Foundation Factory: Contents

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• How to Use Foundation Factory: An Overview
• About the Block Library
• Selecting a Folder
• Selecting Blocks
• Printing Blocks: An Overview
• Changing the Finished Size of a Block
• Changing the Finished Size of a Sectioned Block
• Using Metric Measurements
• Printing Multiple Copies of a Block
• Printing Options
• Using Standard Fonts
• View Sewing Instructions for a Block.
• Using Foundation Factory with Quilt-Pro

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How to Use Foundation Factory: An Overview


Foundation Factory has two screens. The first screen is the block folders screen. Here you can preview and select blocks to print. This screen is divided into two panes. The Folder pane shows you a list of folders. The block preview pane shows previews of the blocks.

In the second screen, the print screen, you preview the foundation pattern and a finished sample block. You then select the size of the block and the number of copies. Next, select any desired printing options and then print the block. Close the print screen to return to the block folders screen and select another block to print.

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About the Block Library


The Foundation Factory Block library contains over 500 blocks in 35 categories. The Borders Folder contains 25 border patterns.

Selecting a Folder


To select a folder, click on the folder in the folders pane. The selected folder will be highlighted.

Selecting a Block


To select a block within a folder, click once on the block preview button. The selected block will be highlighted.

To view the print screen for the block, either double click on the block preview button, or select the block and then click on the View or Open button.

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Printing a Block: Overview


To show the print screen, first select the block and then select the view or open button.


Print Screen: Foundation Factory has many printing options

Once you are viewing the print screen, you are ready to print the block. To print, set the printer options by clicking on the properties button next to the Printer Select drop-box. This will bring up your printer settings dialog box. Make any necessary adjustments.

Next, select the desired size and number of copies for the block and then click on the print button. Your printer will start printing the blocks automatically.

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Changing the Finished Size of the Block


To select the size of the finished block, simply enter the numbers in the Finished Block Size area on the Print Screen. You do not need to add the seam allowance. Foundation Factory automatically adds a 1/4" seam allowance to every block and every section in a sectioned block.

Distorting Blocks

You can distort a block by selecting different numbers for the width and height of the block. Foundation Factory will preview the block as you distort it. To keep the block's original proportions, select the Keep Proportions option.

Changing the Size of Sectioned Blocks


The finished size of sectioned blocks refers to the finished size of the block once the sections are sewn together. For example, If you wish the finished block to be 6 x 6 inches, then enter those dimensions. Foundation Factory will automatically section the block and space the sections.

You will need to enter both the horizontal and vertical measurements of the finished block. Foundation Factory shows the default measurements of the block, which is the size that the block was originally drawn. Since you can adjust the vertical and horizontal measurements independently, you can distort blocks by varying the vertical and horizontal measurements.

Using Metric Measurements


You can convert Foundation Factory to metric measurements by clicking on the English or Metric drop box in the Print Screen. Converting to metric will measure block demisions and the seam allowance in centimeters.

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Printing Multiple Copies of a Block


You can easily print multiple copies of any block by adjusting the Number of Copies setting on the Print Screen. Foundation Factory reports how many blocks you can print on a page and also how many pages it will take to print the desired number of copies. For example, if you wish to print 20 copies of a 3 x 3 inch block, Foundation Factory will calculate that it will take 5 pages and that it will print 4 blocks per page.

Multiple Copies of Sectioned Blocks

When Foundation Factory prints sectioned blocks, it automatically calculates the spaces between the sections when it reports the number of copies per page and the number of pages required.

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Printing Options


Foundation Factory includes several printing options:

Flip Horizontally: Flips the pattern and the printed foundation horizontally.

Flip Vertically: Flips the pattern and the printed foundation horizontally. You can flip a block both horizontally and vertically.

Mirror for Iron-On: Select this option to print a block on iron-on transfer paper. This option reverses the block, the title text and the numbers.



The Iron-On Option prints text backwards

Print with Grays: Prints a foundation block with certain areas shaded gray for easy visibility. When you select this option, Foundation Factory will preview the shaded block.



Print with Grays option shades the block

Draw Dashed Line: This option draws a dashed line for the seam allowance. The standard seam allowance is a dotted line.

Print Numbers: This option prints the numbers on the foundation block. This option is normally selected. When this option is not selected, the numbers do not print. Suggestion: Turn off the print numbers option if you are printing a small blocks with many pieces, such as a Log Cabins or Pineapple Blocks.

Pause between Pages: Select this option if you wish the printer to pause between pages. Pausing between pages is useful if you wish to hand-feed paper in your printer one sheet at a time.

Other Print Screen Options

Page Margins: Adjust the page margins to adjust the printing area on your page.

Help Button: Click on this button for help with the print screen.

Print Button: Click on this button to print the block.

Close Button: Click on this button to close the print screen and return to the block folders screen.


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Using Standard Fonts


If you experience any difficulty with Foundation Factory printing or displaying fonts, use the Standard Fonts option. When you check this option, Foundation Factory will display your computer's standard font on the screen. It will also use the default font when printing captions and numbers in blocks.

The Standard Fonts option is in the File Menu. To turn Standard Fonts on or off, simply check the Standard Fonts menu item.

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Using the Sewing Instructions


The Foundation Factory comes with a complete help file on how to sew foundation blocks. To look at the general sewing instructions, click here.

Some sectioned blocks have specific sewing instructions. For blocks with horizontal or vertical rows of sections, Foundation Factory provides you with general instructions for piecing these blocks. The blocks in the Quarter Blocks folder have piecing ideas for each block.

When you view sewing instructions for whole (non-sectioned) blocks, you will be taken to the general sewing instructions page.

Press the Sewing Instructions Button to get sewing instructions for the block on the print screen.

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Using Foundation Factory with Quilt-Pro


To find out how to use Foundation Factory with Quilt-Pro, click here.

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