Adobe InDesign: Feature Requests
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5332 results found
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Add macOS Core Image Filters as Native Object Effects in InDesign (e.g., Vibrancy, Gaussian Blur, Glass Distortion)
Please add support for macOS Core Image filters (e.g., CIGaussianBlur, CIVibrancy, CIBloom, CIGlassDistortion) as native, real-time object effects within InDesign. These filters are already GPU-accelerated and supported natively by macOS. Tapping into this framework would allow InDesign to offer real-time visual effects like frosted glass, material-style blurs, and ambient glow — without the need to pre-render images in Photoshop.
For designers: Effects like vibrancy, translucency, blur, and light diffusion are increasingly common in modern design — not just in UI/UX, but in packaging, promotional layouts, and publication work. These are time-consuming to fake using raster-based workarounds. Having real-time effects within InDesign (or even Photoshop & Illustrator) frames or shapes would be a massive quality-of-life improvement.
For Mac users: Apple has long provided a robust framework (Core Image + Metal rendering) for these effects. Designers on macOS could benefit from faster rendering, live previews, and native integration — leveraging Apple's hardware acceleration and aesthetic standard directly.
For Adobe: Rather than custom-building each new visual effect, Adobe could hook into macOS’s Core Image pipeline. That means:
• Faster development cycle for new effects.
• Free, ongoing updates as Apple adds new filters (via OS updates).
• Exclusive or enhanced functionality for Creative Cloud Mac users — strengthening Adobe’s value proposition on macOS hardware.This could work by including a new "macOS Core Effects" section in the Object Effects dialog.
Only visible when running InDesign (or illustrator/photoshop) on macOS (gracefully hidden or disabled on Windows).
Non-destructive, toggleable effects (like Drop Shadow or Inner Glow).
Optionally rasterized on export or flattening for cross-platform compatibility.This would create parity with Photoshop’s Smart Filters and Illustrator’s Appearance Panel but inside InDesign, and could expand the offerings within those other apps as well.
Supports modern visual aesthetics like glassmorphism and dynamic lighting.
Offers Mac-based design professionals more power, speed, and consistency without disrupting automation-heavy workflows (e.g., EasyCatalog, print pipelines).This feature would modernize InDesign’s effects toolkit, provide Adobe a scalable way to deliver more effects over time, and strengthen Adobe's integration with Apple’s hardware and OS capabilities. It’s a small change with high-impact potential.
Thank you for your consideration!
Please add support for macOS Core Image filters (e.g., CIGaussianBlur, CIVibrancy, CIBloom, CIGlassDistortion) as native, real-time object effects within InDesign. These filters are already GPU-accelerated and supported natively by macOS. Tapping into this framework would allow InDesign to offer real-time visual effects like frosted glass, material-style blurs, and ambient glow — without the need to pre-render images in Photoshop.
For designers: Effects like vibrancy, translucency, blur, and light diffusion are increasingly common in modern design — not just in UI/UX, but in packaging, promotional layouts, and publication work. These are time-consuming to fake using raster-based workarounds. Having real-time effects within…
2 votes -
AI tool/agent for typographic/text related questioning of InDesign document
I’m handling long documents (books, magazines) on a daily basis and would love to see an AI tool/agent inside InDesign, which I can ask various typographic questions via prompting, such as:
* List all page numbers which contain orphans/widows.
* List all page numbers which contain less then 15 lines of text in the main text frame/story.
* List all page numbers where paragraphs end with a single word in the last line.
* etc.Since these things can only be done by visually checking every single page or with partially complex scripting, such an AI agent would help to ease my daily work a lot!
I’m handling long documents (books, magazines) on a daily basis and would love to see an AI tool/agent inside InDesign, which I can ask various typographic questions via prompting, such as:
* List all page numbers which contain orphans/widows.
* List all page numbers which contain less then 15 lines of text in the main text frame/story.
* List all page numbers where paragraphs end with a single word in the last line.
* etc.Since these things can only be done by visually checking every single page or with partially complex scripting, such an AI agent would help to…
2 votes -
Conditional Text to Control Master Page Application
Enable the use of Conditional Text to trigger automatic switching or application of specific Master Pages. In complex layouts, this would streamline the process of dynamically changing page templates based on content variations or project stages.
2 votes -
Have the option to use IMAGES for Paragraph: RULES, BORDERS, and SHADING
Paragraph Rules, Borders, and Shading are all great. They are also all: flat, uniform...boring...
Sometimes a layout demands stuff that is more...messy. Clients often ask for 'grungy' effects to highlight specific parts of text, and every designer gets what they mean.
I currently use an anchored image to achieve this, but it's fiddly, and easily broken. It requires scripting or tedious CandP.
Adding an IMAGE option to Paragraph (and Character?) styles would be brilliant. When I'm working on webpages, I'm using 'background' in CSS all the time.
https://www.w3schools.com/cssref/css3_pr_background.php
That same flexibility in InDesign (image link, position, size, 9-slicing{?!!}, color modes, etc etc) would transform the print/pdf workflow immensely.
Paragraph Rules, Borders, and Shading are all great. They are also all: flat, uniform...boring...
Sometimes a layout demands stuff that is more...messy. Clients often ask for 'grungy' effects to highlight specific parts of text, and every designer gets what they mean.
I currently use an anchored image to achieve this, but it's fiddly, and easily broken. It requires scripting or tedious CandP.
Adding an IMAGE option to Paragraph (and Character?) styles would be brilliant. When I'm working on webpages, I'm using 'background' in CSS all the time.
https://www.w3schools.com/cssref/css3_pr_background.php
That same flexibility in InDesign (image link, position, size, 9-slicing{?!!}, color…
2 votes -
Ability to Name Multiple Check Boxes at Once and Deselect Radio Buttons
I use check boxes frequently to create a multitude of order forms. There are a few requirements they need to meet: Once ticked, they can be unticked, and buttons are grouped so only one option can be selected out of a range. This has become a tedious task as I can only name one check box at a time. I would like the ability to select and name multiple check boxes at once so thye can be easily grouped, this simple change would save so much time.
I also used to use the radio buttons, which does have the option to rename multiple buttons at once, but these can't be deselected once and option is selected. Adding the functionality for these to be deselected would be a massive help too.I use check boxes frequently to create a multitude of order forms. There are a few requirements they need to meet: Once ticked, they can be unticked, and buttons are grouped so only one option can be selected out of a range. This has become a tedious task as I can only name one check box at a time. I would like the ability to select and name multiple check boxes at once so thye can be easily grouped, this simple change would save so much time.
I also used to use the radio buttons, which does have the option…2 votes -
IDML info in PDF
Embed IDML info when exporting a PDF so that the PDF can easily be imported back into InDesign
2 votes -
Dynamic Data Merge Updates in InDesign even after Generated
Currently, after completing a data merge, the generated document loses its link to the source Excel/CSV file, making it impossible to update content (like product names or prices) without re-running the entire merge. This becomes a major issue when we've manually added custom pages, layout tweaks, image adjustments, or element placements based on text length—re-merging resets everything.
Suggestion:
Introduce a "Dynamic Merge" option in the Data Merge panel that maintains live links to the CSV/Excel source. This way, users can choose between a static or dynamic output. With dynamic mode, merged fields remain linked and identifiable, allowing easy content updates from the original data file without losing layout changes.This would save huge amounts of time and prevent repetitive layout work.
Thanks!
Currently, after completing a data merge, the generated document loses its link to the source Excel/CSV file, making it impossible to update content (like product names or prices) without re-running the entire merge. This becomes a major issue when we've manually added custom pages, layout tweaks, image adjustments, or element placements based on text length—re-merging resets everything.
Suggestion:
Introduce a "Dynamic Merge" option in the Data Merge panel that maintains live links to the CSV/Excel source. This way, users can choose between a static or dynamic output. With dynamic mode, merged fields remain linked and identifiable, allowing easy…2 votes -
Save sections
Would it be possible to create an option to Save As a selection of pages. I create books and have to divide the into sections when I"m finished all the pages. Example: A 192 page book. Save As Pages 5-48 only.
2 votes -
Save state of checkbox "Preview" in dialogs, which since ages does resets after every maj/min-update – in contrast to the Preferences 😭
A crazy idea, to not have the user do settings AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN!
You cant tell me, there is noone angry with this behaviour. Or everybody has resignated after years, and has accepted this extremly bad UX, which you cant be proud of.
2 votes -
Add Native Slug Area and Mechanical Dimensioning Tools (Inspired by Mechanical Cubed + Illustrator's Dimensions Tool)
As a freelance Production Designer and Creative with a fine arts background, I work across pharma, retail, and packaging—where detailed mechanicals, slug data, and precise dimension callouts are a daily necessity. One of the most essential—but frustratingly missing—features in InDesign is the ability to efficiently manage mechanical specs and slug information natively.
To bridge this gap, many of us rely on plug-ins like Mechanical Cubed and Slug Cubed from Triple Triangle Inc. These tools automate the placement and consistency of critical production data—such as trim, bleed, dimensions, and job metadata—directly into the slug area.
Interestingly, Adobe Illustrator already includes a built-in Dimensions tool, so it’s surprising that InDesign—Adobe’s flagship print and layout software—lacks this capability.
InDesign would benefit greatly from native tools that:
Automatically generate and manage mechanical dimension lines
Populate standardized slug info using document metadata
Apply reusable slug templates across multi-page or multi-SKU files
Lock dimension and slug elements to prevent accidental edits
These features are essential in high-volume environments where accuracy and consistency are just as important as creative execution.
By integrating this functionality directly into InDesign, Adobe can streamline workflows for production artists, packaging designers, and print creatives—many of whom already rely on workarounds or third-party solutions to fill this gap.
Happy to share real-world examples of how this functionality has saved time and improved production precision.
Thanks for considering this suggestion.
—
Khalid Best
Freelance Production Designer & Creative
Fine Arts Trained
https://www.linkedin.com/in/khalid-best-b49b0155/As a freelance Production Designer and Creative with a fine arts background, I work across pharma, retail, and packaging—where detailed mechanicals, slug data, and precise dimension callouts are a daily necessity. One of the most essential—but frustratingly missing—features in InDesign is the ability to efficiently manage mechanical specs and slug information natively.
To bridge this gap, many of us rely on plug-ins like Mechanical Cubed and Slug Cubed from Triple Triangle Inc. These tools automate the placement and consistency of critical production data—such as trim, bleed, dimensions, and job metadata—directly into the slug area.
Interestingly, Adobe Illustrator already includes a…
2 votes -
Automatic French Punctuation Spacing Based on Language Settings
In French typography, it is standard practice to insert a narrow non-breaking space before certain punctuation marks such as colons, semicolons, exclamation marks, and question marks. While InDesign correctly applies French hyphenation and dictionary rules when the language is set to French, it does not automatically handle these essential spacing conventions. This omission often leads to typographic issues such as widowed punctuation at the end of lines, especially in justified text. Currently, users must manually apply non-breaking spaces or rely on GREP styles and Find/Change routines to correct these. It would greatly enhance multilingual typesetting workflows if InDesign automatically inserted appropriate non-breaking spacing for French punctuation when the language is set to French, in line with professional typographic standards.
In French typography, it is standard practice to insert a narrow non-breaking space before certain punctuation marks such as colons, semicolons, exclamation marks, and question marks. While InDesign correctly applies French hyphenation and dictionary rules when the language is set to French, it does not automatically handle these essential spacing conventions. This omission often leads to typographic issues such as widowed punctuation at the end of lines, especially in justified text. Currently, users must manually apply non-breaking spaces or rely on GREP styles and Find/Change routines to correct these. It would greatly enhance multilingual typesetting workflows if InDesign automatically inserted…
2 votes -
Export from InDesign to Adobe Express with frames & keep the frames as frames not as shapes that can't be filled with photos or color.
Export documents containing frames from InDesign to Adobe Express & keep the frames as frames not converting them to shapes that cannot be filled with photos or color.
I'm working on a project with a document created in Adobe InDesign, which may have photos, fill colors, or be blank to fill in Adobe Express. When I export to Adobe Express, the frames convert into elements/shapes, preventing me from placing photos or changing the fill color. This limits my ability to design efficiently and uniformly. Recreating in Express or using new boxes and masking doesn't solve the issue, especially for custom shapes like trapezoids with rounded walls or specific corners. It seems like Adobe could add this functionality easily, but I'm not sure. Is there a way to do this? I prefer to stick within Adobe InDesign and Adobe Express without using a third program as a bridge or to convert.Export documents containing frames from InDesign to Adobe Express & keep the frames as frames not converting them to shapes that cannot be filled with photos or color.
I'm working on a project with a document created in Adobe InDesign, which may have photos, fill colors, or be blank to fill in Adobe Express. When I export to Adobe Express, the frames convert into elements/shapes, preventing me from placing photos or changing the fill color. This limits my ability to design efficiently and uniformly. Recreating in Express or using new boxes and masking doesn't solve the issue, especially for custom…2 votes -
Provide Options for Export to Express
Please provide choices when using the export to Adobe Express function. Right now there are none, and I cannot directly export a high resolution, letter-sized, print-ready document into Express without dimension downsizing and image resolution loss.
Having these options via a direct transfer into Express is critical to being able to quickly transfer current Indesign documents into correctly-sized, print-ready, editable templates for use bt non-design users at my organization.
2 votes -
Numbering positions
I'd like to be able to place numbering AFTER text, such as "Recommendation 1.2" and be able to cross-reference that in the appendix as "1.2", but all of the work-arounds I've seen are very clunky and prone to issues with long report documents.
2 votes -
find pasted graphics
Have a way to search for pasted graphics and to export them to be able to link them. I would like preflight to identify and let me know if the document contains pasted graphics. And, it would be great to export the graphic and link it.
2 votes -
A better, user friendly, way to create fractions
There should be an easier way to create a fraction beyond changing to an open type font that supports fractions. Something similar to what QuarkXpress does with its Make Fraction feature that can be applied to any font type at any font size.
2 votes -
Merge paragraph styles to be able to use the functions of two styles at the same time
create a way that the attributes of one paragraph style can be applied to another paragraph style, so that a style that has certain attributes can be used in conjunction with other styles, thus avoiding the creation of multiple 'equal' paragraph styles just because at a certain point in the publication it has to have some difference.
2 votes -
No Break Option via a keyboard shortcut.
Please incorporate a possibility to activate the No Break Option via a keyboard shortcut. I have to create a text style, which is file atttached… and not comptaible with another text style…
2 votes -
2 votes
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Could we make the Background task icon animation work harder?
The current icon appears next to the share button on the top bar when we export a PDF, what about including the percentage within the revolving circle? Saves me open the tab to check for bigger docs. Thanks!
2 votes
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