Illustrator (Desktop) Feature Requests
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4758 results found
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Move (select) multiple artboards with just a mouse
I just need to be able to select and move multiple artboards.
Thats so simple. Currently, I can select only 1, but I have 100 of them already and I want move some groups in my document, to easy re-arrange them. But I have to move one by one. AWKWARD.7 votesHi,
We are pleased to inform you that your request is available in the latest release of Illustrator version 22.0.
Visit your Adobe Creative Cloud Application and update. If you do not see an update on the application please check for update from the flyout options on the application after clicking on three vertical dots. For step by step process please visit: https://helpx.adobe.com/in/creative-cloud/help/download-install-app.html#CheckforupdatesWarm Regards,
Ashutosh Chaturvedi | Sr. Quality Engineering Manager – Illustrator
Adobe. Make It an Experience. -
Retain length of handles when modifying curves and length of path when moving anchor points.
I'd love an option to retain the length of a handle for an anchor point. It would be nice to keep the curvature equal on both sides of an anchor point. There are many times I would have liked this option to create symmetrical graphics.
Similarly, I'd also like the option to retain the length of a path when moving an anchor point. Sometimes I use lines/paths as arms of characters. If I need to change the position of an arm there ends up being a lot of guess work modifying the path.
7 votes -
Do not advertise and insert the Turntable within the Transform panel
I understand Ai want to advertise generative features more.
But putting the Turntable button (a 'speculative gambling machine') into the Transform panel (a dedicated panel about coordinates, sizes, 'parametric parameters' (sorry for the pun)) — is not OK.There are plenty of other places.
A generative menu, Control (where we can disable in with customizing a panel), in Properties’ Quick Actions (that we can keep below the line... why not customize? — http://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/333657/suggestions/31999108), or CTB (why there’s no customization here also? — http://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/333657/suggestions/49235456)...Thanks to Seiji Miyazawa (here: https://x.com/onthehead/status/2043652813054783936) for noticing this.
6 votes -
Add a forced 'lowercase' option in the Character panel’s menu, similar to one InDesign has
InDesign has a way to force a selected text to be always displayed in lowercase.
Illustrator does not offer this option, as the attached screenshots show.
This option would be useful for cases when a font relies mostly on lower-case characters, using its upper case for emphasis, rather than a traditional usage of it, for starting sentences and given names with capitals — not uncommon in comics.
A current workaround is to run the native Type > Change Case > lowercase each time a text gets pasted (or setting up a custom routing with third-party apps to change the text in clipboard automatically). Anyway, the InDesign’s approach is much simpler, please match the function set it has.InDesign has a way to force a selected text to be always displayed in lowercase.
Illustrator does not offer this option, as the attached screenshots show.
This option would be useful for cases when a font relies mostly on lower-case characters, using its upper case for emphasis, rather than a traditional usage of it, for starting sentences and given names with capitals — not uncommon in comics.
A current workaround is to run the native Type > Change Case > lowercase each time a text gets pasted (or setting up a custom routing with third-party apps to change the…6 votes -
An option to choose if the Artboard background color should be exported, for each format, including PNG
When exporting an artboard to PNG, I hope there is an option to follow the background color of the artboard itself. I thought the purpose of the new update is to be able to use that same background color when exporting. I still need to add a shape with the background color that I prefer before exporting.
6 votes -
Populate in Illustrator, like you do in Adobe XD
I can tell that many designers would love to have that function. Creating an item info like Image, Name, Info about the item, and then multiplying it on a page, like a flyer, or a poster - and populating the image and text, just by dropping a text file and a set of image you have in a folder to populate the design. Here is a visual example.
6 votes -
Allow Recent Colors to include tints for global and spot swatches
Illustrator allows tinting non-process swatches.
However, recently introduced Recent Colors strips in Color and Swatches panels don’t include these.
Please include them.Original idea by Simon Bowland
6 votes -
Allow us to choose between groups and sublayers when expanding symbols
Why dynamic symbols always turn into groups when expanded (Break Link), but all static ones become sublayers?
Why can’t we decide what we want these expanded results be?
I’d use groups all the time, but I know some others would prefer sublayers... Is it a technical difficulty?Also — why does an extra wrapper group appear for an expanded dynamic symbol?
6 votes -
Add an artboard size prefix in Export for Screens dialog
It would be useful to add the option to also export the size of the artboard
6 votes -
Add Axis Constraints, to restrict transformations to a chosen axis
Some 3D editors allow to limit moving to a chosen axis/axes.
3DS Max has a dedicated floating panel with buttons, and Blender allows to hold a key to force it: https://docs.blender.org/manual/en/latest/scene_layout/object/editing/transform/control/axis_locking.htmlIn Ai we can hold Shift, but the axis chosen depends on the position of the cursor, and it’s not the same.
Please make it possible to use X/Y keys (similar to the recent E key for Enclosed selection Mode) to actually choose a preferred axis. Perhaps Z can be used for 45°? :)Original idea by Junior Rocha
6 votes -
Allow to customize color of text used by Distance Guides
Recently Illustrator received Distance Guides (can be disabled in Preferences > Smart Guides > Invoke Distance Guides), thanks to this request: http://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/333657/suggestions/34302196 (it uses Opt/Alt, not Cmd/Ctrl)
For some reason the color of text in these is black — while the lines use the one set for object guides (magenta by default today). It makes it very hard to see when working with dark designs.
Dimension Tool uses magenta color for the same text... I think it should be either magenta as well, or a separate option should be used to set the color.
6 votes -
Configurable Trim Marks
TL/DR: It would be incredibly helpful and relatively simple for AI's developers to let users configure the parameters of auto-generated trim marks.
I've been using AI for three decades and somehow, even though I have been doing this the hard way that entire time, it never dawned on me until today to request this: configurable Trim Marks, both in Object: Create Trim Marks and Effect: Trim Marks. This is similar to the following request except that that one doesn't include the why that I feel is important:
https://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/333657-illustrator-desktop-feature-requests/suggestions/41926273-set-the-size-and-offset-of-effect-crop-marks-whiAI specifically creates trim marks in one very specific way: .5" .3pt lines that are .25" from the boundary of the selected element. That's fine for typical press output and "good enough" for most home/in-office usage, but far from great. That combined distance of .75" is pretty significant overkill for anyone printing a lot of small to-be-cut items on a single printed page (i.e., small designed pieces on a 13x19 sheet), forcing someone who wants to maximize their usage of the media and knows they only need very small marks/offsets for that purpose. When that person is me, for example, I will typically cut the marks down to .15" long with a .07" offset, vastly shrinking the footprint of the combined object.
A great set of configurable parameters would be:
- trim mark length
- trim mark offset
- trim mark stroke weight
- save/edit/delete presets (including Default, which would be what you currently have)Thanks for your time!
TL/DR: It would be incredibly helpful and relatively simple for AI's developers to let users configure the parameters of auto-generated trim marks.
I've been using AI for three decades and somehow, even though I have been doing this the hard way that entire time, it never dawned on me until today to request this: configurable Trim Marks, both in Object: Create Trim Marks and Effect: Trim Marks. This is similar to the following request except that that one doesn't include the why that I feel is important:
https://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/333657-illustrator-desktop-feature-requests/suggestions/41926273-set-the-size-and-offset-of-effect-crop-marks-whiAI specifically creates trim marks in one very specific way: .5" .3pt…
6 votes -
Allow to exclude handles from being snapped to grid
I remember it being a bug, when handles were not snapping to grid... but sometimes it’s actually useful! Currently we have to undo, disable the grid, and tweak the handle.
There should either be a hard option we can toggle (preferably with an ability to assign it to a hotkey), or a hotkey to toggle this behavior on the fly, the one we can tap while dragging and disable snapping for this operation only... or both!Please take a look at this related request as well:
Introduce a tolerance for Snap to Grid / Pixel, so that snapping happens only when points are close enough to grid intersections
https://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/333657/suggestions/49616738
This should also apply to handles, of course.I remember it being a bug, when handles were not snapping to grid... but sometimes it’s actually useful! Currently we have to undo, disable the grid, and tweak the handle.
There should either be a hard option we can toggle (preferably with an ability to assign it to a hotkey), or a hotkey to toggle this behavior on the fly, the one we can tap while dragging and disable snapping for this operation only... or both!Please take a look at this related request as well:
Introduce a tolerance for Snap to Grid / Pixel, so that snapping happens only…6 votes -
Allow to actually drag-n-drop swatches on canvas to create a Swatch Info object
Von Glitschka originally requested this here — http://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/333657/suggestions/40192993 — but instead we got a buried menu command we can’t assign to a hotkey (here’s a request about this: http://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/333657/suggestions/49612313)
Please allow to create these with the actual drag-n-drop!
Make it so we can hold a modifier key while doing this to have a dialog (and do it silently by default instead).
Allow to add dragged swatches into the existing Swatch Info objects, highlight the exact positions these are going to be added, on canvas.6 votes -
Allow to create Swatch Info object using a hotkey
Currently to create a Swatch Info object you need to dive into the Swatches panel’s flyout menu and locate a command. We need a way to assign a hotkey to this.
Actually, we need a way to assign hotkeys to ALL commands hidden in the panel menus — here is a general request about this: http://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/333657/suggestions/46432486 (and even a larger request to hotkey everything at all: http://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/333657/suggestions/31609237)
More of it, we need to be able to create Swatch Info objects with drag-n-drop (as Von Glitschka originally requested: http://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/333657/suggestions/40192993).
There is now a separate request specifically about this, to evaluate the real need, please upvote this as well —Currently to create a Swatch Info object you need to dive into the Swatches panel’s flyout menu and locate a command. We need a way to assign a hotkey to this.
Actually, we need a way to assign hotkeys to ALL commands hidden in the panel menus — here is a general request about this: http://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/333657/suggestions/46432486 (and even a larger request to hotkey everything at all: http://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/333657/suggestions/31609237)
More of it, we need to be able to create Swatch Info objects with drag-n-drop (as Von Glitschka originally requested: http://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/333657/suggestions/40192993).
There is now a separate request specifically about this, to…6 votes -
Add an option for Curvature tool to prioritize the currently selected path
Curvature is one of the more recent tools Illustrator introduced (well, in 2014... time flies). Unlike older tools, it tries to be smart. One of this 'smart' behaviors is an ability to both select and edit paths. It prevents us from placing the next point of the currently selected path right above an existing unselected path — the tool treats it as an attempt to select the latter.
There is an existing request to tweak the continuation tolerance, similar to what Pencil has: https://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/333657/suggestions/34578331
But to be fair, I’d love more options for the tool in general. So far it has ONE only, and it’s hidden within Preferences > Selection & Anchor Display: Enable Rubber Band... it should not be an app-level option! it’s a tool’s option! and it should be put in Curvature Tool Options dialog, called by Enter or double-click on the tool’s icon, just like every other tool allows...
And another option it should get must be 'Prefer selected path'.
With this checked, when nothing is selected — allow the tool to select path... but is something is already selected, prevent it from selecting, until I choose to. I’d even recommend to make this the default behavior.Curvature is one of the more recent tools Illustrator introduced (well, in 2014... time flies). Unlike older tools, it tries to be smart. One of this 'smart' behaviors is an ability to both select and edit paths. It prevents us from placing the next point of the currently selected path right above an existing unselected path — the tool treats it as an attempt to select the latter.
There is an existing request to tweak the continuation tolerance, similar to what Pencil has: https://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/333657/suggestions/34578331
But to be fair, I’d love more options for the tool in general. So far…
6 votes -
Stop covering the document tabs with expanded docked panels
If I dock panels to sides of the application frame, expanding the ones from the top panel groups will cover the document tabs, like the GIF shows.
In a situation when it’s important to know what is the current document (they can differ slightly) this is especially irritating.Please nudge them down a bit!
6 votes -
Add a 'Single Midpoint Anchor' Tool in Illustrator
Request: Add a tool or command that allows users to add a single anchor point precisely at the midpoint of any selected path segment without affecting the entire shape.
Why It’s Needed: Illustrator currently lacks an intuitive way to place an anchor point exactly between two existing anchor points. The "Add Anchor Points" command applies to all segments, and the Smart Guides often fail to indicate an accurate midpoint. Manually calculating coordinates is impractical.
Suggested Implementation:
A new "Add Midpoint Anchor" option in Object > Path that works on a single segment.
A modified behavior in the Pen Tool (P) or Add Anchor Point Tool (+) that automatically snaps to the true midpoint of a selected path segment.
A shortcut key (e.g., Shift + Click with the Add Anchor Point Tool) that forces an anchor to be placed at the segment’s exact center.
This is a basic function that would streamline workflows for designers working with precise vector geometry. Other software, such as Affinity Designer, already offers this feature.
Request: Add a tool or command that allows users to add a single anchor point precisely at the midpoint of any selected path segment without affecting the entire shape.
Why It’s Needed: Illustrator currently lacks an intuitive way to place an anchor point exactly between two existing anchor points. The "Add Anchor Points" command applies to all segments, and the Smart Guides often fail to indicate an accurate midpoint. Manually calculating coordinates is impractical.
Suggested Implementation:
A new "Add Midpoint Anchor" option in Object > Path that works on a single segment.
A modified behavior in the Pen Tool (P)…
6 votes -
Move items inside/outside hidden and locked layers.
I want to move items in and out of locked and/or hidden layers.
I use the lock and hidden options to not accendently modify them on the canvas, but I do neet to rearrange them in the layers, or need a copy of an item.6 votes -
Find and Replace should immediately count occurrences of the Find field contents in a document, before hitting Find
Why not showing us how many occurrences of a searched text the document has as we type the text? Why every browser can do this, but a professional tool will smack you with the loud alert only after you hit Replace All? How can I count matches without replacing?!
6 votes
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