Illustrator (Desktop) Feature Requests
When entering a new feature request, please provide:
- Description
- Why is this valuable to you?
158 results found
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Freeform gradients to grayscale
It would be awesome if we could convert freeform gradients to grayscale just like with a normal gradient.
2 votesYou can do this by executing Edit > Edit Colors > Convert to Grayscale
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Recolor Artwork flip 2 colors
I want to quickly flip 2 colors within a multi-colored design.
Lets say I have Object A (RED) and Object B (Blue) I want A to be Blue and B to be red. I try to find tutorials about it but couldn't find any. I have tryed everything in recolor artwork but its not possible to switch simply two colors (withing a multi-colored design, large file to see different color options quickly)
2 votesThis can be done with native Recolor options dialog, just with dragging one chip over the other. Please refer to the comment inside for details.
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disable autocrop suggestions
The aggressive new autocrop suggestions in Illustrator 23.0 are a huge hassle. Every new crop I make I have to move the suggested crop lines back on 2-3 of the sides of my cropping image, or risk losing as much as 70% of the original image. Very much a waste of my time and a headache.
2 votesAs per the comment, disable the 'Enable Content Aware Defaults' in Preferences > General to turn crop suggestions off
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create a offset path preset.
I typically use the same 2 offset path sizes .125 and .0625 there needs to be a way to save these presets so I dont need to manually type them each time.
2 votesThe intended way to do presets like this is to record an action, as per the comment.
Open Actions panel, create a new one, select a basic temporary shape, run Offset Path command, enter the value you need, commit, stop the action recording. Now you can run the action to automatically offset the selection.
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Pattern origin
Why is the pattern anchored to the art board and not the item? I often create shapes and apply a pattern (lets say a plaid) and I adjust the alignment of the pattern so that it is equal on all sides. If I then copy the shape containing the pattern so that I can then offer the client a different color combination of the pattern, I now have to nudge the pattern of the new shape to align properly again! Because the pattern is anchored to the art board not the shape.
2 votesThis behavior can be toggled in Preferences > General > Transform Pattern Tiles.
Once enabled, the pattern stays relative to the object it’s applied to, when you move or copy it between documents.
It also makes it deform if you stretch, resize, rotate, skew or transform the object, because it’s all a part of 'transformations' we can make.
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Please allow fonts to be found by typing in the name in the drop down list.
Please go back to allowing fonts to be found by typing in the name into the drop down menu.
2 votesThis is exactly what Illustrator allows already.
In facet, it allows two ways you can toggle, using the 'looking glass' icon at the left of the Font Family input: 'Search Entire Font Name' or 'Search First Word only'.
Perhaps it got changed for you?
Anyway — if it does not behave like it should — please log a separate bug request about this in the proper forums’ section.
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Replace objects with an object
example:
I have created a circle with text in it, and grouped it all together, however I have a pattern of Circles, and only want some of the circles in the pattern to look like the one I have created and grouped, so I can click the ones I want to replace, and then with a tool, select the group I've created, and it will replace the ones I've selected. Not too sure if this feature exists, though it would be a beneficial tool to have.2 votesThe intended solution for this is to use Global Edit feature.
Copy the object you want to replace with, then select one of many copies you want to replace and use Select > Start Global Edit command.
Using Shift, unmark those copies you don’t want to affect.
Isolate the targeted copy.
Paste the copied object and position it correctly relatively the old object.
Delete the old object.
Exit the isolation and end Global Edit.
It may sound convoluted at first, but once you master the method, you’d be able to easily replace almost anything.
Global Edit has its limitations: it doesn’t work for images, text objects, clipped masks, linked objects, and third-party plugins.
Read more about it here: https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/using/global-edit.html
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Change shortcut for paste in place/paste on all artboards to match Indesign
I'm in a workflow where I work simultaneously with Illustrator and Indesign, linking illustrator files to indesign (they could probably be integrated more!).
However, it is probably my most irritated moments when I realize I have used cmd-alt-shift-V (shortcut to paste in place in Indesign) instead of cmd-shift-V. If you work on one artboard, it looks the same, and you don't realize your mistake until you go to another artboard and see that the pasted thing has been pasted on all artboards. And you've worked far enough to not having the possibility to undo...
2 votesYou can customize your hotkeys in Keyboard Shortcuts dialog. Search 'paste' and change 'Paste on All Artboards' to anything else or remove shortcut completely.
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Mapping artwork on 3d object surface
Now we need every time to convert /or update/ artwork into symbol before mapping in on the surface of 3D objects that are created with 3d effects. That process is annoying and complex. Simplifying of that can help profs and beginners to use it quickly and pass some steps.
Now many programs like Adobe Dimension CC, 3d paint allows to do that very easy and in real time.
Also adding some new feature like uv maps or tiling 3d effects can be very helpful.
2 votesModern 3D and Materials allows to map symbols directly on a object on canvas, across its multiple surfaces. A user can move it, rotate, scale.
The tech is not perfect still, and it won’t be supported for now Classic #D effects, but is potent enough already to try.
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Extended Tools Panel
Less frequently used tools (in my case: Scissors, Paint Bucket) are hard to find in the standard Tools Palette. Wouldn't it be great when Illustrator had a preset to show all tools at a glance (on my 30" screen...)?
I know that it is possible to create custom tools panels - but especially when creating those, it's nice to have a view on all tools at once!
2 votesIn latest version one can click small three dots at the bottom of the Tools panel and see all tools at once, including those which are already in the toolbox.
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No strokes on linked files
Illustrator CC 2017 (up to date) Windows 64bit
Place a linked file, eg. a jpg
Add a stroke to the linked file object in the appearance panel
Try and change the stroke weight.
Expected a stroke. like any other.2 votesTo have strokes around your linked images, you should do some additional steps:
1. Apply a stroke (obviously)
2. Open Appearance panel
3. Focus the applied stroke attribute
4. Apply Path > Outline Object effect
It should be placed 'inside' of the stroke attribute, not the object itself. You can always drag-n-drop it if you missed.
Why does it work?
The image does not have a path for a stroke to be applied to. If you aplly the effect to the image directly, its pixel data is replaced by a path around the bounding box. Applied to stroke, it give it 'rails' to be stroked along.
Not easy to grasp, but once you get it, Appearance panel becomes your best friend.
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Mockup Feature not showing in my Illustrator
In Object menu Mockup tool not showing. plz add
1 voteMockup feature is now included in latest Illustrator releases
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Illustrator 26.5.2 The new Lock object tool is terrible
Go back to previous old version of the object lock. I do not like the gray border of a locked object. I cannot click through the object on other objects around or near the locked object. The OLD way of locking objects was better. It just sat there visually and did not affect neighboring objects.
1 voteThis can be toggled with 'Select and Unlock objects on canvas' option in Preferences > Selection & Anchor Display section
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Eyedropper doesn't include the arrow heads on a line
If I have a line selected and I use the eyedropper on a different line with a stroke and arrow heads, it only copies the stroke not the arrow heads.
Please make it include the arrow heads.
Also, the most useful arrow head is number 27, it should be number 1 not number 27.
In fact, if there was a checkbox you could click in the stroke properties window that automatically changed a line to a measurement label so it put an arrowhead 27 on each end, changed the stroke to like 4pt yellow, and a text box half way…
1 voteThe Eyedropper tool’s options can be configured to transfer arrowheads, which are treated as 'complex appearance'.
See comments for details.
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Do not include objects outside artboard when exporting to jpg or png
When I export Illustrator files to jpg or png, it includes all shapes and objects sitting outside my artboard area. This is impractical, especially when working on a range of concepts and you just want to send the work to the client that is on the artboards and not all the working files sitting outside the artboard area.
1 voteChecking 'Use artboards' option forces Illustrator to ignore objects on canvas outside artboards, even when the one artboard is used only.
When the option is off, Illustrator will export the whole artwork on canvas.
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too hard to change text size
it's too hard to change text size in the small boxes in the character window. Hard to select all the content. Hard to select the number part only. And both of these are the only way to make it work. Please just change behavior so that clicking in the box selects all the content.
1 voteIllustrator offers two ways for accessing fields:
1. Clicking the caption of a field selects all the content in that field.
2. Clicking the field itself sets the cursor in the exact location of the click.
So anyone can choose the behaviour they prefer.
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Disable Text Auto-Formatting
In Illustrator 2023 came the addition of auto-formatting being applied to text.
Specifically bullets, hyphen bullets, etc.
This should have an option to permanently disable, as it is a nuisance and an efficiency problem to have to turn off every single new text block.
Seriously, Adobe looked at one of Word's most broken features and decided to ram it into Illustrator? The least you could do is look at a good implementation of it like on Google Docs!
But nope, we get terribly formatted, non-customizable, defaulted bullet auto-formatting.
At least give me a preference setting to turn it off permanently.
…
1 voteThere is a way to disable this feature: Preferences > Type > Automatic Bulleted and Numbered lists while typing.
However, the fact it’s that obscured and is not given to a user when a conversion happens is a bad UX indeed. In some other apps this choice is given, even when it’s not the first one.
If you want to change this, please keep adding votes and comments.
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Add more gradient varieties, including rainbow, purple gradients, blend of different color gradients
Add more gradient varieties, including rainbow, purple gradients, blend of different color gradients
1 voteIllustrator provides these already in its Swatch Libraries. Read to the comment inside to understand how to access these.
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Colour Book/Pantone Swatches to remain in Custom Workspaces
Hi - is there a way to have custom colour books/Pantone swatches to save in a custom Workspace? I have to keep adding them again each time I restart Illustrator, and it's a bit of a pain! Thanks!
1 voteSwatch libraries can be made persistent via their panel’s menu. Look into comments for details.
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1 vote
You can add a hotkey for Crop Image via Keyboard Shortcuts window, as per the comment shows
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