From the names you know to a print on the wall

The steps

1. Choose a design

   Start in the collections. Each design sets a sensible layout, style and print size for its occasion. All of them can be changed later without losing anything.

2. Choose how to begin

   There are three ways in, and you can mix them — import a file, then add the people it was missing.

   • Type names: start with one person, then add their parents, partners and children one at a time.
   • Import a GEDCOM file (.ged) exported from your genealogy software or website.
   • Import a CSV spreadsheet using the column layout shown below.

   A project you saved as a backup (.familytree.zip) opens again from My projects, photos included. A PDF, photo or scan of a finished chart can’t be imported — it shows the drawing, not who is whose parent or partner — so export GEDCOM from the program that made it, or type the family in.

3. Review what was read

   Before anything is used, the studio shows how many people, families and relationships it found, and explains anything it could not use — a photo reference, an unfamiliar field, a link to someone who is not in the file. Nothing is dropped without being listed.

   The file is read on your device; importing sends nothing to our server.

4. Put your family right

   Correct a spelling, add a missing grandparent, or link a child to the right parents. Each person can be living, deceased or left unspecified, and each parent can be biological, adoptive, step, guardian or foster.

   A person can have more than one partnership, each with its own children. Undo and redo are always there, deleting someone asks first, and the studio will not let anyone become their own ancestor.

5. Choose who belongs on the print

   Pick the person or couple at the centre, the branch to follow and how many generations to include. People you leave out stay safely in your family file for the next design.

6. Style and details

   Try any of the 10 styles. Show or hide years and places, add a title and a dedication, and — for portrait designs — add a photo for each person and set its crop.

7. Size and readability

   Choose the print size and orientation, and the layout re-flows to fit that sheet. The studio measures how large each name will actually print and tells you when a size is too small, so you can pick a larger size, fewer generations or a narrower branch — rather than discovering tiny type after printing.

   Read the print guide

8. Check the proof

   The proof lists every person included in the design, so you can go through names and dates before you print. It is the best moment to ask a relative to check the spelling of a great-aunt’s maiden name.

9. Download your files

   Download a vector PDF at the exact size, an SVG, PNG or JPG images, or the print bundle with everything together and a proof sheet — all free, with no watermark.

   Each file is made on our download server when you press its button: the names, dates and places in the project, your design choices and the photos on the design are sent, the file comes straight back, and the server does not save your project or photos. Notes stay on your device.

10. Come back any time

    Your project is saved in this browser as you work. Open it again from My projects to fix a name, add a new grandchild and make fresh files. Rename, duplicate or delete projects there, and export a project file to keep a backup or move it to another computer.