Illustrator (Desktop) Feature Requests
When entering a new feature request, please provide:
- Description
- Why is this valuable to you?
- or
No existing idea results
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4749 results found
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Option to permanently expand areas of the Properties panel
I have a lot of empty space in the new Properties panel.
Having to click the '...' every time I want to access extra options seems clunky when I have so much unused space.
In the old interface you could double-click on the top bar of a panel and it would expand to your preference and remember that expansion.
A similar option here would be welcome.-
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30 votes -
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Allow to edit color of text in a dynamic symbol instance
I think it should be possible to edit the color of text in a dynamic symbol instance, just like it possible to change the color fill of any other element
30 votes -
Highlight an anchor point used as a key object
Keying an anchor point is a lesser known option for aligning and distributing.
Clicking an object in a selection to key it is a thing that can be learnt by a chance (that is how I learned it myself), but using the latest selected point as a key is not a behaviour that is easily noticed.
The change of the mode is marked only via the small icon in the corner of Align panel, and nothing else on the artboard tells about it — compare this to the fat edge a key object uses.
Can you try to make a key point somewhat more visible?
Keying an anchor point is a lesser known option for aligning and distributing.
Clicking an object in a selection to key it is a thing that can be learnt by a chance (that is how I learned it myself), but using the latest selected point as a key is not a behaviour that is easily noticed.
The change of the mode is marked only via the small icon in the corner of Align panel, and nothing else on the artboard tells about it — compare this to the fat edge a key object uses.
Can you try to make a…
29 votes -
Make the "Object Selection By Path Only" and "Scale Strokes" and "Scale Corners" easily available
Make the "Object Selection By Path Only" a check box in the Control panel. It is something that is very useful and very far tucked away in the preferences and VERY impractical for us to get to every few minutes.
The same goes for "Scale Strokes" and "Scale Corners" and other options. These should be also accessible with keyboard shortcuts (hotkeys). I have been asking for these for years. I like to know who are the "professionals" that you consult with who don't run into these issues?29 votes -
Please allow us to apply proper strokes to clip groups: centered, inside, outside
Currently you cannot apply strokes to clip groups -- including using the "draw inside" function (see example 1). I would like to be able to apply strokes to clip groups. This might not seem like a big deal, but they also don't work when you apply a stroke to the entire layer appearance (see example two). This means I need to take multiple extra steps to outline something, which is very frustrating.
29 votes -
Ability to copy individual effects from the Appearance panel to other objects
Currently if you want to copy effects from one object to another your only option is to copy all of its appearance properties. You should be able to drag or copy just one aspect of something’s appearance without effecting the other properties. Say I have a Transform effect on an object in my Appearance panel. Currently if I want to apply that to another object, I also have to copy the stroke, fill and any other properties that object has. There is no option to copy just that individual transform effect to other objects. This is an unnecessary limitation that serves no purpose. Let us copy individual effects between objects!
Currently if you want to copy effects from one object to another your only option is to copy all of its appearance properties. You should be able to drag or copy just one aspect of something’s appearance without effecting the other properties. Say I have a Transform effect on an object in my Appearance panel. Currently if I want to apply that to another object, I also have to copy the stroke, fill and any other properties that object has. There is no option to copy just that individual transform effect to other objects. This is an unnecessary limitation that…
29 votes -
OpenType ligature features ccmp and rlig do not work with variable font
OpenType ligature features ccmp and rlig are active by default. But they do not work with variable font (liga and dlig will work).
29 voteswe have made note of this feature request and added to backlog
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Allow to select several gradient sliders
Sometimes I need to move several sliders in gradients at once.
I have to select them one by one and move each at distance I need.
I'd like to select several sliders and move them simultaneously.
Of course, they should be very clearly marked as selected, or this would confuse, if you forget to unselect them and then try to edit color for one.29 votes -
Align to or by text baselines
- Align baselines from 2 different size texts in different boxes.
- Align something to a baseline of a text
- Align a text to something by its baseline
29 votes -
"[Paper]" or "[Transparent]" Swatch
Add a "Paper" (or "Transparent") Swatch to the swatches like the one in InDesign that, like [None] or [Registration] cannot be removed.
Adding this would make it FAR easier to knock out parts of complex artwork WITHOUT forcing the user to destroy the layer structure of their files.
In the attached image, for instance, I wanted to have rounded corners on the bottom of a header graphic, and this meant I need to use a clipping mask, which requires all the elements it contains to be on the same layer. While there are workarounds, such as placing AI files within AI files, a [Paper] or [Transparent] swatch is far more elegant solution.
Add a "Paper" (or "Transparent") Swatch to the swatches like the one in InDesign that, like [None] or [Registration] cannot be removed.
Adding this would make it FAR easier to knock out parts of complex artwork WITHOUT forcing the user to destroy the layer structure of their files.
In the attached image, for instance, I wanted to have rounded corners on the bottom of a header graphic, and this meant I need to use a clipping mask, which requires all the elements it contains to be on the same layer. While there are workarounds, such as placing AI files within…
29 votes -
Make units and grid settings to be bound to file
I work for screen and print media simultaneously in different files
I work in metric units.
I need to have 'mm' for general-stroke-type in design for printing and 'px' in other file for screen.
I'm so tired to change units every time I Ctrl+Tab between them. By hand, every time!
Ctrl+Shift+U change only general units, and I have to skip all picas-inches I never use.
I have to Ctrl+K, click Units and drop down three menus every time I need to see units I need in file I need!
PostScript is cool, point reassigned as a strict fraction of an inch is cool, so USA don't notice much when points-pixels turn into inches.
But other people, living in huge metric world, freak out seeing grid step 28,35px instead of previously set 10mm and 35,28mm instead of 10px!
Bind units to file already!I work for screen and print media simultaneously in different files
I work in metric units.
I need to have 'mm' for general-stroke-type in design for printing and 'px' in other file for screen.
I'm so tired to change units every time I Ctrl+Tab between them. By hand, every time!
Ctrl+Shift+U change only general units, and I have to skip all picas-inches I never use.
I have to Ctrl+K, click Units and drop down three menus every time I need to see units I need in file I need!
PostScript is cool, point reassigned as a strict fraction of an…29 votes -
When will it be possible that Adobe Illustrator to create and import objects of more than 32000 points?
When will it be possible that Adobe Illustrator to create and import objects of more than 32000 nodes? Why is it still cannot (at the end of 2017)? It is a very big limitation for those of us who work in mapping projects (because the vector geometries are in need of a great graphic definition).
An added problem is that even though we use specific plugins of cartography (Avenza MAPublisher, for example) like they work in Adobe Illustrator they suffer the same limitation and they do not suppose any alternative…
By when a definitive solution?
29 votes -
Changing an object not updating it in Asset Export
In this video Export assets for web and app design | it's all like perfect — after changing object color — it's will be updated too in asset export, yes...
But in real life I want not just change a color, I want to made much more changes, just by adding new polygons path, and so — it will not update asset at export. Because only what I've selected before and dragged into asset will be updated.What needs to be done — if I right click on polygons which already "connected" with asset for export — in menu should be added a new option, like "Update export asset".
In this video Export assets for web and app design | it's all like perfect — after changing object color — it's will be updated too in asset export, yes...
But in real life I want not just change a color, I want to made much more changes, just by adding new polygons path, and so — it will not update asset at export. Because only what I've selected before and dragged into asset will be updated.What needs to be done — if I right click on polygons which already "connected" with asset for export — in menu should…
29 votes -
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 -
Add a button to save document presets like Photoshop has
Photoshop has a button to save presets when you create a new document. I love that feature makes my job easier, I wish Illustrator had that same button instead of having to save the files as templates. So much simpler and faster with the button right there.
28 votesA dedicated Save Document Preset button is available in starting with build 28.7, when using modern File New interface.
If you wish to also have a similar button into the legacy dialog, please upvote this request.
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Paragraph shading, borders, rules
Can we get Paragraph Shading and Border like InDesign?
Right now I am forced to draw a rectangle behind the text I intend to highlight.28 votes -
Easier way to set color for Drop Shadows, Inner/Outer Glow, etc.
Right now when you need to change Drop Shadow's color, you have to click effect in Appearance palette, then click color and only then choose color.
But when you have a LOT of shadows — you are screwed (because Drop Shadows can't use global swatches: https://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/601447-illustrator-bugs/suggestions/34789156-drop-shadow-can-t-use-global-color-swatches).
You have to click EACH shadow and change it.
Not effective.Why not to make shadow's color appear in Appearance the same way as fill does?
It will also allow to change color of multiple shadows for one object at once (yeah, I have to layer shadows, because AI doesn't allow to tweak shadow distribution, neither with profiles, as PS does, not with numbers).
To distinguish fill from color you can draw it inside circle, for example, and not square, or change position, or something else.
Right now when you need to change Drop Shadow's color, you have to click effect in Appearance palette, then click color and only then choose color.
But when you have a LOT of shadows — you are screwed (because Drop Shadows can't use global swatches: https://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/601447-illustrator-bugs/suggestions/34789156-drop-shadow-can-t-use-global-color-swatches).
You have to click EACH shadow and change it.
Not effective.Why not to make shadow's color appear in Appearance the same way as fill does?
It will also allow to change color of multiple shadows for one object at once (yeah, I have to layer shadows, because AI doesn't allow to tweak…
28 votes -
Saving document should not kick you out of isolation mode
Sometimes I work deep inside some nested object and feel strong urge to save document. When I do it, AI quits isolation mode and I have to go 10 levels in again to continue my work. That's rude.
Please make AI respect my isolation tunneling when saving.
28 votes -
Preview Mode
Like InDesign, incorporate a preview mode to show only the content inside of the artboard to see the final preview.
28 votesThere are two separate commands that offer this, as stated in comments:
View > Trim View
View > Presentation Mode
Read more about these here
Feel free to add comments if you need something else
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Drag CC Library colors to Gradient panel
Right now, users can drag Swatches to the Gradient panel to build gradients quickly. It would be really handy if we could drag colors from the CC Library panel to the Gradient panel in the same way.
28 votes
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