Illustrator (Desktop) Feature Requests
When entering a new feature request, please provide:
- Description
- Why is this valuable to you?
4693 results found
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Group Overlapping ObjectsA very casual and time-consuming operation, especially because we lost Object Lasso (https://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/333657-illustrator-desktop-feature-requests/suggestions/44462988-bring-back-object-lasso-tool) — drag a marquee around objects, hit Gtrl+G, drag another, group again... repeat dozens of time, especially if you draw icons or something similar for stocks. What if Illustrator was able to do it for us? 
 Scan the selection, search for overlapping objects and create groups?What if it could do that in two modes: simple, by intersecting boundaries, and advanced, when true outlines being checked? What if it could do that with a tolerance also? Like if object are, say, 10 pixels apart, group… 20 votes
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Curvature Combs and Tunni linesTwo ideas, both aimed at creating smoother curves: - curvature combs: 
 an additional visual aid that could be enabled/disabled via hotkey or option on a panel that assists the artist/user in evaluating whether a curve is continuously smooth, or whether it needs adjustment. See this blog for a quick coded breakdown:
 https://observablehq.com/@jrus/curvature-comb
 see this webpage for more traditional curvature combs with lines perpendicular to the curved path, in proportion to the path's curvature at that point:
 http://www.bluesmith.co.uk/evaluateComb.htm
- Tunni lines: 
 an additional assist/handle for helping a user more precisely adjust a curve (or multiple curves), both symmetrically and asymmetrically.
 See this example…
 20 votes
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Spring Loaded toolsOver in Photoshop, it's possible to hold the single-letter shortcut for activating a tool, and to then release the key to return to your previously-used tool. In many ways, this is not useful in Illustrator, but in several, it's invaluable. The Zoom tool, in particular--I'd like to be able to hold Z, adjust the zoom, and release Z to be back on the selection tool (or whatever i was previously using). The Hand tool already works this way: Take out a tool like Selection (v), and then hold spacebar to get the Hand tool. Drag the canvas around, then release… 20 votes
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Change line color and fill color of groups in one clickLet say you have multiple groups existing of line segments and filled objects (lines and circles for example). If I want to change the color of the lines and objects of a group, by clicking on a group, that is not possible. Or all line segments get a fill too or all the objects get a line too. To fix this, I have to go inside the group, select all the objects, change the fill and then select all the line segments and change the line color. A button to change the color of all line segments and the color… 20 votes
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Add and remove Hunspell dictionaries in different languages as in InDesign - PLEASE...Please add support for Hunspell dictionaries in Illustrator. Users from countries which languages aren't supported feel discriminated, because we pay the same price for the software as the others. 20 votes
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Previous/Next Artboard hotkeys should be able to keep zoomRight now Ai also does 'Fit Artboard in Window' when any of artboard navigation hotkeys are used. I’d like also be able to keep zoom level when navigating artboards. 20 votes
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Custom Bleed amount for each ArtboardCustom Bleed for each Artboard Sometimes I have alot of different arboards.. Business cards and Banners.. the business cards need 1/8" bleed but the banners need 1/4" being able to customize bleed per artboard would be very helpful 20 votes
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'Reverse Order' option for Transform EffectWhen you set several copies in Transform effect, Illustrator makes them stack under original art, 'going backwards'. Sometimes it's better to have an opposite behaviour, with copies stacking up, 'towards' viewer. Please add this checkbox near 'Copies" field. 20 votes
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Delete artboard(s) with contentBe able to delete artboard with content. One or many pages. 20 votes
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Copy/pasting text from illustrator into other text editorsI can't copy text from illustrator and paste into Word, gmail, Notes, Google Docs... anything! It makes it so I have to retype everything which is insane. I used to be able to copy from illustrator into other text editing tools. Why not anymore? 20 votes
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Allow freeform gradient points to leave boundariesIn the freeform gradient tool if points are dragged outside of the boundaries it deletes the point. Instead I think it would be better if the points worked outside boundaries to allow for smoother gradients. See example on how a freeform gradient would appear if points could used outside of the borders (you can currently do it by using a clipping mask but it would be easier if it was built into the tool) 20 votes
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Make AI remember active layer and reselect it when file is openedI have some templates, where working layer is not topmost (others are locked and/or hidden). 
 But AI always set focus on the topmost one when file is loaded. So when I or other people try to edit freshly opened/created file, they have have a message about lock/visibility.
 Please make AI remember what layer is active when file is saved.20 votes
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Text to outlines on save PDFMy printers require fonts to be outlined. This is a huge hassle. I need to convert everything to outlines, save the PDF, and then remember to undo my outlining before I save the AI file. 20 votes
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Let the "." on the numeric keypad work as a decimal separator for all countries.In Dutch, we user the comma as a decimal separator. (0,5 is how we write a half) 
 Lots of use use the International English keyboard, and the English versions of Adobe CC. But for some reason Illustrator refuses to recognize the "." on the numeric keypad as a separator. When I type "7,2" Illustrator show this correctly in the input fields, but when hitting enter, it makes "72", just skipping the comma.
 Please make a Preference to set the "." or "," on the numpad always to act as a decimal separator.20 votes
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Add paragraph return (^p) as a special character in Find and Replace windowFind and Replace text has a shortcut popup for a Forced Line Break, ^n, but not the more common simple Paragraph return, ^p. A Paragraph return is the normal Return button on all keyboards. A forced line break is Shift/Enter. Find/Replace understands ^n notation for a forced line break, but does not understand ^p notation for a paragraph return. 20 votes
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Add numerical control over light sources in 3D Extrude & Bevel Effect OptionsWhen applying and tweaking 3D Extrude & Bevel Effect, user has to manipulate light by precise mouse twitching over the small sphere. 
 It should be at least twice as big to provide fine control (I won't note this as separate request), but there should also be numerical fields to control the lights' position over sphere — angle, elevation, choose any.Also, why Depth and Height values there are immune to document Units settings? 56.96pt is nonsense to me, while 20mm makes sense. 20 votes
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Improve and allow customize the 'Show' info slot in the bottom bar (next to horizontal scrollbar)Show field next to zoom and artboard selectors below work area can now show 5 things: 
 current artboard name, which is nowhere else is seen except Artboards palette;
 current Tool, that is usually visible if Tools panel is on;
 current date-time, which is visible in system clock;
 number of undos, which was quite useful when RAM was tiny;
 current profile, which is visible in document header.
 I mean, almost every info available is also available in other place!I would like to use this field as something exclusive: 
 number of selected objects (nowhere to be seen, only PathScribe plugin can…20 votes
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A big persistent Color palette offering RGB and HSB and Grayscale at a glance.When making Illustrations, I switch between RGB / HSB and Grayscale all the time. I have a 30" screen - room enough to show all mixers all the time. 
 Please make this possible.20 votes
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Allow tool bar to be horizontalNow that the properties has been finally set in the right panel, I love it! This allows me to have the layers set in the left panel. Next step, It would be nice to have the ability to set the tool bar above or below horizontally. 20 votes
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Create artboard to three decimal placesIt would be nice to be able to set artboards to three decimal places without it rounding up. If I make something at 3.125", it rounds up to 3.13", or 3.6785 becomes 3.68. Although I have not had any printers yell at me for my files not being correct, I still am concerned that it always wants to round up to the hundredths place, especially when I'm having to be sure that my materials are going into places where the sizes are set in to be such specific tolerances. 20 votes
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