Illustrator (Desktop) Feature Requests
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4700 results found
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Create artboard to three decimal places
It 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 -
Make Enclosed Selection Mode a permanent option
Illustrator now allows to use Enclosed Mode to select objects within the marquee (originally requested here: http://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/333657/suggestions/31863601), but the only way to do it is tap E key.
I agree that this basic feature is essential, but I don't agree that any modifier keys or specific dragging directions (like requested here: http://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/333657/suggestions/49489604) should be required. Shift-drag is already used to add to the selection, so that won't work.
Opt/Alt toggles duplication, and both can be toggled mid-drag (unlike in Photoshop).
This should be a selectable selection mode (also with a hotkey), and in fact there should be a way to set it as the default option.
Illustrator now allows to use Enclosed Mode to select objects within the marquee (originally requested here: http://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/333657/suggestions/31863601), but the only way to do it is tap E key.
I agree that this basic feature is essential, but I don't agree that any modifier keys or specific dragging directions (like requested here: http://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/333657/suggestions/49489604) should be required. Shift-drag is already used to add to the selection, so that won't work.
Opt/Alt toggles duplication, and both can be toggled mid-drag (unlike in Photoshop).
This should be a selectable selection mode (also with a hotkey), and in fact there should be a…
19 votes -
Allow to customize the Contextual Task Bar
I want to be able to customize the Contextual Task Bar, add the functions I need to the panel (tools, menus, actions, scripts, etc.). Please add a configurator like in the toolbar.
19 votes -
Objects on Path needs a way to control spacing / gaps precisely, with a value
At the moment we can’t control spacing (gaps) between objects on path ion the new Objects on Path type of object (what a beautiful sentence).
We can only eyeball it with a slider, which is incrementing by points (despite me having set millimeters as my ruler units).
There is no field I can type something like 0.125 mm, or at least a modifier key (like Cmd/Ctrl) to make the slider go slower ×10 (or any other value I choose somewhere in Preferences or at least in Adobe Prefs file, buried in Ai’s folders).
Perhaps yo should also allow us to dobule-click the slider itself and enter the number directly in the field there on canvas, but having one in Contextual Task bar will do (otherwise why having it).
At the moment we can’t control spacing (gaps) between objects on path ion the new Objects on Path type of object (what a beautiful sentence).
We can only eyeball it with a slider, which is incrementing by points (despite me having set millimeters as my ruler units).
There is no field I can type something like 0.125 mm, or at least a modifier key (like Cmd/Ctrl) to make the slider go slower ×10 (or any other value I choose somewhere in Preferences or at least in Adobe Prefs file, buried in Ai’s folders).
Perhaps yo should also allow us to…
19 votes -
Make Snapshots for History panel
I'd like to be able to TAKE SNAPSHOT
Then a History panel would show each snapshot, rather than hundreds of moves and tweaks.
A undo/redo shortcut modifier to step back or forward through snapshots.
A trash can on the history panel to remove a snapshot.19 votes -
Add Cut At / Connect / Remove Selected Anchor Points commands to 'Object > Path' menu
In Control panel we have three buttons for a point partial selection:
Remove selected anchor points.
Does the same as a menu command Object > Path > Remove Anchor Points, and this command can have a hotkey assigned toConnect selected end points.
Does the same as a menu command Object > Path > Join, and has a default hotkey. Why Ai uses both 'Join' and 'connect' for the same operation, and also has 'Join' tool, which does a pretty different thing — is an UX mystery.Cut path at selected anchor points.
There is NO a menu command for that, and this button can NOT have a hotkey or written into an action (which is a bad workaround anyway, because an action which has only one operation is an excuse for not having an ability to assign a hotkey to the command directly, like with scripts).
We need these as hotkeys.
We need all the hotkeys — https://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/333657/suggestions/31609237In Control panel we have three buttons for a point partial selection:
Remove selected anchor points.
Does the same as a menu command Object > Path > Remove Anchor Points, and this command can have a hotkey assigned toConnect selected end points.
Does the same as a menu command Object > Path > Join, and has a default hotkey. Why Ai uses both 'Join' and 'connect' for the same operation, and also has 'Join' tool, which does a pretty different thing — is an UX mystery.Cut path at selected anchor points.
There is NO a menu command for…
19 votes -
Improved links panel (with Relink All)
Improved links panel. List all instances of a linked image under one 'primary' link, append the filename with " (xx instances) ". Use a chevron that points right to indicate that there are multiple instances under the "primary" one shown in the list. Clicking the chevron makes the chevron point down, and displays the list of all instances.
Clicking to select the "main" instance and clicking the re-link button should allow the user to replace all instances of the same image. Allow the user to expand the list downward as described above and select a single, or multiple instances to re-link. In this case, provide a pop-up dialog asking whether to relink all selected instances or re-link one at a time, incase the user wants to link different images.
If user relinks with different images, move those new links into their own instance grouping with a "primary" heading of its own.
Image mockup provided for clarity.
Improved links panel. List all instances of a linked image under one 'primary' link, append the filename with " (xx instances) ". Use a chevron that points right to indicate that there are multiple instances under the "primary" one shown in the list. Clicking the chevron makes the chevron point down, and displays the list of all instances.
Clicking to select the "main" instance and clicking the re-link button should allow the user to replace all instances of the same image. Allow the user to expand the list downward as described above and select a single, or multiple instances to…
19 votes -
Make title bar of inactive window look different from an active one
On Windows there is no way to tell Illustrator window in focus from inactive one, even when a corresponding option in OS preferences is on.
And every time Ai is not in focus you can’t use hotkeys.
Please make at least something dynamic to tell if the window is in focus! Like it was before. Icon changing color at least.19 votes -
Return showing thumbnail file previews on Windows in Explorer
Please add thumbnail file previews to Windows as we have with Adobe Reader. It's not fair that Mac users have this and Windows users don't While you're doing that please add them to PSD files as well.
19 votes -
Allow us to customize/choose features/controls/order in Control panel
A Feature that can be used by any Tool or Panel which is most common (like Fill & Stroke), that should not be active in the both (Control Bar & Properties Panel )sides at a time.
When Text Object is selected by Arrows.
If you have selected Text by using Arrows/Selection Tools, you should have good options in the Right Click's menu, like Spell Checking which is logical according to selection.
It would be also better if these features will be added in Control Bar by replacing redundant Features Like Fill & Stroke which can be used by Panels and Tool Bar or These Options (Spell Checking) according to selection (Text) should be in the Properties Panel with the properties of current tool selected/Active, (hope Properties Panel would be converted into Tools Properties Panel)A Feature that can be used by any Tool or Panel which is most common (like Fill & Stroke), that should not be active in the both (Control Bar & Properties Panel )sides at a time.
When Text Object is selected by Arrows.
If you have selected Text by using Arrows/Selection Tools, you should have good options in the Right Click's menu, like Spell Checking which is logical according to selection.
It would be also better if these features will be added in Control Bar by replacing redundant Features Like Fill & Stroke which can be used by Panels and…19 votes -
Make keyboard shortcuts work for different input languages
I'd love to see an update that lets me use the same physical keys for shortcuts while I have a different keyboard than English selected.
For example, the backslash key () is used for the line tool. But when switching to German, the same physical key returns (#) and in Romanian we have a (â).
I wish that all shortcuts activated by the press of the physical keys work as intended in the interface regardless of the language currently active so I don't have to switch so much between languages just to have my shortcuts work again.
This could work by letting users assign more than one character in the keyboard shortcut panel, so that I can input manually all the characters I need and resolve any conflicts.
Of course this feature could be extended to all Adobe software.
I'd love to see an update that lets me use the same physical keys for shortcuts while I have a different keyboard than English selected.
For example, the backslash key () is used for the line tool. But when switching to German, the same physical key returns (#) and in Romanian we have a (â).
I wish that all shortcuts activated by the press of the physical keys work as intended in the interface regardless of the language currently active so I don't have to switch so much between languages just to have my shortcuts work again.
This could work…
19 votes -
Draw/brush selection
I work with pixel art. When I select I need to click on every single pixel to change color, if it's not simple shapes like a rectangle that I can marquee and select. If I draw, I just drag the pixels around accidentally. I would like to draw a selection with a brush (any brush I like), and that whatever is covered beneath what I draw by the brush gets selected. And it shall be in a mode that no pixels or objects or anything is dragged around.
Why it's valuable? It would be a huge timesaver, and keep me from always accidentally moving pixels or objects around.
I work with pixel art. When I select I need to click on every single pixel to change color, if it's not simple shapes like a rectangle that I can marquee and select. If I draw, I just drag the pixels around accidentally. I would like to draw a selection with a brush (any brush I like), and that whatever is covered beneath what I draw by the brush gets selected. And it shall be in a mode that no pixels or objects or anything is dragged around.
Why it's valuable? It would be a huge timesaver, and keep me…
19 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!19 votes -
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.
19 votes -
Quick Command for Trim View
Quick Command for Trim View. I alternate a lot between normal view and trim view but have to stop to select trim view every time.
19 votesYou can assign your own custom shortcut to this command via Edit > Keyboard Shortcuts. Toggle 'Tools' to 'Menu commands' from the dropdown and search for 'Trim View'.
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Add 'Release' button for Envelope distort object in Control bar
Control bar is still the best thing to control various aspects of selected art. You try to transfer some of those to Properties, but 'Release' button (as long as 'Expand') is still nowhere to be found (only deep in menus or on hotkeys, already taken).
19 votes -
Select same, with multiple selectable attributes and customisations
When using the Select Same feature we need a lot more options, like all objects with the same transparency effect AND opacity AND tint AND line weight etc, that can be selected from a list of attributes. Same sort of list as the options list for the Eyedropper Tool (see screenshot).
It should be split into sections that allow vectors graphics selections as above, but also things like selecting all linked items that are the same file AND the same size AND rotation AND opacity.
Selecting all text in a certain colour, font, size, style so they can be updated en masse would help too (overlapping with another suggestion here).
You can then tick as many as you like before performing the select using your chosen filters. A preview mode would be useful too, so you can see what you're picking up.
Once set, selected filters should be saveable and accessable from a scrollable list alongside the filter window for instant selection without opening a save / load screen.
Finally, each select same filter window should have an option to add / subtract from the current selection, so selctions can be stacked / refined.
This would be a huge time-saver when updating many files with similar changes whether to update embedded elements, for corporate image updates or technical changes like minimum line thickness.
When using the Select Same feature we need a lot more options, like all objects with the same transparency effect AND opacity AND tint AND line weight etc, that can be selected from a list of attributes. Same sort of list as the options list for the Eyedropper Tool (see screenshot).
It should be split into sections that allow vectors graphics selections as above, but also things like selecting all linked items that are the same file AND the same size AND rotation AND opacity.
Selecting all text in a certain colour, font, size, style so they can be updated…
19 votes -
Make an option to show points' handles when part of the path is transformed live
I often modify part of the path or single point with basic tools. For examples, it's quite convenient to select one point and rotate it, if I want to change the angle of it's handles, or scale it, if I want both rotate and scale. Unfortunately, AI hides handles when I drag my selection with a chosen tool. It makes sense in general, but I would like to have an option not to hide it, so I could see where my handles are all the time of transformation.
19 votes -
Allow transitions between freeform gradients control points to be linear
Originally named 'Freeform gradient shows RGB values when you work in CMYK space' and based on this message:
https://twitter.com/Vonster/status/1056247934855991298?s=1919 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.19 votes
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