Illustrator (Desktop) Feature Requests
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4757 results found
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Mesh tool hold and drag
When we click a shape with the Mesh tool, a node gets immediately applied to the shape/mesh, a new row and a column get instantly inserted. If I keep holding the mouse button / pen, it won’t help me anymore to position my node precisely. So the insertion should not happen immediately on a mouse click, but on a mouse release, drawing all the possible results while the button / pen is held down.
8 votes -
A brush that places elements on anchors
I would like a brush that places its elements along the path but rather than just distributing the elements or scattering them, it places the elements exactly on the anchors of the path. It should not distort the elements.
It would be great if it could have individual elements for the endpoints and for the inner points. More control would be possible if it could allow separate elements for corner points and for smooth points. That way objects could be placed along a path precisely.Use case: maps, metro lines maps infographics
8 votes -
Add a new API to delete the swatch
There is a problem with global gradient swatches, described at https://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/908050/suggestions/44461230
Illustrator applies changes to all copies of a gradient in a document when this gradient is changed via a script. It makes sense from a practical point of view, but is devastating for scripts in general.
We can’t duplicate gradients with a script properly, like we can do with any other swatch, because when it's done, the gradient swatch get forcibly added to Swatches and then corrupt the art which uses them when deleted... and it does not break this global link anyway.
At the moment we copy a gradient into the swatch, it will be associated with the first object. If we repaint the swatch to use it for another object, the first object will change its fill momentarily. Just like the video from the issue above shows — https://illustrator.uservoice.com/assets/235626175/linked-gradients-bug.mp4
So we 'instance' gradients instead of 'duplicating' them.
Creating a new gradient via script also creates a new swatch. Deleting either the new gradient or the new swatch also deletes the other. If the need is to get rid of the swatch but not the gradient, that doesn’t look to be possible via with the current APIs. Perhaps we need a new API to delete just the swatch and not the associated global (gradient, pattern etc.).Having this will allow us to keep gradient changes on one object from affecting other objects. To duplicate, a new gradient will be created and a copy of all gradient properties (type, number of stops, stops) will be performed, via existing app.activeDocument.gradients.add()
Then we will be able to delete the swatch with a new API without crashing Illustrator.There is a problem with global gradient swatches, described at https://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/908050/suggestions/44461230
Illustrator applies changes to all copies of a gradient in a document when this gradient is changed via a script. It makes sense from a practical point of view, but is devastating for scripts in general.
We can’t duplicate gradients with a script properly, like we can do with any other swatch, because when it's done, the gradient swatch get forcibly added to Swatches and then corrupt the art which uses them when deleted... and it does not break this global link anyway.
At the moment we copy a…
8 votes -
Allow clipping paths to have complex appearances.
Currently, a clipping path can only have one stroke, one fill, no effects, no brushes, no multiple fills/strokes. Well, it can have all the fills, strokes, effects, and other stuff your heart desires, but only one fill and one stroke will be displayed.
I would really like this to change. I use a lot of complex appearance stacks and working around this makes things complicated.
To make this play nicely with existing art, there probably needs to be a switch somewhere for backwards compatibility with existing art that may have a lot of complex appearances on clipping masks.
There also probably needs to be some support for deciding exactly where the masked art goes with regards to multiple fills. Probably by putting the usual "Contents" entry into the Appearance panel for clipping paths.
I don't have a feeling right now on how bitmap effects should alter a clipping path's actual clipping area, but I do feel like vector effects applied to the entire path, whether above all the fills/strokes, or below them, should alter the clipping area.
Currently, a clipping path can only have one stroke, one fill, no effects, no brushes, no multiple fills/strokes. Well, it can have all the fills, strokes, effects, and other stuff your heart desires, but only one fill and one stroke will be displayed.
I would really like this to change. I use a lot of complex appearance stacks and working around this makes things complicated.
To make this play nicely with existing art, there probably needs to be a switch somewhere for backwards compatibility with existing art that may have a lot of complex appearances on clipping masks.
There also…
8 votes -
Save Individual PDF's in CMYK from Artboards
We are able to save the artboards using the "Export for Screens" function, but they export in RGB, even when using a CMYK file.
It would be great to have an option, whether in the "Save As" window, to be able to save artboards as individual PDF's, with the artboard names, or something similar to "Export for Screens", but for CMYK files.8 votesNo longer a problem, the chosen color mode stays when PDFs get exported. Please comment back if this is still a problem for you with a latest release.
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Please re-add 3D mapping with Symbols to new 3D functionality
Please re-add 3D mapping with Symbols to the new 3D functionality.
I know it's included in the "3D (Classic)" Effects menu, but it needs to be added to the new 3D functionality. Calling it "Classic" means Adobe is going to abandon it (for something worse). I use 3D mapping with Symbols ALL THE TIME. PLEASE add it back.
Thank you!8 votesMapping is now available in Beta. There are some known issues with it, but even more unknown ones, so the team encourages you to try it and write back about your experience with it, to help to make it better.
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Better documentation
Current documentation sucks. There are no explanations what some properties mean, when something is null/undefined, when something throws an error and why. I have to try everything myself.
8 votes -
Toggle Off Large Canvas Scaling when Saving as PDF
Any artboards created larger than 227 x 227 inches are changed to a large canvas setting, which adds a scale factor to the canvas. So Illustrator will say a document that is 300 x 300 is actually 30 x 30 and just scaled by 1/10 of the size. This setting causes issues with my printer software where it reads it as a 30 x 30 and not the true size, it is disregarding the scale factor. I have to take these files and chop them up into smaller panels to print them. When I chop them up it is still keeping that scale factor on the canvas when saving them as pdf, even if the canvas size is smaller than 227 x 227. The only work around I found is to take the large canvas and chop everything up in there then copy and paste it into a completely new document at the smaller panel size as a normal canvas setting and not the large canvas setting. I want the ability to toggle off the scaling feature when saving as a PDF so that when I go to print them on my printer it doesn't read the scaling incorrectly and just reads the actual canvas size. I feel like it could be added in the PDF save settings as a checkbox saying something like "Disregard Large Canvas Scaling" or something.
Also I want the ability to easily tell if something has been created in the large canvas setting, currently there isn't an easy way to tell if it has been created. Sometimes designers send me something that is less than 227 x 227 so I think it is a normal canvas and when I go to print I find out it was designed as a large canvas and then sized down so it still has a scaling factor put on the artwork.
Any artboards created larger than 227 x 227 inches are changed to a large canvas setting, which adds a scale factor to the canvas. So Illustrator will say a document that is 300 x 300 is actually 30 x 30 and just scaled by 1/10 of the size. This setting causes issues with my printer software where it reads it as a 30 x 30 and not the true size, it is disregarding the scale factor. I have to take these files and chop them up into smaller panels to print them. When I chop them up it is still…
8 votes -
A Dashed Line tool
I have seen a few plugins (Nudge, WidthScribe) do things with dashes that suggest there is room for a lot more dashes on a stroke than the three repeating dash/gap entries the Stroke panel lets me create.
I would like an interactive, on-canvas tool that lets me drag dashes, gaps, and their endpoints around on a selected path. Being able to create and delete dashes/gaps would be nice, too.
8 votes -
Enable Content Aware Defaults is an All or Nothing option: split it
Checking the Enable Content Aware Defaults option in Preferences controls 3 features: Crop Image, Puppet Warp and Freeform Gradient. It would be nice to be able to turn them on/off individually. Now it is all or nothing.
8 votes -
Preserve Names When Adding Color to Swatches From Library
If you add a color to Swatches from a Library, the name of the color is lost and defaults to the RGB or CMYK values. It would be nice if those names were preserved.
8 votes -
Renaming Layer Shortcut Keys!
Hello there Illustrator Devs!.
I just wanted to ask about a very simple feature but until today it hasn't been added to the Illustrator App
can you add a shortcut to rename a layer?. it is important for motion graphic artists to rename all the layers so it will be clear which layer for each object in after effects.
double-clicking is ok but it seems to be more efficient if I can bind some hotkeys to rename layers because using hotkeys or shortcuts just requires one hand only rather than using a mouse.
I will appreciate it if you consider my suggestion for the next update. Thank you very much!.
Hello there Illustrator Devs!.
I just wanted to ask about a very simple feature but until today it hasn't been added to the Illustrator App
can you add a shortcut to rename a layer?. it is important for motion graphic artists to rename all the layers so it will be clear which layer for each object in after effects.
double-clicking is ok but it seems to be more efficient if I can bind some hotkeys to rename layers because using hotkeys or shortcuts just requires one hand only rather than using a mouse.
I will appreciate it if you consider…
8 votes -
The ability to create individual strokes for portions of a single path
Would Love to be able to select path segments with the Direct Select tool and apply, line weight and color assignments to that segment only — WITHOUT cutting the path into myriad, noncontiguous chunks.
Wishing to retain the editability of the path.8 votes -
Add Keyboard Shortcut to Switch Gradient Color Stop
Hi
if add a keyboard shortcut to the gradient slider to switch color stops instead of mouse clicks will increase the workflow
8 votes -
Set default artboard name as file name
Is it possible to have a setting in preferences to set the default artboard name as the file name?
Generally I name all my artboards the "file nameCMYK" or "FilenamePantone" for exporting later and it's just a tedious extra step to have to go in and name EVERY artboard what I've already named the file instead of just tacking on a delineation.
8 votes -
Gradient following the curve of a shape
Don't know if this is an original idea but - is it possible to make an feature to make a gradient follow a user-drawn guideline (like with text on line)..? I tried to illustrate it in the attached file - the first shape is the one that should be filled with gradient, the second one is what we can do now (or mesh but that's a bit complicated) and the third one shows the guideline in purple and arrows that the gradient would follow. So the lower left part of the shape would be let's say darkest, the gradient would follow the arrows along the purple guideline and the top left part of the shape would be the lightest...
I hope that it is possible to make that change...Don't know if this is an original idea but - is it possible to make an feature to make a gradient follow a user-drawn guideline (like with text on line)..? I tried to illustrate it in the attached file - the first shape is the one that should be filled with gradient, the second one is what we can do now (or mesh but that's a bit complicated) and the third one shows the guideline in purple and arrows that the gradient would follow. So the lower left part of the shape would be let's say darkest, the gradient would…
8 votesSince version CS6, Illustrator allows to align gradients on strokes with a dedicated set of Align Stroke buttons in the full expanded Stroke panel.
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Image fitting options like Indesign, Sketch and Figma
Would really be handy to have fit to crop, resize to crop etc. for linked images.
8 votes -
Fit artboard in window when opening an Illustrator document
Please have the file open as Fit Artboard in Window. Like it used to be. It is annoying to have to hit the shortcut, Command - 0 every time I open a file.
8 votes -
Illustrator 2020 (version 24.0.3) for MACOS
Now Illustrator 2020 (version 24.0.3) doesn't use Apple Metal API. they just use OPENGL that means gpu performance are slower. why aren't they use Metal API? it's not faster than open gl api? It's very shame that they aren't using a metal api.
smooth. it's smooth because they are not using a apple ui framework. if they use apple ui framework it will run smooth and faster.
8 votes -
Status bar for when files save
Illustrator will not let you save as if it's saving. You basically get a message that says the file is saving and to try again after the process is complete. Yet there is no status bar, so you have to keep trying (guessing) until it's done. Photoshop at least shows a save status bar and also will do the next task automatically when it's done saving.
8 votes
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