New in 1.2

Object Styling

  • Settings for keeping default styles when changing selection.
  • Improved Appearance panel (single style list mode).
  • Add image effects to brush styles and presets.
  • Select style picker tool option by double clicking on tool icon.
  • Brush transparency mask.
  • Blend ranges transparency mask.
  • Create new concentric gradient with Option(Alt) dragging in the gradient tool.
  • Create new empty palette.
  • Create new color palette using selected objects.
  • Create new color palette using the selected image.
  • Merge spot or globals colors.
  • Automatically update a color palette opened from a file if the file changes.
  • Better handling of objects with multiple roles.
  • Option to use layer hierarchy to create style folders from reference canvases.
  • Ignore selected objects in a reference canvas (Skip Style Listing role).
  • Deep object styling (mirror object style of member objects).
  • Tiling pattern content variable and style overrides.
  • Vector brush content variable and style overrides.
  • Use noise based randomization in scatter brush.
  • Separate color picker tool to pick colors from document pixels.

Image and Shape Effects

  • Clear edge blur image effect.
  • Adaptive dilute tone image effect.
  • Edge extraction image effect (Tracing Guide).
  • Select envelope shape from the context panel.
  • Center point for Warp effects.
  • Additional rigid shape options in shape effects.
  • Curvature smoothing shape effect.
  • Improved blending effect, with new shape blending schemes and object positioning for blending groups.
  • Blended shapes: create a shape as a blend of two shapes (linking to originals).
  • Blended objects: create an object as a blend of two objects (linking to originals).

Path Editing Tools

  • Split object shape.
  • Offset Path tool.
  • Extend path tool: extend paths along curvature or a shape profile.
  • Reposition nodes along the path curvature with the extend path tool.
  • Add new nodes to a path using various node position schemes.
  • Reshape tool.
  • Join paths in Trim and Join tool by holding Option(Alt).
  • Cut stroke profile in Trim and Join tool.
  • Join paths using curvature extension in Trim and Join tool.
  • Duplicate a section of a path using the Node tool.
  • Rotate and stretch a section of a path using the Node tool.
  • Deleting a segment with the Node tool will cut the path.
  • Curvature path smoothing in pencil tool.
  • Path eraser tool: erase sections of a path.
  • Single Corner mode option for the corner tool.
  • Copy paste single nodes.
  • Use custom shapes in the eraser tool.
  • Show next segment option for pen tool in context panel.
  • Turn off path autoclosing for pencil tool in context panel.

Shape and Path

  • Image Trace tool: extract shapes from images with options from the Trace Guide panel.
  • Vector bucket fill tool.
  • Union of regions delimited by open or closed paths.
  • Coverage intersection mode to extract overlapping parts of multiple shapes.
  • Close gaps option for divide, trim and merge operators.
  • New expand stroke command to keep crossing paths.
  • Convert flat curves to lines.
  • Convert curves to lines.
  • Convert dashes to curves.
  • Additional square start shape parameters.
  • Polygon sections.
  • Skew option for star shape tool.
  • Merge stroke width profile when joining nodes.
  • Close single path with curvature extension.
  • Extend path along curvature to nearest intersection.
  • Connect two paths using curvature extensions.
  • Add new nodes at path extrema locations.
  • Align control point angles of selected nodes.
  • Join multiple paths at overlapping nodes.

Variables and Styles

  • Number variables: used in numeric attributes.
  • Selector variables: make variables out of multiple choice attributes.
  • Condition variables: use condition in dual choice attributes.
  • Expressions for numeric attributes.
  • Number variable override generator for repeaters.
  • Color variable override generator for repeaters.
  • Adjust number variables in repeaters using expressions.
  • New repeater attributes for grid, concentric and random modes.
  • Set corner content for pattern brushes.
  • New simplified color filter to replace colors from a color palette.
  • Measurement number generators (shape area, length, etc).
  • Data sources and data merge.
  • Use a data source in repeater to style repeated objects.
  • Use a data source to create multiple artboards on a canvas.
  • Symbol parameters.
  • Color generator schemes: create new colors from existing ones using a toning scheme.
  • Blend mode variables.
  • Link transparency mask to the mask of an other object (with an object role).
  • Link opacity to the opacity of an other object (extracting number variable from object).
  • Merge presets of a kind from multiple files.
  • Drag and drop preset files into the preset panels to import and merge presets.

User Interface

  • Improved new document setup view.
  • Improved Settings view.
  • Button to iconify panels.
  • Allow multi-stroke shortcuts.
  • Search for a shortcut key by pressing keys.
  • New full screen modes.
  • Show and hide all panels using the Tab key.
  • Save viewpoint presets in the Navigator panel.
  • Customize all application icons.
  • Set large and small nudging multiplier values in settings.
  • Show brush names as tool tips when hovering over brush presets.
  • Node radius sensitivity in settings.
  • Better file name display in alert views.
  • Shortcuts for selecting the next or previous blend mode.
  • Improved workspace management.
  • Context panel button to save and reload workspace and settings files.
  • Allow ruler font customization.
  • Show guidelines when dragging a new guideline from the ruler.
  • Create new action presets from repeat actions.

Layers panel

  • Improved Layers panel design.
  • Option for outlined layers.
  • Template layers option.
  • Collect objects in a new layer.
  • Zoom to layer when double clicking the preview icon.
  • Automatically open a layer when hovering with drag and drop.
  • Pressing shortcuts while in the layers panel will do the action on the layers panel selection.
  • Hide or lock other layers using key modifier.
  • Show isolated layer with Option(Alt) hovering over the layer name.
  • Option for paste to remember layer (Layers panel menu).
  • Send objects to current layer.
  • Add or remove composite shape content in the Layers panel.
  • Lock all Others in the Layers panel.
  • Drop files on the Layers panel to import into a layer.

Selecting Objects

  • Select neighboring objects in selection search.
  • Select objects inside an existing shape.
  • Select objects intersecting an existing shape.
  • Option to keep image effects for new objects.
  • Isolate inside symbol instates for editing.
  • Option to allow click selection of locked objects.
  • Isolate into shape paint object when double clicking.
  • Settings for direction dependent selection mode (intersecting or inside).
  • Select drawing place from a menu opened with a single context panel button.
  • New magic wand selection mode for boxed and lasso selection.
  • Use Escape key to exit from isolation mode.

Transforming Objects

  • Numeric editing of transform pivot point.
  • Move selected objects by an amount from the transform panel.
  • Show or hide selection while dragging objects (option in context panel).
  • Transform each object separately in the transform tool (option in context panel).
  • Transform box rotation (option in context panel).
  • Keep transform box rotation when changing selections (option in context panel).
  • Snap and cycle transform box rotation between significant angles (option in context panel).
  • Distributed scaling and rotation inside first level groups.
  • Flip object width and height from transform panel menu.
  • Show nearby points when snapping to points.
  • Option for transform panel proportional lock to constrain on canvas scaling also.
  • Modifier key to rotate around the opposite corner.

Objects

  • Group overlapping objects.
  • Keep relative position of overlapping objects in alignment.
  • Slab type alignment presets.
  • Rename selected objects or artboards from clipboard.
  • Layer and object option for named layer exporting in PDF.
  • Use pivot location when click clearing a shape.
  • Modifier key in Gap tool to snap to equal sizes.
  • Option to show hidden objects as a gray wire frame on top.
  • Object option to expand group clipping by stroke width.
  • Tangential snapping mode.
  • Snap to path extrema locations.
  • Improved snapping panel options.
  • Use shapes from a guide reference canvas for snapping.
  • Content crop tool to adjust image clipping.

Fonts and Text

  • Insert number variables into text.
  • Document specific favorite fonts collection (stored in the document).
  • Change tracking without highlighting text.
  • Reverse text lines direction in a text frame.
  • Clear character transformations.
  • Allow single word overflow.
  • Show hidden characters in text frames.
  • Adjust text frame size to text flow size.
  • Align to text inside text frame.
  • Alternate font manager view to assign fonts to collections.
  • Single text wrap distance value mode in text wrap panel.

Document Options

  • Display CMYK blacks as rich blacks (Display Options).
  • Allow template canvases from linked documents.
  • Import multiple files with interactive placing.
  • Options for multiple page PDF importing.
  • Compressed image mode in document options.
  • Options to distort content of linked vector graphics.
  • Relink multiple files from a common folder.
  • Show options to select which recovery file to open.
  • Incremental export again.
  • Create artboards from selected object bounding box.
  • Scale selected objects to fit to artboard bounds.
  • Resize artboard to fit its content.
  • Crop atboard to selection.
  • Generate artboard guidelines using columns and rows settings.
  • Set artboard margin as columns and rows.
  • Option to show artboard size in artboard label.
  • Link bleed and margin values.
  • Go to artboard by name.
  • List opened documents as document options presets.

Advanced illustration and drawing software

Improved workflow

  • Real time, direct editing of objects and styles.
  • Image and vector effects can be manipulated directly and interactively on the objects.
  • Advanced tools to edit vectors, text and images.
  • Powerful snapping options to align objects and shapes, including collision and formation snapping.
  • Create guidelines at any angle, group guidelines and use different colors per guideline group.
  • Work seamlessly with multiple documents.
  • Multiple views of the same document: edit a symbol in one view, see changes in the other view.
  • Link documents and reuse symbols and styles from other documents.
  • Build a hierarchy of multiple canvases, and use unlimited number of artboards in a single document.
  • Use the Properties panel to quickly edit frequently used options.

Vector graphics and illustrations

  • Select from a large number of parametric shapes to start drawing.
  • Use real vector brushes, stretching vector graphics along shapes to create brush paint effects.
  • Use both cubic and quadratic curves in shapes, with smooth and symmetric corners.
  • Setup corners in any shape, and use arbitrary shapes to defined new corner types.
  • Powerful nondestructive vector effects to adjust object shapes.
  • Style objects with multiple outlines and fills using arrows, caps, dashes, stripes, variable stroke width, colors, rich gradients or tiling pattern styles.
  • Create mesh gradients from any object using the Mesh tool.
  • Setup gradients along or across a shape.
  • Use object repeaters to setup vector halftones, space fills, or stippling effects.

Image effects for vector graphics

  • Select from a large collection of image effects.
  • Apply multiple, nondestructive image effects on vector objects, groups or layers.
  • Use the Image Effect tools to interactively adjust image effect parameters.
  • Apply image effects as adjustment effects: adjusting content behind an object.
  • Create adjustment layers using selected image effects.
  • Import and reuse complex SVG image effect hierarchies.

Typography improved

  • Use vector text as shape for objects.
  • Powerful text on path features: interactive positioning of text along a path.
  • Easy adjustment of the vector text baseline, to create a text on path effect.
  • Interactively move and transform individual characters of a text shape.
  • Flow text in multiple frames across multiple artboards and canvases.
  • Embed shapes and styled objects as glyphs into the text.
  • Powerful text styling: outlines, fills, underlines, OpenType typography.
  • Balance multiple columns of text flow inside a frame.

Powerful preview and display options

  • Preview in vector, pixel or outline modes.
  • Create a split view of different preview modes, and slide between them quickly.
  • Zoom in to over 1.000.000% level.
  • Rotate views to arbitrary angles and draw or edit objects at any viewing angle.
  • Adjust the extent of sub-pixel division to setup various anti-aliasing modes.
  • Preview colors, gradients and effects in 16-bit or 32-bit precision per color component.

Compatibility and export workflow

  • Import graphics from native Illustrator or PSD files.
  • Import and export popular file formats: SVG, PDF, Postscript, EPS, JPEG, BMP, GIF, PCX, PNG, TGA, TIFF.
  • AI files are imported in editable form with tiling patterns, brushes, styles and effects available for reuse and adjustment.
  • Create multiple slice regions on a canvas for exporting.
  • Setup multiple export formats, resolutions and options for each slice.
  • Export all or selected slices only, in one step.
  • Batch export multiple artboards.
  • Setup vector objects for batch exporting.
  • Save the export options with the document and Export Again in a single step.

Editing detail for professionals

  • Unlimited Undo and Redo hierarchy.
  • Use the History panel to browse the change history.
  • Alternate histories: select which change to redo.
  • Save undo and redo history with the document, and browse previous history in a newly opened documents.
  • Repeat selected recent actions.
  • Find and replace objects, styles and text.
  • Copy and paste object styles, object shapes, transparency masks, image effects and character styles.
  • Create, edit and use Symbols.
  • Override selected styles locally for a Symbol.

Customizable application details

  • Select Dark or Light user interface theme.
  • Customize size and color of indicators, used in interactive editing.
  • Example: change the size and color of nodes displayed while editing curves and their control points.
  • Set the scaling factor of the user interface for better accessibility.
  • Setup automatic document backup options.
  • Customize colors for guidelines, grids and slices.
  • Customize details of object and curve editing.

Setup custom menu structures

  • Customize the application menu hierarchy.
  • Customize the context menu shown with quick actions on Control+Click.
  • Create and reuse custom menu hierarchies.
  • Easily swap between previously saved menu structures.

Customize shortcuts

  • Customize application shortcuts.
  • Create, save and reuse shortcut definition files.
  • Easily swap between previously saved shortcut definition files.
  • Setup shortcuts specific to a context only.
  • Example: a shortcut can have a different meaning when editing text or when editing curves.

Customize and create new toolboxes

  • Customize the application toolbox.
  • Create, save and reuse custom toolbox files.
  • Create and use multiple custom toolboxes at the same time.
  • Easily swap between previously saved custom toolboxes or open toolboxes in separate panels.

Improved Vector Illustration

Extensive list of parametric shapes to start your design

  • Draw and edit: rectangles, ellipses, circles, regular polygons, stars, square stars, gears, spirals, polygonal spirals, super ellipses and super shapes.
  • Draw and edit symmetrigons with arbitrarily shaped sides.
  • Edit ellipse or circle properties to create multiple concentric sections.
  • Interactively adjust the attributes of any shape type.
  • Bend the sides of rectangles and regular polygons.
  • Select clockwise or counterclockwise shape directions.
  • Regular and normalized star shapes of arbitrary number of corners.

Powerful shape editing tools

  • Interactively edit corners of any shapes.
  • Create and use custom corner shapes (not just circular or flat).
  • Edit free form curves by moving control points or dragging the curve at any location.
  • Trim and Join tool to intersect and merge shapes.
  • Show curve direction when hovering over the shape.
  • Show starting and ending nodes of a shape.
  • Edit quadratic and cubic curves of better control of shapes.
  • Simplify and smooth out curves using the Simplify Path menu command.
  • Convert any shape to curves, and freely edit its nodes and control points.

Boolean shape operations

  • Shape operations: Combine, Intersect, Union, Exclude, Cut Out, Inside, Outside, Remove Overlaps, Exclude Back, Divide, Trim and Merge.
  • Simplify shape at self-intersecting points based on the winding fill rule.
  • Combine and create complex shapes.
  • Boolean shape operations without stray nodes.
  • Combine shapes directly, to create new editable free form shapes.
  • Combine shapes with boolean operations nondestructively, to edit the original shapes at any time.
  • Apply boolean operations on a group of objects, to create nondestructive shape combinations.
  • Use the Shape Builder tool to create complex shapes.

Vector editing workflow

  • Create and reuse shape styles.
  • Change the shape of multiple objects, by using shape styles, and adjusting the styles.
  • Link (reference) the shape of an object, to another named reference object.
  • Edit the shape of multiple objects by editing reference object shapes.
  • Create and reuse shape presets everywhere.
  • Convert text to shapes to edit curves.
  • Draw smooth shapes with the pencil tool, or create curves using the pen tool.
  • Use Shape Paint (aka live paint) groups to create dynamically styled artwork.
  • Pencil tool eraser mode enables the erasing of intersecting path segments.
  • Use the Path Sketch tool to create complex shapes by sketching simple strokes.

Powerful vector effects

  • Nondestructive distortion effects applied to object shapes.
  • The shape effects panel creates and manages multiple shape effects applied to the selected object.
  • Modify shape effect attributes of the selected objects at any time.
  • Distort groups of objects, using mesh or envelope distortions.
  • Bend groups of objects along arbitrary, freely editable shapes.
  • Warp objects into predefined shapes.
  • Apply the Elastic Warp effect to distort objects freely.
  • Create and edit shape effects interactively.

Paint with Brushes

  • Select pencil and brush stabilizer modes.
  • Draw variable width outlines using the brush tool.
  • Edit local width of variable width outlines using interactive tools.
  • Select and paint with real vector brushes.
  • Vector brushes may use variable width profiles, the width profile can be adjusted interactively at any time.
  • Vector brushes contain an arbitrary group of vector objects, distorted and stretched along the painted curve.
  • Vector brushes may contain arbitrary colors, or can be tinted and shaded with custom colors.
  • Paint with scatter, pattern and bristle brush types, while retaining vector scalability.

Modify shapes using shape effect brushes

  • Paint vector effects over any group of shapes to create local distortions.
  • Select from up to 13 different vector effect brushes.
  • Apply local twirl, ripple, noise, wave, perturbation, zig-zag distortions to shapes.
  • Edit brush options by double-clicking on the brush tool icon.
  • Modify object shapes using the Liquify tool.
  • Create and apply shape distortions on groups of objects.

Mesh gradients

  • Create and edit mesh gradients using the interactive mesh gradient tool.
  • Create mesh gradients from arbitrary shapes.
  • Add new nodes to mesh gradients at arbitrary locations.
  • Select the color and opacity of each mesh node.
  • Fast interactive preview of mesh changes.

Powerful Masking Tools

Create complex transparency masks

  • Use the Transparency panel to setup and modify transparency masks of the selected objects.
  • Select opacity of objects and layers directly from the transparency panel, or the object / layer options view.
  • Select from multiple blend modes.
  • Select and edit a gradient style as a transparency mask.
  • Select and edit a tiling pattern style as a transparency mask.
  • Select and edit a noise fill style as a transparency mask.

Transparency options

  • Edit transparency options of objects and layers in the object / layer options view.
  • Isolated mode: layer or object content is composited independently of background.
  • Knockout mode: blend layer content with backdrop.
  • Option to interpret opacity as a shape.
  • Use layer or object content as a mask for adjustment effects.

Blending modes

  • Select from a list of blending modes.
  • Darken, Multiply, Color Burn, Exp Dark.
  • Lighten, Screen, Color Dodge, Linear Dodge, Exponent Light, Extra Light.
  • Overlay, Soft Light, Hard Light, Vivid Light, Linear Light, Pin Light.
  • Difference, Exclusion, Subtract, Divide, Distance.
  • Hue, Saturation, Color, Luminosity.
  • Color Wash, Color Scale, Geometric.
  • Hard Burn, Hard Dodge, Light Burn, Scale Dark.
  • Logical And, Or, Xor, Nor, Add and Invert.

Transparency mask types

  • Solid color for uniform transparency mask.
  • Gradient of any type for transitions. Gradient shapes are also included.
  • Use tiling patterns to setup transparency masks.
  • Use synthetic noise styles as transparency masks.
  • Setup mesh gradient as transparency mask, to adjust the opacity at arbitrary locations.
  • Use groups of objects, or references to named objects (symbols), to create custom transparency masks.

Transparency mask editing

  • Select and edit transparency attributes in the Transparency panel.
  • Interactively edit transparency gradient tones and shape.
  • Interactively edit tiling vector pattern masks.
  • Browse and select transparency from a large collection of synthetic noise types.
  • Edit the mesh transparency type in a similar way as mesh gradients are edited.
  • Edit objects of a transparency group, by double-clicking on the preview in the Transparency panel.
  • Edit transparency masks from reference objects (symbols), by editing the objects.

Powerful workflow for transparency masks.

  • Invert mask, and select between clipping or non-clipping masks.
  • Create named styles or presets from any transparency mask.
  • Reuse transparency mask styles or presets, by selecting from the list of transparency type in the panel.
  • Override transparency attributes in symbols.
  • Copy and paste transparency mask between objects.

Advanced Object Styling

Object fill and outline styling

  • Solid colors selected by various means: color spectrum, numeric color values, palette, color variations or harmonies.
  • Gradient transitions with arbitrary shapes.
  • Tiling patterns with content selected from other objects or symbols.
  • Synthetic noise styles for filling objects and outlines.
  • Multiple stacked fill and stroke attributes in a single object.
  • Separate opacity and transparency mask options for each fill and outline style of an object.

Advanced color selection methods

  • Select colors from the color panel by adjusting numeric amounts, picking from the color wheel, or editing hexadecimal color values.
  • Support for multiple color types: Gray, RGB, CMYK, HLS, HSB, HWB, HSI, Lab, LCH.
  • Select from various color wheel types.
  • Select colors from various color palettes.
  • Keep multiple color palette panels opened at the same time.
  • Load palettes from files of various formats: ASE, ACV, ACO, CPL, CSV and XML.
  • Show a color palette as a color bar at the margin of the document view.
  • Create and use Spot and Process colors.

Gradient styles

  • The most extensive set of gradient types available: linear, concentric, conical, spiral, noise.
  • Select gradient attributes from the gradient panel.
  • Edit the shape of linear, concentric and conical gradients.
  • Use shapes of reference objects as gradient shapes.
  • Create new gradient types by setting up a gradient with a custom shape.
  • Interactively edit the gradient attributes and the gradient shape.
  • Select color and opacity of gradient stops.
  • Create and reuse gradient styles and presets.
  • Create texture gradients using the noise gradient type.

Tiling pattern styles

  • Fill and outline objects using tiling patterns.
  • Select the content of tiling pattern from object symbols.
  • Scale and rotate the tiling pattern fill.
  • Select pattern tile shape: Boxes, Hexagons, Triangular or Rhombus.
  • Expand tiling pattern into editable objects.
  • Edit tiling pattern content in-place, or by editing the referenced objects.

Noise styles

  • Fill and outline objects using various types of synthetic noise styles.
  • Use the noise panel to select noise style attributes.
  • Edit numeric noise attributes or randomize the noise parameters.
  • Browse and select noise from an extensive list of randomly generated custom noise styles.

Powerful Outline Options

Outline objects and text

  • Select outline width from the Stroke panel or the Properties panel.
  • Fill outline strokes with color, gradient, tiling pattern, or noise.
  • Create and reuse stroke styles and presets.
  • Select and reuse stroke styles from reference objects.
  • Gradient on stroke: gradient colors transition along or across an outline stroke, including variable width strokes.

Stroke properties

  • Set stroke properties in the Stroke Panel.
  • Allow zero width strokes for real thin hairline at any resolution.
  • Align stroke inside, outside or centered to the object outline.
  • Shift strokes inside or outside by arbitrary amounts.
  • Align dash lengths between cusp nodes.
  • Distort the shape of stroke (including arrows), using shape distortion effects.

Use stroke caps.

  • Select stroke cap ends in open or dashed shapes.
  • Create and use custom shaped stroke caps.
  • Create new cap shapes from a custom shape.
  • Select a cap shape as a reference to a named object shape. When the object shape is edited, the linked cap shapes are updated automatically.
  • Offset stroke cap locations along the outline.

Add arrowheads to open shapes

  • Select arrowheads at the start and end of open shapes.
  • Select arbitrarily shaped arrow heads from the Stroke panel.
  • Create new arrowheads from the shape of selected objects.
  • Select arrowheads as a reference to a named object shape. As the object shape is edited, the linked arrow shapes are updated automatically.
  • Connect arrows defined by an open shape, to the shape of the stroke.
  • Enable arrowhead and stroke distortions by the shape effects applied to the object.

Variable width profiles

  • Assign variable width strokes to selected objects from the Stroke panel.
  • Create and reuse variable width profile styles and presets in the Stroke panel.
  • Link to stroke width profiles of reference objects.
  • Select width variation type from Monotone or Cubic.
  • Edit arbitrary stroke width variation in a modal view or interactively.
  • Use symmetric, reverted or flipped width variation functions.

Object outline workflow

  • Edit stroke width profile interactively with the Width tool.
  • Adjust stroke width profile using the Stroke Width Brush tool.
  • Smooth the stroke width profile variations using the Width Smooth Brush tool.
  • Erase nodes from the width profile function using an interactive tool.
  • Use the Stroke Width panel for precise control of variable width strokes.
  • Combine the variable width profile attribute with dashed, striped, shifted stroke attributes to create complex stroke effects.

Objects and Layers

Advanced object hierarchy

  • Create arbitrary layer and object hierarchy.
  • Assign names to layers and objects, and use these in various contexts (see symbols and object references).
  • Add multiple fill and stroke styles to a single object.
  • Assign transparency masks to objects or whole layers.
  • Create clones of objects and modify or remove attributes of clones.
  • Select the source object of cloned objects.
  • Select cloned properties of object clones.
  • Assign roles to objects and layers, to reuse these as attributes (color, outline, transparency masks, patterns, symbols).

Object and layer options

  • Clip layers into arbitrary shapes.
  • Lock or unlock, show or hide objects and layers.
  • Reference any layer or object as a symbol.
  • Place objects on any of the multiple canvases of a document.
  • Assign color indicators to layers (used in the Layers panel and in outline preview).
  • Use object or layer content as guideline shapes.
  • Convert layers or objects to images.
  • Create adjustment layers or objects using image filters.
  • Setup adjustment filters on any object, to apply image effects to the object backdrop, masked using the object shape and content.
  • Clip groups by assigning a shape to a group.

Extended Layers panel

  • Manage the object and layer hierarchy in the Layers panel.
  • Select the locking and visibility options for multiple objects.
  • Add image effects to selected objects in the Layers panel.
  • Access advanced layer and object editing commands from the Layers panel menu.
  • Customize Layers panel options using the Panel Options command from the menu of the Layers panel.
  • Open multiple Layers panels, pinned to specific document, canvas, layer, or object content.
  • Copy or move content between multiple documents, or different parts of the same document, using multiple opened Layers panels.
  • Show larger preview of an object or layer, by double click or long press on the object icon.
  • Rename multiple objects or layers, by selecting them in the Layers panel, and pasting the names from the clipboard.

Appearance panel

  • Use the Appearance panel to create, edit or remove fill and stroke styles of an object.
  • Show and adjust styles for multiple selected objects.
  • Add new shape or image effects to the selected object, or to a stroke or fill style only.
  • Drag and drop object fill and stroke styles to change their relative order.
  • Edit the fill and stroke attributes of the selected objects.
  • Access style editing commands from the Appearance panel menu.
  • Apply color adjustment filters on the selected objects.

Find and replace objects, text and styles

  • Use the Find / Replace tool to search, select and change objects or text by content or by attributes.
  • Search for objects by their name, assigned selection marker, role, or reference.
  • Search based on attributes using the More options of the Find / Replace panel.
  • Search for object and text using multiple conditions.
  • Search based on object fill or stroke properties.
  • Replace found objects with symbols (reference objects).
  • Automatically apply changes to found objects, setting their fill or stroke styles, or applying shape or image effects.

Advanced object handling

  • Assign names to multiple selected objects automatically.
  • Assign 9-slice scaling options to symbols for better scaling control.
  • Expand selected symbol references into local objects.
  • Override styles in selected symbol references.
  • Expand groups of boolean shape combinations.
  • Expand linked content into imported objects (AI, PSD, PDF, PS, EPS, SVG or other files can be linked into a document).
  • Expand object outline stroke (including dashes, stripes, variable width profiles) into editable shapes.
  • Search and replace referenced symbols.
  • Create cap shape, arrow, corner shape, artistic brush, pattern brush, scatter brush, tiling pattern or symbol from selected objects.

Image Effects

Apply image effects on vector artwork

  • Large collection of customizable image effects, that can be applied to vector artwork.
  • Image effects are nondestructive: keep editing the artwork, and adjust effect properties at any time.
  • Effects can be applied on vectors or images, while still retaining all editing options.
  • Zoom in or out on image effects, rendering the effects at current resolution.
  • Use GPU acceleration for image effects rendering.
  • Edit image effects interactively in the document, using the image effect tool from the Image Effects panel.
  • Apply multiple image effects on groups of objects.
  • Import, export and reuse SVG image filter hierarchies.

The Image Effects panel

  • Create, edit and manage image effects on selected objects using the Image Effects panel.
  • Create and reuse image effect styles and presets.
  • View and edit detailed attributes of image effects.
  • Show and organize stacks of image effects, applied on the selected object.
  • Use interactive tools, to edit image effect attributes and shapes.
  • Setup opacity and transparency mask, of individual image effects.

Image distortion effects

  • Apply geometric distortions as image effects.
  • Distortion effects can be edited interactively in the document.
  • Apply concentric warp effect.
  • Create wave, zigzag, ripple or perturbation effects.
  • Use generated noise as a parameter of various distortion effects.

Mesh and other distortions on images

  • Apply and interactively edit 4-point image distortion effects.
  • Create and edit envelope effects as image distortions.
  • Create and edit mesh grid effects as image distortions.
  • Use Elastic Warp effect, to distort selected objects and images in an elastic way.
  • Use the Bend effect, to bend the selected objects and images along a shape.

Blur filters

  • Select blur filters, from a variety of blur shapes and types.
  • Supported blur filters: Gaussian, Box, Concentric, Cone, Disc, Motion, Noise, Radial, Wave and Zoom blurs.
  • Edit the shape and direction of Gaussian blur.
  • Edit attributes of all blur types interactively.
  • Adjust blur strength locally using a mask.
  • Edit the shape of Concentric, Cone and Wave blurs.
  • Use Noise blur to create locally varying blurs.

Color filters

  • Apply color filters to create nondestructive color adjustments.
  • Edit color filter properties in the Image Effects panel.
  • Adjust colors using the Black and White, Channel Mixer, Hue Adjustments, Color Balance and Color Map filters.
  • Adjust color tones using the Curves and Levels filters.
  • Use Exposure, Posterize, Solarize, Vibrance, Photo Filter and Contrast filters, to create color adjustment effects.

Image generators

  • Generate images from object shapes, using image generator filters.
  • Apply Brushed Metal image generator on any objects.
  • Create Flare, Lens Flare or Star Shine effects.
  • Select from an extensive set of noise types and variations, to generate synthetic noise.
  • Create and edit Turbulence noise.

Stylistic image effects

  • Add Brush or Noise effects to the colors of the selected objects.
  • Create Bloom, Haze, Inner or Outer Glow effects.
  • Create Drop Shadows.
  • Create Halftone effects of arbitrary shape.
  • Create Crystalize, Pixelate or Pointilize effects.

SVG filter compatibility

  • Import and use SVG filters from SVG documents.
  • Add standard SVG effects to objects or images.
  • Add SVG effect compositions to objects or images.
  • Export SVG effect compositions into SVG files.
  • Import SVG effect definitions, and use these from the Effects menu or the Image Effects panel.

Adjustment layers and objects

  • Create adjustment layers, with image effects applied to layers below.
  • Select a shape for an adjustment layer, to mask the area of filtering.
  • Use the layer content as a mask, to control the adjustment effect.
  • Create adjustment effects, applied to the backdrop of an object or group of objects, to filter specific areas in a document.
  • Use the Adjustment Layer and Content is Mask attributes of any object or group of objects, when creating adjustment effects.
  • The shape of object determines the filtering area of the adjustment effect.

New Vector Document

Edit and manage multiple vector documents

  • Create new documents instantly, without modal interactions.
  • Create a new document, by specifying properties, opening from a template or copying artwork from the clipboard.
  • Revert document to the previously saved state, from the document file.
  • Save the current canvas into a separate file.
  • Open multiple documents into tabbed or separate views.
  • Open multiple views of the same document, to display and edit different parts of the document.

Setup document properties

  • Edit document properties using the Document Setup command.
  • Enable or disable Undo / Redo history storage into the document.
  • Select coordinate system direction to top-down or bottom-up.
  • Edit document file format options.
  • Setup document color properties.
  • Setup default document artboard style.
  • Specify default guideline, grid and slice indicator colors for a document.

Multiple canvases

  • Create, edit and manage multiple canvases, in a single document.
  • A canvas may inherit content from a parent canvas, for better artwork and design reuse.
  • Organize canvases into a hierarchy, for better workflow.
  • Create and use top level canvas containers, to organize document content.
  • Place artwork into canvases under the main Canvas collection.
  • Use the Reference canvas container, to create canvases for referenced objects, artwork, brushes, styles and symbols that can be reused through the document.
  • Use the Parent canvas container, to setup a parent canvases, and reuse content in multiple other canvases.

Working with artboards

  • Create thousands of artboards, of arbitrary size on each canvas.
  • Set rotation of individual artboards at arbitrary angles.
  • Create, move, resize and rotate artboards, using the Artboard Tool.
  • Create grids of automatically generated artboards.
  • Edit size, position, rotation, margins, and fill color of artboards, using the Artboard Options command.
  • Arrange existing artboards into a grid.

File Formats and Compatibility

Import from commonly used graphics formats

  • Import PSD files, retaining editing options of layer hierarchies, and adjustment filters.
  • Import native Illustrator files (not just the PDF stream), retaining high level editing options of objects, brushes, tiling patterns, blends and effects.
  • Import PDF, Postscript and EPS files.
  • Import embedded PDF, PS, or EPS fonts as curves.
  • Import SVG files, including SVG image filters.
  • Import image files with PNG, JPEG, TIFF, BMP, PCX, TGA, GIF, HDR and EXR formats.
  • Insert linked content objects, pointing to external vector or image graphics files.

Advanced exporting options

  • Specify advanced export options using the Export command.
  • Export vectors to SVG, PDF, EPS or Postscript formats.
  • Export to image file formats: PNG, JPEG, TIFF, BMP, PCX, TGA, GIF.
  • Export artboards and canvases to a single multi-page PDF file.
  • Setup detailed export options, specific to individual file formats.
  • Repeat the last file exporting command, using Export Again, including slice exporting.
  • Store export options with the document, so that Export Again works after opening a document that has been exported previously.

Export slices

  • Create and use export slices, to setup batch exporting of large number of files.
  • Draw, position, resize and rotate export slices, using the Slice tool.
  • Export slices can have arbitrary angles, rotating their content at export.
  • Each canvas may contain multiple export slices, of arbitrary position, size and rotation.
  • Assign export slices to artboards, to automatically generate slices based on artboard layout.
  • Export content of all or selected slices, using the Export Slices command.

The Slices panel

  • Manage the list of slices of the current, canvas using the Slices panel.
  • Assign names to individual slices, for labeling and export file naming.
  • Setup file format options for each slice.
  • Add multiple file formats and file exports, to each slice at arbitrary resolution and options.
  • Enable or disable individual slices.
  • Add a name suffix used in the automated naming of exported files.

Batch exporting

  • Batch export all or selected artboards using the Export Artboards command.
  • Each artboard can be exported into one or more files and formats.
  • Setup object batch exporting collections, using the Object Export panel.
  • Setup multiple file formats to export an object collection.
  • Create and manage multiple object batch exporting collections, for different export format settings.
  • Automatically override selected styles while batch exporting.