Illustrator (Desktop) Feature Requests
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4767 results found
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Add Black and White color chips in Color Picker dialog in Color Models mode
For some reason, the Color Picker dialog is the default way of setting a color in several color induced effects: Drop Shadow, Inner and Outer Glow.
Most of times these effects are used, we need to toggle between black and white. These are more or less OK to pick quickly, if we change the mode of the dialog to Color Swatches.
But each time this dialog is called when editing a color for the effect, the dialog open in the first mode, Color Models.
And to set black or white in this mode we need to click the spectrum field and drag the point into a corner. You get accustomed to this, and realize you can move the mouse beyond the the dialog, making the precision gesture 'infinite' — and this is what MANY users do, if you watch tutorials or timelapses.But this is bullshit. We just need black and white, without fiddling with the spectrum. More of it, in a CMYK document setting black like this would make it rich black, and not K100 — which one would have to set manually, by typing it.
Since there is a request about adding Recent Colors, perhaps into Swatches or Color (http://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/333657/suggestions/44772598), perhaps we should be given an option to see these in Color Picker as well (a lot of users prefer it to Color+Swatches panels). In this case, just make Black and White always there, as a fixed choices.
Another solution would be just to display the same 'Color UI' used for any other place in Ai, the Swatches + Color Mixer (minus Gradient and Generative Pattern, obviously).
For some reason, the Color Picker dialog is the default way of setting a color in several color induced effects: Drop Shadow, Inner and Outer Glow.
Most of times these effects are used, we need to toggle between black and white. These are more or less OK to pick quickly, if we change the mode of the dialog to Color Swatches.
But each time this dialog is called when editing a color for the effect, the dialog open in the first mode, Color Models.
And to set black or white in this mode we need to click the spectrum field…7 votes -
Copy and paste with drag and right click mouse like CorelDRAW
I hope to see in illustrator copy and paste with (drag and right click mouse) like CorelDRAW
7 votes -
Make USEFUL hover hints for ALL the options, fields, menu commands
Clearly the team doesn’t really care about making hover hints to be a learning tool.
Rarely these actually try to say what an option or a field does or controls: like 'Start editing similar shapes together' for the 'Global Edit' button in the Control panel, or 'Click to pick arrowhead to apply to start point of path' in Stroke panel...
But in most cases the hint is extremely rudimentary.
Try to hover the 'W' field in Transform panel — you’d get 'W value'. W?! Weight? Wand? Why not say 'Width Value', or even 'Set Width for the selected objects'?Then again — why do you caption only icons, but not something like menu commands? Why can’t a new user hover over Select > Start Global Edit and get a short explanation (especially with rich tooltips enabled)?
Why Scale Corners in Transform has a decent hint, but Scale Strokes & Effects — none at all?
Why can’t you make hover hints have several lines of text, if needed?
Take a look at how a carefully written hint for a plugin option suffers from being restricted to one line?OK, if you’re afraid of flashing with large cards (the main reason why people hate rich tooltips) — why can’t you make these hints display a shorter version, but give a detailed one after a pause, like the attached GIF shows (from a 3DS Max)? Two second delay is a bit too large, to my taste, but it’s there!
Why can’t every item in Preferences have a hover hint?
Actually I requested this here: http://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/333657/suggestions/46268617I hope someone in the team just takes time to hover all the UI items in Ai and think a bit. Or scroll through a list you probably can generate... do something, please!
Clearly the team doesn’t really care about making hover hints to be a learning tool.
Rarely these actually try to say what an option or a field does or controls: like 'Start editing similar shapes together' for the 'Global Edit' button in the Control panel, or 'Click to pick arrowhead to apply to start point of path' in Stroke panel...
But in most cases the hint is extremely rudimentary.
Try to hover the 'W' field in Transform panel — you’d get 'W value'. W?! Weight? Wand? Why not say 'Width Value', or even 'Set Width for the selected objects'?Then…
7 votes -
Add a slider to the History panel to quickly review the states of the document
If we want to go back to a certain history state of the current document , we can scroll the History panel and click each step item, guessing the time, judging by the names of these, the scrollbar position (limited by the capped amount of steps)...
It’s a guesswork in most cases, since some steps still have generic names (like always 'Move' and not 'Move Point', 'Move Handle', 'Move Segment', 'Move Path', 'Move Group'...)Can I just grab a slider and scrub with it, seeing all the previous states rendered on canvas — and fast? Today Ai sometimes takes too much time to undo, and it won’t work with scrubbing.
And hey — look, Affinity Designer does this.
If we want to go back to a certain history state of the current document , we can scroll the History panel and click each step item, guessing the time, judging by the names of these, the scrollbar position (limited by the capped amount of steps)...
It’s a guesswork in most cases, since some steps still have generic names (like always 'Move' and not 'Move Point', 'Move Handle', 'Move Segment', 'Move Path', 'Move Group'...)Can I just grab a slider and scrub with it, seeing all the previous states rendered on canvas — and fast? Today Ai sometimes takes too…
7 votes -
Learn to link / place .ai files saved without PDF compatibility (PGF only)
I know, why would you. A PDF-layer is basically a composite flattened layer Ai writes into an .ai document, and just reads it when the file is placed: in Photoshop, in InDesign. Handy, yeah?
Not really. Saving a document without the compatibility is so much faster. The non-compatible files are so much lighter (especially with heavy raster links used within). OK, Ps and InD can’t read PGF (Progressive Graphics Format, the one that’s native for Ai)... but Ai can.
Why not reading linked .ai docs as they are and THEN keep it’s PDF representation within the destination file, if it makes the difference in performance? I don’t mean save this representation within it, just regenerate it on opening, no?
I mean, I’m so tired of seeing these 'This is an Ai® file that was saved without PDF...' stamps instead of actual content when I need to link something... instead of generating it right there and now, you force us to import/open the link, resave it and try anew. You can read these! Just read them, please.
I know, why would you. A PDF-layer is basically a composite flattened layer Ai writes into an .ai document, and just reads it when the file is placed: in Photoshop, in InDesign. Handy, yeah?
Not really. Saving a document without the compatibility is so much faster. The non-compatible files are so much lighter (especially with heavy raster links used within). OK, Ps and InD can’t read PGF (Progressive Graphics Format, the one that’s native for Ai)... but Ai can.
Why not reading linked .ai docs as they are and THEN keep it’s PDF representation within the destination file, if it…
7 votes -
Don’t require hitting Find before Replace All becomes active in Find and Replace dialog
Illustrator’s Find and Replace dialog is bad.
One of the issues is that we can’t immediately Replace All after we enter text. We have to press Find first.Why? If it’s nothing to replace — replace nothing (and perhaps show a message, preferably a shy one, not a clunky modal dialog).
7 votes -
Bring back Duplicate button in the Contextual Task Bar
It would be very useful to bring back the repeat / duplicate icon in the Contextual Task Bar -- specifically when selecting shapes. Illustrator 2024 had this feature when a shape was selected. The 2025 update removed this feature.
Please bring this back, or allow users to customize the Conceptual Task Bar in the settings.
7 votes -
Add a slider to Color Guide panel to change the number of steps
Color Guide panel allows to change the number of steps (4 by default), through Color Guide Options dialog, called through the panel’s flyout menu. Buried rather deeply!
Plus the value is reset every app relaunch, and there is a report about it here: http://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/601447/suggestions/46283755
What if we could have a slider in this panel, to quickly change the number of steps, up to ~20?
Original idea by Tony Harmer
7 votes -
Gap Tool and Live Distribute like InDesign has, with improvements
InDesign has Gap Tool — https://helpx.adobe.com/indesign/using/aligning-distributing-objects.html#align_objects_using_the_gap_tool
Also it has Live Distribute —helpx.adobe.com/indesign/using/aligning-distributing-objects.html#distributeobjectsusinglivedistribute
These allow us to control a gap’s size between chosen pair of elements (quoted):
—Drag to move the gap and resize all objects aligned along the gap.
— Shift-drag to move the gap between only the two nearest objects.
— Ctrl-drag (Windows) or Command-drag (Mac OS) to resize the gap instead of moving it. Adding the Shift key resizes the gap between only the two nearest objects.
— Alt-drag (Windows) or Option-drag (Mac OS) to move the gap and objects in the same direction. Adding the Shift key moves only the two nearest objects.
— Ctrl+Alt-drag (Windows) or Command+Option-drag (Mac OS) to resize the gap and move the objects. Adding the Shift key to resize the gap and move only the two nearest objects.
— Start dragging a selection handle and hold down the Spacebar while dragging. Continue dragging to change the spacing between the objects.
Illustrator needs these options as well.
However, we need more than it has.We need a way to numerically set these values too, not only interactively on canvas. The only thing we have now from the box is Distribute Spacing, and it’s rather limited.
We need a way to specify the final dimension of the selection or the final position of the chosen edge (similar to the way this script allows: https://sysys.blog.shinobi.jp/Entry/96/)
We need a way to choose an axis or the path (curves or straight) these gaps follow.
InDesign has Gap Tool — https://helpx.adobe.com/indesign/using/aligning-distributing-objects.html#align_objects_using_the_gap_tool
Also it has Live Distribute —helpx.adobe.com/indesign/using/aligning-distributing-objects.html#distributeobjectsusinglivedistribute
These allow us to control a gap’s size between chosen pair of elements (quoted):
—Drag to move the gap and resize all objects aligned along the gap.
— Shift-drag to move the gap between only the two nearest objects.
— Ctrl-drag (Windows) or Command-drag (Mac OS) to resize the gap instead of moving it. Adding the Shift key resizes the gap between only the two nearest objects.
— Alt-drag (Windows) or Option-drag (Mac OS) to move the gap and objects in the same direction.…
7 votes -
Option to add dimensions to current / specified layer
I enjoy the new dimension tool but find it annoying that it creates a whole new separate layer. Maybe my workflow is unconventional, but it would be nice if the dimensions could just be added to my print instructions layer instead of a whole new layer just for the dimensions. I make a lot of diecuts and find myself still using old methods to create the dimension lines due to it always putting them on another layer.
7 votes -
Adobe Please Update Image Trace
Totally understand the business aspects of focusing on tools which have the most users. However Image Trace appears stuck in a time warp, and not moving forward. May be stretching but with the AI, ML tools Image Trace should be far more capable than the current form. The inability to distinguish lines in an image is of concern. You should be able to draw more interest to take raster drawings to the next level with Illustrator. Has been almost 24 years when this was released. Definitely time to take to the next level.
7 votes -
Add a 'Select More' menu option
When working with a very busy file, it's often much easier to select an anchor or line segment than an object.
My idea is to have a menu option that selects the object or objects which currently have anchors or line segments selected.
A user could select an object by first selecting one of its anchors, and then using this menu option.
If the user hits this feature multiple times, it could continue to 'select more' by, for example, selecting all siblings within the current group, and then the group itself, and then the group's siblings etc.
7 votes -
Pencil and Brush Tools 'Pulled String' Smoothing / Stabilization
I've been using Illustrator for a long time now and one of the things that have bugged me over the years is the fact that there's no brush stroke stabilization like the Pulled String Mode in Photoshop or the Rope Brush in Affinity Designer. Ai has evolved so much over the years and it's been used to create freehand vector art since day one, so I cannot understand why this function hasn't been developed yet as of 2024.
Path Smooth or Fidelity are definitely two options to smooth out lines, but that's done once the path has been created. Stabilization, on the contrary, can give you very smooth lines while you're drawing them and with live feedback. I understand there's a plugin out there called DynamicSketch, but I would like to have this feature integrated directly into Illustrator instead of having to look for it elsewhere.
I must say that I'm beyond impressed at how fluid and accurate the Rope Brush in Affinity Designer is, but unfortunately, I can't say the same thing about Photoshop's Pulled String Mode. Will we see this feature in Ai soon? I hope so.
I've been using Illustrator for a long time now and one of the things that have bugged me over the years is the fact that there's no brush stroke stabilization like the Pulled String Mode in Photoshop or the Rope Brush in Affinity Designer. Ai has evolved so much over the years and it's been used to create freehand vector art since day one, so I cannot understand why this function hasn't been developed yet as of 2024.
Path Smooth or Fidelity are definitely two options to smooth out lines, but that's done once the path has been created. Stabilization,…
7 votes -
Guided tracing brush (Snap to trace), similar to Photoshop’s Content aware image trace
The automatic full image tracing in illustrator often does not create useful results. The set of lines is too busy or doesn't line up with where a human would consider the edges to be.
As an alternative, a brush tool tool that snaps the lines to the underlying image layers would be more helpful. Human input shows the general location of a line, and illustrator can then snap the line to the nearest set of pixels that appears to be an edge, helping make smooth an accurate traces without excess lines.
While it would be a slower process, the creative control plus accuracy would really help me in my practice.
There could be some AI training opportunities here too, with illustrator learning my tracing style over time to produce faster results, or letting me use the style of another artist as a starting point.
The automatic full image tracing in illustrator often does not create useful results. The set of lines is too busy or doesn't line up with where a human would consider the edges to be.
As an alternative, a brush tool tool that snaps the lines to the underlying image layers would be more helpful. Human input shows the general location of a line, and illustrator can then snap the line to the nearest set of pixels that appears to be an edge, helping make smooth an accurate traces without excess lines.
While it would be a slower process, the creative…
7 votes -
An option to hide units in dimensions made with the Dimension Tool
Can you add an option so that the units are not displayed for dimensions and only the number is displayed? Thank you.
7 votesLatest Beta Builds now allow to hide units for dimensions.
Toggle the option in the tool’s options dialog to force it for new objects, or disable it in the Properties panel for existing and selected dimensions.
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Allow Shape Builder to close edited path, but keep the one below opened
Hi there!
So, the thing is that - when I have 2 intersecting open filled paths, I really want to remove the outside path of one path using Shape Builder tool. But I want the second path to stay open. and the first path to become closed.It may sound as a picky request. But I struggle with this issue everyday, like, 20+ times.
7 votes -
External arrowheads for small dimensions
The current Beta version is showing the new Dimensions tool, but as you can see in my screen shot, where I am working actual size, for the small dimensions it would help if there was an option to have the arrows outside the lines going toward the inside of the dimension rather than the outside. Thus leaving the small gap empty and making it visually clearer.
7 votes -
Creating several symbols at once (Multi-Add symbols)
An option when adding Symbols to the Symbols panel for a multi-add option, similar to the Asset Export panel.
7 votes -
Clip to Artboard (similar to Figma, XD, Photoshop)
Can we please get a "Clip to artboard" Option in Illustrator, acting similar to the one to be found in XD or Figma? This would help a lot when working with multiple style frame inside one document.
7 votes -
Area Type "Inset Spacing" option to set different values for top, bottom, left and right
エリア内文字の「外枠からの間隔」に天地左右で異なる値を設定できるようにして欲しいです。
InDesignの「フレーム内マージン」ではできるので、Illustratorでも可能になればもっと便利です。また、日本のユーザーはエリア内文字で表を作成することがあります。「外枠からの間隔」に異なる値が設定できれば、表の作成時にも調整しやすくなります。
（例）
https://twitter.com/hamko1114/status/1661574685614825475↓ English ver. (Using Translation tool)
I would like to set different values for the top, bottom, left and right in the "Inset Spacing" option of Area Type.
It's possible in InDesign; it would be more convenient if it could be in Illustrator.
Additionally, Japanese users often use Area Type to create tables. Different Inset Spacing makes it more adjustable.
(Example)
https://twitter.com/hamko1114/status/16615746856148254757 votes
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