Electric Quilt 6? Worth it??

Dinosaur?!! Sounds like a spaceship to me >g< . In message , Connie writes

Connie,

I really enjoy using EQ6. Usually it's to figure out sizes and color placement. I"ve done some interesting layouts - and I'm always shocked when the finished quilt ends up pretty darn close.

If you're already working with graphic software like Adobe Illustrator, I'm sure you'll be fine.I made a queen size kaleidoscope a couple of years back - foundation-pieced and designed in AutoCad. Talk about a learning curve.

I can't really answer your question about what you want it to do - re: importing Adobe files. But over on the Electric Quilt site they have pretty active forums where the experts (official and non-) will gladly help you out.

One piece of advice - do NOT pay more than $149.99 for it (including tax/shipping/etc). Some shops I've seen are selling it for $175 and up. They are not allowed to sell it for less than the $149 (EQ has a Minimum Advertised Price Policy) but it's very annoying when they try to sell it over the price that EQ is selling it for on its site.

eBay actually has the best deals. A lot of longtime, reputable quilt- related software sellers are selling it for the $149 with free shipping. And every now and then, if you're lucky, someone lists up one for less. Like right*now*. NAYY

Just make sure they're new and, most important, unregistered.

A couple of weeks ago there was an unregistered version of EQ5 that went for around $50. That's a great deal because the upgrade is only $75 (this is the first time the software actually checks for previously registered versions.).

Good luck!

-Michele

Are the fabric requirements it gives pretty reliable? I really stink at figuring that sort of thing out - I'm always off by a GOOD bit. Math and I aren't on what you'd call a first name basis. :)

You ain't kiddin'. I'm a illustration geek and I've never been able to handle AutoCad. Tried to about 4 or 5 years ago (?) and stank something awful. :( Still have my copy though ...

Why do you use AC? Just curious ... mainly, so I can get a bit jealous. I've just never been able to "think" in 3D workspace. And I respect the heck outta anyone who can!

Yeesh ... everyone seems to be so driven to make an extra buck - even at the cost of someone else's budget or pocketbook. Thanks for the info

- last thing I want to do is encourage jerks like that!

I have to go to my LQS tomorrow (I'm featuring them in my eZine) and I'll probably buy it there ... whenever I can, I try to develop personal relationships with software sellers - they're usually a great source of info - which, more than likely, I'm going to need in BUNCHES. Besides, sucking up to your LQS is never a bad thing, IMHO! :)

Yeah ... about 5 years ago I bought what I thought was an unregistered copy of Adobe CS suite on eBay - turns out it was a pirate copy and I ended up having to buy it again FULL price (the first copy saved me only about $200) - so in the end I spent nearly twice for the same app. But when it comes to tech support, upgrading, etc, and nowadays activation, you HAVE to have the unregistered app.

Thank you VERY much, Michele! I'm really clueless on all this and really need the guidance! Thank you, thank you!! :)

You ever need anything, just let me know! :)

I have EQ5 & bought the upgrade to EQ6. I love it. I am not very good using it without having to refer to the books or the lessons, but I do like it. Planet Patchwork has it for $139.95. There are EQ Forums that are very good at answering questions. I'm sure they can help you.

Sherry Starr

Connie, I'm running EQ6 on my Mac, but I know what you mean about VPC. Before I got my current Mac, I was using VPC, and it's slllllllllloooooooooowwwwwww. The new Macs, though, have the Intel chip and can run Win apps *much* more quickly and nicely. :)

I've upgraded to EQ6 and like it very much. However, I have no experience with Illy and vectors, so I'm no help there. EQ6 is very easy to learn, IMHO, though. The big problem is that I don't see a way to design your quilts in any other program and import them into EQ6 -- unless you count tracing them and then recoloring. :S

I don't have an Intel yet ... hoping to get one by the end of the year, though. Can I ask how slow it was on your older machine? I'm running a G4 1.6GHz ... 2 GBs RAM. I'll bet you were running a G5, though ...

Usually, my Mac (slow G4 that it is - at least compared to Intels!!) is faster than the PC I have (but I promised it to my 10 yo son). So that's the biggest reason I haven't upgraded yet. Usually, it's more than fast enough to run Illy, Dreamweaver, InDesign, Photoshop, Word, Mail, two browsers, Thoth ... well, you get the picture!

*sigh*

Hmm ... I guess I wasn't really thinking that I could import Illy files into EQ ... WAS hoping though. It'd make it so much easier. I really want the advanced features that, AFAIK can't be found in Quilt Pro (which does come for the Mac and IS vector based) - the fabric swatches, the fabric requirements, etc.

I figure that EQ will help me get the look and feel of the pattern across to the publishers so communication about what to expect will be easier (and therefore, I might be more likely to get published). They love the patterns I've shown them, but need more info on what it will look like finished. Which, I'm hoping EQ can help me show ...

Sorry for rambling - I do that whenever I'm confused as heck! ;) And learning a new app def does that to me!! :)

I think I need to just bite the bullet and grab a copy tomorrow at my LQS (I can't stand waiting for shipping!) ... maybe put it on my son's PC and kick him out of the room! :)

Thank you so VERY, VERY much, Sandy!! :) You've been a HUGE help!! :) I'm sold!

I think you sound bright enough and savvy to go ahead! You seem streets ahead of me on the technical side. I love EQ6, it is a far superior product over its previous versions. Hugs Bronnie

Thanks, Bronnie - but my software and computer skills I attained gradually - over about 15 years, if not more. Meaning, I've got Illy down pat mainly because I've been with it over the years and added each little skill a little bit at a time!

I think EQ is going to be over my head for a LONG time - I'll bet that I'll still be struggling with the stuff you'd consider "little" and super easy, while you're zipping through it like there's no tomorrow - or like YOU coded it! :)

But I really DO appreciate the vote of confidence - it may be the only thing that keeps me from throwing my PC out the window during the learning curve!

I thought as much, but as I said before, the sites that praised EQ seemed to be the sites that SELL EQ, so I was a bit suspicious. Well, suspicious is too strong a word, I guess. I'll say "leery" or wary, I think. $150 is a lot of money to gamble on a product that I might not get much use out of. But from what you guys have said, it's a winner! It's settled - by this time tonight, I'll be harassing you guys asking questions about how to use it! :)

If you haven't already gathered it, I really appreciate you giving me advice!!! :)

Big ol' quilty hugs to you, Bronnie! If you ever need anything, just holler! :)

>

I'm going to tag my question on here, I've been wondering about asking for this as a birthday and/or christmas present, but I'm not sure how far it's capabilities go.

What is the range of stuff you can use to design a block, I mean, can you draw absolutely anything, but also snap to a grid? I'm thinking stuff like Pam Bono does, where the blocks often don't fit on a regular grid and aren't just half and quarter triangles, plus rectangles and squares.

What about designing something like a mariner's compass, I've recently been playing with a lot of designs that use circles and need to be able to mark angles around them, or divide an existing angle.

Sorry if these questions are a bit dumb, but I've no familiarity with any quilting software at all, so I've not idea whether it's a case of durrgh, of course they are in, or no, you need a blah blah blah to do that.

Cheers Anne

The web site says that you CAN create Mariner's compass quilts and that you have the option of "snapping to grid" or drawing freehand (so to speak).

In fact, one of the images shows someone designing a Pickle Dish quilt ...

I realize that I'm not much help - especially since I'm asking about EQ, too. But from the screenshots on their site that I've seen, they have more than the capabilities that you're looking for. My problem/issue with the app was more along the lines of the ability to "import" sketches/designs from other apps and export-ability as well (to other apps).

And how well it runs/how slow using Virtual PC (since I'm Mac primarily). :/

I use a PC and love my EQ6, though I'm not very advanced yet! I'm afraid your importation questions are beyond my capabilities/understanding.

I have invested in Fran Iverson Gonzalez 'EQ Simplified' and am finding it really good. I am doing the Mystery Quilt (tutorial) from the EQ Site, and found it mentioned settings I didn't know existed. Now I have my book it explains everything in the order I need to learn it.

Hey Connie:

Have you thought of contacting EQ Company. I've bought all their EQ versions except for the last one. Several years ago I met Pennie at a quilt show and her husband was there also. Her husband is the developer of the program. Over the years I've found them to very friendly and helpful. If I am not mistaken their company is in Bowling Green Ohio. Th only thing I've found a problem with EQ the older products is that when you import the fabric you have to import it in .bmp and this limits you on the true colors. Who knows maybe you can start a repoir with them and become a developer for them also, especially with a MAC version.

Just some thoughts...

Kate T. South Missisisppi

Have a look on the EQ site, especially here

This is where the clever people play! I'm still a beginner.

There is also a RCTQ EQ Yahoo group

lots of inspiring pictures there too, and lots of help and advice.

If so, it's because I think I'm trying to reinvent the wheel ... it sounds like EQ can do everything my Illy can do in terms of designing and illustrating - but I've been using Illy for nigh unto 15 years - and I'm an old dog and I don't learn tricks as well as I used to!

Mainly, I'm being greedy about the fabric swatches and the fabric requirements. I don't want to scan my fabric in and I sure as heck don't want to futz with figuring out how much of this and how much of that fabric for this block, and sew on. Math is NOT my best friend. :)

I'll snag that book while I'm out today! Thanks!! I'm positive that you just saved me hours of figuring all of that stuff out! Like I said, I know my apps (Adobe apps, mostly) because I've been there for every upgrade, every new feature (you should have seen Illy in the "old days"

- not nearly as useful and creative as it is today!) ...but starting off with a NEW app that's already evolved ... well, that's really intimidating!

Thank you SO much Sally! :) You ever need anything, just holler at me! :)

I think you're giving me WAY too much credit! :)

I couldn't do anything more than create a few Apple scripts (which is the lowest possible rung of scripting on a Mac)! But I would love it if they came out with a Mac version ... it's probably because we Mac-heads don't make up enough of their target client base - and even then, the majority of Mac-users are graphic artists, designers, web designers, video editing, etc. So, they'd probably end up with only 5% of their sales coming from Macs. If that. :/

Fabric swatches to BMP? BMP actually gives you a decent degree of color control - but you'd have to tweak the colors in Photoshop ... or invest in a Huey (I have one and I love it - $69 and PERFECT color!) to get perfectly accurate color ... If you all are needing help getting your swatch colors right, I can find a good tutorial (or make one) on color correcting .....

Thank you, Kate! You ever need anything, just holler! :)

Oops - 'EQ6 Simplified' - there was an EQ5 one, but you need the EQ6 one.

Oh, I hope you can! They're *so* nice! Mine is a mid-range MacBook, maxxed out on RAM and with a larger drive.

Nope -- I had a G3 iBook! I don't really know how to tell you how slow it was -- just that it was infuriatingly so.

And if your PC isn't capable of running XP, you can't put EQ6 on it, anyway. All the more reason to get that Intel Mac. ;)

I also have QP, Connie. Both apps are really good for different things. However, I will say that tech support and online help are much better for EQ than for QP. :S

Another way to learn EQ is to take some of the classes at Quilt University. I'm taking the EQ6 Sampler class right now, and it sort of "prods" me into learning the basics of this update. Some of the students in there have used EQ for several versions, and some are complete beginners, as you would be.

LOL! Good luck!

:D

Now, I'm even MORE jealous! :) Those are ... as my daughter would say ... SWEET!

I'm obsessed with Macs nearly as much as I am with quilting! If an art print or poster isn't quilt themed - it's Mac themed! Seriously! :)

Ooooh ... the iBooks' were NICE! I almost got one a while back ... but ended up getting a desktop (my G4). Mainly because my eyes ain't what they used to be ... and I figured that if I used a lappie, I'd have to have a larger monitor so .... but there are days that I would give my eye-teeth to have a lappie.

Actually, I don't have that excuse - about two years (tops) before I bought my Mac, I bought a top o' the line PC - even when my PC was brand spanking new, my (10 year old) Mac was still FASTER!

My PC isn't top of the line anymore - it's only a 2.6 GHz - but it's got XP on it. Even if it hasn't been sitting under my desk unplugged for the last 2 years, I'd STILL keep XP on it - Vista, I've heard from my PC tech buds is too quirky. Hubby was forced to upgrade to it (he works for the government - US Navy - civilian) and he's had tech support practically living in his office. And hubby's a PC guru himself!

But I'd rather suffer with VPC than futz with a PC anytime (no offense anyone) ... my Mac's faster than my PC, even modded out and with a bigger processor, ever was! :)

Does it have the "advanced features" that EQ has? Like fabric swatches and fabric requirements? Do they update the fabric swatch libraries regularly - or is it spotty? Those are the probably the biggest requirements I have ... if I could get the main features of EQ on Mac (meaning with QP) I'd go THAT route. Anything to avoid VPC or PC! ;)

Okay, here I am labeling myself a dinosaur again - what's Quilt University?? Looks like Google and I are going to be working overtime! ;)

Nahhh ... I'm still bigger than he is! Plus, I can just give him chores to do (the ultimate leverage in our house)!

Again, Sandy, thank you VERY much! You've really been a huge help! I might end up harassing you with MORE questions! :)