OwlectCatalog Your Collection from Photos with AI
A whole shelf from one photo, or one item at a time
No spreadsheet to import and no catalog account to sync? Then your collection is the shelf or the box in front of you. On a collection's Import page, photograph a shelf, a box or a pile, and Owlect lists up to 20 items it can identify, with their names and your collection's own fields, for you to check before anything is added. For a single item, add its photo when you create it and tap Identify with AI. Items with a barcode go even faster: scan the barcode first, and keep the photos for everything else.
How it works
Create a collection for the pile
Sign in with Google and create a collection with the type that fits: LEGO, books, records, coins, games, or a custom type with your own fields. Owlect fills the fields that collection has, so pick the type before you start.
Barcode first, when there is one
If the item has a barcode, scan it with the button next to the Barcode field. A barcode match is exact and does not use any of your AI scans. Keep the photo for items with no barcode, or when the barcode finds nothing.
Photograph the whole shelf
Open the collection's Import page and choose a photo under “From a photo”: a shelf, a box or a pile, with spines, covers or labels facing the camera, in good light. One shelf photo uses 3 AI scans, and Owlect lists up to 20 items it recognizes. The photo itself is not saved.
Check the list, then add the items
Each item shows its name and the fields Owlect could fill. It is a best guess, so correct anything that is off and untick anything you do not want, then add them. Nothing is saved until you do, and the items arrive without a cover photo, so you can add your own photos later.
Add what the shelf photo missed, one item at a time
For an item the shelf photo missed, or one you want with its own cover photo, tap +, add a photo of that item and tap “Identify with AI”. It uses one AI scan, fills the fields that are still empty, and the photo stays as the item's cover. Your daily AI scans reset at midnight UTC, so a big pile can take a few sessions.
What gets imported
A shelf photo becomes up to 20 items, each with its name and the fields your collection has, added without a cover photo. A photo of a single item becomes that item, fills the fields that were still empty, and stays as its cover.
Frequently asked questions
Can I photograph a whole shelf at once?
Yes. On a collection's Import page, choose a photo of a shelf, a box or a pile under “From a photo”. Owlect lists up to 20 items it can identify, and you check and edit them before any are added. One shelf photo uses 3 AI scans, whether it finds many items or none, and the items are added without a cover photo. For an item the shelf photo missed, or to keep a photo as the cover, add that item on its own with Identify with AI.
How many items can I catalog from photos a day?
As many as your AI scans allow: the Free plan includes 3 a day, Owlect Plus 10 and Owlect Pro 20, with a monthly cap of 10 times the daily number. A single-item photo uses one scan and a shelf photo uses 3. For a big pile you can buy a one-time pack of scan credits (50, 250 or 1000 scans, from $2.99) on the AI scan credits page in the app (owlect.app/app/credits). Items you add from a barcode or type in yourself do not use AI scans.
Should I scan the barcode or take a photo?
Scan the barcode when there is one: the match is exact and does not use an AI scan. Take a photo when there is no barcode, when the barcode finds nothing, or for things like coins, cards and loose figures that never had one.
Is this faster than a CSV import?
Not if you already have a list. A spreadsheet of a few hundred rows imports in minutes with the CSV import. Photos are for the collection that only exists on the shelf: no list, no catalog account, just the items.
What if Owlect gets an item wrong?
Correct it before you save. The result is a best guess: common items are usually right, while rare variants, coins and obscure records are harder. Owlect only fills fields that are still empty, so anything you typed first stays as it is.
Helpful resources
More guides
Start with the shelf in front of you
Sign in with Google, create a collection and add your first items from a photo. The Free plan includes 3 AI scans a day, no credit card required.
Create a collection