Illustrator (Desktop) Feature Requests
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4664 results found
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Make option to generate compound paths instead of groups when text is outlined
Create simple black-on-white string of text.
Outline it.
AI will make a group of compound paths.I would like to have a non-default option that would make AI generate one big compound path instead of group of paths.
If text has more then one character color within it — only then this option would produce a group, with a colored compounds within.Right now I have to use an Action (ungroup, release compound path, make compound path) and manually run it for every string/area of text before proceeding to next step of my workflow.
I will make a script to automate it, but still.CorelDraw does single curve from a text (almost), and this is nice (sometimes).
If AI could do both ways from the box, it would be great.Create simple black-on-white string of text.
Outline it.
AI will make a group of compound paths.I would like to have a non-default option that would make AI generate one big compound path instead of group of paths.
If text has more then one character color within it — only then this option would produce a group, with a colored compounds within.Right now I have to use an Action (ungroup, release compound path, make compound path) and manually run it for every string/area of text before proceeding to next step of my workflow.
I will make a script to…23 votes -
PLEASE an option to increase the thumbnail size in symbols libraries
Please, any option to increase thumbnail size when viewing symbols libraries , even if it's only limited a 2x more magnified than currently available as the large list view.
This is a necessary accommodation for the visually impaired, and will also drastically increase ease of use for the average Adobe customer23 votes -
Return greeking of vector graphics
AI is never fast enough. Pan is slow.
Why did you remove greeking completely? If I wanted to better have nice looking art while panning, I would tick an option in Preferences! But now there's no such an option.
InDesign still have greeking option fro both text and vector art.
Please return it back as an option (and add slider for quality, as ID has).23 votes -
Make ability to create Dead (not Live) shapes
I don't always need LIVE shapes. They have different controls, different treat of Control panel, they bite off Transform palette. Sometimes I just need rectangular path, as it was before, not Rectangle. Now I have to use Plain rectangle plugin on common basis, rebound to M hotkey.
I would like to use them if not a bug with Ctrl+Enter in Width/Height fields, while proportion constraint is off (Live shapes don't constraint it with Ctrl+Enter, as everybody else do, — I'm surprised I haven't reported it yet.)23 votes -
Add Preview tick to 'Free distort' effect dialogue window
Using 'Free distort' is very inconvenient, because it works in small dialogue window that doesn't show actual artwork.
'Preview' tick could solve this problem (although I'd rather prefer 4 interactive points.)
AT LEAST! It should be live long ago, without separate dialogue!23 votes -
Better handling huge images in clipboard
When I cut huge images, AI literally puts them in clipboard and it takes minutes to complete and sometimes crashes AI.
But I usually do this only to immediately paste them in front/back of other objects, to make desired order.
AI don't have commands in Layers palette like 'Move in front/back of selected objects', so this is almost the only way to achieve this.
Dragging selected objects (including images) within Layers palette is very incovinient, because I don't know exactly where targeted object is located there (but I can clearly see it on page).
I also can cut image from one file to paste in in next document. To avoid possible crashing, I have to drag-n-drop it, and it's very slow.Proposed solution — while staying in AI, cut-copy-paste proxies instead of actual pixels.
When I cut huge images, AI literally puts them in clipboard and it takes minutes to complete and sometimes crashes AI.
But I usually do this only to immediately paste them in front/back of other objects, to make desired order.
AI don't have commands in Layers palette like 'Move in front/back of selected objects', so this is almost the only way to achieve this.
Dragging selected objects (including images) within Layers palette is very incovinient, because I don't know exactly where targeted object is located there (but I can clearly see it on page).
I also can cut image from…23 votes -
Barcode
Dear Adobe,
hope you doing well, could you please one more option in illustrator for Barcode generator
Thank you
23 votes -
Bring back "Object lasso tool"
Was present in earlier AIs. Helpful for non-marque selecting. Increases efficiency.
22 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?
22 votes -
Break apart blocks of text into separate text objects: by lines, words, characters, outlines
As done in Flash, I need to be able to paste in a block of text and "break apart" the single text object to several separate text objects. Ideally each time I click break apart, the action will break the text down further: by lines, then words, then characters, then to outlines. This action should be assigned a shortcut to quickly cut up text that has been pasted in from outside Illustrator.
I spend a lot of time pasting in label text for infographics and diagrams, and then cutting and pasting repeatedly to separate the labels out for positioning.
22 votes -
Text editing - missing keyboard shortcuts
Some text editing shortcuts would be very welcome:
Ctrl + End: go to the end of the text
Ctrl + Home: go to the beginning of the text
Ctrl + Delete: delete all characters of a word to right
Ctrl + Backspace: delete all characters of the word to left22 votes -
Import PDF comments in Illustrator
The option to import PDF comments in InDesign is a great feature.
Adding this feature to Illustrator would be a great solution for people working in the packaging world.22 votes -
Allow multiple elements in a scatter / pattern brushes
For example, you could make a brush that draws a random letter or number every pass, instead of being locked to a single element
22 votes -
Bulk import of SVG files to artboards
We have the ability to export a series of artboards to individual files, this is great for working on e.g. an icon library, or even a font.
But going in the opposite direction seems to require repeated copying and pasting, there's no trivial "bulk import" facility. This makes it painful to work with a pre-existing folder of SVGs.
22 votes -
A menu item/keystroke target to enter/exit an object's Opacity Mask.
I use a lot of opacity masks these days. It'd smooth out my workflow a lot if there was an entry in the Keyboard Shortcuts that did the same as opening up the Opacity palette far enough to see its thumbnails, and clicking on the opacity mask thumbnail.
Detailed implementation suggestions:
- a menu item in the Transparency palette that either reads "Enter Opacity Mask" or "Exit Opacity Mask" depending on whether or not we're currently editing an opacity mask
- a keyboard shortcuts entry for Other Panels/Toggle Opacity Mask
- NO DEFAULT SHORTCUT, new users would hit it by accident and then be very confused.
I use a lot of opacity masks these days. It'd smooth out my workflow a lot if there was an entry in the Keyboard Shortcuts that did the same as opening up the Opacity palette far enough to see its thumbnails, and clicking on the opacity mask thumbnail.
Detailed implementation suggestions:
- a menu item in the Transparency palette that either reads "Enter Opacity Mask" or "Exit Opacity Mask" depending on whether or not we're currently editing an opacity mask
- a keyboard shortcuts entry for Other Panels/Toggle Opacity Mask
- NO DEFAULT SHORTCUT, new users would hit it by accident and then…
22 votes -
Keyboard shortcut to fit artboard to selection
Currently you must have content selected to fit it to art board in focus. This workflow adds extra interaction cost by having to remember to first select before hitting the drop-down menu to fit it. Selecting the content and art board and striking a key command would make this a lot more efficient.
22 votesIllustrator has two commands to fit artboards.
One of them, 'Fit to Selected Art', requires a selection — obviously.
The other one, 'Fit to Artwork Bounds' — does not, but works for the entire artwork.
You can insert the one that you need in an action, using the 'Insert menu item...' command from the Actions panel’s flyout menu, and assign a hotkey to the action.
However, I believe the request is not about a hotkey, but a way to let Illustrator to 'Fit to the contents of artboard' command? Please comment back to make it clear.
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Cmd / Ctrl or Alt + New Fill/Stroke button in Appearance should add one below current fill/stroke
Sometimes I build appearance from top to bottom.
Right now I have to create new fill and drag it under current fill.
What if I just Ctrl or Alt + click New/Duplicate button and this will create new/copy UNDER currently selected fill/stroke/entity?22 votes -
Increase contrast between selected font and other fonts in Font list in Character palette
Not long ago the contrast between current font and other fonts in list in Character menu was quite sufficient (see image 1). Now it's barely visible (image 2). It makes locating current font in list rather difficult.
Please reconsider colors chosen.
22 votesThe contrast is much better in recent versions
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Last used script
Please, add a command inside File > Scripts (above the line) to execute last accessed script. A have tons of these and not all of them are bound to shortcuts and smarty palettes. Sometimes I have to apply same script several times and have to dig in all 4-5 folders inside to get right one.
And, please, make it shortcut-able.
22 votes -
Keyboard Shortcut to select locked objects
When needing to move a locked object, you currently only have the option of "unlock ALL" whereas sometimes you may have many things locked that you do not want unlocked - only one or two things you want to move.
It would be helpful if by holding a button (Say Alt or control) this would allow you to select locked objects, move or alter the object, and once you deselect it continues to be locked.
22 votesIn latest versions you can enable 'Select and Unlock objects on canvas' option in Preferences > Selection & Anchor Display section.
This adds small lock icons for each locked object you can toggle right there without the need to unlock everything first.
This is not exactly the solution you asked for, no hotkeys involved (and there are no modifiers left to allow this), but it does the job.
Does it work for you? Please leave a comment.
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