Contextual Task Bar in Illustrator - Quick Actions when you need them!

[Anubhav M]

The Contextual Task Bar is a floating bar that provides the most relevant next actions for the object you select in the object's vicinity. The Contextual Task Bar ensures that your focus remains on the object you're working on.

You can move the Contextual Task Bar around to where you want it to be. You can move, reset, pin, or hide the bar via More options. To re-enable it, go to the Window menu > Contextual Task Bar.

Note: Contextual Task Bar is only available for Illustrator version 27.9 or later. It is currently available only for limited objects & tools.

Some Example Cases include:

Expand traced images with ease When you open a new document, the Contextual Task Bar provides quick access to essential tools and features. Start your creative journey with Draw (Pencil) for freeform sketches, Generate Vectors for design ideas, or Place Image to import an image.

Artboard tool When using the Artboard tool, the Contextual Task Bar allows you to adjust the preset size, create a new artboard, duplicate it, and export it.

Selection tool When you use the Selection tool to select paths and shapes on the canvas, the Contextual Task Bar gives you various editing options. You can use Gen Shape Fill to fill your selection with vector graphics, and Fill and Stroke to change the colors.

Shapes: Generate, Edit & Lock Use the Generate Vectors feature to brainstorm scenes, subjects, and icons. Switch to the Direct Selection tool with Edit Path to refine your design, and utilize Lock Object to safeguard against unintended modifications.

Open Path: Join & Edit Apply Join Path to link the open ends of a path. Make further adjustments as needed using Edit Path.

Organize, Align & Recolor Use Group to combine multiple paths and shapes into a single unit for easier management, and Align to arrange them precisely. For grouped shapes, use Ungroup to work on individual elements, or Isolate group to edit them in isolation mode. Harmonize or refine the color scheme of your selection with the Recolor option, especially when dealing with elements of varying colors.

Repeat & Duplicate Utilize Repeat Object to create various repeating patterns with your grouped paths and shapes. Use Duplicate Object to create additional copies as needed, enabling efficient design iterations and variations.

Compound Path: Edit & Release When you create a compound path and select it with the Selection tool, the Contextual Task Bar offers options such as Gen Shape Fill, Edit Path, Fill, and Stroke. Use Release to separate the shapes in the compound path.

Basic Shape Tools Adding shapes with the Rectangle, Ellipse, Polygon, and Star tools provides you with Contextual Task Bar options like Gen Shape Fill, Edit Path, Fill, and Stroke. You can also adjust the properties of each shape added to the canvas.

Text: Format & Convert Using the Type tools to add text to your canvas gives you a range of formatting options in the Contextual Task Bar, including Set the Font family, Font style, Set the Font size, and Fill. When selecting text with the Selection tool, additional options are available based on the text type: Point Text: Convert to Area Text using Area type. Area Text: Convert to Point Text using Point type. Text on a Path: Use Type On Path to apply effects and rearrange the text. Additionally, you can Outline the text to work with it like other vector shapes.

Clipping Mask Creating a clipping mask with vector objects allows you to use the Edit Mask feature to edit in isolation mode, and Release to remove the mask. You can also apply Gen Shape Fill within the mask.

Vectorize, Edit & Manage Links When selecting an image, the Contextual Task Bar provides options for both vector and raster workflows. Use Image Trace to vectorize, Retype to edit text within images, and Crop Image to remove unwanted sections. Based on whether an image is linked or embedded, you have further options: Linked Image: Embed image to unlink from the source file, Link image to fix missing links, or Edit the image in Photoshop for advanced edits. Embedded Image: Relink image to connect back to the original source file.

Images & Vectors Selecting both images and vectors with the Selection tool reveals options like Clip Mask to create clipping masks, Align to arrange elements, and Group to manage them as a single unit.

Tips and Other Menu Functionality

• Show Properties Panel
  You can quickly switch to the Full Panel for the Quick Action you are working on to have access to more controls and features by choosing Show Properties Panel from the “More menu.”

• Hide bar
  You can always hide the bar if you’d like to remove it completely or temporarily from the canvas. If you’d like to re-open the bar at any point, go to Window > Contextual Task Bar.

• Reset bar position
  The context bar moves with you as you work on the canvas, keeping relevant tools at your fingertips. If you would like to reset the position, you can do so from the “More menu.”

• Pin Bar Position
  You can pin the Contextual Task Bar to a fixed spot on your canvas, ensuring that it stays in place while you work. This allows you to keep your most-used tools consistently within reach. To pin the bar, simply select the option from the "More menu."

Known Limitations:

• On duplicating an object using the Contextual Task Bars, we cannot use the "Ctrl/Cmd + D" keys to duplicate our previous action.

Share your Feedback We're excited to hear your opinions and welcome your feedback on the Illustrator UserVoice!

Open UserVoice

Thanks,

Anubhav

If you've found value in this post, a friendly upvote would be fantastic. Your thoughts are even more precious – share them with us in the discussion!

[CarlosCanto]

It looks promising, I'd love to have the ability to add our own tools in it, including buttons to run Scripts

[m1b]

Yeah Carlos! That would be quite powerful. Or a step further... show custom commands (eg. script buttons) that appear when the selection passes a *custom* criteria (the criteria could be scripted—eg. a function, given the selection). This would allow the CTB to show options only if a "special" item was selected, eg. slug info group.

This makes me wonder if the SDK has access to the Contextual Task Bar. If so, perhaps someone could make a plug-in that did this.

[chanaart]

Like the post and the information. I think the new Imge Trace panel is a bit confusing. 

[Jess Telmanik]

Agreed, we at least need the expand button back in the panel.

[Aimée299385694d1j]

I've added a request for this here. Please upvote! 🙂

[Daniel Kramer]

Looks exciting!

[Imaginerie]

Great updates!
Things I can think of that would go in the new bar:
Simplify, when a path is selected.
The last effect used, to re-apply  (Not critical though)

Create a mask when a new path is created

[shalowater]

i dont like it its distracting . how do i turn it off? please & thank you

[shalowater]

nevermind . duh . thanks 

[Lilybiri]

Great! Maybe take into account older users with bad eyes? More contrast between text and black background (or customisable color scheme)?

[Monika Gause]

It follows the UI settings you have selected in the preferences. Mini is set to the lightest and the task bar has a high contrast.

[Lilybiri]

Danke schön. I always have to dabble a lot in those Preferences for that purpose. At least it is possible in AI and PS, but not... in Captivate and the new version causes me headaches.

[ndcgraph]

I would LOVE it if the Contextual Task Bar popped up immediately when using the Pen Tool or similar path editing tools. The "Edit Path" button in the Contextual Task Bar is great, but I have to switch to the Selection Tool before the task bar shows up (after drawing an object and closing the path with the Pen Tool). I could also just immediately select the Direct Selection tool after closing the path and edit the path right away. Something to consider... thanks!

[Anubhav M]

Hello @ndcgraph,

Thank you for reaching out and providing us with your valuable insights. We greatly appreciate your feedback, and we will make sure to share it with our product team. Feel free to reach out if you have more questions or need assistance. We'd be happy to help.

Thanks,

Anubhav

[Aliss Bell]

I find this Contextual Task Bar very useful!

It would be nice if when you insert an image into Illustrator, there are the vertical flip and horizontal flip actions.

[Anshul_Saini]

Hi @Aliss Bell,

That's a great suggestion! The Contextual Task Bar is indeed a useful feature, and having the vertical flip and horizontal flip actions when inserting an image into Illustrator would be a valuable addition.

To help make this idea more visible to the Adobe Illustrator team, I recommend upvoting the feature request on UserVoice and leaving a comment explaining your thoughts. The product team actively monitors UserVoice for user feedback and feature requests, so your input can make a difference.

Here's the link to upvote and comment on the UserVoice suggestion: https://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/938463-illustrator-feature-feedback/suggestions/47290175-co...

Your participation in the UserVoice community can contribute to the improvement of Adobe Illustrator. Thank you for sharing your idea!

best,

Anshul Saini

[jason26451021lcgi]

The concept is really cool, but the placement is terrible. Is there any way to adjust how far away it is from the object being edited? It's always way too close and I have to move it or turn it off to maintain my workflow.

[Monika Gause]

Currently you can either put it into a fixed place or hide it, but there's no way to enter a relative positioning. You might want to ask for that here: https://illustrator.uservoice.com