Illustrator (Desktop) Feature Requests
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4473 results found
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Change the layer an object is located on
If you have a large artboard with multiple objects and layers it is really time consuming to organize your layers when all you can do is drag and drop. I think it would be useful if you could right click on an object and "move to layer" like you can in muse.
4 votesThere is a way – let us know if this works for you.
- Select the object(s).
- Highlight the layer you want the selection to go to.
- Object menu or right-click > Arrange > Send to Current Layer -
An option to convert a line into a dimension line
Sometimes it’s so much easier to draw a line, using a familiar click-drag-release method, instead of click-click-click method Dimension Tool uses to Manual Dimensions!
I really with to be able to covert a viable line (an open straight line with no handles and two points only, being it a live shape or not) into a dimension, with zero offset and no extension lines.
It IS possible to do today, but using some shenanigans I show in a GIF attached. The way extensions can’t be set to zero is a problem though, and should be reported separately.
Some plugins and scripts allow this exact function, I don’t see why Ai can’t have it.
Sometimes it’s so much easier to draw a line, using a familiar click-drag-release method, instead of click-click-click method Dimension Tool uses to Manual Dimensions!
I really with to be able to covert a viable line (an open straight line with no handles and two points only, being it a live shape or not) into a dimension, with zero offset and no extension lines.
It IS possible to do today, but using some shenanigans I show in a GIF attached. The way extensions can’t be set to zero is a problem though, and should be reported separately.
Some plugins and scripts…
3 votes -
Show Appearance as a popup instead of a panel when clicking More button in Properties
Selecting the ellipsis button in the Properties panel for the different sections opens a simple popup panel for further actions and self-closes.
However, the Appearance section will pop out completely into it's own panel?
This is annoying as I have to close the Appearance panel each time.This should be consistent like the others.
THX3 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.
3 votes -
Allow to customize Contextual Task Bar: Lock, Toggle Grid, Expand, Offset Path etc.
The addition of the contextual task bar was great, but to make it perfect I'd love to be able to assign custom actions and shortcuts to the menu bar that show all the time, such as: Toggle Lock, Toggle Grid, Expand Shape, Intertwine, Offset Path etc.
The ability to lock an object from the menu bar was great, not sure why it was removed.
I use Illustrator for fashion design & techpacks meaning I have tons of layers and individual shapes.
Thanks!
3 votes -
Uniform dashes at end of paths
It would be great to have uniform dashes at the end of paths when
"Aligns dashes to corners and path ends, adjusting lengths to fit" is on.Currently we seem to get half sized dashes with this option on
3 votes -
Objects on Path needs a way to control spacing / gaps precisely, with a value
At the moment we can’t control spacing (gaps) between objects on path ion the new Objects on Path type of object (what a beautiful sentence).
We can only eyeball it with a slider, which is incrementing by points (despite me having set millimeters as my ruler units).
There is no field I can type something like 0.125 mm, or at least a modifier key (like Cmd/Ctrl) to make the slider go slower ×10 (or any other value I choose somewhere in Preferences or at least in Adobe Prefs file, buried in Ai’s folders).
Perhaps yo should also allow us to dobule-click the slider itself and enter the number directly in the field there on canvas, but having one in Contextual Task bar will do (otherwise why having it).
At the moment we can’t control spacing (gaps) between objects on path ion the new Objects on Path type of object (what a beautiful sentence).
We can only eyeball it with a slider, which is incrementing by points (despite me having set millimeters as my ruler units).
There is no field I can type something like 0.125 mm, or at least a modifier key (like Cmd/Ctrl) to make the slider go slower ×10 (or any other value I choose somewhere in Preferences or at least in Adobe Prefs file, buried in Ai’s folders).
Perhaps yo should also allow us to…
3 votes -
Add Round Butt cap option for strokes
The original idea by Johan Perjus, from https://medium.com/design-bootcamp/things-i-wish-adobe-would-address-with-adobe-illustrator-4796a89e1bae
There are quite a few cases where I use rounded strokes as a starting point for building shapes and where this option would be useful, as in order to know the correct outer dimensions of a stroke, one has to deduct the stroke with from the end caps.
3 votes -
Restore a way to copy the value from another filed with a click on the input’s caption in dialogs
Please bring back the one-click way to duplicate a value from one input field into another for dialogs.
This was available from version 8 through CS5.
Make it a toggle in Preferences.For example, if i wanted to make a square 100mm x 100mm I would select the rectangle tool (M) and then click once in the work area... the dialogue box would come up... I would then only have to enter 100mm into the Width,
then click on the Height descriptor (not the white entry portion) and my dimension would be automatically duplicated in the entry portion of the height dimension.Please bring back the one-click way to duplicate a value from one input field into another for dialogs.
This was available from version 8 through CS5.
Make it a toggle in Preferences.For example, if i wanted to make a square 100mm x 100mm I would select the rectangle tool (M) and then click once in the work area... the dialogue box would come up... I would then only have to enter 100mm into the Width,
then click on the Height descriptor (not the white entry portion) and my dimension would be automatically duplicated in the entry portion of the…3 votes -
Bring back Duplicate button in the Contextual Task Bar
It would be very useful to bring back the repeat / duplicate icon in the Contextual Task Bar -- specifically when selecting shapes. Illustrator 2024 had this feature when a shape was selected. The 2025 update removed this feature.
Please bring this back, or allow users to customize the Conceptual Task Bar in the settings.
3 votes -
Add "Embed Images" to Menu/Actions
Working with multiple print files requires manual embedding of each linked image, which is time-consuming. Please add "Embed Images" to either:
- The Actions panel for batch processing, or
- The menu system to allow keyboard shortcut assignment
This would significantly improve workflow efficiency in print production environments.
3 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…
3 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 -
Make custom layers outside of artboards visible in Trim View
Sometimes when using Trim view I do want to see other items shown. Like Notes or measurements that are outside of the artboard, But I still want the preview of Trim View to hide bleed and artwork that extends beyond. I wish that inside the layer Options Settings. there was a checkbox to show in Trim View, so items on that layer are still visible when trim view is active
3 votes -
Make objects in Objects on Path to reposition relative to one set as a key object
Align and Distribute operations in Illustrator support picking a key object, by clicking on of the objects in a selection, so it get a thicker edge. This object stays in place, while every other in a selection aligns or distributes relative to it.
Sadly, this 'key object' paradigm is largely unloved in other areas, but it's also neglect in new Objects on Paths construct.
While it does not support setting a target path with it (requested here: http://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/333657/suggestions/48988013), it also does not allow to 'fix' one object on path as adjust gaps relative to this fixated object.What we have now is an ability to hold Opt/Alt, to scale gaps relative to the center of the array... but with key object support it would be even cooler!
Original idea by Ton Frederiks
Align and Distribute operations in Illustrator support picking a key object, by clicking on of the objects in a selection, so it get a thicker edge. This object stays in place, while every other in a selection aligns or distributes relative to it.
Sadly, this 'key object' paradigm is largely unloved in other areas, but it's also neglect in new Objects on Paths construct.
While it does not support setting a target path with it (requested here: http://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/333657/suggestions/48988013), it also does not allow to 'fix' one object on path as adjust gaps relative to this fixated object.What we…
3 votes -
Objects on Path needs an ability to keep orientation of objects relative to page/path, similar to blends
Objects on Path needs more options and in its current setup is very limited in its usefulness. This tool feels like it's still in beta. Whilst it's good at doing the one thing it's designed to do, it's missing a lot of useful capabilities.
What's missing is the ability to keep the baseline of the objects i.e., keeping the objects horizontal. What it needs are the same options as Type on a Path (Rainbow, Skew, 3D Ribbon, Stair Step, Gravity).
Other two requests are:
1. Allow to nudge or rotate individual elements along the path for Objects on Path — http://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/333657/suggestions/48987899
2. Add an option to measure gaps between objects in Objects on Path by their bounds, not between centers — http://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/333657/suggestions/48987905Objects on Path needs more options and in its current setup is very limited in its usefulness. This tool feels like it's still in beta. Whilst it's good at doing the one thing it's designed to do, it's missing a lot of useful capabilities.
What's missing is the ability to keep the baseline of the objects i.e., keeping the objects horizontal. What it needs are the same options as Type on a Path (Rainbow, Skew, 3D Ribbon, Stair Step, Gravity).
Other two requests are:
1. Allow to nudge or rotate individual elements along the path for Objects on Path — …3 votes -
Allow to convert a live blend into Objects on Path
Blends are cool to when you need to create intermediate objects or colors, but these sucks when you need to create a uniform distribution — Ai stupidly uses’ the spine’s curvature to control both the spine’s curvature AND the distribution (requested to get improved here: http://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/333657/suggestions/32403880)
But now we have Objects on Path, which can’t provide any other distribution except uniform one (yet, we hope).
But, as usual, two similar functions remain completely separated and non-ingedrated (we saw this before with Repeat Grid and pattern, and there is a request to allow conversion of one into another here: http://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/333657/suggestions/45233863 — along with 'why can’t we add these as swatches, here: https://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/333657/suggestions/41686228)So it’s a similar one — allow to convert a live blend directly into Objects on Path. This would allow to solve the uniformity / acceleration for blends first, but then it’s just a question of cutting a corner between these two VERY similar tools.
Blends are cool to when you need to create intermediate objects or colors, but these sucks when you need to create a uniform distribution — Ai stupidly uses’ the spine’s curvature to control both the spine’s curvature AND the distribution (requested to get improved here: http://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/333657/suggestions/32403880)
But now we have Objects on Path, which can’t provide any other distribution except uniform one (yet, we hope).
But, as usual, two similar functions remain completely separated and non-ingedrated (we saw this before with Repeat Grid and pattern, and there is a request to allow conversion of one into another here: http://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/333657/suggestions/45233863…3 votes -
Rename updated Move locked and hidden artwork with artboard
CC 2025 v29.0 introduces the long-awaited "Scale Artwork with Artboard" option.
The checkbox in Preferences > Selection and Anchor Display > Move Locked and Hidden Artwork with Artboard now also affects whether locked or hidden objects are scaled with the artboard or not.
I didn't realize this right away. When I tried to scale an artboard with a locked object, I got a warning and thought that the new feature just doesn't know how to scale such objects with an artboard. Only then did I realize that the existing option in the settings affects the function.
Perhaps the naming of the option should be made clearer: Preferences > Selection and Anchor Display > Move or Scale Locked and Hidden Artwork with Artboard
CC 2025 v29.0 introduces the long-awaited "Scale Artwork with Artboard" option.
The checkbox in Preferences > Selection and Anchor Display > Move Locked and Hidden Artwork with Artboard now also affects whether locked or hidden objects are scaled with the artboard or not.
I didn't realize this right away. When I tried to scale an artboard with a locked object, I got a warning and thought that the new feature just doesn't know how to scale such objects with an artboard. Only then did I realize that the existing option in the settings affects the function.
Perhaps the naming of…
3 votes -
Copy layer from one document to another with effects / appearance
Wouldn't it be nice to be able to copy-paste a layer from one file to another, including the layer’s effects / appearance?
Or to have an option to Duplicate a Layer into another file (like in Photoshop).
3 votes -
Images with the file name underneath.
Would be great if you could place images on to an artboard and have the option to display the files name underneath the image.
This would be great when designing images for Etsy showing the customer the choice of images they can choose and then tell you the file name of their chosen image.3 votes
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