How to Make a Family Tree Template

Creating a family tree is a project all family members will enjoy. By tracing their lineage, family members can document ancestors as well as inscribe special dates such as birthdays and anniversaries. Choosing a diagram-like family tree template take very little time to design, but can be impersonal. Instead, photograph your favorite tree to use as the basis of the the template for a more custom design. Choosing a starting point for the template, such as a married couple’s ancestry, will document a road map for their new family, leaving open spaces as the family tree grows.

Things You'll Need

• Tree photo
• Graphic design software
• Copyright-free tree photo (optional)
• Glossy or matte paper

Instructions

1. Scan a photo of your favorite tree into your personal computer’s graphic design software program. As an alternative, download a copyright-free photo of a tree.

2. Outline the photo with a linear or curve drawing tool. Keep in mind that the higher the tool number, the thicker your drawing tool becomes. Save the outline on a separate file for future reference or changes.

3. Trace the tree’s trunk as well as leaves with your curve drawing tool. Keep in mind that each program varies. Save the revised tree outline on a separate file within your program.

4. Choose a symbol such as a rectangle, oval, triangle or circle to fill in your ancestry information. As an alternative, opt to add your family names on a single line, connecting lines in a diagram-like tree.

5. Superimpose a symbol of your choice or family crest onto your family tree layout page.

6. Choose one side of your tree for your maternal ancestry; the other side will be for the paternal ancestry. For example, if you are making a family tree for a husband and wife, position the names at the center of the tree with the marriage date. Each side will have parent, grandparents and great-grandparent information. Extend branches from the couple to represent spaces for the children, leaving open spaces as the family grows. Save your revised tree in a separate file.

7. Choose complementary colors for your leaves, branches, and trunk as well as a background color for your family tree. For example, for a vintage inspired family tree, choose a tinted beige background with washed green and brown color hues for the tree.

8. Print your tree on glossy or matte paper. Keep in mind that glossy paper generally does not accept ink from a writing instrument. If you are handwriting your information using a decorative font such as calligraphy, you will need a type of paper finish that will allow you to directly write onto the paper.

References

• “Layout Workbook: A Real World Guide to Building Pages in Graphic Design;” Kristin Cullen; 2007