Turning Your Family History into a Work of Art: A Guide for Designing Your Custom Chart

There is something truly magical about seeing your family’s story laid out before you. Whether it’s a gift for a loved one or a centerpiece for your own home, a custom-designed family chart is more than just names and dates—it’s a connection to the past and a legacy for the future.

At Family Chartmasters, we love helping you bring these stories to life. We want your experience to be as seamless and rewarding as possible, which is why we’ve put together this guide to help you prepare. Thinking through these details and taking a few steps to organize your data early on ensures that the final product is exactly what you’ve envisioned!

Key Questions to Consider Before We Design

To make sure your chart is perfect, take a moment to think about the following:

• The Vision: What is the primary goal for your chart? Are you looking to celebrate a couple by joining two families, trace a specific direct line, or map out multiple generations?
• The Scope: Who should be included? Are you focusing on ancestors, descendants, or both? Knowing the number of generations and if there are specific people you want to highlight (like those first ancestors who arrived in the US) helps us structure the layout.
• The Data: What specific details do you want to include?  Names only? Names, dates and places?  We can include as much or as little as you desire.
• The Aesthetic: Do you have a specific spot in your home already picked out for the chart? Knowing the size constraints helps us design the perfect fit.  What do you plan to do with your chart- display it in your home, roll it out for research purposes, or bring it to a reunion?
• Visual Elements: Would you like to include photographs to bring the names to life? Also, browsing our online gallery is a great way to see styles you love—let us know if something catches your eye!
• Budget: While not always necessary, keeping your budget in mind can help us guide you toward the best printing and design options for your needs.

Pro-Tips: Preparing Your Data for a Flawless Design

A little "data hygiene" goes a long way in ensuring your chart looks professional and polished. Here are a few tips to get your files ready for our designers:

• Clean Up Your Data: Take a moment to standardize your information. Ensure names and formats are consistent throughout your file. Check your place names- decide if you are using full names or abbreviations for cities, states and/or countries.
• Friendly Reminder: If you have a specific preference, such as a name you know a family member by, you can always update that information in your personal genealogy file before sending it to us. Please keep in mind that our programs do not automatically change names based on marriage history, so a little bit of manual updating on your end ensures the chart says exactly what you want it to say.
• Avoid Emojis: Please ensure there are no emojis in your genealogy files. While they are fun in texts, they can cause unexpected formatting issues or "broken" characters when our design software pulls your information.
• Quality First for Photos: If you’d like to include photos, please provide high-quality files. Avoid pulling images directly from social media, as they are often compressed and too low-resolution for large-format printing.
• Helpful File Naming: When sending photos, please use uncropped originals and include the specific name of the person in the file name. This helps us ensure that the right face is always matched to the right name on your tree!

Ready to Get Started?

Designing a family chart is a journey of discovery. By considering these details ahead of time, you’re helping us craft a beautiful, accurate, and meaningful heirloom that your family will treasure for generations.

Visit our site to browse chart options, or start with a free consultation!

Do you have an idea in mind, or are you just beginning to explore your options? We would love to hear from you—let’s start building your story today!