iRemember

iremember
iRemember
by Ronda Yoder

iRemember 1.0 is a new scrapbooking software that came out this summer. It allows you to place pictures into scrapbooks without glue, stickers, and clutter. The software requires System 10.3 or 10.4 and has free updates available online after installation.
This is a very good quality scrapbook program (really the only one of its kind), and it integrates Mac features well, allowing you to adapt items and bring in clipart from other programs. There is a similarity to other Mac programs, like Mail and Preview, that makes you feel at home in the program very quickly. Unlike some desktop publishing software written for home use to make cards and banners, this software allows the user to adjust the settings of paper size and placement of any item on the page.
The program installs in about 10 minutes on a G3 350 MHz tower and in about 7 minutes on a G4 1.42GHz laptop.  The large clipart files may slow installation. The documentation reminds you to keep the clipart application and files in same folder as the main application to prevent conflicts.
There are standard printer paper sizes like 8.5x11, or custom sizes 6x6, 8.5x8.5, and 12x12. Of course, your printer must accept 12x12 paper to print in that size.
The program offers a great tutorial located in the help file. This tutorial is straightforward and easy to implement. It gives you an overview of most of the techniques for adding and adjusting clipart and photos. The help file is very informative, and I was able to find the answers to most of my questions quickly.
The templates that come with the program practically make the page for you. They make most of the complicated decisions about color and page design. Still, you can modify anything about the design that you want to change, and you can do it very quickly. You can import pictures or clipart in the following formats: JPG, TIFF, PDF and text in these formats: RTF, DOC, or TXT.
You can email saved scrapbooks by saving as PDF and you can make iPhoto books and send them to Apple to have printed.
The few negative comments that I have are related to customizing the program:

  • There is no Preference panel, but most of the items can be changed from other menus. 
  • The online support pages are not fully utilized at this time, but this should improve.
  • You cannot store your own clipart or templates in the clipart application, but you can add clip art, etc. to the scrapbook.
  • The photos cannot be resized from the keyboard in a window or palette, but must be dragged, which can be difficult for some people. It would be nice to have a way to type in the desired size of the picture, instead of dragging. 
  • Concerning the Bible verse quotes available in the clipart section, the Bible version used for the quote is not given, and none of the quotes appeared to be from the traditional KJV. It would be nice to offer these verses in the traditional version or at least tell what version is being quoted.
Overall the program is exceptionally well-written. It is clearly a Macintosh program, with good integration of Mac features. There are unlimited undos, which can be great if you start revising a project and decide to return to an earlier version. The program works with iPhoto, TextEdit, and several file formats for importing text and images. There is a large template and clipart collection, and the scrapbooking application allows you to add clipart, etc. from other places.
The list price for iRemember is $49.95 and includes nearly 500 clip art, quotes, templates, and backgrounds.  The company offers free online support. Software can be purchased directly from the manufacturer: Intriguing Development located in Blue Springs, MO (
www.MacScrapbook.com). Intriguing Development is a 8 year old software development company that was started by the original developers of FaxSTF fax software for Macintosh. Software is also available from various software suppliers like MacMall and Amazon for $44.99, as well as from CompUSA, J&R Music World, MicroCenter.