Illustrator (Desktop) Feature Requests
When entering a new feature request, please provide:
- Description
- Why is this valuable to you?
129 results found
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Locked objects Show a "lock" icon Like InDesign
A great feature to have in Illustrator is to unlock the locked object by clicking on the Lock icon next to the object. its hard to tell which object is locked except by going to object -> unlock All, or Check the Layers Panel. Adobe InDesign has this feature for years.
91 votesHi Everyone, This feature was shipped in Illustrator 2020 version. Please go to Preferences>Selection & Anchor Display > and check ‘Select and unlock objects on canvas’. Enabling this preference will display a lock icon when you select the locked object.
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Option to disable 'Recent Fonts' feature.
I hate having to scroll from the top of the fonts list every time i'm searching for a new font. Currently, in preferences there is an option for only 1 recent font, however, i'd like to be able to disable this feature completely.
87 votesWe have the fix available in the latest release. Please update Illustrator using Adobe Creative Cloud application to the latest build for version Illustrator CC 22.1.
Please refer to our knowledge base FAQ – https://illustrator.uservoice.com/knowledgebase/articles/1844590 if you face difficulty in update.
Or get in touch with us at any of the other support channels – https://helpx.adobe.com/support.htmlWarm Regards,
Ashutosh Chaturvedi | Sr. Quality Engineering Manager – Illustrator
Adobe. Make It an Experience. -
Layer Panel Rename + tab
This one is (or sounds) easy and would mimick Photoshop’s function :
I need to be able to rename layers in a row without scripting, by simply typing tab to go to the next visible layer’s name.- it would really help with Character Animator's process.
Step by step :
I’m in the Layers panel.
Those are badly named (layer 1, layer 2, layer 7…)
I double click on the top layer (1) name to change it.
I type « item A »
Then i press Tab once.
I’m now in the « layer 2 » name field, and all is…87 votesDone in version 26 (2022). You can now use Tab and Shift+Tab to cycle focus while renaming layers and artboards (but not assets yet — vote to make it happen, https://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/333657/suggestions/31567951). Yay!
Please comment here if you have any issues with how it works). -
Select inside marquee window
Create a toggle-able feature like the one found in many CAD programs:
Select ONLY the objects ENTIRELY inside the selection window marquee via the following methods:
1. hold Shift+drag
2. Dragging left-to-right enables "select inside", dragging right-to-left enables "select touching" (as per most CAD programs)84 votesExcited to share that the requested functionality is now available in the public builds starting from V 28.3.0.
WIth the new Enclosed Mode, you can now select ONLY those objects which are completely INSIDE the marquee.
To activate the Enclosed Mode, just press 'E' ONCE after you start doing the marquee with the Normal Selection Tool or Group Selection tool.
Please note that,
1. The button E acts as a toggle, which means you just have to press E once, to get into or out of the enclosed mode.
2. You have to press E only after doing the marquee, pressing E in empty canvas will invoke the Free Transform tool or the tool the shortcut 'E' is assigned to.
We made a lot of effort in building this capability, so please try it out and let us what you all think!
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Implement quick filter in Layers panel
On large documents designers very often give names to objects in document structure for improve navigation in structure. But now there are no way to quickly find object by name in document, except custom scripts.
For solve this problem please implement quick filter input field in Layers panel interface, for quickly search objects by part of his name (like filter in Fonts list).
Even if designer don't add names, via this filter we will can quick find all curves, all rectangles, all circles, all curves, all guides, etc, so it will be very useful.
81 votesHi Everyone,
This functionality is available in our latest release build – 27.6.1.
The new functionality allows searching layers by name using the searchbar in the layers panel. The users can also apply filters based on layer properties (locked, hidden etc) or objects properties (effects, text etc.). This will help to quickly find layers/objects for large documents (having multiple layers).
Read more about this - https://helpx.adobe.com/in/illustrator/using/whats-new/2023-5.html#search-and-filter
Thank you for all the feedback.
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Relative paths for linked assets
An option to use relative paths for linked assets. Because links use absolute paths, simply moving the folder your artwork is in will break the links unless the links are in the same folder. For example:
c:\artwork\project-1234\layout.ai
c:\artwork\project-1234\assets\logo.jpg
c:\artwork\standard-title-block.aiIf logo.jpg and standard-title-block.ai are both linked to inside of layout.ai, renaming the project folder will break the links. Moving the project folder will break the links.
Instead of storing the link paths absolutely, store them relatively. This way at least renaming the folder will preserve both links and moving the folder will only break links that point to file outside…
81 votesThis feature is now available in all the public builds starting V 28.5. Please give it a try and let us know what you think!
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Grouping / linking objects from different layers
Hi Illustrator ! It would be great if there’s a feature to group objects and not have them in the same layer. Many instances I want to be able to resize/multiple select different objects (frim different layers) at the same time without having to select each of them individually everytime.
78 votesWith the 'save selection' functionality you can basically group objects without bringing them to the same layer. You can then save this selection for later use. To use this functionality, simple select the objects and click on 'save selection' option in the layers panel or in the Select menu.
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Align to artboard when only when item/group of items is selected.
Have aligning be dynamic depending on what is selected. If one item or group of items is selected auto select align to artboard rather than the last selected option.
If multiple items are selected but not group it would auto select align to selection.
This would reduce time having to check what you are aligning to since 99% of the time when you are trying to align a group it is to the artboard and the same with selecting multiple objects. It is a hassle having to constantly be checking and changing my align options.
78 votesHi Everyone,
Thanks for this feedback. This has been avialble since June 2020 release (version 24.2). Now, when you’ll select a single object/group, Align To setting will default to Align To Artboard.
Please update to the latest release using Creative Cloud desktop App: https://helpx.adobe.com/in/creative-cloud/help/creative-cloud-updates.html
Thank you for all the feedback.
Thanks,
Varun
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Moving Artboards and Locked Layers
The latest CC updates' new feature allows locked/hidden layers to move when you move an artboard. This doesn't make sense since locked should mean locked. I am running into problems now because my company uses a lot of artboards to make print-production files, and sometimes you need to re-arrange the artboards while working on the file.
There should be a way to turn this feature on or off. Such as "keep locked/hidden layers locked when moving/duplicating artboards, or allow locked and hidden elements to move when artboard moves"78 votesAs you probably know, Illustrator today allows to change this behavior with a dedicated option in Preferences > Selection & Anchor Display section.
However, it’s not that accessible, especially when you are already move and copy your artboards.
If you wish this option to be more exposed, consider upvoting this request: Display Move Locked and Hidden Artwork with Artboard option in Control panel and Properties while using Artboard tool / mode
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Make Knife tool work with smart guides
Knife is a very freehand tool, but you can make straight cuts, if you hold Alt. Cool. But you can't position these cuts precisely! Nor with a smart guides (at least!) or Snap to grid.
Please improve it!77 votesWith the release of V29.0, Knife tool now supports smartguide.
Please try out this functionality and let us what you think!
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Add Ai and EPS formats in Export for Screens / Assets dialog
I realize that .pdf is essentially the same as .eps format, but still it would be useful to have the option to export as .eps.
77 votesWith the v29.2, Illustrator now allows you to export into Ai and EPS format via the export for screen dialogue.
You will also have the ability to fine-tune the these documents through the advance settings.
We hope you would find the changes useful, please let us know your feedback or comment below.
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100% size is actually actual size
Allow Illustrator to be monitor-aware. Have a feature where there is an onscreen ruler, and ask the user to hold up a real ruler to the screen. Let them drag a slider until the onscreen ruler perfectly matches the physical ruler. Then let this % value become the new "100% size" for that machine. Currently to see my artwork at 100% size, I need to set my view to 192%. I wish there was a setting to set my "100%" to default to 192%.
70 votesCompleted (Comments Open) ·
AdminNeeraj Nandkeolyar
(Sr. Product Manager, Adobe Illustrator)
responded
In CC 2019 (latest update 23.0.1), at 100% Zoom 1inch artwork would display at 1inch in physical (Print) size, on any display. If this doesn’t work right for screen design workflows, please use the checkbox Preferences > General > Display Print Size at 100% Zoom, to turn off the feature. Currently this feature works only on primary display, and there are plans of extending this to other attached displays.
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Improve page selection when opening PDFs in Illustrator
Referring to the attached screenshot for opening PDFs in Illustrator:
I find that I am constantly browsing through the preview pages using (B), and hitting 'Open' when I see the previewed page I want -- completely forgetting to actually enter the page number in the Range (C), and thereby opening Page 1, swearing, and starting again. Casual survey suggests this is a common issue for others in my studio as well.
It would be great if changing the previewed page using B also updated the page number selected in C; or, if an additional radio button sitting with C and…68 votesThe solution is pushed into Global Availability build 28.6.
The Previewed Page is now the default option for the dialog.
Here is an updated Help article:https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/using/importing-pdf-files.html
Congratulations, folks! Took us 5.5 years to get it!
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Paste and match style within illustrator
When copying from one text box with style A, then pasting into a text box with style B -- provide the ability to paste as style B in a single keystroke or step. Currently the default is to keep style A when pasting which requires an additional step to convert the style B.
62 votesThis is now possible with Edit > Paste without Formatting command, as per this completed request: https://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/333657-illustrator-desktop-feature-requests/suggestions/31954825-paste-with-formatting-cmd-shift-v
Use Ctrl + Alt + V on Windows or Option + Command + V on Mac.
Please comment back if it does not work for you and share details.
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Unembed multiple images all at once
Be able to select multiple linked images in links palette and unembed them simultaneously.
61 votesThis feature is made available to you through all the public builds starting V 27.8. Please try it out and let us know what you think!
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Area Calculation
Having an area calculator would be awesome!
60 votesThe latest Illustrator release - v29.3 now offers Area Calculation using Measure Tool:
- Select the objects in your artwork you want to calculate the area for.
- Select the Measure Tool from the Toolbar.
- The calculated area will be displayed in the Info panel, shown automatically.
- Shift + Click on a segment in the existing selection to remove/add it to area calculation.
- Configure measurement options by accessing the flyout menu of the panel. You can customize units, precision, and scale to suit your requirements.
Please update to v29.3 from your Creative Cloud Desktop application and keep sharing your feedback!
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When exporting an image, using artboard, with a single artboard, don't change filename.
If save an image using "Export As" , and I select the "use artboards" (because I want the image to be of that size, and I only want to export one specific artboard of my file, It would be better if it didn't add to the file name (ie: the filename-01.png would be filename.png). This is because I find myself exporting each layer of the same artboard with a specific name (ex: characterarm.png, characterleg.png, etc) and I have to remove the "01"s manually.
I understand that this feature is really useful when exporting all the artboards at the…60 votesThe latest version of Illustrator now allows you to manually control the behavior with the 'Suffix' option in the Export As dialog. Please check if it it works for you and comment back if it does not.
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Share for Review for Illustrator
Enable share for review with Illustrator. I can already see how this will help when working with clients for magazines in InDesign - so I can’t wait to see how I can use if with clients for Illustrator based projects.
ESPECIALLY as a professor - this will make it much easier to provide feedback for students during remote teaching and learning this fall with COVID.
LINK TO inDesign feature -
https://community.adobe.com/t5/indesign/indesign-share-for-review-faq/m-p/1121948359 votes -
Free Distort Bounding box doesn't follow shape
I know this isn't a bug, but it definitely feels that way. The Bounding box when using the free distort reset back to the initial shape and doesn't follow the shape you are shaping, Which makes it virtually impossible to make fine tuned distortions. The way it works in Photoshop is the way it should be.
I see people have complained about this for YEARS!
I cannot see a single use case where the current way is preferable.And using the effect Free Dstort isnt anybetter, since you don't get a visual representation on the artboard of what you are…
58 votesHi Everyone,
We have improved the working experience of Free Distort tool. Now the bounding box will not reset! This functionality now is available in our latest release build – 24.1.1 for Win and 24.1 for Mac which is available worldwide now.
What’s new in 24.1: https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/using/whats-new.html
You can update to the latest release using Creative Cloud desktop App: https://helpx.adobe.com/in/creative-cloud/help/creative-cloud-updates.html
Thank you for all the feedback
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Show HEX value in swatch panel
I often need to copy HEX values from illustrator swatches into other applications. My workflow would be accelerated if there was a text field showing the HEX value like in the color picker window.
Right now I need to apply the swatch to an object and copy the HEX value from the color picker window.
56 votesHi Everyone,
This functionality is available in our latest release build – 27.6.1.
Hex code for the colors is visible in the Color and Swatch Option Panel. It will be visible for Global Colors as well. You can easily copy the Hex value by clicking on '#' icon before the code.
What's New in the release - https://helpx.adobe.com/in/illustrator/using/whats-new.html
Thank you for all the feedback.
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