Illustrator (Desktop) Feature Requests
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4663 results found
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Offset Path - Option to offset to one side of path only
I wish the "Offset Path" gave me the option to offset the path to one side of the path only.
When creating labels for linear features on a map it is useful to create an offset version of the line you are labeling (road, river, etc.) and place the type on that path. Sometimes you can just copy the path and nudge it above or below the line that needs to be labeled, and type along that path. But this doesn't always work nicely if the path curves a lot.
Offsetting a single line in Illustrator results in a path that encircles that line. Adding type to this is problematic and requires manually cutting the offset path at both ends and deleting the part you won't use for labeling. On a map with hundreds of linear labels this is wasted time.
The AG Offset tool from the Astute Graphics plugin accomplishes this task pretty well, but it is literally the only tool in the whole Astute Graphics suite that I use...to the cost of $149/year. It sure would be great if I could just accomplish this in Illustrator and not have to pay for an entire suite of plugins to accomplish this.
I wish the "Offset Path" gave me the option to offset the path to one side of the path only.
When creating labels for linear features on a map it is useful to create an offset version of the line you are labeling (road, river, etc.) and place the type on that path. Sometimes you can just copy the path and nudge it above or below the line that needs to be labeled, and type along that path. But this doesn't always work nicely if the path curves a lot.
Offsetting a single line in Illustrator results in a path…
4 votes -
Make a way for Scale Artwork with Artboard mode to NOT scale strokes and effects
It’s good to finally have Scale Artwork with Artboard option (http://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/333657/suggestions/31500847), but I really wish for it to respect Scale Strokes & Effects option.
For now Scale Artwork with Artboard behaves as if it’s always enabled... I realize scaling strokes is natural for this mode, but the current way means if we need to scale an artboard, but NOT scale the strokes — we can’t do that.
It almost feels like it should be a separate option specifically for it.4 votes -
Add Units Dropdown in Transform section in Properties
I constantly have to change units based on job parameters.
I would like to have a Units dropdown in the Properties panel itself.
Instead of going into Preferences or show rulers to change units, add a dropdown to the Transform section of the panel.4 votes -
Show list of open files in different menu place
The open files are under window menu, that is a large list to scroll and locate the files. I think it will be better to have an open files menu only for that. Also could be nice to have a button to browse them all.
4 votes -
Non-destructive clipping mask options
An option where you take a whole object or group and use it's whole area(including strokes) as a clipping mask for other layers. Similar to what you can do in Photoshop.
So you can create for instance, a shape with stroke and set it as the clipping mask for an underlying texture. Without the need to flatten it, so you can experiment with it, or keep a text live for later editting it.
Or have multiple shapes working as the clipping mask while you are choosing the appropriate combination or later need to adapt to a different format.
4 votes -
Align is immune to Constrain Angle
If we change Constrain Angle in Preferences general, our grid gets rotated, all shapes get create as rotated...
Pretty powerful, right? Read more about it here, in the Rotate the x and y axes of a document:
https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/using/rotating-reflecting-objects.htmlHowever, even though it’s an old feature, it was never completed, it seems.
Align functions just ignore it, making alignment to an angle a rather cumbersome endeavor: http://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/333657/suggestions/39019732This also makes Rotate View pretty useless (which does not counter-rotate the Constrain Angle, unless you use free Direct Prefs plugin by Astute Graphics to handle it automatically, among other things) — http://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/333657/suggestions/44001624
While arrows indeed get fixed with the counter-rotation trick, Align is forever broken... as well as the selection marquee, which is also ignores both Rotate View and Constrain Angle altogether.
If we change Constrain Angle in Preferences general, our grid gets rotated, all shapes get create as rotated...
Pretty powerful, right? Read more about it here, in the Rotate the x and y axes of a document:
https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/using/rotating-reflecting-objects.htmlHowever, even though it’s an old feature, it was never completed, it seems.
Align functions just ignore it, making alignment to an angle a rather cumbersome endeavor: http://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/333657/suggestions/39019732This also makes Rotate View pretty useless (which does not counter-rotate the Constrain Angle, unless you use free Direct Prefs plugin by Astute Graphics to handle it automatically, among other things) — http://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/333657/suggestions/44001624
While…
4 votes -
Add Font Height Options in Style Settings Panel
Can we get this option added within the Paragraph and Character Style Settings panels?
Currently you can only fix the font height of a Paragraph and Character styles with Em-box as a reference.4 votes -
Right-click on a text style to access the its definition and options
It would be a giant leap forward for Illustrator to match InDesign's UX for paragraph and character styles management.
Allow right-click on a character or paragraph style to access the style definition and options via a context menu: Edit style, Duplicate style, Delete style, Apply style, Redefine style, instead of using the panels’ menus.
Original idea by Alan Gilbertson
4 votes -
Objects on Path should allow snapping to (smart) guides
Hello Creatives,
I hope you enjoy the new handy "objects on path" tool as I do.The Request:
It would be awesome if Objects on Path (New Tool) could snap to smart guides, guides or even - let's go wild - to a grid. As sometimes you work within systems and/or objects are related to each it feels like this feature would make it a really great tool to design with.Kind regards
Andreas4 votes -
There should be a dedicated Object > Dimension menu, with all the commands Properties panel has
With the Dimension tool and dimension objects we got several important commands that deal around not having presets for these: Apply to All and Set as Default.
These commands are available only as buttons, and are not accessible from anywhere else, including Control panel (here is a request about it: http://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/333657/suggestions/49010126) and top menu.
In case Properties doesn’t work (as it doesn’t for me) and another case a user just doesn’t like the panel (since it’s still very raw and buggy), we can’t get to these in any other way, and can’t assign a hotkey (since Ai just doesn’t allow to hotkey all the things we can call or press (here is a request about it: http://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/333657/suggestions/31609237).
Please put these into a menu!
With the Dimension tool and dimension objects we got several important commands that deal around not having presets for these: Apply to All and Set as Default.
These commands are available only as buttons, and are not accessible from anywhere else, including Control panel (here is a request about it: http://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/333657/suggestions/49010126) and top menu.
In case Properties doesn’t work (as it doesn’t for me) and another case a user just doesn’t like the panel (since it’s still very raw and buggy), we can’t get to these in any other way, and can’t assign a hotkey (since Ai just doesn’t…
4 votes -
Automatically pick a key object from a selection as a target path when using Object > Object on Path > Attach command
Illustrator allows us to set a key object by clicking one of selected objects, to perform align and distribute operations (sadly, a very underutilized method!)
But Objects on Path doesn’t use this method at all, technically being an align & distribute operation.
If I have a selection and marked one object as a key one already, after calling Object > Object on Path > Attach command I STILL have to click a target path! I already made my choice before running the command, why does it force me to make a choice twice and precisely click again?
A clear miss. Please integrate existing workflows better.
Illustrator allows us to set a key object by clicking one of selected objects, to perform align and distribute operations (sadly, a very underutilized method!)
But Objects on Path doesn’t use this method at all, technically being an align & distribute operation.
If I have a selection and marked one object as a key one already, after calling Object > Object on Path > Attach command I STILL have to click a target path! I already made my choice before running the command, why does it force me to make a choice twice and precisely click again?
A clear miss.…
4 votes -
When dropping an object filled with a pattern into Swatches panel, open New Swatch dialog to add the pattern as a new swatch
If we drag-n-drop any artwork into Swatches, a new pattern swatch gets created based on this artwork.
But if we drag-n-drop an singular object with an existing pattern applied to it — nothing happens, as if Ai tries to create a nested pattern and refuses to do so. I think it’s quite obvious what a user intends to do in this case... but we get no warning.When we use Pattern Options panel/mode, and fill an object within a pattern with another pattern, and try to save, Ai throws us a message (rather vague — Ai knows for sure what restricted element we have, but won’t tell us specifically).
Why not throw the same one (but better, with clear 'no nested patterns!')?If we drag-n-drop any artwork into Swatches, a new pattern swatch gets created based on this artwork.
But if we drag-n-drop an singular object with an existing pattern applied to it — nothing happens, as if Ai tries to create a nested pattern and refuses to do so. I think it’s quite obvious what a user intends to do in this case... but we get no warning.When we use Pattern Options panel/mode, and fill an object within a pattern with another pattern, and try to save, Ai throws us a message (rather vague — Ai knows for…
4 votes -
More controls for the center point of the Transform effect: relative to artboard / object
I would like a few more controls for where Effect > Distort & Transform > Transform centers the transformation.
Next to the 3x3 centerpoint grid, there would be an "Origin" dropdown. offering the options of "Relative to Object" and "Relative to Artboard". "Relative to Object" is the current behavior, and should be the default option.
There would also be a pair of X and Y inputs to specify an offset of the centerpoint from whatever corner was chosen.
As an example of why I might want this: I have an Appearance stack for doing quick and dirty rimlighting of an object by adding a fill on top that's Transformed to about 95% of its size, with an off-center centerpoint and one extra copy; these are followed up by a Minus Back effect to chop most of it off. It's a fun technique that lets me block out a bunch of shapes with very stylized shading very quickly. But it's not good for light radiating out from a point in the image, I'd have to constantly change the transformation angle on multiple shapes.
With this request implemented, I could draw a point light source somewhere in the artboard, modify my lighting style to center its transformation on that light source, then quickly block out an entire dramatically-lit scene.
I've included a mockup, which I made by crudely cutting and pasting the similar controls from Astute's Phantasm Halftone plugin into the existing Transform effect.
Also while I am asking for Transform effect improvements, can we get a switch to change the Move sliders between the current setting of absolute numbers of whatever the document's measurement unit is, and a new setting of percentage of the object's size? That would be a big improvement to my automatic lighting workflow, too.
I would like a few more controls for where Effect > Distort & Transform > Transform centers the transformation.
Next to the 3x3 centerpoint grid, there would be an "Origin" dropdown. offering the options of "Relative to Object" and "Relative to Artboard". "Relative to Object" is the current behavior, and should be the default option.
There would also be a pair of X and Y inputs to specify an offset of the centerpoint from whatever corner was chosen.
As an example of why I might want this: I have an Appearance stack for doing quick and dirty rimlighting…
4 votes -
Add more icon types in History and stop calling some operations just 'Undo'
We finally got our History panel, hooray, thanks to this request: http://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/333657/suggestions/31139326
But it’s been 2 years now, and yet still some operations are called just 'Undo' and have generic 'something from a menu' icon.
Move? Menu icon.
Copy? Menu icon.
Applying an effect? Menu icon.
Creating a repeat? Menu icon.
Deleting a a portion with Shape Builder? Menu icon.
Applying a swatch? Menu icon.
Applying a graphic style? You guess.
These are all quite distinct, yet a generic icon is used.Calling a script? 'Undo' as well, as if Ai doesn’t know about scripts.
I know it’s quite consistent with Photoshop, but Ai is more object oriented than Ps, and deserves more definition for object-based operations.
We finally got our History panel, hooray, thanks to this request: http://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/333657/suggestions/31139326
But it’s been 2 years now, and yet still some operations are called just 'Undo' and have generic 'something from a menu' icon.
Move? Menu icon.
Copy? Menu icon.
Applying an effect? Menu icon.
Creating a repeat? Menu icon.
Deleting a a portion with Shape Builder? Menu icon.
Applying a swatch? Menu icon.
Applying a graphic style? You guess.
These are all quite distinct, yet a generic icon is used.Calling a script? 'Undo' as well, as if Ai doesn’t know about scripts.
I know it’s quite consistent…
4 votes -
Make 'Preserve Illustrator Editing Capabilities' option be always disabled for PDFs made with Export As but always enabled for Save As
We now got a way to Export a PDF, rather than Save a Copy, thanks to this request: http://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/333657/suggestions/32841790
However, these methods don’t really differ from each other, and 'Preserve Illustrator Editing Capabilities' is still a thing for these exported PDF, bloating the size twice and leaving a way for these to be editable.
I want this option to be disabled and unchecked for Export as PDF — announced loudly and clearly.
And if Save As method is chosen — this 'Preserve Illustrator Editing Capabilities' option should be locked as enabled.
4 votes -
Don’t hide Repeat controls for small or zoomed out objects
Illustrator only displays controls for repeat objects when it’s enough screen space, it seems. But when we are zoomed out or the object is just small, and there is still enough space to put these in, we get nothing.
Even when there’s almost no space to fit controls at the box, some other apps draw them next to it, with connectors.
Meanwhile Ai still chokes us with corner widgets on zoomed out objects, and there is now way to hide them. Here is a request: http://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/333657/suggestions/43661631
Please make a way for us to control these and other similar controls and choose when there is a limit on our own, somewhere in Preferences.
Illustrator only displays controls for repeat objects when it’s enough screen space, it seems. But when we are zoomed out or the object is just small, and there is still enough space to put these in, we get nothing.
Even when there’s almost no space to fit controls at the box, some other apps draw them next to it, with connectors.
Meanwhile Ai still chokes us with corner widgets on zoomed out objects, and there is now way to hide them. Here is a request: http://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/333657/suggestions/43661631
Please make a way for us to control these and other similar controls and…
4 votes -
Split 'Select and Unlock objects on canvas' into two options: Unlock Widgets and Allow to Select Locked Objects
There is a 'Select and Unlock objects on canvas' option in Preferences > Selection & Anchor Display section, which allows to display small unlock widgets for the locked objects we can click to unlock (this is fairly similar to what InDesign has).
It also allows us to 'select' several locked objects or unlock them all or only some of them, using a context menu (this is something InDesign does NOT have!)
(I put this in quotes because no real selection happens — the objects don’t get marked with the square selection markers in Layers panel and Locate command does nothing).
And there is a bigger problem...
Having these 'selected' means we can’t truly select anything that is UNDER these!
So we have to choose — either to have a functionality to unlock with a click or click-to-select-under :/But perhaps this can be split into two options, one for having unlock widgets and another one (dependent on the parent option) — to allow selection?
Please take a look at it.
There is a 'Select and Unlock objects on canvas' option in Preferences > Selection & Anchor Display section, which allows to display small unlock widgets for the locked objects we can click to unlock (this is fairly similar to what InDesign has).
It also allows us to 'select' several locked objects or unlock them all or only some of them, using a context menu (this is something InDesign does NOT have!)
(I put this in quotes because no real selection happens — the objects don’t get marked with the square selection markers in Layers panel and Locate command does nothing).
…
4 votes -
Make Polygon tool dialog offer to set a shape by its Side Length
¡¡¡¿Por qué pregunta el radio de un octágono?!!! Tendría el programa que calcularlo. Si yo pongo cuántos lados quiero, en donde dice RADIO tendría que dar la opción de la medida de cada LADO, no del radio. Para ello yo tendría que estar haciendo cuentas matemáticas que me atrasan en mi trabajo.
4 votes -
Placed Image Scale Percentage
We desperately need a way to tell the percentage scale of a placed image — or more specifcally, a set of placed images — in Illustrator. A perfect example of this is when you have a set of icons that are all designed at the same size relative to each other, with the same stroke widths. If you place 20 of them on the artboard, it's easy to accidentally have some slightly larger than others, and trying to normalize the scale is darned near impossible because there is ABSOLUTELY NO INDICATION ANYWHERE as to the scale that they're placed at.
4 votes -
Increase levels of smoothing for paintbrush or pencil
To have control on stabilization of small form or
4 votes
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