I found a copy of EQ5 for $50. Is this a good deal, or should I just "bite the bullet" and save up for EQ7?
I don't know how much I would use either program, so I don't want to spend a ton of money. What are some of your opinions on either version?
I would like to be able to do some of my own designs, but mostly I want to be able to see what my fabrics look like in different quilt patterns. Does EQ5 let you scan your fabrics to use in designs?
What features does EQ7 have that EQ5 (or 6) does not?

Thanks in advance for your responses!
~Heather

EQ5 is just as strong a program as 7. 7 has more new stuff and I haven't explored all of it yet but I love EQ5.

I had EQ5 for a few years before I got EQ7. I really liked it. You can scan in your own fabrics but the scale is harder to get right. I'm not sure of the differences-I've just barely played with EQ7.

I think it would be a good starting point. You can see if you like it and buy an upgrade if you do.

I would jump on an eq 5 for 50$. I can not afford the new one but 5 would be better then nothing

Is EQ5 the one with a set number of installs allowed? That could be a drawback.

No that is EQ 6

I looked at EQ5 and EQ6 before I bought my EQ7. The programs all sound good. One of the hyped features was the new fabric library - but for me that is not that important. I don't get that specific with my quilt 'playing'. The only reason that I HAD to go with EQ7 was I got a new computer earlier this year preloaded with Windows 7 and was afraid that any of the older versions would not run on my computer. I have had that ALOT with W7.

I started out with the original Quilt Wizard as my 'trial run' software. Love the software but not it's limitations. I really wanted to be able to draw my own blocks. So EQ7 was the right choice for me.

If your operating system will support it, I say go for it. If it doesn't work right for you then you can probably see it again. There are a few listed on eBay and EQ5 and EQ6 really seemed to go.

EQ 5 runs on Win7
EQ6 runs on Win7
EQ7 runs on Win 7

trust me I have all three installed - (just haven't taken any off)

I have EQ5 and love it. I thought about upgrading but since I don't have any problems with EQ5, why change?
Phyllis

I have Electric Quilt 5. I know it is old, but I only want to be able to import pictures of my fabrics so that I can see what my fabric choices and layout will look like. to import the picture? I know it has be be a BMP file, but I cannot get it to recognize the files when I try to import. I have resized the pictures down to less that 50kb. How much smaller does it have to be? Any help is appreciated. I do not want to scan pictures, I just want to use a picture that I took on my phone, I do know how to rescale and resize and change formats of a picture, but figure out the requirements are for EQ5.

I have EQ5 and honestly I only rarely use it. I favor Quilt Pro.

I have EQ5 and can't afford anything further than that and I love it. Chances are high I'm not going to get the others, I'd rather spend that money on fabric, thread, templates, rulers, etc. than to get another quilting program.

There's nothing wrong with using EQ5 instead of an upgrade. You can do lots of designing with it, just not really complicated designs. If you find, though, that you run into things you wish it could do, you might consider an upgrade later.

I found it easier to locate pictures of my fabrics on the internet, save them to my computer, then import into the program. They're already sized small enough, and they don't have any of the moire-type effects that usually affects the pictures I take myself. I never had EQ5, so I don't know enough to be able to walk you through how to import photos. But EQ has wonderful support, have you contacted them? They also have a FB page where someone might be able to help you.

I haven't used EQ5, but I agree with Peggi....it's easier to use pics of the fabrics online if you can find them. But some of mine are too old for that, so I have to just use something close.
I'm just learning too.

maybe one of these groups can help:
https://support.electricquilt.com/eq-user-groups/