Search Illustrator files on Mac

Nov 14, 2025

Search Illustrator files on Mac
Search Illustrator files on Mac

Search Illustrator files on Mac

Creative work moves fast. Artboards multiply, versions stack up, and filenames rarely match what you remember. You need to find the right artboard, the exact line of copy, or a specific visual concept, then get back to design. With Fenn on your Mac, you search in natural language and surface the exact place to review, from Illustrator projects and exports to linked assets and screenshots. Everything runs on your machine for privacy.

Why this saves real time for creatives

  • No more perfect folder trees. Ask for what you remember and let Fenn surface the right artboards, text, and visuals.

  • Search across the whole project, packaged folders, exports, linked images, copy decks, and reference screenshots.

  • Land on the moment that matters, a page in a PDF export, a specific copy block in a doc, or the relevant reference image so you can open it right away.

What you can search

  • Illustrator projects and exports
    Point Fenn at your packaged projects and exported PDFs or SVGs. Search by headline, product name, color theme, or client keyword, then review the surfaced results and jump to the file you need to check.

  • Linked assets and references
    Search images and screenshots when you remember the visual idea more than the filename. Fenn understands text inside images and can match visual concepts using Semantic mode.

  • Copy decks and specs
    If your copy lives in Word or Markdown alongside the .ai files, search it together with the project so you do not miss context.

Search modes that match your task

  • Semantic mode
    Use natural language, great for visual intent and paraphrased copy, like “artboard with teal gradient and tall headline.”

  • Keyword mode
    Exact phrases for legal text, product names, or CTA lines.

  • Hybrid mode
    Combine semantic and keyword to catch ideas and precise terms in one pass.

  • Exact mode
    Force strict literal matches when every character matters.

Switch modes with one shortcut, then review the surfaced results and open the right file in your creative app.

Agent Mode for heavy lifts

When deadlines hit, ask one complex question and let Fenn do the first pass across your project.

Examples you can try:

  • “Artboards that mention ‘free returns’ and show the new logo. List them.”

  • “Find exports that use the serif subhead and a teal gradient.”

  • “Show product illustrations that include a hand holding the bottle. Include references in the brand folder.”

Private by design

Fenn runs on device by default. You choose which folders to index, for example your Illustrator packaged projects, exports, shared brand assets, and reference boards. Your work stays on your Mac.

Quick start

  1. Install Fenn on an Apple Silicon Mac, Sonoma 14 or later is recommended.

  2. Add sources, your project folders, packaged Illustrator jobs, exported PDFs or SVGs, linked assets, copy decks, reference screenshots.

  3. Let Fenn index on device.

  4. Press your shortcut and search. Start with Semantic mode, then switch to Keyword, Hybrid, or Exact for precision.

  5. Enable Agent Mode when you want a single question to triage a whole project.

Creative prompts to copy

  • “Find the artboard titled ‘Summer Campaign’ with the teal gradient background.”

  • “Show every export that mentions ‘free returns’ and ‘48 hours’.”

  • “Hero icon concepts that include a cyclist at dusk. Show the closest matches.”

  • “Find the PDF exports where the CTA reads ‘Shop the edit’ and surface those pages.”

Pricing

  • Local, 9 USD per month, billed annually
    On device indexing. Semantic and keyword search. 1 Mac. Updates. Founder support.

  • Lifetime, 199 USD one time
    On device indexing. Semantic and keyword search. 1 year of updates. 1 Mac. Founder support.

Stop hunting through project trees. Ask once, surface the artboard or visual you remember, and get back to design.

Download Fenn for Mac. Private on device. Find the moment, not the file.