Illustrator (Desktop) Feature Requests
When entering a new feature request, please provide:
- Description
- Why is this valuable to you?
- or
933 results found
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True vector blur / feather, similar to one Rive has
Quite recently Rive introduced Vector Feathering: https://rive.app/blog/introducing-vector-feathering
Illustrator uses raster-based Feather and Gaussian Blur, and — let’s admit it — we need them better: resolution-independent, infinitely scalable.
Instead we got just 'faster blur'...And while you are here — there are many more blur-realted requests:
– Motion blur: http://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/333657/suggestions/32403883
– Background blur: http://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/333657/suggestions/36614008
– Gradient Feather: http://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/333657/suggestions/31911052
and more.Stop toying with text-to-raster-then-trace toys!
11 votes -
Allow to download older versions of Illustrator than CCD now allows
Hello, I used to use Illustrator CC 2018 on my work computer. It was having trouble opening AI and PDF files. I uninstalled the program and now I can't even install it back on the computer due to the program no longer being supported for download. 2018 was only 2 years ago. This is a huge problem for your users. Maybe have some kind of warning or do the right thing and offer support for programs older than 2 years.
4 votes -
Automatically describe sizes in units in file names when exporting
I dream of having many working areas of different sizes, and exporting them to JPG or whatever as separate working areas, that the file name would automatically include the file size depending on the size set in the working file, for example in cm, mm, px... i.e. when I export many areas, in addition to the numbering, they have the current size given in the file name
3 votes -
Do not include objects outside artboard when exporting to jpg or png
When I export Illustrator files to jpg or png, it includes all shapes and objects sitting outside my artboard area. This is impractical, especially when working on a range of concepts and you just want to send the work to the client that is on the artboards and not all the working files sitting outside the artboard area.
1 voteChecking 'Use artboards' option forces Illustrator to ignore objects on canvas outside artboards, even when the one artboard is used only.
When the option is off, Illustrator will export the whole artwork on canvas.
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Convert gradient properly on SVG instead of rasterizing when saving file as SVG Tiny 1.2
Currently, when you try to save an SVG containing gradients with SVG 1.2 Tiny profile, Illustrator rasterizes the gradient and embeds the rasterized image instead of properly converting it as a pure vector information. This reduces the qualify of the saved image a lot and it's no longer scalable with even further quality reduction.
SVG 1.2 Tiny specification supports gradients and so it would be really helpful if Illustrator kept the vector information from gradient. This is also necessary for BIMI logos (https://bimigroup.org/) as it doesn't support images/links in the SVG.
7 votes -
Improve Library Panel UX with prefered behaviour options
There are a number of small changes that would make getting things out of the library quicker and more convenient. The panel should have some preferences to set default behaviour. Options should include:
Toggle 'place copy' or 'place linked file', so it always behaves one way or the other. The way my team and I use the library, we ALWAYS want to place copies (never linked files). So having to hold down ALT to do this is a pain. In addition to this, holding down ALT behaves very badly. It misses the key press if you move too quickly,…
6 votes -
Shared syncable library colors that UPDATE your documents if they are changed
it would be nice to have one library with different categories.. you update it once and see it in every illustrator file!
this would be very useful for personal use but also in teams, somewhat like a kuler for illustrator.10 votes -
Open Current File Location
It would be amazing if you add Open Current File Location under the "File" dropdown.
It is a really minor thing, but it would significantly impact productivity.
2 votes -
automatic trapping plug-in would be a great step forward.
An automatic trapping feature, or a plug-in to that effect, would be of great convenience when submitting files for output.
1 vote -
Add Option to Save Both Editable and Outlined Text PDFs Simultaneously
As a graphic designer, I often need to provide clients with both editable and outlined text versions of my work. Currently, this requires manually saving two separate files: one with editable text and another with text converted to outlines.
I propose adding a feature in Adobe Illustrator's "Save As PDF" dialog that allows users to check an option like:
"Would you like to save two versions of this file? (Editable text and Outlined text)"
Upon selection, Illustrator would automatically generate:
filename_editable.pdf
filename_outlined.pdf
This enhancement would streamline the workflow, reduce the risk of errors, and save valuable time for designers.
…
3 votes -
Fit artboard in window when opening an Illustrator document
Please have the file open as Fit Artboard in Window. Like it used to be. It is annoying to have to hit the shortcut, Command - 0 every time I open a file.
8 votes -
Local saves with Version control
We need an option to create a project file that cannot be saved over. The reason for this is that when working with a client who has many options, we sometimes need to step back in time or recover older versions from unexpected changes.
Similar to an Illustrator template file (.ait), we could have a format like .aiv or .aivi. This way, when I save flyer.aiv, every save will generate a backup file flyer-250204817.ai next to the current file.
It would also be useful to have an option in a settings pane to save a backup every other save and…
4 votes -
Dimension tool improvements
The dimension tool is a really helpful thing but some improvements would be appreciated.
As stated in other posts, please include the possibility to add user defined scalings, including decimal numbers like 1:1.5 and other ones, like 1:15.
According to ISO standards, the dimension text should sit above the lines, as viewed from the right. This would be a great option, because at this moment I don't use this tool regularly because of this.
When dimensions are too small, there should be an option to move the text away, either to the right or the left. Of course this can…
13 votes -
Support for ARIA in SVG (accessibility)
There are a couple of requests for improvements to SVG export, which is sorely needed. One important aspect of this is accessibility.
SVG use is increasing, and accessibility requirements are being mandated in jurisdictions around the globe.
There will be a growing need for people to produce accessible SVG files.
This calls for supporting ARIA roles states and properties, and some way to indicate tabindex.
A number of constraints can be imagined to prevent people doing the wrong thing (e.g. if you put tabindex=0 on a non-operable element), but the basic functionality is far more basic.
Select object.
Open…5 votes -
Support SVG property 'paint-order'
Add support for the paint-order property. By default the fill is painted and then the stroke is placed on top. The paint-order property allows this order to be defined so the stroke can be placed under the fill. Without support for this a svg can look very different than the imported version in illustrator.
The file attached is an example of the property in use.
Example:
https://mdn.mozillademos.org/en-US/docs/Web/CSS/paint-order$samples/Examples?revision=1530134See the following resources:
https://svgwg.org/svg2-draft/painting.html#PaintOrder
https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/CSS/paint-order
https://caniuse.com/#feat=mdn-css_properties_paint-order12 votes -
Make raster brushes in Ai work as brushes in Photoshop and Affinity Designer do
I think you should change the brush type and make it as same as the Photoshop, as the brush of Photoshop is much convinient.
Like we can use a soft brush or we can lower the opacity of the brush easily and same with the eraser tool.
Now, Photoshop is raster based software whereas Illustrator is a vector based which is the positive point a for Illustrator.
File made in Illustrator is much more useful and file made in Photoshop is much more on the attractive side.
So we need Illustrator to be easy and convenient to use.
Or else…10 votes -
Update links manually
Illustrator is constantly reading linked files, checking for changes. This is normally not a problem, but when the network is slow for any reason (like if you're working remotely over VPN) AI becomes unusable. Simple text changes become an ordeal as every time you switch tools or click anywhere, you have to wait for a minute or two as the links do... whatever they're doing. A simple panel-level option to turn off automatic link updates would make working remotely (which some say is the way of the future) much less painful.
3 votes -
A standalone preset migration tool to allow for quicker setting migration and recovery in the event of a re-installation.
Settings are regularly changed/updated and need to be rolled out to all users in a short amount of time in our environment. As such, a tool that will quickly copy/paste from one location to the app preset folders would be ideal. Swatches is a key example of this.
The build in tool that comes with Illustrator fails more often than not and thus is something we do not use. Ideally, we'd like to see something a user can double click/execute on their own to update these files.
3 votes -
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 objects first and then apply an additional stroke to this group using the Appearance panel
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Embedding Linked Illustrator content should embed the native content instead of the PDF version.
When you place a Linked Illustrator object (from a file or from a CC Library) and later decide to Embed it, you actually embed the PDF content of the linked file. This results in many groups, clipping masks, reduced editability (no Appearance effects, Symbols, Brushes) and loss of layers.
The optimal editable way would be to embed the native objects instead of the PDF version, similar to Copy and Paste with the Paste Remembers Layers option turned on.9 votes
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