Illustrator (Desktop) Feature Requests
When entering a new feature request, please provide:
- Description
- Why is this valuable to you?
- or
No existing idea results
- ~ No ideas found ~
4472 results found
-
Layer Tags, Virtual Layer Groups and Regex Search
I want to be able to keep layer names simple in projects with large numbers of layers, but I also want to be able to search for those layers in specific circumstances quickly and easily. To do this, I would like to be able to add "tags" to the layer properties (when you double click the layer), and then to have those tags searchable in the layer search.
Further, I often have to toggle between two layers amongst a longer group of layers at the same level, and right now I have to do a layer search for one, turn off those layers, then do another search and turn on the new layers. I would like to be able to use a REGEX search to be able to search for two terms at the same time.
Lastly, once tags are implemented, I would like to have a new tool where I can register a number of tags under a toggle, so that when I turn on/off the toggle, all layers with the tags assigned to the toggle are in turn toggled as a group. Call it a virtual layer if you will, or a layer group that doesn't require layers to be in the same branch.
I want to be able to keep layer names simple in projects with large numbers of layers, but I also want to be able to search for those layers in specific circumstances quickly and easily. To do this, I would like to be able to add "tags" to the layer properties (when you double click the layer), and then to have those tags searchable in the layer search.
Further, I often have to toggle between two layers amongst a longer group of layers at the same level, and right now I have to do a layer search for one, turn…
3 votes -
Identify Newly Installed Fonts in Adobe Illustrator
Problem:
Managing large font collections in Adobe Illustrator can be challenging, especially when installing new fonts. With hundreds or even thousands of fonts, identifying recently added ones becomes a tedious task, often requiring manual scrolling and searching through the entire font menu.
Proposed Solution:
Implement a feature in Illustrator that allows users to easily identify newly installed fonts. Here are two potential options:
Filter by Install Date: Add a sorting option within the font menu that displays fonts by their installation date. This would allow users to quickly see the most recently added fonts at the top of the list.
"New Fonts" Badge: Introduce a temporary visual indicator (badge) next to newly installed fonts within the font menu. This badge would disappear after a designated period (e.g., one week) or upon user interaction (e.g., clicking the font).
Benefits:
Improved workflow efficiency by saving time spent searching for new fonts.
Enhanced organization and management of large font libraries.
Streamlined font discovery for design projects.
Additional Considerations:The implementation should be lightweight and not impact application performance.
Users should have the option to disable the badge or sorting by install date if preferred.Thank you for considering this feature request. We believe it would be a valuable addition to Adobe Illustrator and significantly improve the user experience for designers working with extensive font collections.
Problem:
Managing large font collections in Adobe Illustrator can be challenging, especially when installing new fonts. With hundreds or even thousands of fonts, identifying recently added ones becomes a tedious task, often requiring manual scrolling and searching through the entire font menu.
Proposed Solution:
Implement a feature in Illustrator that allows users to easily identify newly installed fonts. Here are two potential options:
Filter by Install Date: Add a sorting option within the font menu that displays fonts by their installation date. This would allow users to quickly see the most recently added fonts at the top of the…
3 votes -
Allow outline / edges colour changes in Symbol edit mode
Allow the user to change the outline colour in Symbol Editing Mode. 'Options for Symbol Editing Mode' is always greyed out. It's possible to change the outline colour but it always reverts to the randomly-selected default colour.
See summary of issue here:
https://community.adobe.com/t5/illustrator-discussions/editing-symbols-layer-options-changing-select-color-doesn-t-work/m-p/144689793 votes -
Placing "Show Import Options" - Import Photoshop Artboards Individually into Illustrator
Give placing options (similar to the PDF import options) when placing a Photoshop file (.PSD and .PSB) into Illustrator; if the "Show Import Options" box is checked, give the user the options to import Photoshop Artboards Individually (Similar to .Ai and PDF Artboards) or as the whole image file.
The "Show Import Options" box must be checked to get these options, however if not checked, the whole image file will be imported into Illustrator regardless of artboards present.
3 votes -
Ability to use CC Library colors directly within Recolor Artwork dialog (without having to create swatches first).
When recoloring a large batch of individual vector files, it's cumbersome to have to add swatches from CC Library for every single file in order to use those swatches in the recolor artwork dialog. It would be great to use the colors stored in CC Library directly in the recolor artwork dialog.
3 votes -
Illustrator Waterfall Charts - support positive & negative values
Currently, when trying to create a waterfall chart in Illustrator, you can't have values go above & below the zero axis. If you try to enter positive and negative values in one line of the data table, you get an error (Can't create the graph. Each stacked column must contain all positive or negative data.).
This is needed by lots of Artworkers, especially in Annual Reports, etc.
3 votes -
Add Arrange Buttons in Control panel
Its sometimes really frustrating to using two hands just for the arrange objects. Also right click menu is too time consuming just for the bringing an object to front. Inkscape handles this issue very well without messing up with layers menu or right clicking. They added 4 buttons to dock when an object is selected just for arranging objects easy and user friendly. I really seek this tiny feature in Illustrator.
3 votes -
True customisable drawing 'angles' for all tools when using SHIFT key (pen, pencil, brush).
This is severely lacking in illustrator and has been developed by Affinity Designer with work arounds (that do not work in a suitably fluid way) by Astute Graphics for Illustrator.
Best case scenario something is implemented like Affinity Designer in which 'constraint angles' are replaced by ‘Grid and Snapping Axis’ you are able to set and save presets of angle settings.
These axis are set and then can be activated as a constraint on your current tool by holding shift.
Smart guides provides this in a VERY limited way right now, the UI is very rudimentary for a setting that is so important.
These settings need to be centralised in one place, not hidden!This is severely lacking in illustrator and has been developed by Affinity Designer with work arounds (that do not work in a suitably fluid way) by Astute Graphics for Illustrator.
Best case scenario something is implemented like Affinity Designer in which 'constraint angles' are replaced by ‘Grid and Snapping Axis’ you are able to set and save presets of angle settings.
These axis are set and then can be activated as a constraint on your current tool by holding shift.
Smart guides provides this in a VERY limited way right now, the UI is very rudimentary for a setting…3 votes -
Trigger "view guides" when adding one from rulers
Hey everyone, this might be a little request coming from a silly designer, let me explain :
When I was using illustrator guides lately, I found something that bugged me out, I tried to drag a new guide from the "rulers" on the corner of the canvas, I placed it where I wanted to, and to my surprise it wasn't showing, then I quickly remembered the "show guides" option inside the "view" tab was on "hide".
Of course it displayed every guide that I previously dragged in when I switched it to "show", but speaking in UX terms, it should be ideal to trigger 'show guides' option whenever this one is the opposite whilst adding a new guide from the rulers like is shown on the pictures below, freshers in illustrator could get lost easily ! (Speaking from personal experience lol )
Best Regards,
Tamir - UX/UI Student
Hey everyone, this might be a little request coming from a silly designer, let me explain :
When I was using illustrator guides lately, I found something that bugged me out, I tried to drag a new guide from the "rulers" on the corner of the canvas, I placed it where I wanted to, and to my surprise it wasn't showing, then I quickly remembered the "show guides" option inside the "view" tab was on "hide".
Of course it displayed every guide that I previously dragged in when I switched it to "show", but speaking in UX terms, it should…
3 votes -
Allow to zoom pattern swatches on right click hold, like we can do in Graphics Styles
Patterns can we very detailed, and we can have some pattern variants that don’t differ much from each other. Even when we choose to have Large Thumbnail View in Swatches, it doesn’t really help much to distinguish these.
It’d be useful if we could do the same thing as Graphic Styles panel does — to click and hold a right mouse button to view a giant thumbnail of the clicked pattern.
The only difference would be that styles are displayed applied to the selected objects, while there is no such need for patterns — a simple square thumbnail will do.
Patterns can we very detailed, and we can have some pattern variants that don’t differ much from each other. Even when we choose to have Large Thumbnail View in Swatches, it doesn’t really help much to distinguish these.
It’d be useful if we could do the same thing as Graphic Styles panel does — to click and hold a right mouse button to view a giant thumbnail of the clicked pattern.
The only difference would be that styles are displayed applied to the selected objects, while there is no such need for patterns — a simple square thumbnail will…
3 votes -
Illustrator on Web now has Quick Pen tool. Desktop Ai needs one too
Illustrator on Web got this Quick Pen tool (https://community.adobe.com/t5/illustrator-on-the-web-beta-discussions/introducing-the-new-quick-pen-tool-beta-in-illustrator-on-the-web-beta/td-p/14146260) in October of 2023, very similar to the recently abandoned Spiro Tool plugin, to Tangent Arc tool by Graffix, and to some of Astute Graphics’ plugins.
This is not a replacement to any one of them, and to the Illustrator’s native Curvature, but it’s an interesting tool to have at desktop as well.
3 votesHi Everyone,
We are excited to announce the launch of Quick Pen Tool (QPT) in beta build of Illustrator. Please give it a try and let us know your feedback.
-
Graphic Styles direct hotkeys
Some of us use graphics styles A LOT. And a way to quickly apply them now requires aiming and clicking. In modern now, a precise targeted click is the most inconvenient, attention-expensive, and rather ineffective gesture.
Pro users use hotkeys.
Since InDesign’s Quick Apply is not a thing yet (that’s another story), we’d like to be able to assign direct hotkeys to chosen styles.There are several ways to approach this: by name, or by position in the list... but not as an action wrapper — we have so little of F-keys.
3 votes -
Allow third-party developers to add dividers and custom sorting into Effect menus
Third-party developers can add custom items in menus.
Some create their own sub-menus, some add them in-between native commands... there are several practices they use and when they all get used together it feels somewhat chaotic.But it feels like this is because plugin devs can’t fully control the commands in menus. It turns out, they can’t control the order and sorting, add dividers in Effects (but seemingly can in every other menu)...
Effect menu is the most weird menu in Ai, it looks different from others. Maybe that’s why?
There is an existing UV post about it:
https://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/601447-illustrator-desktop-bugs/suggestions/36951433-effects-menu-is-smaller-larger-than-other-menus-on3 votes -
More Settings button is hidden in the New Document dialog window
Why 'More Settings' button is hidden in the New Document dialog window?
More Settings dialog should be a default window when creating a new document instead of random template presets that nobody are using.
3 votes -
Brush stroke stability
I've been using Illustrator for a long time now and one of the things that have bugged me over the years is the fact that there's no brush stroke stabilization like the Pulled String Mode in Photopshop or the Rope Brush in Affinity Designer. Ai has evolved so much over the years and it's been used to create freehand vector art since day one, so I cannot understand why this function hasn't been developed yet as of 2024.
Path Smooth or Fidelity are definitely two options to smooth out lines, but that's done once the path has been created. Stabilization, on the contrary, can give you very smooth lines while you're drawing them and with live feedback. I understand there's a plugin out there called DynamicSketch, but I would like to have this feature integrated directly into Illustrator instead of having to look for it elsewhere.
I must say that I'm beyond impressed at how fluid and accurate the Rope Brush in Affinity Designer is, but unfortunately, I can't say the same thing about Photoshop's Pulled String Mode. Will we see this feature in Ai soon? I hope so.
I've been using Illustrator for a long time now and one of the things that have bugged me over the years is the fact that there's no brush stroke stabilization like the Pulled String Mode in Photopshop or the Rope Brush in Affinity Designer. Ai has evolved so much over the years and it's been used to create freehand vector art since day one, so I cannot understand why this function hasn't been developed yet as of 2024.
Path Smooth or Fidelity are definitely two options to smooth out lines, but that's done once the path has been created.…
3 votes -
Scale stroke width of multiple points
I'd like to be able to scale the stroke width of multiple points at the same time, that way they match. That, or copy the stroke width value of one point and be able to paste it onto another.
3 votes -
I wish I could use Photoshop's Median Filter as an Effect in Illustrator. (Photoshop → Filter → Noise → Median)
I wish I could use Photoshop's Median Filter as an Effect in Illustrator. (Photoshop → Filter → Noise → Median)
3 votes -
Transform Each around Symbol Registration Point
It would be nice, when using Transform Each, to have the option to transform the Symbols around their Registration Point.
3 votes -
Please add Illustrator option to maintain text color
Could you please add an option for us to keep the color we chose for the text in an illustrator file we're currently working on?
Meaning: Say I am writing text in a file, but I want separate text boxes and I want to keep the same color, rather than Illustrator defaulting back to black or whatever color was set as default in the preferences.
I'd like to be able to check a box to keep the color I am using for the text rather than having to go back to the color and subsequently the default sizes set in the Main preferences. It's time consuming to keep having to change both the color and size for each text area I create in a document.
Thank you.
Could you please add an option for us to keep the color we chose for the text in an illustrator file we're currently working on?
Meaning: Say I am writing text in a file, but I want separate text boxes and I want to keep the same color, rather than Illustrator defaulting back to black or whatever color was set as default in the preferences.
I'd like to be able to check a box to keep the color I am using for the text rather than having to go back to the color and subsequently the default sizes set…
3 votes -
Guided tracing brush (Snap to trace)
The automatic full image tracing in illustrator often does not create useful results. The set of lines is too busy or doesn't line up with where a human would consider the edges to be.
As an alternative, a brush tool tool that snaps the lines to the underlying image layers would be more helpful. Human input shows the general location of a line, and illustrator can then snap the line to the nearest set of pixels that appears to be an edge, helping make smooth an accurate traces without excess lines.
While it would be a slower process, the creative control plus accuracy would really help me in my practice.
There could be some AI training opportunities here too, with illustrator learning my tracing style over time to produce faster results, or letting me use the style of another artist as a starting point.
The automatic full image tracing in illustrator often does not create useful results. The set of lines is too busy or doesn't line up with where a human would consider the edges to be.
As an alternative, a brush tool tool that snaps the lines to the underlying image layers would be more helpful. Human input shows the general location of a line, and illustrator can then snap the line to the nearest set of pixels that appears to be an edge, helping make smooth an accurate traces without excess lines.
While it would be a slower process, the creative…
3 votes
- Don't see your idea?