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General => Technical Help => Family History Programs, Tree Organisation, Presentation => Topic started by: lostnconfused on Monday 08 January 07 19:40 GMT (UK)

Title: Im sure this seems obvious but..... how do you get good quality printed trees ?
Post by: lostnconfused on Monday 08 January 07 19:40 GMT (UK)
This is going to make me out as a complete 'noob' but i have to ask.

What do you all do about printing out the data you have.

We have decided to use ancestry.co.uk online tree for the data then back up a gedcom and sometimes view via family tree maker 2006, but in truth it's not great for printing out stuff.

I can imagine some on here have thousands of people on their trees, so what do you do?

Is there a software package that allows a better printing job or do we all call a local printer with massive presses?

Title: Re: Im sure this seems obvious but.....
Post by: foggyjano on Monday 08 January 07 19:47 GMT (UK)
I think you have a valid point.  I tried to print mine out from GenesReunited but the colours were not very good and it lacks a Professional look, I also tried to done one myself using powerpoint/word but it is not looking good either!!.

Hope someone comes up with a good answer... and well done for asking!

Foggyjano 
Title: Re: Im sure this seems obvious but.....
Post by: lostnconfused on Monday 08 January 07 19:49 GMT (UK)

Phew,

So im not the only one...thats a relief.

 ;D
Title: Re: Im sure this seems obvious but.....
Post by: foggyjano on Monday 08 January 07 19:59 GMT (UK)
Hey I noticed one of your family look ups is Davis from Manchester, where abouts in Manchester? I have Davies but they come from Staffordshire before moving to Manchester and we have the E in Davies....and i am sure we are not the only ones regarding printing our family trees out.. my unlce wants a copy but i want it to look good before i give him a copy!!! 
Title: Re: Im sure this seems obvious but..... how do you get good quality printed trees ?
Post by: meles on Monday 08 January 07 20:02 GMT (UK)
Simply - I don't print my whole tree: far too much!

I use FTM to print selected bits, such as pedigree; or descendents of particular ancestors, which works well.

meles
Title: Re: Im sure this seems obvious but..... how do you get good quality printed tree
Post by: lostnconfused on Monday 08 January 07 20:04 GMT (UK)

We havent done too much on the Davis' but they seem to be dyed in the wool without the E and firmly NW.

But then one never knows.

Andy
Title: Re: Im sure this seems obvious but..... how do you get good quality printed trees ?
Post by: foggyjano on Monday 08 January 07 20:20 GMT (UK)
I have just read a good idea on another link, putting the family tree on a dvd, could put it in story form.  My printer HP has a memory's software where you can put things on a dvd, might play around with that, but it doesnt give a hard copy that you can put in a picture frame though does it...The LDS site has family tree software for sale on their website, has some nice "pictures".

My Davies are NW but there are loads of em round here.. very popular name no matter on the spelling...lol... I have not even started on that side of the family yet, i think my cousin might have dabbled....
Title: Re: Im sure this seems obvious but..... how do you get good quality printed tree
Post by: lostnconfused on Monday 08 January 07 20:27 GMT (UK)

The idea of a DVD goes to the heart of the problem doesnt it, what to do with all that data and information.

Im fully technoed up adnlove dabbling with video and image but it isnt to everyones tastes and i kow that im gonna  get frustarted trying to explore the tree with the elders if it aint printed.

That is a nightmare scenario i dont want to consider.

Andy
Title: Re: Im sure this seems obvious but..... how do you get good quality printed trees ?
Post by: Lesanne on Monday 08 January 07 21:01 GMT (UK)
  As Meles said, just a little at one time.

   ;D Poor Berlin Bob, has spent hours trying to help me with a website......  ;D

So I am saving the pages, ready to go on-line in the mean time they are being printed off, with ancestor/descendant, relavant info stories etc with small (3/4 generations) of tree, to each person.
I've also themed and coloured each generation with family line.

The oldies in my family can't take to much info in one go, like we can. To look at a "whole" tree is bigger than the floor space.

The interested reply is "hmmm.... lots of people in our family".  :-\

  ;) Ask around office stationers, they often make into booklets, A4 size pages.

I have put mine into a "classy" scrap book. It has plastic pockets, acid free so not to spoil the photo's. Got together a "collage" of materials to add to the themes. Printed off in the fonts, for the era's.

A grown up's school topic really.......  :D
                              Lesanne.
Title: Re: Im sure this seems obvious but..... how do you get good quality printed tree
Post by: lostnconfused on Monday 08 January 07 21:09 GMT (UK)

Nothing like being a big kid at heart then?

I must admit that the priting of the tree is something i didnt consider at all when we started.

The idea that 403 people could be spread over the equivalent of the amazon rainforest never occured!

Maybe i should start a new business?

Andy
Title: Re: Im sure this seems obvious but..... how do you get good quality printed trees ?
Post by: Michael72. on Monday 08 January 07 21:19 GMT (UK)
 ;D ;D ;D...It looks like the question everyone wants to know but have been tooooo frightened to ask......

I've tried always available to print out my Tree from FTM.....If I let it, it would run to about 40 or more A4 pages which have to be 'Glued' together in some semblance of order and look far from 'Pretty' believe me...

Sooooo, here is another 'Old Noob' putting his hand up hoping that there is some Smartass here who can shine the way forward.....

I bought a 'Family Tree' Scroll, it's about 3'x4', and although my calligraphy ain't tooo bad, the job itself is kind of daunting, and when and if I ever get everyone on it, then what?....that's why it's still in the cupboard... ;D ;D...

Putting the whole 'Tree' on CD or DVD is a breeze....but what about putting it on your wall as well as the walls of interested Rellies....

Michael72.
Title: Re: Im sure this seems obvious but..... how do you get good quality printed trees ?
Post by: Lesanne on Monday 08 January 07 21:28 GMT (UK)
    ::) Talk of scrolls got me to thinking...  :-\

 Remember the rolls of computer paper that got torn off at the required point....

     Hmmmm.......  ??? So do/can that still be obtained and would portrait layout, continually....
                        Lostnconfuddled meself now.   ;D   Lesanne.
Title: Re: Im sure this seems obvious but..... how do you get good quality printed trees ?
Post by: Stumped! on Monday 08 January 07 21:55 GMT (UK)
My copy of FTM 2006 came with a free copy of Charting Companion.
It prints some great trees but there's no way to get more than a few dozen onto one piece of paper.
It does, however also put them into pdf format, with links to earlier ancestors.
I don't know whether it's still free or not but this link should show you some of the types of charts it produces. 
Peter
http://www.progenygenealogy.com/ftm-charting-companion-details.html
Title: Re: Im sure this seems obvious but..... how do you get good quality printed tree
Post by: lostnconfused on Monday 08 January 07 22:39 GMT (UK)


PSB,

That seems like the best programme i've seen fo printing and indeed manipulating the presentation of a tree.

Im almost a Yprkshireman when it comes to frugality though so will search for a freebie download ;-)

Andy
Title: Re: Im sure this seems obvious but..... how do you get good quality printed trees ?
Post by: foggyjano on Monday 08 January 07 22:56 GMT (UK)
they have some free charts on GenesReunited, fan shaped, and pedigree charts....

Looks like having one big tree might be hard to do ourselves, I thought of the scrap book method, but when you have family members wanting copies, could be costly...but i know what you mean about older members of the family trying to keep up watching a dvd.. i had enough trouble teaching my mum to text message!!!!
Title: Re: Im sure this seems obvious but..... how do you get good quality printed tree
Post by: lostnconfused on Monday 08 January 07 23:01 GMT (UK)

Is it me or are we looking at hand written on a roll of Colorol solution  :P  :o
Title: Re: Im sure this seems obvious but..... how do you get good quality printed tree
Post by: Berlin-Bob on Tuesday 09 January 07 07:52 GMT (UK)
Check out some the links in this topic for more ideas:

Topic: RootsChat Topics: Organising and Presenting your Family History
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,158638.0.html

Bob
Title: Re: Im sure this seems obvious but..... how do you get good quality printed trees ?
Post by: newbie on Tuesday 09 January 07 12:39 GMT (UK)
There is a program that can draw trees I've seen it a Family History Fairs
Tree Draw CD
http://www.acorns2oaks.info/tree_draw.htm
available here,
professional printers are also available specifically for large trees - when you eventually finish I suppose! they offer to do the tree from your software file, and support most software.  The output I have seen is excellent although I haven't had one done - yet.
Newbie
Title: Re: Im sure this seems obvious but..... how do you get good quality printed trees ?
Post by: AnjiM on Tuesday 09 January 07 13:42 GMT (UK)
If you want to get tree onto a single page then I can recommend  http://www.genealogyprinters.com/.

I've ordered a couple of trees from them and the service has always been excellent.  You send a GEDCOM file and you get the opportunity to view the tree online before you agree to go ahead with the order.

Admittedly the print can be quite large.  I have one which is about 3' x 2' but this contains about 10 generations on my mothers side.

It's great to keep on the wall as a visual, but can be quite extravagant if you're in the early stages of your research.

I use Family Historian for organising my research.  The package includes a useful tool for generating diagrams, which is great if you want to print a diagram of only a small section of your family.  But it does mean that you need to stick lots of A4 pages together if you want to print a large tree! 
Title: Re: Im sure this seems obvious but..... how do you get good quality printed trees ?
Post by: foggyjano on Tuesday 09 January 07 15:11 GMT (UK)
that looks like a good site to use,  not that expensive either especially if you can view before you order.... so having to use colour-roll isnt look as attractive now..lol
Title: Re: Im sure this seems obvious but..... how do you get good quality printed tree
Post by: lostnconfused on Tuesday 09 January 07 15:29 GMT (UK)

Damn thats £6.99 wasted...

Definitley look like the way to go though.

Just a few dozen entries and were done...erm maybe not.
Title: Re: Im sure this seems obvious but..... how do you get good quality printed trees ?
Post by: Michael72. on Tuesday 09 January 07 16:47 GMT (UK)

I don't suppose, if we all asked nicely, that Coloroll might bring out a wallpaper whereby the pattern just happens to be a Family Tree waiting to be filled in??!!.........Just a thought...... ;D ;D


Michael72.
Title: Re: Im sure this seems obvious but..... how do you get good quality printed tree
Post by: lostnconfused on Tuesday 09 January 07 17:07 GMT (UK)

Hmmmm, i think youre a genius.

I have an advance order of 2 rolls waiting......
Title: Re: Im sure this seems obvious but..... how do you get good quality printed trees ?
Post by: Nutty1966 on Tuesday 09 January 07 17:11 GMT (UK)
My tree is not actually ready for printing yet, but I did ask my Oh re this topic, he works in IT, he says when I am ready to put on to disc then he will take it to work and print it off for me, he says the paper size will be like a roll of wallpaper.

I will ask him what it entails etc, and best keep him sweet  ;D

Jane
Title: Re: Im sure this seems obvious but..... how do you get good quality printed trees ?
Post by: newbie on Wednesday 10 January 07 08:19 GMT (UK)
What I have planned to do is -
1. Export my tree from my gen software to a pdf file.
2. Take to my local art centre - which has a digital media centre and an A3 printer that prints on rolls of paper, the only size limit is the length of the roll!
3. Print file!   jobs done!
Well I hope so!
I'm sure there are other centres where you can do the same, mine has open access days, where you can use the puters and software and the printer and scanner for £6 per day. not too bad eh?
Newbie  ;D
Title: Re: Im sure this seems obvious but..... how do you get good quality printed trees ?
Post by: Suttonrog on Wednesday 10 January 07 08:38 GMT (UK)
I have Family Historian which produces great trees that you can customise.

I am also lucky enough to have access to an A0 plotter which also prints on roll.

Having wasted several expensive rolls of paper I have come to the conclusion that the idea of trying to produce a readable tree for more than a couple of generations is an utter waste of time and money. Three generations of large families gets enormous.

I assume people want them for display. For my files I just use A4 and 2 generations per sheet with a reference to the nest sheet.

Sutton Rog
Title: Re: Im sure this seems obvious but..... how do you get good quality printed trees ?
Post by: pjbuk007 on Saturday 13 January 07 22:14 GMT (UK)
I only just chucked out an A3 dot matrix printer.  But probably could not have got the drivers, anyway.

The printshop idea seems good, but not sure what output to take there.  Have FTM but got that charting companion with it, have never looked at it.

Yet another New Year Resolution!
Title: Re: Im sure this seems obvious but..... how do you get good quality printed trees ?
Post by: eveder on Tuesday 23 January 07 10:57 GMT (UK)
Your problem is solved if you can obtain a CD of Softkey's Family Tree' It is Quite old. Writen for Windows 3.1 & 95 but works without trouble on Xp. Prints in many formats but ideal for printing sections of tree on A4 and joning up to suit requirements.   
Title: Re: Im sure this seems obvious but..... how do you get good quality printed tree
Post by: RJ_Paton on Tuesday 23 January 07 11:34 GMT (UK)
Another option is to use a pdf printer driver and save your files as pdf files in which you can set the paper size to A0.

Have a look at  http://www.cutepdf.com/ (the free one is the top one in the list)
Title: Re: Im sure this seems obvious but..... how do you get good quality printed tree
Post by: Josephine on Wednesday 31 January 07 22:59 GMT (UK)
This isn't a tree but the website has some good forms:

http://www.byubroadcasting.org/ancestors/charts/

Regards,
Josephine
Title: Re: Im sure this seems obvious but..... how do you get good quality printed trees ?
Post by: janescroft on Friday 02 February 07 00:40 GMT (UK)
;D
You could always buy loads of end of line wallpaper rolls from B&Q etc and start at one end!
Personally I use descendants of the oldest person for each side of the family and keep this with all the info i have collected on that particular branch. As it gives the generations it is quite easy to see at a glance who was of the same era.
Title: Re: Im sure this seems obvious but..... how do you get good quality printed trees ?
Post by: drifter on Wednesday 09 April 08 13:45 BST (UK)
I have done something similar, by only printing mums and dads to me and the wife, and continued with that, I can get the whole tree on 8 x a4, then separately i have 2 or 3 sheets with all the kids from each  family's, then the whole thing is stuck to wallpaper lengths for ease and so i can add people and dates as they come in, then i reprint  when the whole things looks messy with my scribble.

regards

Drifter

Keeeep searching
Title: Re: Im sure this seems obvious but..... how do you get good quality printed tree
Post by: Mumsie2131 on Wednesday 09 April 08 15:56 BST (UK)
2 alternatives - ~Roots Magic has an option to record a read only CD.  There are companies who will do it for you :-
www.genealogyprinters.com
and www.acorns2oaks.info

(NOt sure about the second web-site address but the email is info [--at--] acorns2oaks.info



Moderator Comment: e-mail edited, to avoid spamming and other abuses.
Please replace [AT] with @
Title: Re: Im sure this seems obvious but..... how do you get good quality printed tree
Post by: LizzieW on Wednesday 09 April 08 17:27 BST (UK)
This looks a good site to buy A4 binders when you've printed off your tree:

www.my-history.co.uk/acatalog/Family_History_Book_Making.html

I thought I'd get copies of my tree printed by www.genealogyprinters.com  and then buy some binders, print off all the information I've collected about all the ancestors/descendants stories etc, including the tree from genealogy printers and make up books for my children. As I've 6 children, it will be quite an expensive exercise, but I'd like them to see what I've been doing all these years.

Lizzie
Title: Re: Im sure this seems obvious but..... how do you get good quality printed tree
Post by: Gene Genius on Thursday 29 May 08 23:09 BST (UK)
I discovered this lovely little family tree template by chance one day.

I have used it several times for relatives who are not as keen as I am on Family History but would just like to know a little bit of information a couple of generations back.

http://genealogy.about.com

Look down the columns till you see something about printing off your own tree.

It can be saved and sent through the mail.
Title: Re: Im sure this seems obvious but..... how do you get good quality printed trees ?
Post by: jennyrob on Thursday 29 May 08 23:34 BST (UK)
I and some friends have had a tree printed by www.maxbal.co.uk He is so patient,and  his prices are really good Take a look at his website
Please mention my name Jenny

 
Title: Re: Im sure this seems obvious but..... how do you get good quality printed trees ?
Post by: Gatacre on Friday 30 May 08 14:50 BST (UK)
but i know what you mean about older members of the family trying to keep up watching a dvd.. i had enough trouble teaching my mum to text message!!!![color=Blue

I am not so sure that this is correct.  Being in my mid eighties and relatively new to a computer and the rest of the techno stuff, I find that after doing FH  for the past 32 years it is the younger members of the family who ask me to enter everything because I know it all!!...despite updating them on any newer info which is discovered so that it can be entered into their tree.

However. I have found that Roots Chat is something that most of need.

Just flying the flag for THOSE OLDIES.  We can still learn!!

Gatacre