Illustrator (Desktop) Feature Requests
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4783 results found
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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 -
Allow to marquee select within an area type text box without creating a new text object
Marquee Select with text box in scope creates a new text box. This did not occur in Illustrator in the last 5+ years that I have been using it. This is relevant for users like me who do more text editing in Illustrator.
in 2017 and prior, when you had a text box in scope that you were editing text in, you could marquee select the text or portions of it by starting a click outside of the text area. Now, in 2018, this will create a new text box every time. The result is that it is noticeably more difficult and annoying to edit text in a text box.
Bug fix would be for the 2017 behavior (and prior years) to be restored.
Marquee Select with text box in scope creates a new text box. This did not occur in Illustrator in the last 5+ years that I have been using it. This is relevant for users like me who do more text editing in Illustrator.
in 2017 and prior, when you had a text box in scope that you were editing text in, you could marquee select the text or portions of it by starting a click outside of the text area. Now, in 2018, this will create a new text box every time. The result is that it is noticeably more…
28 votesHi,
Thanks for submitting this request , Illustrator team really appreciate this.
We had taken your feedback on this and added it to backlog -
Ability to change the default swatches
I'd really like to open up a new document with a predetermined default swatch selection. I know this can be done by saving swatches and saving your workspace but if I want to add new colors, I can't to the saved swatch window.
28 votes -
Add features to the Rearrange Artboards dialog
I create a lot of new artboards ( 1 for each screen I am designing). Since Illustrator always puts new artboards at the right of the current top row on the workspace (regardless of the order specified for rearranging artboards), I often have to use the Rearrange Artboards command to make more space for the next artboard. The more artboards in the file, the more often I have to rearrange artboards.
It would be great if I could tell Illustrator to:
Add new artboards at the location indicated by following the layout pattern in the Rearrange Artboards dialog, with an option to 'wrap' when you get to the edge of the workspace.
Align the group of rearranged artboards in the workspace after a rearrangement. The choices should be
- Centered (as happens now), and
- Top Left (which leaves the maximum space for adding new artboards without having to rearrange them.
See the attached file for how the updated Rearrange Artboards dialog might look.
Thx!I create a lot of new artboards ( 1 for each screen I am designing). Since Illustrator always puts new artboards at the right of the current top row on the workspace (regardless of the order specified for rearranging artboards), I often have to use the Rearrange Artboards command to make more space for the next artboard. The more artboards in the file, the more often I have to rearrange artboards.
It would be great if I could tell Illustrator to:
Add new artboards at the location indicated by following the layout pattern in the Rearrange Artboards dialog, with an…
28 votes -
Adding more brushes to the touch workspace...
I would like to be able to change my brush style while I'm working in the touch workspace. I can go into the essentials workspace and it reverts back to a simple brush when you change back to the touch workspace. It's extremely frustrating. Other programs can use other brushes and change layers, so it makes using Illustrator for drawing very difficult.
28 votes -
Visual indicator between a layer and a group
In the layers panel, a group and a layer look the same in appearance. Thus, when a named group un-grouped accidently, it loses its name. This mostly occurs due to lack of visual dissimilarity between and group and layer thumbnail. May be a small marker in the corner of the thumbnail (indicating whether its a layer or a group) should do the trick.
28 votes -
When Gradient Tool is active, make holding Alt switch to Eyedropper tool
If we hold Alt when Gradient tool is active and there is a stop selected, we can click with Alt in Swatches to apply it to the stop (although no cursor feedback or hint signals it can be done). Besides this function, Alt+click is used for nothing...
Use it to temporarily switch to the Eyedropper tool. This is a standard approach in many apps, it’s fast to learn, and just convenient.
27 votes -
Convert a Type on Path object to a Point Type text and a normal Path (Detach / Release Text from Path)
If you accidently select a path with the typing tool and save it without undoing it, there's no easy way to change it back to a normal path. You have to use the direct select arrow and click on all segments of the path, then copy and paste it, then join. You cant even click and drag to select all segments. Could there be an easier way to turn this back into a normal path?
27 votes -
GPU performance is not working properly
GPU performance should improve efficiency when drawing complex objects, but the behavior has been delayed since CC 2018 (version 22).
The file created in CC 2015.3 (version 20) is test sample.
If you select a created object and move it with the mouse, the result will be completely different.2015.3 / 2017: Drawing delay does not occur when GPU performance is ON
2018 / 2019 / 2020: GPU performance ON causes drawing delay, OFF is fasterThe confirmed environment is Windows 10 1909 + Intel Core i7-6700HQ + GeForce GTX 950M.
In addition, although it is another data, the delay has been confirmed in Windows 10 1909 + Intel i5-8300H + GeForce GTX 1050.
Therefore, it is not considered to be due to the environment or data.Original ((Japanese)
Title : GPUパフォーマンスが適正に働いていない複雑なオブジェクトの描画ではGPUパフォーマンスによる効率向上が図れるはずですが、CC 2018（バージョン22）以降は動作が遅延するようになっています。
サンプルとしてCC 2015.3（バージョン20）で作成したファイルを用意しました。
作成されているオブジェクトを選択し、マウスで移動させた場合の結果がまるで異なります。2015.3/2017：GPUパフォーマンスONの状態で描画の遅延は発生しない
2018/2019/2020：GPUパフォーマンスONでも描画の遅延が発生し、OFFのほうが速い確認した環境はWindows 10 1909+Intel Core i7-6700HQ+GeForce GTX 950Mです。
また別データですが、Windows 10 1909+Intel i5-8300H+GeForce GTX 1050でも遅延は確認しています。
よって環境やデータ固有によるものではないと考えます。GPU performance should improve efficiency when drawing complex objects, but the behavior has been delayed since CC 2018 (version 22).
The file created in CC 2015.3 (version 20) is test sample.
If you select a created object and move it with the mouse, the result will be completely different.2015.3 / 2017: Drawing delay does not occur when GPU performance is ON
2018 / 2019 / 2020: GPU performance ON causes drawing delay, OFF is fasterThe confirmed environment is Windows 10 1909 + Intel Core i7-6700HQ + GeForce GTX 950M.
In addition, although it is another data, the delay…27 votes -
Add an ability to export TIFF with transparency (alpha channel support)
Unless I've gone completely mad, I could swear there used to be the option to Export a file to TIFF with transparency (a checkbox in the export settings). This no longer appears as an option. How does one export a transparent TIFF these days??
27 votes -
Infinite Canvas
I find myself using more and more Figma to brainstorm and create my designs as I have a single document containing all of my visual explorations.
For print assets I go back to Illustrator and create the final file, but I really wish I could have done it all in illustrator. So just removing the canvas limit.
Not artboards or number of something — just being able to spread and spread your ideas in the same place.27 votes -
Add data attributes to elements for SVG export
I'm using data attributes quite a bit these days, and have been experimenting with using them in SVG. They work very well, as a way of adding metadata or parameters to elements that can later be read by javascript/ES.
But (of course) no support in illustrator for this feature. Worse, if I add them with another tool, then open the SVG in Illustrator, they get stripped from the document entirely. This is just stupid.Best of all, a data-attributes panel, very similar to the variable panel, but without the redraw bugs. Workflow something like this:
Select an art object.
Go to/Open data-attributes panel.
Click + or select Add attribute from popup corner menu.
Add (e.g.) "mood" with value "happy"
Export SVGCorresponding element has data-mood="happy" in the markup, which can ne retrieved via javaScript.
This would not just make me happy, but would also be very useful.
I'm using data attributes quite a bit these days, and have been experimenting with using them in SVG. They work very well, as a way of adding metadata or parameters to elements that can later be read by javascript/ES.
But (of course) no support in illustrator for this feature. Worse, if I add them with another tool, then open the SVG in Illustrator, they get stripped from the document entirely. This is just stupid.Best of all, a data-attributes panel, very similar to the variable panel, but without the redraw bugs. Workflow something like this:
Select an art object.
Go…27 votes -
Screen recording / timelapse for showing work progress or tutorial steps
Wondering if you guys could incorporate a timelapse tool inside the app to record the artwork being done?
27 votes -
Insert a new artboard in a specific order position
I usually work with a lot of artboards around 100 per file.
I would like the possibility to enter the number of the position of the artboard!The problem consist when I have a lot or artboards and I create a new one it is the last in artboard panel. Then I need to drag it up to the preferred order position. If it needs to be in the third place I need a lot of scrolling up!
27 votes -
Prevent Pen and Pencil tools from auto-connecting when a modifier is pressed
Sometimes I want to draw a new path WITHOUT connecting it to existing one (and without locking artwork). I'd like to have a modifier key that will temporarily disable auto-connecting.
27 votes
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