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Illustrator (Desktop) Feature Requests

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395 results found

  1. Implement quick filter in Layers panel

    On large documents designers very often give names to objects in document structure for improve navigation in structure. But now there are no way to quickly find object by name in document, except custom scripts.

    For solve this problem please implement quick filter input field in Layers panel interface, for quickly search objects by part of his name (like filter in Fonts list).

    Even if designer don't add names, via this filter we will can quick find all curves, all rectangles, all circles, all curves, all guides, etc, so it will be very useful.

    81 votes
    18 comments  ·  Layers  ·  Admin →
    How important is this to you?
    Completed (Comments Open)  ·  AdminArchit Mathur (Product Manager, Adobe Illustrator) responded

    Hi Everyone,

    This functionality is available in our latest release build – 27.6.1. 


    The new functionality allows searching layers by name using the searchbar in the layers panel. The users can also apply filters based on layer properties (locked, hidden etc) or objects properties (effects, text etc.). This will help to quickly find layers/objects for large documents (having multiple layers).


    Read more about this - https://helpx.adobe.com/in/illustrator/using/whats-new/2023-5.html#search-and-filter


    Thank you for all the feedback.

  2. Blending Modes and Transparencies in Search / Filter in Layers

    Could you consider incorporating Blending Modes or transparencies as additional filters in the Layers panel's new search feature, which is currently assisting us in sorting by images, text, and more?

    2 votes
    3 comments  ·  Layers  ·  Admin →
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  3. Artboard-specific Layers

    When working with multiple artboards, it would be very helpful to have artboard-specific layers displayed on the Layers panel as opposed to one long blob of all layers from all artboards.

    84 votes
    32 comments  ·  Documents and Artboards  ·  Admin →
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  4. Layers in Touch Interface

    The touch interface should have layers.

    94 votes
    29 comments  ·  User Interface  ·  Admin →
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  5. Mark layers/sublayers in the layers panel

    We used to be able to easily tell layers and other containers apart in the Layers panel. Layers/sublayers were marked with a darker or lighter background in the Layers panel.
    This is important for several functionality that can be applied to groups but not layers and vice versa. Particularly when you deal with complex artwork such as puppets for Character Animator, but not limited to them. And you need it when analyzing other peoples' files.

    4 votes
    0 comments  ·  Layers  ·  Admin →
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  6. Delete unused empty layers

    Would love to have the possibility to delete unused layers in Illustrator (like you can delete unused colors very quickly).

    e.g. when you have 100 layers and only 10 layers have objects on them, but you don't want to delete every layer manually

    12 votes
    1 comment  ·  Layers  ·  Admin →
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  7. Layers Panel: Layers Name Available Width

    I like my Layers Panel thumbnails to be large, like really large, larger than 'Large' for sure, so that i can easily see what's going on. I also like to name my layers briefly but accurately for the same reason. I don't have a big, wide screen however, so for me every tiny width saving matters. And here i come to the thing that infuriates me: why does Illustrator already trim layers names when there is still plenty room for them to be displayed in full?

    7 votes
    2 comments  ·  User Interface  ·  Admin →
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  8. Add an option to hide the Search/Filter field in Layers

    Search/Filter is cool, but some prefer to not have it.
    Other panels allow to choose components: we can pick sections to display in the Character panel, we can show or hide the search field in Swatches, etc.

    However, the panel does not have such an option in its flyout menu.
    Please add one!

    18 votes
    4 comments  ·  User Interface  ·  Admin →
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  9. Recolor multiple layers panel layers at the same time

    In Photoshop, you can select multiple layers, and add a color marker at the same time to all of them. I often use the colors of layers in Illustrator for UI and packaging design to separate visually which layers are finished (green), and which ones I still need to work on (red). But I have to double click each layer one by one in order to change the color.

    8 votes
    2 comments  ·  Documents and Artboards  ·  Admin →
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    Resolved (Comments Open)  ·  AdminEgor Chistyakov (Admin, Adobe Illustrator) responded

    Yep, there is a way to change the color of edges for a selection of layers — 'Options for Selection' command in the Layers panel’s flyout menu.

    But perhaps the original poster meant colored backgrounds to mark layers? Like Photoshop allows to and like we can do with actions in button mode?

    If yes — please make a separate request about this.

  10. Delete Hidden Layers command - Inappropriately named?

    The latest version of Illustrator (25.3) introduces a new command in the flyout menu of the Layers palette. It is called Delete Hidden Layers.

    It's a useful command, but it also deletes hidden groups and objects inside visible layers and visible groups as well. These are not what most Illustrator users would describe as 'Layers' and thus the naming of this command may cause a lot of trouble.

    There should perhaps be at least two or three different commands: Delete Hidden Layers and Delete Hidden Objects and Delete All Hidden Items.

    28 votes
    5 comments  ·  User Interface  ·  Admin →
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  11. 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…

    5 votes
    1 comment  ·  User Interface  ·  Admin →
    How important is this to you?
    Resolved (Comments Open)  ·  AdminEgor Chistyakov (Admin, Adobe Illustrator) responded
    You 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

  12. Support layers in patterns

    I want to be able to make patterns in layers. So if I use layers when I make a pattern, then I get a pattern that is editable in layers. It would save much time if you want to make variations.

    6 votes
    3 comments  ·  Colors, Swatches, Patterns  ·  Admin →
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  13. Add Folders in Layers panel

    Given that Photoshop can group layers into folders, Illustrator should have the same capacity to bring the experience closer together.

    It would allow for greater flexibility when editing artwork.

    87 votes
    32 comments  ·  Layers  ·  Admin →
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  14. Can we rename multiple layers in one go?

    For example, we select 10 different layers, we right click and select "rename layer(s)" and then a prompt comes up where we type the name we want to assign to all the selected layers.

    39 votes
    9 comments  ·  Documents and Artboards  ·  Admin →
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  15. Paste in multiple (all / selected) layers

    I'd like to paste on multiple layers simultaneously - e.g. copy something, select certain layers, Ctrl + Alt + V pastes it on all selected layers -> that would be helpful for multi-language files.

    7 votes
    2 comments  ·  Layers  ·  Admin →
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  16. Password protect in layers

    I am looking for an option in the Adobe Illustrator to have the layers locked with a password. so i can send the source file to the other users only to modify what they have to and not touch my content.

    43 votes
    7 comments  ·  Documents and Artboards  ·  Admin →
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  17. Delete hidden layers

    Would it be great if add the option of deleting all hidden layers as in photoshop..

    6 votes
    3 comments  ·  Other...  ·  Admin →
    How important is this to you?
    Resolved (Comments Open)  ·  AdminEgor Chistyakov (Admin, Adobe Illustrator) responded
    There is a command in the Layers panel’s menu, called Delete Hidden Layers... Unfortunately, it deletes not only hidden layers, but also all hidden content. There is a separate request to rename the comment or add another, to distinct two operations: https://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/333657-illustrator-desktop-feature-requests/suggestions/43634643-delete-hidden-layers-command-innapropriately-nam Please vote. Also, there is another request to delete unused/empty layers: https://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/333657-illustrator-desktop-feature-requests/suggestions/40696027-delete-unused-layers

  18. Easier way to unlock layers

    I, like most people, work with layers. Sometimes those layers are 5, sometimes closer to 100. Thing is, I don't want to have to scroll through 100 layers to find the 1 locked layer I want to unlock. It would be great if I could just right-click on it, then go through a 2-step process to unlock the layer. At the very least, if I double-click on said locked layer, I wish to be shown immediately in the Layers panel where that layer is.

    5 votes
    2 comments  ·  Layers  ·  Admin →
    How important is this to you?
    Completed (Comments Open)  ·  AdminEgor Chistyakov (Admin, Adobe Illustrator) responded

    In latest versions you can enable 'Select and Unlock objects on canvas ' option in Preferences > Selection & Anchor Display section. This will draw a small lock marker for those objects that are locked in your selection (they won’t be a part of selection box though) — click it to unlock an object. Please try it and comment back about if it works for you.

    Another way to do it is to right-click on the locked object (with or without the option above being enabled) choose Unlock and pick an object to unlock from the list. If you want Ai to highlight these on canvas when browsing this menu, you can upvote this request.

  19. Moving Artboards and Locked Layers

    The latest CC updates' new feature allows locked/hidden layers to move when you move an artboard. This doesn't make sense since locked should mean locked. I am running into problems now because my company uses a lot of artboards to make print-production files, and sometimes you need to re-arrange the artboards while working on the file.
    There should be a way to turn this feature on or off. Such as "keep locked/hidden layers locked when moving/duplicating artboards, or allow locked and hidden elements to move when artboard moves"

    78 votes
    48 comments  ·  Documents and Artboards  ·  Admin →
    How important is this to you?
    Completed (Comments Open)  ·  AdminEgor Chistyakov (Admin, Adobe Illustrator) responded

    As you probably know, Illustrator today allows to change this behavior with a dedicated option in Preferences > Selection & Anchor Display section.

    However, it’s not that accessible, especially when you are already move and copy your artboards.

    If you wish this option to be more exposed, consider upvoting this request: Display Move Locked and Hidden Artwork with Artboard option in Control panel and Properties while using Artboard tool / mode

  20. Release to Layers should inherit custom names from original objects

    When I Release to Layers, all of the objects within that layer are renamed to "Layer 1, Layer 2, Layer 3" etc. and I'd love to be able to have the new layers be named the same as when they were objects.

    46 votes
    18 comments  ·  Layers  ·  Admin →
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