> ~ Insights by SewCalGal ~

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Quilt Album software

I had the opportunity to evaluate "Quilt Album" software Version 2 and wanted to share insights with you.

The Quilt Album Version 2 software easy to use software package designed by quilters for quilters. It also comes with a well written quick start guide.  This tool allows you to upload photos of your quilts, and add text in various fields to capture information about your quilts. For example:  When they were made, who designed them, what methods were used, etc.   Reports can be printed with a photo of your quilt and you can determine which of the fields that you want to include on your album page.  Or, if you want to go green, you can simply use this software for online tracking and viewing of your quilts.


There is also a feature that you can use to print note cards with a photo of your quilt.  And there is a nice gallery on their website that shares insights for users on how to build an album, printing greeting cards, mailing labels, and quilt labels.  I really liked the online summary.




Again, I found the software very easy to be able to do all that the product is designed to do and I believe most computer users, with a novice level, could easily do the same with this software.

While designed for cataloging your quilts, I think this software would also work for creating an album for other sewn items, machine embroidery projects, knitted items, and many other crafts too.  And I believe this software could also be helpful for Quilt Guild Historians too!

And, the Quilt Album website has instructions for how you can upload to Facebook or your ipad.  Key features of this software are:
•User-selectable font type, size, and color.
•User-selectable text: what to include and what to exclude - and how it is presented.
•Album pages printable either full- or half-size for storing in 3-ring binders.
•Summary pages to use as indexes to albums.
•User-selectable Categories for classifying Quilts.
•Greeting cards and business cards printable on standard pre-scored paper stock obtainable from office supply stores.
•Print on either US Letter (standard in US and Canada) or A4 (standard elsewhere) format.
•Easy 'drag and drop' for sliding photos into QuiltAlbum - or import using conventional browsing.
•Sort, Find, and Browse capabilities to navigate and select among stored Quilts.
•Automatically scales and converts images on input to appropriate size and format for printing.
•Easy to use buttons and dropdown menus for making choices.
•Easy Mode for the newcomer to QuiltAlbum and an Advanced Mode for the more experienced user.
•Automatic backup to secure valuable information complemented by a built-in export capabality for both data and photos.
•Built on the Filemaker™ database engine to ensure fast, reliable service.



The Quilt Album software is very reasonably priced and will work on a MAC or PC.  Overall, I think any quilter that wants a tool to help catalog their quilt projects should consider the Quilt Album software. 

If you already have Quilt Album version 1 you can go to their website and get a free upgrade to version 2.

For those that will be going to the Road to California quilt show this month, I hope you'll stop by the Quilt Album booth and take a look at this software too.  But there is also a nice overview video on their website.


http://www.quiltalbum.com/

7 comments:

WoolenSails said...

I don't have enough quilts to catalog;)
I use quiltpro for software and still can't get it to work right, need to read the instructions again.

Debbie

Millie said...

Thanks for the info, Darlene. I am always learning new things on your blog.

Barb said...

Oh wow...you are just a wealth of inforation....

IHaveANotion ~ Kelly Jackson said...

I like the sounds of this. I'm going to check it out.

Thanks!
Kelly

Kate said...

Interesting program. I use Microsoft Pulisher to catalog my quilts, though I can see where a dedicated program might be useful.

Sarcastic Quilter said...

I don't have anything for this function so this looks very promising. Especially at the price. Thank you for the information.

Dragonfly Pond said...

I have been looking for something exactly like this...I am so excited to have found this program. I have tons and tons of photos from years of sewing, and not knowing what to do with them. Now I can finally put them all in one place, and divid them up from my grandaughters Christening Dress to my lattest American Girl doll dress to my Christmas quilt gifts. what fun, can't wait