Illustrator (Desktop) Feature Requests
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4723 results found
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Add the ability to select multiple files to open at once from the Home Screen
The home screen in AI, IND & PSD NEEDS a Multi-Select feature to easily open multiple recent files at once.
9 votes -
Color swatch variables
Add color and pattern swatches as options in Variables panel.
9 votes -
9 votes
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Artboard auto-naming preferences, one-click artboard with size dialog
I often have to make documents with many artboards for various ad and social image sizes. Currently, one has to make these artboards, then hand-name them.
I'd love a preference that would set new artboard names automatically to their widthxheight. This way, when exporting files one could use the prefix to export everything easily and skipping a lot of manual work. It could work a bit like the batch file export dialog, allowing you to "build" newly created artboard names based on filename, size, etc.
Also, if I click with the new artboard tool it would be great if it behaved like the rectangle tool---IE, give me a wxh box and (optionally) allow me to assign a name by dimension or custom.
I often have to make documents with many artboards for various ad and social image sizes. Currently, one has to make these artboards, then hand-name them.
I'd love a preference that would set new artboard names automatically to their widthxheight. This way, when exporting files one could use the prefix to export everything easily and skipping a lot of manual work. It could work a bit like the batch file export dialog, allowing you to "build" newly created artboard names based on filename, size, etc.
Also, if I click with the new artboard tool it would be great if it…
9 votes -
Smart guide show projected extension of another line when hovering
This is a basic feature in CAD programs. When you are using the pen or line tools, you need to be able to hover over the end point of a line, and then snap the cursor to that line's hypothetical extension, so you can start a new line on that extension, so that each point you make can be co-linear with another.
See this video: https://youtu.be/9RgRoOunCDs?t=18 and attached images
I can't say how many times (probably in the tens of thousands) in my career when I have had to drag out a construction line extension just so i can start a new line that is co-linear, or at least starts co-linear with an existing line, and then delete the construction line when i am done.
This is a basic feature in CAD programs. When you are using the pen or line tools, you need to be able to hover over the end point of a line, and then snap the cursor to that line's hypothetical extension, so you can start a new line on that extension, so that each point you make can be co-linear with another.
See this video: https://youtu.be/9RgRoOunCDs?t=18 and attached images
I can't say how many times (probably in the tens of thousands) in my career when I have had to drag out a construction line extension just so i can start…
9 votes -
More Text Frame & Type options like: Inset Spacing, Auto Fit, Columns and Bullet & Num Lists
I highly appraise adding the much needed Vertical Text Alignment feature from indesign to Illustrator. While they are at it I would like to request more Text Frame & Type features to be migrated over from Indesign. Like Inset Spacing, Auto Fit, Columns and Bullet & Numbered Lists .
Why? Due to Illustrator having more flexible and abundant creativity oriented vector design features I often pick Illustrator over Indesign to create single page designs like flyers or posters. Having more control over type would speed up the design workflow significantly. Lack of Type control is the only thing that causes some real frustration when designing in Illustrator.
Thank you very much!
I highly appraise adding the much needed Vertical Text Alignment feature from indesign to Illustrator. While they are at it I would like to request more Text Frame & Type features to be migrated over from Indesign. Like Inset Spacing, Auto Fit, Columns and Bullet & Numbered Lists .
Why? Due to Illustrator having more flexible and abundant creativity oriented vector design features I often pick Illustrator over Indesign to create single page designs like flyers or posters. Having more control over type would speed up the design workflow significantly. Lack of Type control is the only thing that…
9 votes -
A keyboard shortcut option for "Redefine Graphic Style" in the Appearance panel's menu
I have shifted to a very Graphic Style-focused workflow lately and find myself constantly hitting this menu item when I'm figuring out exactly what a Style should look like. I would like to be able to assign a shortcut to it.
It is currently nowhere to be found in the Keyboard Shortcuts panel. It is also one of the many, many actions in Illustrator that can't be recorded in an Action.
There's a lot of menu items in Illustrator's panels that have these problems and it would be great to have a general fix for all of them, but this is the one whose lack is bugging me the most lately.
I have shifted to a very Graphic Style-focused workflow lately and find myself constantly hitting this menu item when I'm figuring out exactly what a Style should look like. I would like to be able to assign a shortcut to it.
It is currently nowhere to be found in the Keyboard Shortcuts panel. It is also one of the many, many actions in Illustrator that can't be recorded in an Action.
There's a lot of menu items in Illustrator's panels that have these problems and it would be great to have a general fix for all of them, but this…
9 votes -
An option to toggle guides and grid separately in Trim View
It would be great if guides stayed viewable in trim view.
9 votes -
Export Artboards as PowerPoint or Keynote slides
I like using Illustrator to design complexe slides or icons, illustrations… for my slides and I’d like to export them by maintaining vector capabilities to have the ability in PowerPoint or Keynote to change their color and to scale them freely.
I know plug-ins or some export format will somehow works for some cases.
But it will be so nice to have a straight forward export!9 votes -
Have a panel that shows info and keyboard modifiers for the current tool
All Adobe applications are quite complex beasts, and what all the tools do and particularly what holding different modifiers or keys do can be quite arcane.
I imagine a panel you can have open on the side, and it will show information and the modifier options for the currently active tool.
For instance for the Star tool, it can say what Shift, Option and Command keys do, and that you can press Arrow Up and Arrow Down to increase the number of points as you drag.
Pro users can keep the panel closed, but it can really help new users who want to discover the full power of the tools.
All Adobe applications are quite complex beasts, and what all the tools do and particularly what holding different modifiers or keys do can be quite arcane.
I imagine a panel you can have open on the side, and it will show information and the modifier options for the currently active tool.
For instance for the Star tool, it can say what Shift, Option and Command keys do, and that you can press Arrow Up and Arrow Down to increase the number of points as you drag.
Pro users can keep the panel closed, but it can really help new users…
9 votesSeems to be pulled off in build 29.3.0.2.
Status pending.
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Change the Separations Preview panel to behave like it does in InDesign
Can you change the Separations Preview panel in Illustrator to behave just like it does in InDesign? The Separations Preview panel in InDesign shows the percentage of each color separation when you hover over an area of the artwork, and includes the Ink Limit option. Both of those features would be extremely useful in Illustrator.
9 votes -
Word count
Please add a words count in Illustrator. In Indesign this is also a missing feature (at lest for the whole document) but I see it has been already requested...in Illustrator it would be more than welcome.
9 votes -
Make the eyedropper appear with the Brush / Blob Brush tool selected by holding the Alt / Option key
With the Brush or Blob Brush tool selected, make the Eyedropper appear by holding down the Opt / Alt key. This would allow colors within the document to be sampled just like in Photoshop, without having to keep selecting from the swatches.
9 votes -
Import artboards into InDesign from Illustrator and vice versa.
Requestiog a function for importing artboards from InDesign to Illustrator and vice versa into Master Boards
9 votes -
Allow Batch Actions to work on all open files
Batch Actions can work on a folder of files but not all open files. Photoshop can do this, why not Illustrator?
9 votes -
Merge swatches with right-click
In InDesign you can right-click in the swatches panel and select 'Merge Swatches' (among many other things).
In Illustrator there is no right-click menu at all, you have to click the fly-out.
Adding the right-click menu (or even the ability add a keyboard shortcut to things in the fly-out) would be helpful as we get a lot of files with duplicate colors or need to convert odd mixes/incorrect names to true Pantones so our rips will recognize them. We do a lot of merging.
Thank you!
9 votes -
Toolbar saving and reset. Workspace including keyboard shortcuts.
Nice that you can make your own toolbar. But why didn't you make it like in Photoshop? You can save it to a file, so it would be possible to reset if I make a mistake: then I just reload it. The interface of Photoshop is easier to understand. And when you're working on this: why can't I just reset the toolbar to what has been saved previously?
Also about the interface: nice that I can make my own keyboard shortcuts, but I would like to save that in my workspace, along with my tools and my panels.
9 votes -
Select a few words at the same time / non-contiguous text selection
I would like the ability to select single words at the same time in a document (helpful to put emphasis on words e.g. bolder text).
9 votes -
Export Individual Layers separately
Now we can only export the multiple art boards on one layer at a time. Please make it possible to select more than one layer and export those to files.
It would save a ton of time when we have multiple images to export from like dartboards stacked up on multiple layers.
9 votes -
gcode
Hello!
I would be absolutely DELIGHTED if you could introduce a way to export G-Code from Illustrator. I have a laser engraver (Cubiio) and the only way I can turn vectors into G-Code at the moment is by using Inkscape and an extension by J Tech Photonics. I hate Inkscape with a passion so I grind my teeth every time. This is what I have to resort to when working with vector files that I would like to convert: https://cubiio.muherz.com/gcode_instruction.html
There is a G-Code extension available for Illustrator, created by https://diegomonzon.com/illustrator-to-gcode/ , but I have been unable to get it to create code that the Cubiio accepts. Every time I've tried the Cubiio freezes and has to be rebooted.
I've seen this discussed on a number of forums, so I am under the impression that a built-in G-Code generator would be greatly appreciated by a number of Illustrator users. So pretty please, with sugar on top?
Hello!
I would be absolutely DELIGHTED if you could introduce a way to export G-Code from Illustrator. I have a laser engraver (Cubiio) and the only way I can turn vectors into G-Code at the moment is by using Inkscape and an extension by J Tech Photonics. I hate Inkscape with a passion so I grind my teeth every time. This is what I have to resort to when working with vector files that I would like to convert: https://cubiio.muherz.com/gcode_instruction.html
There is a G-Code extension available for Illustrator, created by https://diegomonzon.com/illustrator-to-gcode/ , but I have been unable to get it…
9 votes
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