
Please vote if you want to get it fixed.
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Measurements are not working correctly
If you want to make a new path with 100mm x 100 mm in dimensions and and do that via the transform palette then the path shows an incorrect size (100,013 mm x 100,009 mm) but only if the path has an outline. If there is just a colour filling then the measurement is correct.
That should be corrected quickly.OS X 10.15.6, Illustrator 24.2.3
1 voteThere'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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Crop command embedding linked images
I would be thankful if linked images remain linked (instead of being embedded after using the crop command). I would like to believe that this can be made possible. This is the normal behaviour in other graphic design software.
1 voteIf you want to keep a cropped image as a live linked image, you should Clip it instead. Press the Mask button (in Control or Properties panel) and Ai will create and select a rectangular path with the same dimensions. Transform this path with any tool you like or with the bounding box, and the image inside will remain unembedded.
Crop command, on the other hand, is intended specifically for 'physical' cropping, and since Ai won’t edit the original placed image, it gets embedded and then cropped.
Just use the method you need.
Please comment back if it works for you.
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Sticky swatches, patterns, gradients, brushes and symbols.
I get so very tired of having to re-create what I've made or added earlier, or find the original file that contains things I've created earlier. It's starting from zero every time I open a new file.
It would be so nice to have things I added to panels be there for the next file.
1 voteThere are several options to make resources sticky.
1. Save your swatches/brushes/etc. library as user defined one on a disk, using the dedicated panel’s menu. Open each then from same menu in User Defined sub-folder. When the separate palette appears, mark is as Persistent in this panel’s menu, This will make these palettes stick after Illustrator relaunches.
2. You can locate document profiles (Print.ai, Web.ai, etc.) on your machine (in New Document Profiles folder), edit their predefined presets, and resave them. This will make every new document based on these profile to have your resources.
3. Save a current document with the resources as a template, and later call them File > New from template. This will fixate the artboards settings though, unlike method 2.
But be careful with methods, because Ai can reset document profiles when updates.
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