Illustrator (Desktop) Feature Requests
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4664 results found
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Ability to change the Canvas size after a new document is created (normal to large and vise versa)
The new expanded large canvas size is great, but I think there should be an option to change the canvas size from the standard one to the expanded large one after a document is created instead of having to create a new document.
14 votes -
Delete unused empty layers
Would love to have the possibility to delete unused layers in Illustrator (like you can delete unused colors very quickly).
e.g. when you have 100 layers and only 10 layers have objects on them, but you don't want to delete every layer manually
14 votes -
Warnings Popup Manager
Based on this request:
https://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/333657-illustrator-feature-requests/suggestions/40535569-add-don-t-show-again-option-to-error-dialog-forSometimes we need messages such as 'You locked art won't be moved' as warning messageboxes, and sometimes you'd prefer them don't interrupt you. While the 'Don't show again' seems like a good solution, the only way to bring it back when you switch to the task that depends on this error message, is to reset ALL warnings.
Meanwhile, Ai can display messages as popups — like the 'All assets exported' (in green 'confirmtion' color) or 'Shape expanded' when live rectangle/ellipse is modified (in gray neutral color). I like these a lot. What if you change these alert messageboxes into yellow/orange popups? And somehow give us a way to manage all messages in a list? Like, I want these to be messageboxes, those to show popup and others to never show anything.Based on this request:
https://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/333657-illustrator-feature-requests/suggestions/40535569-add-don-t-show-again-option-to-error-dialog-forSometimes we need messages such as 'You locked art won't be moved' as warning messageboxes, and sometimes you'd prefer them don't interrupt you. While the 'Don't show again' seems like a good solution, the only way to bring it back when you switch to the task that depends on this error message, is to reset ALL warnings.
Meanwhile, Ai can display messages as popups — like the 'All assets exported' (in green 'confirmtion' color) or 'Shape expanded' when live rectangle/ellipse is modified (in gray neutral color). I like these a lot. What if you change…14 votes -
ADD "Relink to Folder..." to the Links panel as in InDesign
We have long kept an asset folder named The__PIT that has 1 copy of every file that has ever made it through Production so that if we bring up an InDesign IDML or INDD from any time in our history, ALL links are immediately restored using "Relink to Folder...". We need this same functionality with Illustrator. I understand that InDesign is a data based software and Illustrator is not. I also see that Illustrator does retain the file name though (which, as is noted in many other similar requests, does nothing as far as selecting a match within a CC Library)... Anyhow, isn't this enough info already to incorporate a one at a time "Relink to folder..." task? Definitely faster than relinking one at a time through a chooser. And still could be done all at once with a delimited internal array of multiple selected file names.
ThePIT has been one of my favorite additions to our workflow. It keeps duplication to a minimum (asset either filed or in ThePIT), repopulates assets whether the indd is from 2009 or 2020, and it allows us to archive all our indd's as idml's which are like 20x smaller & we never have to worry about relinking thanks to "Relink to Folder..." & The__PIT!
Illustrator layouts are becoming more popular at our agency and to have this functionality added to Illustrator would greatly improve efficiency, get all team members to adopt the same workflow, and free up tons of space compared to dev that is package based.
Our agency isn't large enough and doesn't have enough free people time to merit a full Adobe DAM solution. We are small & nimble AND outputting 5x the content we were capable of 5 years ago with the same number of staff, thanks in part to The_PIT and some other scripts and procedures I've implemented.
My agency closely guards the workflow methods I've enacted as they give us a clear advantage over other agencies. Our clients say as much.
Diminishing the gap in cross functionality between Adobe applications is crucial. The same features will never equate to the same usage. The Adobe apps are differentiated as much by personal preference, if not more, than anything else. It's only when a project in an app can't do something that's possible in another & moving the elements to the other app doesn't help either that the software shows its weakness. You can't copy and paste or drag and drop a placed graphic with a broken link from Illustrator to InDesign and retain a link that could be resolved by "Relink to Folder..." You can't do "Relink to Folder..." in Illustrator. There's no efficient resolution.
As to why I wouldn't just select "Relink..." and browse The__PIT...
That folder has thousands of files in it, it takes a seriously long time for the files to display in Finder. And sometimes, either by fault of OSX or Adobe's browse, the files don't display at all. You get the same result in InDesign if you try "Relink..." BUT with "Relink to Folder..." it's nearly instant. Even a document with more than 100 images. I guess it's the difference between Browse and relink compared to the data action of "GET in this folder, the file named this" which happens with "Relink to Folder..."Please respond with comments.
We have long kept an asset folder named The__PIT that has 1 copy of every file that has ever made it through Production so that if we bring up an InDesign IDML or INDD from any time in our history, ALL links are immediately restored using "Relink to Folder...". We need this same functionality with Illustrator. I understand that InDesign is a data based software and Illustrator is not. I also see that Illustrator does retain the file name though (which, as is noted in many other similar requests, does nothing as far as selecting a match within a CC…
14 votes -
Allow to refine pressure Touch Calligraphy brushes with Width Tool
Allow the Width Tool to apply changes to Touch Calligraphy brush strokes.
14 votes -
Start editing text hotkey
Whenever I want to edit a text, I have to pick a Text tool an click it, or double-click it with a Selection tool. Why would I need to click a text which is already selected?
Please, make Ctrl+Enter start editing selected text, as PS does now. If several text objects are selected, use topmost, or closest to the screen's center or cursor or give people an option to choose.
14 votes -
Forced column break
Can we get some decent text handling features that mimic at least fundamental options such as column breaks and a table feature within Illustrator? It's been 30 years now can't you get this done for once and for all?
14 votes -
Customizable "MOJIKUMI (Typesetting)" as same as InDesign.
In the case of Japanese, arranging characters beautifully is directly related to the readability of the text, so typesetting is regarded as important.
Japanese typesetting is delicate and very difficult.
I would like an equivalent type engine for InDesign.
A common UI with InDesign is desirable.(Translated to Japanese)
文字組設定をInDesign並みにカスタムできるようにしてほしい。
日本語の場合、美しく文字を並べることが、テキストの読みやすさに直結するので、文字組みは重要視されます。
日本語の文字組みは繊細でとても難しいです。
InDesign並の組版エンジンがあればと思います。 共通UIが望ましい。14 votes -
JSON for ExtendScript
JSON is a standard JavaScript data format. Considering how close ExtendScript is to JavaScript it is very baffling that common functions like JSON.parse and JSON.stringify are not supported.
Support for JSON would be very appreciated.
14 votes -
Automatically push guides to a single layer
It'd be great to have an optional feature that pushes every newly created guide to a dedicated guide layer. I think many people work with an extra layer for guides on top of their layer stack to toggle visibility and lock, and manually collecting all guides gets tedious.
14 votes -
Provide SVG output scaling option (with 96 ppi default)
When using Save As... SVG, Illustrator sets the bounding box pixel dimensions in the SVG header using 72 pixels per inch. So a 10" x 10" artboard will produce an SVG file with its pixel dimensions set to 720px x 720px. This is a very old-fashioned default scaling, since every other modern application I have encountered displays imported SVGs using 96 dpi . This means each SVG produced by Illustrator appears to shrink when imported into almost any other modern application. Please either:
a) Change Illustrator's default scaling calculation to use 96 dpi.
b) Provide an option/switch in the SVG Options window to allow selection of the scaling method - with the default set to 96!When using Save As... SVG, Illustrator sets the bounding box pixel dimensions in the SVG header using 72 pixels per inch. So a 10" x 10" artboard will produce an SVG file with its pixel dimensions set to 720px x 720px. This is a very old-fashioned default scaling, since every other modern application I have encountered displays imported SVGs using 96 dpi . This means each SVG produced by Illustrator appears to shrink when imported into almost any other modern application. Please either:
a) Change Illustrator's default scaling calculation to use 96 dpi.
b) Provide an option/switch in the SVG…14 votes -
Additional Scripts Folder in Preferences
In the Preferences we have the ability to define an "Additional Plug-ins Folder" and that will really useful to have the same option for Scripts, specially in enterprise where you don't have the admin right.
Plus, that will allow to easily disable the Scripts if needed.14 votes -
Discard all Overprints
I work specifically in digital prepress for POP displays, and never use overprinting at all. Removing overprinting from a document can be a hassle as I work with documents that almost always contain a mix of solid objects, linked raster images and other things. I consider myself extremely lucky when I find a document that I can easily remove all overprints from in one go
Illustrator already has a "Discard white overprints" in the document setup (although I rarely use this menu). We should either have a menu option to remove all overprints from a document, or at least an option in the document setup to remove ALL overprints instead of just white.
I work specifically in digital prepress for POP displays, and never use overprinting at all. Removing overprinting from a document can be a hassle as I work with documents that almost always contain a mix of solid objects, linked raster images and other things. I consider myself extremely lucky when I find a document that I can easily remove all overprints from in one go
Illustrator already has a "Discard white overprints" in the document setup (although I rarely use this menu). We should either have a menu option to remove all overprints from a document, or at least an…
14 votes -
Save Illustrator and PDF at the same time
I usually save my original Illustrator file and save a PDF for proofing purposes; but usually I make updates to the illustrator file; so I have to save it again as PDF; I think it would be cool to add a check box to the save window asking you if you would like to update your PDF reflecting the updated changes on the Illustrator file.
14 votes -
Artboard Switching and Zoom Level
Zoom level should be maintained when switching between artboards, whether it be by clicking between them in the Artboards panel, CMD+PgUp / CMD+PgDwn or in the status bar.
14 votes -
Export for Screen Quality of export
Not sure if it has been asked or discussed (spent way to much time searching for it and not finding it) but the "export for screens" exports terrible quality - mostly for jpg.
The quality is jagged and blurry when exporting a large graphic with text that has been outlined. Yet, when I use the legacy export for the same width and size I want, the quality is far superior whilst still having a small footprint in size.
Why is the legacy export, in any format, so much better than the "export for screens" that you have made default?
Often times I have to make the image the size I want taking a 2000 x 1000 artboard image and shrinking it to 500 x 250 and then use Export As to keep the image quality at max.
I am using 22.1 version of illustrator.
Not sure if it has been asked or discussed (spent way to much time searching for it and not finding it) but the "export for screens" exports terrible quality - mostly for jpg.
The quality is jagged and blurry when exporting a large graphic with text that has been outlined. Yet, when I use the legacy export for the same width and size I want, the quality is far superior whilst still having a small footprint in size.
Why is the legacy export, in any format, so much better than the "export for screens" that you have made default?
Often…
14 votesPlease provide comparison screenshots for the designs you can see a clear difference between these two export methods.
There is a related bug report, and perhaps the quality discussed here is actually a bug: http://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/601447/suggestions/38987995
Even if it’s somethings else, it’s not OK the request about image quality does not have a single image as an example. Please share!
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Circles in Illustrator are not accurate
The circles in Illustrator are flawed and here's why.
I discovered a major bug in Illustrator CC. The circles in Illustrator are not accurate. This is the case regardless of whether you use the ellipse tool or the arc tool. Make a circle. Check the dimensions to make sure it's accurate. Draw a radius line at 0º. Copy it 3 times and rotate the copies 90º,180º and 270º. When all of the copied lines are put on the center of the circle, they all touch the inner edge of the circle perfectly. However, Copy the 0º line and rotate it 45º. Put it on the center of the circle. It doesn't touch the inner edge of the circle. Copy the 0º line and rotate it 18º. Put it on the center of the circle. It’s even farther away from the inner edge of the circle. The circle is flawed.
Here is another way to see that the circles are not accurate. Make a hollow circle. Copy it and change the color of it's line. Rotate the copy 18º. Put it onto the original circle. They do not line up accurately. I spent an hour with an Illustrator expert while he had control of my computer through the support portal. He came to the same conclusion as i did. For some reason the circles in Illustrator are not perfect. He has spoken to his superiors and they are giving this issue priority. They were very happy that i told them about this and will hopefully solve the problem. For those of us that must have perfect geometry in our work, this is a very important issue.The circles in Illustrator are flawed and here's why.
I discovered a major bug in Illustrator CC. The circles in Illustrator are not accurate. This is the case regardless of whether you use the ellipse tool or the arc tool. Make a circle. Check the dimensions to make sure it's accurate. Draw a radius line at 0º. Copy it 3 times and rotate the copies 90º,180º and 270º. When all of the copied lines are put on the center of the circle, they all touch the inner edge of the circle perfectly. However, Copy the 0º line and rotate it…14 votes -
Introduce bevel joint clamp values for strokes
Adobe's miter limit is something quite weird. I was lucky to find and bookmark this article to learn it, finally:
https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/mswanson/2006/03/24/miter-limits-in-illustrator-and-wpf/As you can see, AI have no tools for defining how much of a stroke would be cut when joint is beveled. I want some.
14 votes -
Center point invisible while moving object with dragging
Center point (set in Attributes palette with 'Show Center' button which is default for Live Rectangle and Ellipses) becomes invisible when you drag an object. And because I often use center to match position to certain point on a grid, I cant properly position object and get angry.
Hulk illustrate!
Please see animation attached for clarification.14 votes -
More Pattern Tiling Options
In Illustrator, it would be some next level powerful stuff if we could tile patterns based on shapes like these attached (as well as just blocks and hexagon). They are all based on a single shape that tessellates.
14 votes
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