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Illustrator (Desktop) Feature Requests

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730 results found

  1. Contextual Eyedropper Tool

    Currently, the Eyedropper Tool is an underutilized and often counter-intuitive tool that needlessly increases the complexity of a workflow because of its limitations. This- combined with Illustrator's poor color tools- often adds unnecessary time and effort to what should and could be more simplified tasks.

    For example, a common situation is that I have a shape with a fill color that I like, and I want another shape that has a stroke to also use that color, except only for the stroke. Currently, if I use the eyedropper tool on the filled shape, it will completely remove the stroke and…

    5 votes

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    The solution to that would be to activate a stroke if you want to apply a color to it, then to hold Shift when clicking a color — does not matter where this color is on a stroke or a fill. Illustrator then applies the picked color to the active fill/stroke, ignoring the source nature. There are two things to know — the cursor does not inform you about this mode (unlike the Alt-mode, should be addressed), and if you pick a color from a swatch — you’d get a screen representation of the color... harmless for RGB documents (if your color settings are in order), but crucial for CMYK documents (should be addressed too). Pleas comment back.
  2. Perspective anchored objects - Advanced perspective manipulation

    I've been wanting something to solve the following use-case for a while:

    When adjusting a 2D illustration drawn in perspective, to a new position within that perspective (think cereal box rotating on a surface), I find myself spending a lot of time adjusting anchors and curves. The new shape tools have been a huge help, but they can go further!

    It would be AMAZING to anchor 2D drawings to a perspective plane and update them with a simple rotation within that plane (like you would in 3D)

    How would this work? Illustrator would assume outer lines would move…

    3 votes

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    1 comment  ·  Tools  ·  Admin →
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  3. Disable Layer Search in Layers Window

    Illustrator v 27.7

    Mac Studio 2022

    Mac OS 13.5.1 (22G90)

    Please allow for disabling the layer search function. The Layers window search field randomly activates, especially when opening new files from a template and when opening exitisting files to make revisions. This is incredibly frustrating. For example; when I open a file and try to select the type tool by hitting the T key, I just end up typing a line of T's in the layer search bar. When the search function is active it appears as if there are layers missing in the file, making it difficult to find…

    4 votes

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    2 comments  ·  Layers  ·  Admin →
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  4. Merge Swatches Shortcut Key

    Can we get a shortcut key or be able to create a keyboard shortcut for Merge Swatches in the Swatches Panel?

    1 vote

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  5. Uniform dashes at end of paths

    It would be great to have uniform dashes at the end of paths when
    "Aligns dashes to corners and path ends, adjusting lengths to fit" is on.

    Currently we seem to get half sized dashes with this option on

    3 votes

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    3 comments  ·  Strokes  ·  Admin →
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  6. Allow to locally customize the assets from CC library within a document, similar to components in Figma

    I'm working for a company who makes workwear and we're having an issue with the creative cloud library.

    We've made al of these symbols in the creative cloud libraries, but we've seen that we can't manipulate these in 1 document.

    For example, we're making a coat.
    First we take the front out of the library, then the sleeves and a pocket.
    We see that it is impossible to change these objects in this new document.
    These drawings from the library are added in the document like pictures, that's why we can't colour them for example.
    We obviously don't want to…

    4 votes

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  7. Add a setting for "Solid" in the leading field of the type panel

    Illustrator defaults to "Auto" in regards to leading - about 120% of the point size of the type. When using display faces, I often find I set type a lot tighter - usually around the same leading as the point size. It would be really helpful if there were a setting for that in the type panel, so that as I change the point size of the type (say from 24 pts to 72 pts) the leading would also change automatically from 24 pts to 72 pts - just as it would from one size to another when the leading…

    1 vote

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    We can change the value Illustrator uses as 'auto' in Justification dialog, which you can access via the Paragraph panel’s menu. Change 'Auto Leading' to 100% to get what you want.

    If you want this setting to be applied to all new text objects, you should open Paragraph Styled panel, and edit the [Normal Paragraph Style].

    If you want this to be applied to every new document you make, you should learn about editing document profile files Illustrator uses as core templates. Just don’t forget to backup these.

  8. Could you please allow to move the color control pop up menu, when adjusting the gradient point?

    Have the option to move the pop up menu to different location. Not right on top of the artwork you're trying to fix?

    2 votes

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    0 comments  ·  Gradients  ·  Admin →
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  9. Blend shapes or lines along a curved path, like a "spline".

    Type can be arranged along a custom curved path. Why not blends? As it is now, if I want to arrange repeating vertical lines along a curved horizontal path, I have to: create the blend in a straight line, then: line by line, go along the blend cutting off bits to match the curved horizontal baseline. I can make it look decent, but it takes quite a while.

    1 vote

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    2 comments  ·  Tools  ·  Admin →
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  10. Non-Destructive Path Trim

    It would save me incredible amounts of time if I could simply--and non-destructively--trim a path.

    Example:
    I create a character's arm using a tapered stroke. I then duplicate that tapered stroke so that it can function as a shirt sleeve.
    <Here is where the issue comes in...>
    There's not a good way to trim that duplicated stroke to function as a sleeve. I can add points and delete the stroke, but the width won't match anymore. I can create a clipping mask, but it's a pain and makes adjusting the characters pose needlessly laborious.

    Being able to trim the…

    4 votes

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    3 comments  ·  Tools  ·  Admin →
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  11. Save a copy not accessible to call via SDK/Scripts.

    I'm not a developer, just an ardent fan of the work that the guys at AstuteGraphics do to improve the functionality of Illustrator.

    One of their products they introduced before Illustrator had recovery capabilities was a plugin called Autosaviour. It's a tool that can not only regularly save your files at a given interval but also create backup copies of them too.

    I recently asked the team if it was possible to adjust the way backups get created by utilising the 'Save a copy' function so that the original file could remain intact whilst in the background periodic backups could…

    1 vote

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  12. GUIDELINES

    Full transform options for GUIDELINES. I want infinite DIAGONALS!
    Please and thank you! xoxo

    TL;DR
    We all know math is the basis of all good design work. (Critical for branding) I can't count the number of times I've messed up manual diagonal spacing. It's a sticking point for me, especially when working on deadline.

    Being able to set up a template of guidelines (in the same way that "workspaces" functions) could be beneficial for different types of jobs.

    Other things that would be nice:
    -Golden Ratio guideline (also Branding essential)
    -Colour of guidelines matching layer colour (much more helpful than…

    2 votes

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    1 comment  ·  Other...  ·  Admin →
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  13. Allow to control font for Swatch Info objects

    Well... if one wants to choose font size for text in Swatch Info objects while making one — tough luck. We can only set the color chip size.

    Since Preview is completely missing now (here’s the request about it: http://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/333657/suggestions/49681244), it’s hard to evaluate if text would be large enough to accompany them.
    Even if you change the font size after the Swatch Info is created — won’t do, each text line is a separate type objects, their leading won’t be adjusted, the card background rectangles won’t adapt!

    One can think this font is based on the [Normal…

    4 votes

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  14. Add export functionality directly in the Artboard Panel

    Add export functionality directly in the Artboard Panel through either:

    A right-click context menu option
    Small export icons next to each artboard
    A dedicated export button within the panel"

    The key benefits to highlight would be:

    Reduced clicks/steps in the workflow
    More intuitive location since users are already working with artboards

    3 votes

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  15. Rotate and scale any object same time

    This feature is available in CorelDraw
    I’m using CorelDraw for 11 to 12 years. When i click twice at any object in CorelDraw Rotation Handle activate. and I rotate and scale any kind of object at same time while pressing Shift key and in illustrator i tried to use this option but i find nothing. Can you help me in this problem?

    3 votes

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  16. Less Application Chrome

    Illustrator could have less application chrome.

    • Ability to remove scrollbars and status bar
    • Ability to disable "Application Bar" while "Application Frame" is selected (Controls take the place of the Application Bar)
    • Adjustable-height panels e.g., a Swatches panel that's sized according to the number of swatches, not some fixed height
    • Mac-native full-screen mode that hides the macOS menu bar (without having to toggle AI's view mode)

    etc etc etc etc

    3 votes

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  17. Don't stop Duplicating when ALT is released !!

    When using Select and Direct Selection Tools, you can duplicate elements by holding ALT-key down.

    But if you release the ALT-key before you release the Mouse Button, the duplicating ceases . This differs from how most of the other applications behaves. For example in Photoshop, duplicating continues even if you release the ALT before you release mouse button.

    How this works in Illustrator leads often to situations where you think you have duplicated something, but you actually just moved it. And often I edit the element I thought I duplicated, and loose lot of work as it wasn't actually duplicated…

    3 votes

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  18. Toggle Artwork Visibility Outside of Artboard

    The function of the w key in InDesign switches between preview and normal view. Why doesn't Illustrator have this functionality? It would be so useful as I usually prefer to use Illustrator when I'm initially laying things out for a design project. I've seen multiple requests for this functionality in the forums. Please please please add this!

    3 votes

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  19. Recolor Artwork: Make the color wheel bigger !

    It would be good if the size of Colorwheel in Recolor Artwork could be resized, made bigger.

    Now if the colors are close to each other, it is impossible to select them in basic mode.

    Also, adjusting colors isn't very accurate as the wheel is so small. Sure you can open the color setting by double clicking, but it would be so much easier to just have bigger color wheel.

    3 votes

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  20. Make an option to allow to transform (move / rotate / resize) a pattern within object without holding ` (backtick / grave / tilde) key

    Newly redundant options in Transform menu
    With the AI ver 27.5 update the "Transform Pattern Only" option does not work anymore in the Transform palette options menu.
    It used to be that the pattern would move interactively within its container if it was dragged or rotated. Now the whole object moves. My small business works exclusively on pattern design and this happens on both our machines. (Win 10 and Win 11. Both i7 with 32gb) RAM).

    2 votes

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