Illustrator (Desktop) Feature Requests
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4721 results found
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An option to ignore strokes when using Fit to Artwork Bounds or Fit to Selected Art commands
Illustrator now always fits the current artboard respecting strokes and raster effects, as if the 'Use Preview Bounds' option is on.
However, disabling this option does not change the behaviour 'Fit to Artwork Bounds' or 'Fit to Selected Art' commands — strokes and shadows are still considered to be the bounds to fit.
This is not what a user wants in many cases, and geometric bounds are preferred instead.
We need Illustrator to either respect 'Use Preview Bounds' option — as Symbols do — or have another set of option for fitting command, to separately control strokes and effects.20 votes -
Add a way to quickly access Smart Delete Point command
The way the deleting of a point with a curvature kept works now is pretty hidden and unannounced. I see nothing about this in Help (https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/using/editing-paths.html). There is no hint in the Current Tool field at the bottom of the screen, no cursor feedback, no label, no nothing.
I do now remember exactly where I learnt about it though. Anubhav Rohatgi told about it in a session with Taniya Vij (https://youtu.be/odch54arInA?t=944), saying that they have no time to polish it (and more than a year after it’s still not), and this 'principal scientist' basically intended this feature to be an Easter egg. Indeed, the knowledge about it is passed from mouth to mouth basically, and some users are not aware of it and have no chance to learn it in-app (I even tried Discover).
The tool should not be an Easter egg. It should be accessible and used.
Consider adding Alt+Shift modifier for Pen, a dedicated menu command and proper hints. I have a larger article about reasons behind this, but the request does not exactly need it :)
The way the deleting of a point with a curvature kept works now is pretty hidden and unannounced. I see nothing about this in Help (https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/using/editing-paths.html). There is no hint in the Current Tool field at the bottom of the screen, no cursor feedback, no label, no nothing.
I do now remember exactly where I learnt about it though. Anubhav Rohatgi told about it in a session with Taniya Vij (https://youtu.be/odch54arInA?t=944), saying that they have no time to polish it (and more than a year after it’s still not), and this 'principal scientist' basically intended this…
20 votes -
Add Fit to Artboard option to Rectangle Tool
In the current situation, enter the size of the Rectangle by writing numbers or drawing it manually
My suggestion is to add a feature inside the Rectangle box (Fit to artboard)
I think this feature will save a lot of time
For clarification, see the attachment
20 votes -
Curvature Combs and Tunni lines
Two 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.htmTunni lines:
an additional assist/handle for helping a user more precisely adjust a curve (or multiple curves), both symmetrically and asymmetrically.
See this example as implemented in FontLab:
https://help.fontlab.com/fontlab-vi/Tunni-Lines/
See this webpage for another examples, of each of these ideas:
http://www.corvelsoftware.co.uk/software/supertool/Note that I'm not suggesting that the illustrator team rip-off anybody else's software, but I think these sorts of tools/assists would be handy for quite a few users who require more than the typical "eyeball-it" precision illustrator offers currently.
Two 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.htmTunni 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 -
Change line color and fill color of groups in one click
Let 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 of all object fills of a group (in one color) at once, that would be awesome.
For everybody out there maintaining icon libraries for example, this would be a massive time saving feature.
If this feature is already there please let me know!
Let 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 -
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 -
Split blends
It would be nice if Ai could allow to split a blend in a step defined, effectively creating two merged blends — something that CorelDraw was able to do for years.
20 votes -
An option to ignore locked layers with the Eyedropper tool
At the moment, if you have a locked layer above the layer you are working in, the Eyedropper tool selects colors and properties of the top layer — the locked layer — instead of the (unlocked) layer you are working on.
This causes frustration as every time you want to eyedrops something, you have to make a bunch of layers invisible first.
If an option could be added to the Eyedropper tool, such as "ignore locked layers", this problem would be gone completely and working with Illustrator would be a lot smoother and faster.
This could be an option under the Eyedropper preferences.
At the moment, if you have a locked layer above the layer you are working in, the Eyedropper tool selects colors and properties of the top layer — the locked layer — instead of the (unlocked) layer you are working on.
This causes frustration as every time you want to eyedrops something, you have to make a bunch of layers invisible first.
If an option could be added to the Eyedropper tool, such as "ignore locked layers", this problem would be gone completely and working with Illustrator would be a lot smoother and faster.
This could be an option under…
20 votes -
Blend tool with Freeform Gradients does not working properly
Blend tool not working with shapes that contain gradients. (preview box is greyed out as well)
It won't work from the start with shapes that already contain gradients and only produces black shapes and an error message when the color is applied after making the blend.20 votes -
Allow to add / place / drag-n-drop several / multiple symbols to the canvas / artboard at once
Being able to select more than one symbol from the symbol library and adding to the canvas. Instead of mousing back and forth repeatedly.
The way the Library panel works is great. You can select multiple objects and drag to the canvas, placing each at the desired location, quick and easy.
This would be a great function for the symbols panel.
Thanks!20 votes -
An option to disable "Save as PDF compatible" as default when saving .ai files
I do a lot of large signage projects with a lot of imported large PSD files. For years I have pulled my hair out waiting for these files to save, even though the images were linked and not embedded. I finally discovered that if I turn off save as PDF compatible when I save the AI file, it saves a lot quicker! Please turn off the save as PDF compatible default when saving. AI files that are large.
Also when turning off PDF compatibility in an AI file, it would be nice to still have a finder preview.
20 votes -
You can't enter isolation mode when nothing is selected
Sometimes I want to create artwork without messing up with existing one, and without locking/hiding anything (because it's require for other operations).
Sane way is to enter isolation mode and start there.
But NO, AI won't let you isolate empty space! And I have to create one thing (trying to not auto-connect to existing paths), then isolate it and finally draw in peace.
If you afraid that many users will double-click nothing and struggle understanding what has happened, make it an option.20 votes -
Make AI remember active layer and reselect it when file is opened
I 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 -
Text to outlines on save PDF
My 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 -
Soft selection (Selection drop off)
This already exists in many 3D applications (Maya, 3D Max, and C4d, for sure) and it's often treated, not as a separate tool, but as a setting in the regular selection tools. The idea is that you can set an gradient influence area where the points directly selected are affected 100% by transform changes, while everything else is affected by the changes but adjusted to the alpha percentage of the gradient at that point's initial location. I know that sounds like a mouthful, but it's very similar to how the mesh warp works (minus the having to convert anything and retaining full control of all your points individually at all times).
Here's a tutorial of how the tool works in Maya:
https://youtu.be/tl1utGRX9awThis already exists in many 3D applications (Maya, 3D Max, and C4d, for sure) and it's often treated, not as a separate tool, but as a setting in the regular selection tools. The idea is that you can set an gradient influence area where the points directly selected are affected 100% by transform changes, while everything else is affected by the changes but adjusted to the alpha percentage of the gradient at that point's initial location. I know that sounds like a mouthful, but it's very similar to how the mesh warp works (minus the having to convert anything and…
20 votes -
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 -
Add paragraph return (^p) as a special character in Find and Replace window
Find 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 -
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 show this in separate palette);
snapping status (grid/point/guides/smart on/off — we have to try now, or go to Preferences or drop down View command);
scaling effects/strokes status (on/off — try or go Preferences too);
current layer;
mouse clicks (I remember it was hidden, I miss it, it was useful as internal timer, but I don't miss eyes/moon/Ted/etc).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 -
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 -
Option to put Properties Panel at the top of the workspace.
For those of us who find it more convenient for the Properties to be at the top of our workspace, we should be able to click and drag the properties panel into the default space along the top of the window.
20 votes
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