Illustrator (Desktop) Feature Requests
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4768 results found
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Support wildcard characters in Find & Replace
My only wish for the text Find & Replace would be able to use wildcard characters. That was such a great option in the TexEdit (not TextEdit) word processor and I have yet to find something similar for the Mac.
5 votes -
Display names for character alternates
When a singular character is selected, Illustrator shows Character Alternates menu (if one has the option enabled in Preferences > Type).
But while some glyphs look distinct enough, some are obscure.
These have names, Unicode codes (these are displayed in Glyphs)...
What’s good seeing three similar spaces? How can I choose properly from two similar looking small 'a'-s, as shown in the screenshot attached?
Why can’t I see what these character alternates are when I hover over them?5 votes -
Non-destructive clipping mask options
An option where you take a whole object or group and use it's whole area(including strokes) as a clipping mask for other layers. Similar to what you can do in Photoshop.
So you can create for instance, a shape with stroke and set it as the clipping mask for an underlying texture. Without the need to flatten it, so you can experiment with it, or keep a text live for later editting it.
Or have multiple shapes working as the clipping mask while you are choosing the appropriate combination or later need to adapt to a different format.
5 votes -
Add "Embed Images" to Menu/Actions
Working with multiple print files requires manual embedding of each linked image, which is time-consuming. Please add "Embed Images" to either:
- The Actions panel for batch processing, or
- The menu system to allow keyboard shortcut assignment
This would significantly improve workflow efficiency in print production environments.
5 votes -
There should be a dedicated Object > Dimension menu, with all the commands Properties panel has
With the Dimension tool and dimension objects we got several important commands that deal around not having presets for these: Apply to All and Set as Default.
These commands are available only as buttons, and are not accessible from anywhere else, including Control panel (here is a request about it: http://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/333657/suggestions/49010126) and top menu.
In case Properties doesn’t work (as it doesn’t for me) and another case a user just doesn’t like the panel (since it’s still very raw and buggy), we can’t get to these in any other way, and can’t assign a hotkey (since Ai just doesn’t allow to hotkey all the things we can call or press (here is a request about it: http://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/333657/suggestions/31609237).
Please put these into a menu!
With the Dimension tool and dimension objects we got several important commands that deal around not having presets for these: Apply to All and Set as Default.
These commands are available only as buttons, and are not accessible from anywhere else, including Control panel (here is a request about it: http://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/333657/suggestions/49010126) and top menu.
In case Properties doesn’t work (as it doesn’t for me) and another case a user just doesn’t like the panel (since it’s still very raw and buggy), we can’t get to these in any other way, and can’t assign a hotkey (since Ai just doesn’t…
5 votes -
Allow to apply different join corners for a live stroke per point
There is an existing request to allow to have different caps for start/end of a stroked path, made by Von Glitschka: http://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/333657/suggestions/39306955
I think an ability to choose corners per point can be very helpful as well.
Original idea by Stuart McCoy.
5 votes -
Select > Object > Dimension
It’s quite easy to accidentally convert a live dimension object into a dead group (reported here: http://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/601447/suggestions/47739104)
When it happens, there is no way to tell if a dimension is live or dead but to try and select it, or view in Layers, selectin them one by one.
What we need (even if the bug above get fixed) is an ability to select all the dimensions at once.
The powerful and free Select Menu plugin (https://rj-graffix.com/downloads/plugins/#selectmenu) doesn’t have this item yet as well.
5 votes -
Add more icon types in History and stop calling some operations just 'Undo'
We finally got our History panel, hooray, thanks to this request: http://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/333657/suggestions/31139326
But it’s been 2 years now, and yet still some operations are called just 'Undo' and have generic 'something from a menu' icon.
Move? Menu icon.
Copy? Menu icon.
Applying an effect? Menu icon.
Creating a repeat? Menu icon.
Deleting a a portion with Shape Builder? Menu icon.
Applying a swatch? Menu icon.
Applying a graphic style? You guess.
These are all quite distinct, yet a generic icon is used.Calling a script? 'Undo' as well, as if Ai doesn’t know about scripts.
I know it’s quite consistent with Photoshop, but Ai is more object oriented than Ps, and deserves more definition for object-based operations.
We finally got our History panel, hooray, thanks to this request: http://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/333657/suggestions/31139326
But it’s been 2 years now, and yet still some operations are called just 'Undo' and have generic 'something from a menu' icon.
Move? Menu icon.
Copy? Menu icon.
Applying an effect? Menu icon.
Creating a repeat? Menu icon.
Deleting a a portion with Shape Builder? Menu icon.
Applying a swatch? Menu icon.
Applying a graphic style? You guess.
These are all quite distinct, yet a generic icon is used.Calling a script? 'Undo' as well, as if Ai doesn’t know about scripts.
I know it’s quite consistent…
5 votes -
Rename a document from its tab
Illustrator allows to to set a name for a new document in File > New dialog (both modern and classic one). But once a document is created, you no longer can change the name until it’s saved.
If a user want to set a name, but not ready to save, they have no other choice other then save. While it’s OK to have an unsaved document with a specified name, you are given the chance to name it once until then. Not fair.
Perhaps you should allow users to rename any document for it’s tab?
Probably not with a single click, since it will greatly distract users with false recognition (I don’t even doubt this), but maybe a context menu command? a double-click?Then, it’s another related, about renaming opened files in general:
File > Rename command
http://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/333657/suggestions/42422902Illustrator allows to to set a name for a new document in File > New dialog (both modern and classic one). But once a document is created, you no longer can change the name until it’s saved.
If a user want to set a name, but not ready to save, they have no other choice other then save. While it’s OK to have an unsaved document with a specified name, you are given the chance to name it once until then. Not fair.
Perhaps you should allow users to rename any document for it’s tab?
Probably not with a single…5 votes -
Select multiple symbols for Symbol Sprayer
I would like to spray a random variety of (self made) icons.
Why not select multiple symbols and have the brush iterate through this selection?5 votes -
Make Eyedropper to highlight text when painting formatting
If you are holding Option/Alt with the Eyedropper you can 'paint' formatting onto text. At the moment you can't see exactly where this is applying though until you release the click. In Indesign, it highlights the text you are painting. It should be the same in Illustrator.
This is important for formatting large piece of text, and with the lack of ability to use keyboard shortcuts when text is selected, this feature is even more important.
5 votes -
Add an "All Minuscule" button to the character tool panel
There's an all caps button why not the opposite. At times I've seen plenty of brands use minuscule characters for some lines exclusively. It would be nice to have templates that prevent the error to have majuscule letters or vowels when a brand doesn't want it and explaining it to the client/customer. I've made a sample you can check out. It seems simple enough to add.
5 votes -
Add a line tangency feature to all drawing tools
Please add a tangency feature to the pen tool. This will allow for an easier method of creating graceful line work.
5 votes -
A 'snapshot' feature, similar to After Effects
I use After Effects 'Take snapshot' feature (Shift + F5) all the time. I always go to use it in Illustrator, but it's not here. It would be very handy for referencing changes or states.
5 votes -
Object > Repeat > Mirror needs Snapping
When using the handles in the viewport, snapping is not available. Snapping would make all of the "Object > Repeat" functions much more useful.
5 votes -
Preview of the Artboard Sizing
If we could see what the sizing of the artboard would look like before we click the create button, because sometimes it's just easier to test there before starting an entire new document! :)
5 votes -
Under Filter > Texture: Please add another slider to size the grain particles in the filter.
You can create a grain effect but cannot size the grain itself.
5 votes -
Calculate surface area with Dimension tool
With the last update, you brought the possibility of customizing the scale in the dimension tools, thank you for that. Would it be possible to obtain a new tool for calculating the surface area in m², by selecting any closed shape?
5 votesThe team has started working on this request. As a first step they want to understand the requirements correctly and build the right feature set based on the feedback gathered.
If you are willing to discuss area calculation in a call session, block a time slot here: https://outlook.office.com/bookwithme/user/c1b7ecea1cbd42a2a7068cfeb7861bdd@adobe.com/meetingtype/Fn8tXNebh0eyv4xTnvQ-3Q2?anonymous&ep=mlink
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Allow to set up Viewing options for PDF exported, like InDesign does
Do you think we could have Viewing options added as implemented in InDesign?
5 votes -
Make more improvements to Dimensions
Some add'l improvements that would be greatly appreciated:
• Higher precision settings. At least to 1/8" but 1/16" would be great as well.
• More formatting options for foot inch/ e.g. 7" instead of 0'-7"
• Dimension text centered with the dimensions line as option, with a break in the line to accommodate the text.
• Scale options (custom as well) in architectural format in addition to engineering format (e.g. 1/2" = 1'-0" in addition to 1:24)
• Options to show dimension text rotated 90° - separate options for vertical, vs horizontal dimensions.
• For "Line Type", give us all the standard stroke options.
• Add an option to dimension a center line - centerline line style - maybe as an option key when pulling the dimension to turn it on/off for one or both of the extension lines.Thank you for finally adding this as an alternative to expensive plugins! It is greatly appreciated!
Some add'l improvements that would be greatly appreciated:
• Higher precision settings. At least to 1/8" but 1/16" would be great as well.
• More formatting options for foot inch/ e.g. 7" instead of 0'-7"
• Dimension text centered with the dimensions line as option, with a break in the line to accommodate the text.
• Scale options (custom as well) in architectural format in addition to engineering format (e.g. 1/2" = 1'-0" in addition to 1:24)
• Options to show dimension text rotated 90° - separate options for vertical, vs horizontal dimensions.
• For "Line Type", give us all…5 votes
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