Illustrator (Desktop) Feature Requests
When entering a new feature request, please provide:
- Description
- Why is this valuable to you?
204 results found
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Copy parts from multiple layers into multiple layers
I work with a lot of parts that I need to keep separated for output. A simple example is a complex, compound shape with 20 elements. I have 10 on a "cut" layer and 10 on a "print" layer. If I copy and paste them, I can only paste them into one layer. I might want them to go back into the same layers or into 2 new layers. I never want them in the same layer. I now have to go in and separate them all into the proper layers.
This is important because the layers tell our output…
6 votesYou can enable Paste Remembers Layers in the panel’s menu to make Illustrator remember layers your objects were copied from and insert them on layers with same name when pasted. If these layers don’t exist, Illustrator will create them. Be careful and disable it when not needed, if might make a mess when not needed. Also note that with this option enable everything copied from an isolation mode creates a separate 'Isolation mode' layer, which is stupid — vote here if you think this should be addressed: https://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/601447-illustrator-desktop-bugs/suggestions/37935496-paste-remembers-layers-bug-with-isolation-mode -
Allow to control font for Swatch Info objects
Well... if one wants to choose font size for text in Swatch Info objects while making one — tough luck. We can only set the color chip size.
Since Preview is completely missing now (here’s the request about it: http://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/333657/suggestions/49681244), it’s hard to evaluate if text would be large enough to accompany them.
Even if you change the font size after the Swatch Info is created — won’t do, each text line is a separate type objects, their leading won’t be adjusted, the card background rectangles won’t adapt!One can think this font is based on the [Normal Paragraph…
5 votesAi today offers dedicated controls for the font inside of Swatch Info objects.. all but the font family — these use the one used by the [Normal Paragraph Style].
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Get rid of prompt window
i would love to be able to hide/get rid of that prompt window that says "generate, edit path, repeat, group, lock.." that pops up. its pretty annoying.
5 votesYou can disable this panel via Window > Contextual Task Bar menu command.
The current Beta 28.5.0.34 has a bug though, that enables it back after Ai is relaunched. If you are using normal build, it should just work.
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Remove (customize) tiny shadow behind artboards
I've noticed this for years... whenever I create a new document in Illustrator--no matter the size or mode and without any bleed settings, the artboard has a tiny grey "drop shadow" behind the artboard. See ATTACHED. It does not affect art and never prints, but more times than I can count I've found myself zooming in and attempting to select/delete it, thinking I left some sort of unwanted element behind while I was working. Or I see the faint "border" and think my graphic elements aren't fully aligned to the page edge, when the actually are.
5 votesToday artboards have only a tiny 1px border, black for the active one and gray for others.
If you wish to be able to customize these — upvote this request, please: Allow to change color & width of border / edges for artboards (all and active)
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Filter fonts by language
Please add a filter that allows to see only a selected language in the font list.
Thank you5 votesIllustrator’s font explorer (called from Character, Control, Properties panels) now allows to filter fonts by Languages & Writing System.
However, it won’t allow to pick English / Latin / Western European Roman, to hide all languages that don’t support Latin. Here’s a separate request about this — please upvote if it troubles you.
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Contextual Eyedropper Tool
Currently, the Eyedropper Tool is an underutilized and often counter-intuitive tool that needlessly increases the complexity of a workflow because of its limitations. This- combined with Illustrator's poor color tools- often adds unnecessary time and effort to what should and could be more simplified tasks.
For example, a common situation is that I have a shape with a fill color that I like, and I want another shape that has a stroke to also use that color, except only for the stroke. Currently, if I use the eyedropper tool on the filled shape, it will completely remove the stroke and…
5 votesThe solution to that would be to activate a stroke if you want to apply a color to it, then to hold Shift when clicking a color — does not matter where this color is on a stroke or a fill. Illustrator then applies the picked color to the active fill/stroke, ignoring the source nature. There are two things to know — the cursor does not inform you about this mode (unlike the Alt-mode, should be addressed), and if you pick a color from a swatch — you’d get a screen representation of the color... harmless for RGB documents (if your color settings are in order), but crucial for CMYK documents (should be addressed too). Pleas comment back. -
Move anchor points in opposite direction relative to the object’s center point
For years I have been hankering for a way to work with anchor points the same way as the width tool works or the option/alt modifier key works when resizing a shape with the selection tool.
When two anchor points are selected I want to be able to move those points in opposite directions. Either attract or repel.Imagine there is a straight line between the two selected anchor points, when one of the points is moved away from the other point (pressing the modifier key) the point that is selected but not dragged should move in the opposite direction.
5 votesThis is possible with Smart Guides and Scale tool, like it’s described in the comments.
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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.
5 votesAs per the comment, disable the 'Enable Content Aware Defaults' in Preferences > General to turn crop suggestions off
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Make it possible to select locked objects?
I wish it was possible to prevent an object from moving, but still have the ability to select it. A preference setting to "allow selection of locked objects" or "lock position only" or something?
5 votesThere is a way to select locked objects in recent Illustrator versions.
In Preferences > Selection & Anchor Display section toggle ‘Select and Unlock objects on canvas’ option to see small lock icons you can click when locked objects get into a selection marquee. -
Add a search bar in the Swatches panel for color books
I would like to be able to search swatch books from the Swatches menu. This could be implemented globally for various search items, menus, tools, etc. (Similar to Photoshop's new search function.)
5 votesThe Swatches panel has an option to show the Find field, in the panel’s flyout menu
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Default input in Color Picker
Older versions of Illustrator used to default in "Hex" field of the Color Picker, but now the default is in "H" of HSB. This breaks up the workflow when copying a low of colors.
5 votes -
Copy/move artboards with the content
Why have you deleted the function "copy/move artboards with the content" in the last update? It was really gorgeous! Now I have to unlock and make visible all the layers again to create several version of my graphic design, and it is really annoying! I would like the possibility to copy/move one or more artboards with the content, even if it is on locked or hidden layers, and without the content when it is on locked or hidden layers.
Please, consider both functions, the copy/move with content was one of the best updates that you have ever made!!!
5 votesUsers have an option in Illustrator CC (22.1).
Preferences>Selection & Anchor Display>"Move Locked and Hidden Artwork with Artboard"
Please email us on sharewithai@adobe.com if it still does not solve your problem. -
Position elements relative to artboards.
Since several improvements to artboards are in the pipeline, I think It would be worth considering positioning elements relative to the top left corner of the artboard. I haven't found a good use for keyboard entry of x and y positions. Positioning elements relatively would make it relatively easy to maintain padding / grids across multiple artboards by entering an exact value.
5 votesTo allow the artboard-relative positioning, you should switch rulers from global with View > Rulers > Change to Artboard Rulers command (or from the context menu for the zero point of the rulers on canvas).
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The ability to save an appearance of a selected object.
The ability to save an appearance of a selected object to apply to other objects. Much like the copy and paste layer style in Photoshop.
5 votesYou can do that by using Graphic Styles panel: https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/using/graphic-styles.html
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Presentation screen mode
Add presentation screen mode, similar to InDesign
5 votesIllustrator today offers dedicated View > Presentation Mode
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Add "Go to Object" in layers panel, not just "Select Object"
Would love "Go to Object" option when selecting an object to find it in the layers panel. Currently, it only has the option to "Find Object" from the menu. I then have to scroll through sometimes hundreds of items within that layer to find the little dot.
4 votesLayers panel has a dedicated button at the bottom, with the magnifying glass — it’s the same Locate Object command. But if you want Ai to automatically select it for you, please upvote this request.
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Having Generative Fill in a separate panel
Having the option to hide Generative Fill or close it. Having Generative Fill in a dropdown menu.
4 votes -
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.
4 votesDisabling '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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Auto live paint
I very often colour linework using live paint. This is a great tool but if I could automatically colour every shape it would save a lot of time. At the moment I have to manually click every area I want to fill. Could this be done with one click? Many thanks.
4 votesYes, there is a way to fill many areas at once.
A double-click on a fill (or a stroke) should apply the currently chosen color to all sections that has this color (unless these are not separated with strokes).
A triple-click will change the color of all sections of the same color, no matter if these are separated or not.
Same applies to Live Paint Selection Tool.
You can read more about these methods here
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Install brushes to Illustrator
Install custom brushes to Illustrator
With photoshop, you can install custom brushes. With Illustrator, you have to make any custom brush yourself which can be tedious and very difficult.4 votesIllustrator for desktop allows to save and import brushes with an ease.
To save brushes, just save a document with your brushes as an .ai file. You don’t have to have them on canvas for this, just in Brushes panel.
To load brushes, click the Brush Libraries Menu button in the bottom left corner of the Brushes panel (looks like a bookshelf). Choose Other Library, locate the brush library .ai file.
If you want to create, save and import brushes in Illustrator for iPad — you have to vote for this feature here: https://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/931888-illustrator-ipad-feature-requests/suggestions/41682511-import-or-create-brushes
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