Illustrator (Desktop) Feature Requests
When entering a new feature request, please provide:
- Description
- Why is this valuable to you?
4662 results found
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Artboard-specific Layers
When working with multiple artboards, it would be very helpful to have artboard-specific layers displayed on the Layers panel as opposed to one long blob of all layers from all artboards.
84 votes -
Add isometric drawing tools
Von Glitchka has an isometric drawing tools course on Lynda.com. I love producing drawings, but by adding one or two tools illustrator you could save alot of time and effort.
83 votes -
Relative paths for linked assets
An option to use relative paths for linked assets. Because links use absolute paths, simply moving the folder your artwork is in will break the links unless the links are in the same folder. For example:
c:\artwork\project-1234\layout.ai
c:\artwork\project-1234\assets\logo.jpg
c:\artwork\standard-title-block.aiIf logo.jpg and standard-title-block.ai are both linked to inside of layout.ai, renaming the project folder will break the links. Moving the project folder will break the links.
Instead of storing the link paths absolutely, store them relatively. This way at least renaming the folder will preserve both links and moving the folder will only break links that point to file outside…
82 votesThis feature is now available in all the public builds starting V 28.5. Please give it a try and let us know what you think!
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Implement quick filter in Layers panel
On large documents designers very often give names to objects in document structure for improve navigation in structure. But now there are no way to quickly find object by name in document, except custom scripts.
For solve this problem please implement quick filter input field in Layers panel interface, for quickly search objects by part of his name (like filter in Fonts list).
Even if designer don't add names, via this filter we will can quick find all curves, all rectangles, all circles, all curves, all guides, etc, so it will be very useful.
81 votesHi Everyone,
This functionality is available in our latest release build – 27.6.1.
The new functionality allows searching layers by name using the searchbar in the layers panel. The users can also apply filters based on layer properties (locked, hidden etc) or objects properties (effects, text etc.). This will help to quickly find layers/objects for large documents (having multiple layers).
Read more about this - https://helpx.adobe.com/in/illustrator/using/whats-new/2023-5.html#search-and-filter
Thank you for all the feedback.
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Scripts panel / palette!
I can't believe nobody (including myself) voted for separate palette/panel. AI needs it.
80 votes -
Please update to allow newer Pantone swatches to be usable.
For years Pantone's new colors have been released, yet I can't upload those books into Illustrator. So for years I've been able to see colors I can't use. Super frustrating. I use the Coated Color Bridge book in spot and cmyk. If I'm doing something wrong, PLEASE enlighten me!
80 votesAs stated in the article linked below, Pantone’s licensing with Adobe got changed.
Due to this change, customers will need to purchase Pantone Connect licenses to access Pantone colors in Adobe Creative Cloud products.
https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/kb/pantone-color-books-illustrator.html
Alas, this is the world today.
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Drag to "bevel" a shape.
I'd like to have a bevel tool.
One for "Below" and one for "On top"
Shown here is the "Below" version, dragged straight and at a 45º angle.79 votes -
Allow to change color & width of border / edges for artboards (all and active)
Sometimes when I am using black colour I cant see properly my artboard size so I have work with the guides instead of using the change artboard colour option so it gets annoying. If there were an artboard frame colour option it would be easier to compare my design w.r.t. the artboard
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78 votesThe border of the active artboard was changed to be 2px black, to ensure it’s visible enough on HiDPI displays. The team is still exploring ways to allow its full customization.
Please share you feedback in this thread.
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Align to artboard when only when item/group of items is selected.
Have aligning be dynamic depending on what is selected. If one item or group of items is selected auto select align to artboard rather than the last selected option.
If multiple items are selected but not group it would auto select align to selection.
This would reduce time having to check what you are aligning to since 99% of the time when you are trying to align a group it is to the artboard and the same with selecting multiple objects. It is a hassle having to constantly be checking and changing my align options.
78 votesHi Everyone,
Thanks for this feedback. This has been avialble since June 2020 release (version 24.2). Now, when you’ll select a single object/group, Align To setting will default to Align To Artboard.
Please update to the latest release using Creative Cloud desktop App: https://helpx.adobe.com/in/creative-cloud/help/creative-cloud-updates.html
Thank you for all the feedback.
Thanks,
Varun
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Convert outline text to editable text
I work with a lot of files that come to me with outline text, which I then have to retype from scratch. It would be a really useful feature if outline text could be converted to editable text - could there be some kind of auto-recognition (OCR) of the outline text and generate editable text from this? Built-in OCR?
78 votesThe ability to convert outline text into live text will be available through the 'Retype' feature we recently shipped. The released version can identify fonts for now. Soon it will allow you to edit it as well. More details: https://helpx.adobe.com/in/illustrator/using/retype.html
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Moving Artboards and Locked Layers
The latest CC updates' new feature allows locked/hidden layers to move when you move an artboard. This doesn't make sense since locked should mean locked. I am running into problems now because my company uses a lot of artboards to make print-production files, and sometimes you need to re-arrange the artboards while working on the file.
There should be a way to turn this feature on or off. Such as "keep locked/hidden layers locked when moving/duplicating artboards, or allow locked and hidden elements to move when artboard moves"78 votesAs you probably know, Illustrator today allows to change this behavior with a dedicated option in Preferences > Selection & Anchor Display section.
However, it’s not that accessible, especially when you are already move and copy your artboards.
If you wish this option to be more exposed, consider upvoting this request: Display Move Locked and Hidden Artwork with Artboard option in Control panel and Properties while using Artboard tool / mode
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Make Knife tool work with smart guides
Knife is a very freehand tool, but you can make straight cuts, if you hold Alt. Cool. But you can't position these cuts precisely! Nor with a smart guides (at least!) or Snap to grid.
Please improve it!77 votesWith the release of V29.0, Knife tool now supports smartguide.
Please try out this functionality and let us what you think!
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Add Ai and EPS formats in Export for Screens / Assets dialog
I realize that .pdf is essentially the same as .eps format, but still it would be useful to have the option to export as .eps.
77 votesWith the v29.2, Illustrator now allows you to export into Ai and EPS format via the export for screen dialogue.
You will also have the ability to fine-tune the these documents through the advance settings.
We hope you would find the changes useful, please let us know your feedback or comment below.
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Mixed Ink Swatch like Indesign.
Please add the Mixed Ink swatch like Indesign. This would simplify building files with varnish, white ink, and bump plates.
77 votes -
Add 3D space navigator / mouse (3dconnexion) compatibility
I would like to be able to pan and zoom with my space navigator 3D mouse.
75 votes -
16 bit mode for Illustrator
When creating Illustrations with gradients, we can only use 8bits. When imported in Photoshop or After Effects 16bits projects, the gradients stick to this poor 8bits - resulting in banding.
Especially when working on normal/displacement maps for 3d materials, 8bits is not enough.
How great would it be if Illustrator had a possibility to switch to 16 or 32 bit mode!
74 votes -
An ability to copy/paste appearance attributes / styles
I would LOVE to be able to copy appearance attributes!
It would be VERY helpful if I could copy the appearance of one item and paste to apply them to another, instead of having to do everything over again for each item.74 votes -
Improve page selection when opening PDFs in Illustrator
Referring to the attached screenshot for opening PDFs in Illustrator:
I find that I am constantly browsing through the preview pages using (B), and hitting 'Open' when I see the previewed page I want -- completely forgetting to actually enter the page number in the Range (C), and thereby opening Page 1, swearing, and starting again. Casual survey suggests this is a common issue for others in my studio as well.
It would be great if changing the previewed page using B also updated the page number selected in C; or, if an additional radio button sitting with C and…73 votesThe solution is pushed into Global Availability build 28.6.
The Previewed Page is now the default option for the dialog.
Here is an updated Help article:https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/using/importing-pdf-files.html
Congratulations, folks! Took us 5.5 years to get it!
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Full Alignment Center Option (both horizontally and vertically)
Instead of having two tools (Horizontal and Vertical Align Center), can we get a tool that does both in one called something like Fully Align Center. I've included an image of what the tool might look like.
73 votes -
import DXF Blocks
In fashion Industry, one of the most common exchange file format is DXF-AAMA/ASTM.
If it is too complex to Illustrator to handle all the subtilities of this format, could it be possible at least to manage "Blocks" ?
Blocks are DXF entities which can be assimilate as "Groups" or "Symbols"
but in Ai Groups and Symbols may stay on a single layer.
In DXF Blocks, you may have multiple entities on multiple layers, but you need to keep them as a single object.
So I was wondering if Ai could generate for each Block a layer (with the name of…72 votes
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