Install and use QuiltLab for Adobe Illustrator

Before you start

QuiltLab for Adobe Illustrator connects your Illustrator artwork to your QuiltLab account. The plugin is free; your normal QuiltLab account limits apply. You need an internet connection and an account at QuiltLab. The published plugin is version 0.2.2 for Mac. It supports Illustrator 2025 and 2026, versions 29.0 through 30.8.2. Native testing covers Illustrator 29.8.11 and 30.8.2 on macOS 26.6 with Apple silicon. Windows and Illustrator versions outside this range are not supported in this release.

You also need an Adobe account and the Creative Cloud desktop app, version 5.3 or later, to install from the Marketplace. If you do not have a QuiltLab account yet, create an account before connecting the plugin.

Install from Adobe Marketplace

1. Open QuiltLab for Adobe Illustrator on Adobe Marketplace.
2. Choose Free and sign in to your Adobe account if asked.
3. Read the End-User License Agreement. If you agree, choose Accept and Continue.
4. Adobe shows Acquired. This means the plugin has been added to your Adobe account; it has not necessarily been installed on your Mac yet.
5. Choose Install. Allow your browser to open the Creative Cloud desktop app if it asks, then follow the app's installation prompts.
6. In Creative Cloud, open Stock & Marketplace > Plugins > Manage plugins and check that QuiltLab for Adobe Illustrator shows Installed.
7. Save any open Illustrator documents, quit Illustrator, and reopen it.

Already acquired the plugin? Use Manage on the Adobe listing to find it again, or open Manage plugins in Creative Cloud. You do not need to acquire it twice.

Open the QuiltLab panel

In Illustrator, choose Window > Extensions > QuiltLab. Some versions name the submenu Extensions (Legacy). Select QuiltLab to open its panel.

Connect your QuiltLab account

1. In the plugin panel, choose Sign in to QuiltLab.
2. Open the approval page in your browser and sign in to your QuiltLab account.
3. Check that you started this connection, then approve the plugin.
4. Return to Illustrator. Choose Continue if prompted.

The release connects to QuiltLab automatically; there is no server URL to enter. Your Adobe sign-in installs the plugin; your QuiltLab sign-in connects your projects.

Import into an existing project

1. Open the .ai file in Illustrator and make it the active document.
2. Open the plugin's Import tab.
3. Select the destination project. You need permission to edit that project.
4. Choose Import as Canvas and wait for the result.
5. Review any skipped-artwork notices, then choose Open Canvas in QuiltLab.

Each successful import creates a new Canvas. It does not overwrite an existing Canvas or keep the two applications automatically synchronized.

Import into a new project

Choose + New project in the destination picker, enter a project name, then choose Create project and import. This works even if your account has no projects yet. QuiltLab creates the project, gives you owner access and adds the Canvas together. If the import fails, it does not leave an empty new project. Project and Canvas plan limits still apply.

If the connection drops after submitting, use Retry the same import. This reuses the original request so a lost response does not create duplicate projects or Canvases. Start another import only when you intend to create another Canvas.

Export to Illustrator

Open Export, select a QuiltLab project and choose Export to Illustrator. Review the preview before confirming. Supported Canvas paths and vector blocks are written into a new Illustrator document. If the preview lists omissions, continue only if the supported subset meets your needs. A partial export reports its warnings and errors; inspect the resulting document before saving it.

Quilt layouts, patterns, raster-fabric round trips and automatic restoration of QuiltLab asset identity are not supported in this release. Keep your original artwork and review the converted result.

Connection and recovery

If sign-in fails, check that your browser can open QuiltLab, then use Try again. Your organization may need to allow HTTPS access to QuiltLab. The plugin does not require a local development server. If an older beta shows a localhost URL, update to the current release.

Sessions expire after 24 hours or when the linked browser session becomes invalid. Sign in again when asked. Settings > Sign out revokes the plugin session without signing your browser out.

If Illustrator is still processing an operation, wait for it to finish. Use Check Illustrator status when offered and inspect the document before retrying. For support, choose Settings > Save diagnostic report. The report is saved to your Desktop and excludes artwork and credentials. Send the report and a description of the problem to support@quiltlab.co.

If installation does not work

Creative Cloud does not open

Open the Creative Cloud desktop app yourself, check for its updates, and return to Adobe Marketplace to choose Install again. Use the same Adobe account that acquired the plugin. If the app stays on Initializing Creative Cloud after an update, quit and reopen Creative Cloud, then try again.

The QuiltLab panel is missing

Check Stock & Marketplace > Plugins > Manage plugins in Creative Cloud. The plugin should show Installed. Save your work and restart Illustrator, then check both Extensions and Extensions (Legacy) in the Window menu. Also check that your Illustrator version is in the supported range above.

A previous beta is already installed

Creative Cloud may report that the plugin is already installed. A copy installed from a file can differ from the Marketplace version. Check its Version Installed in Manage plugins before replacing it. If you want to move from a beta to the Marketplace release and are unsure how, contact support with the installed version and your Illustrator version. You do not need to enable developer mode for the Marketplace release.

Adobe reports an installation error

Use Adobe's Installation Help linked from the listing. If the error remains, email support@quiltlab.co with the error text or code, your macOS and Illustrator versions, and a screenshot of the message. If you can open the plugin, include its diagnostic report from Settings.

Privacy

The plugin sends artwork geometry and project identifiers to QuiltLab when you request an import or export. It stores its login credential locally. Browser approval uses QuiltLab's sign-in system. Read the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service for account and service information.