Illustrator (Desktop) Feature Requests
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4783 results found
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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 -
Improve snapping strength
Currently, there is a "snap to point" feature in illustrator. However, I find that it works poorly. Often, I create guides, create geometric shapes on those guides, and move them overlap, join, or intersect to make new shapes. Currently, when I create a shape, I notice the shape will snap to a guide, but when I zoom in all the way, it will not be exact. Also, when I try to move two shapes together, I will experience the snapping effect, but it often is not lined up when I zoom in.
Is it possible to improve the snapping to guide and shape tolerance so that things line up without so much manual effort?
Here are some images for reference:
Created with guides: https://www.evernote.com/l/AGqbclpqguFG_oNQDgYthn15s1zg3pfaN64
Guides: https://www.evernote.com/l/AGpeucJg2X5FvaMtljpR3EsTcT4CNe3x0eg
When you zoom in super close, you can see that objects don't all snap to both guids or other objects: https://www.evernote.com/l/AGoxlmBQlRFNT5C_VO3SAVBIPQ_3Pk2Nbmw
Another example: https://www.evernote.com/l/AGqxb1yytmNHeLk6KaHuKDa8iir4EKRg-To
I feel like the solution could be an increase in the snappyness - so that it's stronger. Currently I use a wacom pen and I find I have to waste time doing everything manually to ensure things line up.
Currently, there is a "snap to point" feature in illustrator. However, I find that it works poorly. Often, I create guides, create geometric shapes on those guides, and move them overlap, join, or intersect to make new shapes. Currently, when I create a shape, I notice the shape will snap to a guide, but when I zoom in all the way, it will not be exact. Also, when I try to move two shapes together, I will experience the snapping effect, but it often is not lined up when I zoom in.
Is it possible to improve the snapping to…
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 -
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 -
Allow tool bar to be horizontal
Now 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 -
Option to "Show Transparency Grid" by default for all the files at all the time
I deal with a lot of white icons/svg and would like to keep the transparency grid on by default for all the files.
20 votes -
Snap shape to artboard or bleeds
When you draw a rectangle as a background color or border, you could snap to the edges of the artboard or snap to the edges of the bleed.
20 votes -
Relative math operations with defined and mixed values in input fields
When you have several objects with different parameters in your selection, Illustrator would show nothing in the input field controlling this parameter.
For example, if you have two paths selected, one having 1 pt stroke weight, and another with 4 pt — Ai would show nothing in Weight in Stroke panel, meaning it’s a 'mixed value'.What if we could focus this field, type '+5' in it, and get 1+5=6 for one path and 4+5=9 for the other?
Why not making it work for similar value as well? Instead of putting the cursor after the, say '2.25 pt' and type '+2' so it goes '2.25 pt+2', when we could just replace it with '+2', with no aiming?
Take a look at the demo attached.
Plus, take a look at the request about having more than one math operation possible in input fields:
http://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/333657/suggestions/31286416When you have several objects with different parameters in your selection, Illustrator would show nothing in the input field controlling this parameter.
For example, if you have two paths selected, one having 1 pt stroke weight, and another with 4 pt — Ai would show nothing in Weight in Stroke panel, meaning it’s a 'mixed value'.What if we could focus this field, type '+5' in it, and get 1+5=6 for one path and 4+5=9 for the other?
Why not making it work for similar value as well? Instead of putting the cursor after the, say '2.25 pt' and type…
19 votes -
Display color values for named swatches when hovering
Illustrator automatically names swatches by their color values and displays these names when we hover over swatches in panels.
But if we rename a swatch, Illustrator displays just the name, but not the color formula.
InDesign does the opposite — always shows the color values when we hover, but not the name.I’d like to see both. Yes, I know that for the automatically named swatches it’d mean both the name made of values will be displayed along with the actual values... but you can solve it with the InDesign’s 'Name with Color Value' option for swatches.
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 -
Allow to nudge or rotate individual elements along the path for Objects on Path
Objects on Path needs more options and in its current setup is very limited in its usefulness. This tool feels like it's still in beta. Whilst it's good at doing the one thing it's designed to do, it's missing a lot of useful capabilities.
One of missing bits is the ability to nudge or rotate individual elements along the path.
Other two requests are:
1. Objects on Path needs an ability to keep orientation of objects relative to page/path, similar to blends — http://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/333657/suggestions/48984890
2. Add an option to measure gaps between objects in Objects on Path by their bounds, not between centers — http://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/333657/suggestions/48987905(Originally by Lewis Tsalis)
Objects on Path needs more options and in its current setup is very limited in its usefulness. This tool feels like it's still in beta. Whilst it's good at doing the one thing it's designed to do, it's missing a lot of useful capabilities.
One of missing bits is the ability to nudge or rotate individual elements along the path.
Other two requests are:
1. Objects on Path needs an ability to keep orientation of objects relative to page/path, similar to blends — http://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/333657/suggestions/48984890
2. Add an option to measure gaps between objects in Objects on Path by their bounds,…19 votes -
Effect dialogs need sliders
Illustrator's stylized filters need a more practical and dynamic UI.
Currently, stylized effects such as Drop Shadow, Feather, Inner and Outer Glow have an outdated UI and are not dynamic.
I remember that Gaussian Blur was not in the past either, but Gaussian Blur was updated years ago and these stylized filters were not.
I believe that these stylized filters deserve a more practical, faster and dynamic way of being adjusted, and I took the liberty of creating a UI suggestion inspired by the current Gaussian Blur UI.
What do you think, would it be possible?
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 -
A hotkey to switch gradient types, Linear/Radial/Freeform
Shift + > and Shift + < are not taken.
We’d assigned them ourselves, but guess what — you forgot to expose these in Keyboard Shortcuts. As 90% of all other commands and buttons we have in panels. But hey, we introduce new features... finish old ones already.
19 votes -
Appearance Variables
Imagine I have several drop shadows, with different colors, but same offset and blur values. Now I want to change the horizontal offset for all of them at once. Even if I use styles, it would require me change each style I have manually.
With Appearance variables though, I could have use something like '%h_shadow' in effects’ values’ fields, in all of these shadows, and set it equal to an actual numerical value in one place.
So, once I change it, every other shadow will adapt this immediately.19 votes -
Sync the order of Align and Distribute menu commands
Hey, we now have Object > Distribute commands! No more actions wraps to bind these to hotkeys!
However, why is the order is swapped? Align menu has Horizontal commands first, but Distribute has them at the bottom, under Vertical.
One can object it’s just like the Align panel has them, and this is not the legacy behaviour you better keep, really. Please sync these.
19 votes
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