Family ChArtist--Colors and Fonts

A quick note on a couple of simple features.

First: Color
Besides being able to choose lots of backgrounds and embellishments in all sorts of color combinations, you can also change the colors of the title font and genealogy chart font.


Then Box Styles:
You also have a couple of types of boxes to choose from: white, transparent box, and no box.


And then we've given you some of our favorite fonts. You can see how different fonts change the feel of the genealogy chart.


So you are completely in charge of how you display your family. Be thinking about which you want to use. March 8th is coming right up.

Exciting days and angels, and late blog posts.

Well it's been quite a day.

I left for St. George early this morning. Kim and everyone else were planning to come down later in the day. I was making good time and I was feeling good about being a bit early. The car was running great. About three hours into the trip, the car started to lose power. Slowly, Slowly, I watched the speedometer fall until I had to pull over to the side of the road. And the car died. Smoke billowing out of the front and everything.

Though stressed, I just started to laugh. It just topped the cake. With everything going on, rolling out Family ChArtist this weekend in St. George and all sorts of other things that have happened the last couple of weeks that you wouldn't even believe, there was just nothing else to do but laugh. Perhaps it shows that we are on the right track when we run into problem after problem. Such is the life of a genealogy company.

After an hour wait, and being towed into the nearest city, the mechanic had "wonderful" news. The radiator cap was completely off and the motor was completely burned out. Apparently when Kim took the car in to have the oil changed last night, the mechanic there didn't put the radiator cap back on.

When I called Holly Hanson (Family History Expos) to tell her that I wasn't going to make it with some of the stuff she needed, she didn't hesitate. She immediately sent her wonderful husband Chris with the truck and the trailer, on a several hour trip to pick me up.

Now Holly was at the conference center organizing everything for the approximately 1500 people expected this weekend. The company that runs her website had complications this week and not only has the conference website been down the week before this conference, but all of the backups were lost and it looks like she has nothing to reconstruct from. At the very least you would have thought she would need the help of her husband this afternoon. But Holly is just that kind of person. She didn't even think twice. She just sent him off to rescue me. So I now officially nominate her for sainthood. She is already an angel.

Eventually everyone got to the conference center. Everything is set up to go and we are ready for a good night sleep. Wish us good luck. It can't get much more exciting.

Family ChArtist--Great pricing and multiple delivery options.

This post isn't going to show more beautiful charts. But it does talk about something that I know most people are interested in. MONEY. How much is this going to cost me?

Well first--How does FREE sound?
We decided to do something fun with this application and let you go ahead and use it with your printer at home. So when you order an 8.5x11 the pricing is FREE. You just go through the order process, and instead of getting a chart in the mail, a save screen comes up like this:
You just save the .jpg file(good quality file) to your computer and then you can print it or use it however you want. I can think of all sorts of uses for beautiful 8.5x11 charts. Scrapbooking, Family History Books, lots of things. How are you going to use it?

Then, with 16x20, 20x24, 24x30, 24x36, 30x40, and 36x48 we knew that most people don't have large plotters and printers at home, so we wanted to make it as easy as possible to make larger charts as well. Luckily, we're a printing company (that works out well ;-). So we can take care of that for you. You just click the order button, fill out your information and lickety split, the chart arrives in your mail rolled in a tube.
And because we are a printing company we can give you 8 options for different types of paper.

• --20lb Bond Paper. A bond paper that is about as heavy as typing paper. It is not archival, perfect for research charts that are going to be written on and added to. Not heavy enough for good picture quality. Imprecise color.
  
• --24lb Presentation Paper. A quality presentation paper that is about as heavy as typing paper. It is archival, bright white, UV coated, perfect for charts with decorative elements.
• --40lb Professional Paper. A quality presentation paper that is about as heavy as cardstock paper. It is archival, bright white, UV coated, perfect for charts with decorative elements.
• --Glossy Photo Paper. An archival 80lb heavy glossy photo paper. The gloss makes photos appear crisp and clear. Printed with archival inks.
  
• --Parchment Paper. An archival 60 lb cardstock weight paper. Antique looking with a marbled beige color. Not particularly good for photos as the marbling shows through the image. Only available up to 24x36 inches wide.
• --Vinyl Banner Medium weight vinyl, suitable for outdoor use. (I have seen it used for tablecloths and placemats.)
  
• --Artist Grade Canvas. A heavy matte archival artist's canvas. The canvas giclee printing process is the same archival quality as a fine art reproduction from an art gallery. A rich, beautiful medium for a classic looking genealogy chart. The light texture helps lower quality antique pictures look cleaner.
• --Stretched Canvas. Artist Grade Canvas above, stretched on stretcher bars like a piece of art. Ready to hang.
  

Then... With anything larger than an 8.5x11 chart we give you two options. Besides printing, you can also order a .pdf (high quality file). That comes in an email to your email account just minutes after you order it. The price for a pdf of any size chart is $34.95. You can take this file to your local printer--say if you needed something today--but you'll probably end up spending more than if you just had us print it.

And then... As always with any genealogy chart Generation Maps prints, any extra copies are 1/2 price. Yep, always been that way here. Then, you can create charts for your brothers and sisters, Mom and Dad, favorite Aunt, partner in crime Cousin. Great gifts that mean something, inspire your family with your family's heritage, and helps encourage other genealogists in the family.

And we keep you informed of the pricing while you create your chart, with a handy little box down in the right corner. So you'll always know what you are getting into. Great genealogy charts at great prices.

Family ChArtist--Even if you don't like genealogy

You've probably noticed in some of our samples, there isn't really any genealogy there. What's up with that? Is this a genealogy program or not?Well, we wanted to give you some extra functionality. Over the years we've seen genealogy charts done lots of different ways, and while we have plans for offering different layouts in the future, we've also left it open for you to do other designs.Photo collages are often popular in family history too.I'm waiting for the first person who will do a canvas giclee from one of our backgrounds or embellishments without any text at all. At our giclee prices, you can see that those would make great home decor for much less than you would get at your local boutique or art gallery.
And of course, as always, the new website will include options for printing your modern or antique photos as canvas giclees. They are a beautiful way to display your family history. The texture of the canvas is very forgiving to a grainy family history photo or a copy of a copy of a copy. And the canvas is so archival you can even run it through the washing machine. But more on paper options and pricing tomorrow.

Family ChArtist Video

I've never been so flattered/nervous/excited. Mark Tucker has graciously made us an introductory video. I'm so honored that he's so excited about the new program. He has a wonderful graphic mind and for him to like Family ChArtist is just one of the greatest compliments I could ever hope for. And he is such a capable teacher he made it look great. Thank you so much Mark. Take a look.



You can also access the video on YouTube.

Family ChArtist--Release Date and Press Release

Well folks, It's decided, we're committed.

March 8th at 12 noon MST.

All new website, All new Family ChArtist. The press release is below. A few sneak peeks at other functionality that we'll be talking about this week on the blog.

For Immediate Release:
Generation Maps announces release date for Family ChArtist.
New website will help you quickly and easily create beautiful genealogy charts.

Cedar Hills, Utah. — February 22, 2010 — Generation Maps today announced the release date for Family ChArtist, an exciting new genealogy chart creation tool. Family ChArtist is a new web application that will make creating and designing beautiful genealogy charts easier and faster than ever before. Family ChArtist is being showcased this weekend at the Family History Expo in St. George, Utah (www.familyhistoryexpos.com) and will be released to the general public with an all new Generation Maps website at 12 noon Mountain Standard Time on March 8th.

Impressive and Easy to Use Features:
HIGH QUALITY GRAPHICS: Generation Maps offers modern, classic, colorful graphics to beautify and enhance your chart.
FAST AND EASY: First time users can create beautiful charts in just a few minutes. Previously, chart printing required purchase, installation and juggling of various design software programs, online databases and file formats. Family ChArtist has combined all these elements for you and allows you to simply create what you want over the web.
GENEALOGY CAPABILITY: Family ChArtist is FamilySearch Certified, applying information straight from FamilySearch to your chart. FamilySearch information can be edited as necessary. Your family genealogical information can also be entered using a Gedcom or manual entry. Generation Maps is working toward future integration with other software and picture database systems as well as genealogy software companies.
FLEXIBLE OPTIONS: Generation Maps has created Family ChArtist with powerful, user-friendly features. You can adjust the same graphic in many different ways, using transparency, rotation, and scaling controls, to create exactly the look you want. Attractive new enhancements can also be added to each graphic to create very different charts. Family ChArtist is flexible, allowing you to add or correct information about yourself, siblings, cousins, stepfamilies, and other relatives. Additional personal information such as prominent characteristics, careers, etc., can also be included.
INEXPENSIVE PRINTING: Any 8.5 X 11 chart you create can be printed FREE on your home computer. High quality professionally printed charts range in size from 16”x20” to 36”x48”. Inexpensive draft copies on standard bond paper start at $19.95. Other printing options include presentation, glossy photo and parchment papers, as well as beautiful canvas giclees. You can also purchase a .pdf file for $39.99, and minutes after you place your order you will receive an email with a link to download your file for later use. As with all Generation Maps charts, extra copies are always HALF PRICE. Order copies of your chart to give to your children or other family members as meaningful gifts.

Become an Artist
Family ChArtist has been designed with each customer in mind. You are the artist. With beautiful graphics and embellishments it is easy to create something personalized for your family. You choose the layout, information to be included, size, paper, color, pictures, borders, backgrounds and artistic design. Each chart is a direct expression of your individuality.
“I think the best feature of this new program is the wide range of wonderful graphics,” says Kim Hovorka, CEO of Generation Maps. “We have chosen modern, classic, colorful graphics that can be used to beautify and enhance your chart. Images include a wide range of religious and patriotic symbols, LDS temples, flags, classic, modern and vintage embellishments and backgrounds. Users can even upload their own pictures, scans of documents or other images to decorate their charts.”

Free Offer for Scrapbooks and Albums.
With Family ChArtist, you can create an 8.5 X 11 chart free of charge and save it to your computer to print whenever you choose. If you decide you want to print a larger size for your home, just order from the same menu and your chart will be printed and shipped to you promptly. Whether you are decorating your home, creating a family book, looking for a special gift for someone you love, or bringing your heritage to life for a family gathering, Family ChArtist will help you fashion a beautiful expression of your family’s history for your surroundings.
To find out more about Family ChArtist and its outstanding capabilities, go to www.thechartchick.com. Janet Hovorka, development director for Generation Maps, will be sending out a new blog post each day until the official release of Family ChArtist. Each ChartChick blog post will feature different functions and design options on the new site. Users will find creative chart suggestions and ideas to help them use Family ChArtist when it becomes available March 8th.

About Generation Maps
Generation Maps was established in 2004 to help families express their heritage in an attractive way for all to see. Generation Maps charts provide a visual reminder of your family’s history and help establish feelings of love and confidence that come from knowing who you are and that you are part of a family. Generation Maps charts can awaken individual potential embedded in one’s inherited traits and nurture emotional healing through understanding a family’s history. Family ChArtist will carry on the Generation Maps tradition by offering a new, simplified, personalized way to create decorative charts that promote family traditions and unity.
Generation Maps is still the premier printing service for any kind of genealogy chart you can imagine. In addition to the new Family ChArtist program, Generation Maps continues to offer a multitude of custom chart printing services, including both decorative and working genealogy charts. Custom decorative designs come with an online preview system that gives you personalized attention and feedback until the chart is exactly the way you envisioned it. Working charts are oversized, inexpensive, family reunion-type charts that display your entire file in one place. You can write on and add information to working charts. Generation Maps has printed working charts up to 800 feet long with information for over 30,000 people. In addition, Canvas Giclee Fine Art photos are available at Generation Maps for a very competitive, reasonable price. All charts can be printed on any of 8 paper choices, plus canvas. Free consultations are always available at http://www.generationmaps.com/consult.

For more information, visit www.generationmaps.com or www.thechartchick.com, or email info@generationmaps.com.

Family ChArtist--FamilySearch Certification

Ok. Next feature..... Importing information options:Yes, we have a second certification for Generation Maps from new FamilySearch. We have obtained certification to use the new web app with the new FamilySearch Family Tree. The LDS church has been slowly rolling out a new collaborative database which you already know about if you've been reading this blog. The database has been rolled out successfully to the members of the LDS church over the last two years and it is planned that this next year it will be rolled out to the general public.

We have been printing custom charts from this database for a couple of years now and can still help you with that as well. But you can bet, that as we were developing this tool, we wanted to incorporate FamilySearch certification especially so that beginners could use it as a starting place to be able to build a chart.

But the kicker is this...
You don't have to rely completely on the integrity of the information in the database. You have complete control over all the information on the chart. Just enter your username and password for the database, pick out the person you want to start with, and we'll import the information available in the database on your family tree. And then if you see anything in the data that you want to change, simply click on the person and edit the information in the Editing Panel. Click on the Apply button and you are good to go.

Right now, 1) Gedcom import and 2) FamilySearch import, along with 3) manual entry are the only ways to bring information into this new database. But we are already laying the groundwork for being able to bring in all kinds of other information in the next phases of this application. We are working with several other collaborative database providers, picture repository providers, and even software companies to be able to import files from their products. We're hoping to make this THE place to come for gorgeous charts.

Watch for the release date and press release tomorrow. Yee ha. We're getting there.

Family ChArtist--GEDCOM import and manual entry

So how do you get your genealogy information into Family ChArtist?

To start with, we are releasing Family ChArtist with a few ways to bring genealogy information into your chart. Two of these are GEDCOM import and manual entry. (we'll talk about more tomorrow)

On GEDCOM import, it's easy. Hit the "Upload a GEDCOM" button and the system brings up your Open File dialog box. You just pick a GEDCOM from your files and it will import into the system.

Now--in case you don't know, a GEDCOM is a common base file for genealogy information. Every genealogy computer program will export a GEDCOM, the function is usually under the file menu. Often you use GEDCOM to move information between different genealogy softwares or databases. I sometimes call it the ASCII file of genealogy. It is just a standard file that holds the genealogy information that you've created in your genealogy computer program.

The cool thing about this application is that the GEDCOM import is lightning fast. My mom's 7,000+ person file imports in about 2-3 seconds. Then you get the "Select a person" screen shown here. Simply pick the person you want the chart to start with and click ok. Your chart will appear on the screen. Ba da Bing.

You can rest assured that your genealogy information doesn't go anywhere as per our regular privacy policy. In fact, once you choose the person you want to start the chart with, we just take the information out that we need to make your chart and the system doesn't store your GEDCOM at all.

Or, if you haven't gathered your genealogy information into a computer file, just hit the manual entry button and start from there. You don't have to type all the birth marriage and death information in for each person. Just put in what you want to and the chart will be created with the information you provide.

We're just getting started. Oh it's so hard to wait until you get to see this...

Family ChArtist--Come get early access in St. George

Guess what?! If you are coming to St. George next week for the Family History Expo you are going to be able to use Family ChArtist there before we release it. And not only that, we'll have computers available and a plotter right there to be able to print you a $10 draft, or even a final archival copy of your chart. We haven't even begun to roll out all the great features of this new application here on the blog, but it is easy to use and you'll be able to jump right in and walk away with a printed copy of your research. And we'll be right there to show you around.

So now you have even more reason to come join the party. Holly and her team at Family History Expos always do such a great job of showing us all a good time. Come have some fun with us and take the new website for a spin. See ya there.

Family ChArtist--Adding Additional People

For today's post, I want to tell you about another cool feature. We call this button "Add Extra Person (Sibling, Spouse, etc.)." You can add a person and drag them to any position on a chart. We do lots of charts this way right now with our custom chart service. But now you'll be able to do it yourself.

The most popular thing we do now is add all the children of a family at the beginning of the chart. That way you can take advantage of our 1/2 price extra copies and make copies as gifts for brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles.
Take a look at some of these.. You can add all the children of the family to either of our basic layouts.


That works for anywhere on the chart though. You can add brothers and sisters throughout the chart, aunts and uncles, cousins, step families, etc.

Or, on the bowtie chart you can actually take that first person and move them around too. Above or below their parents. You can even take that starting person out and have the chart start with a couple. A wonderful wedding gift.

There are so many wonderful features of this new web application that I'm excited to tell you about, I've created a few posts that I've scheduled for the weekend too. And then Monday we'll be sending out the release date. Stay tuned.

Family ChArtist -- Transparency

Well, this blog post is late tonight. I've been answering emails and phone calls about all the excitement about our new program all day. Thank you so much. We are so gratified with all the attention, and now are even more committed to getting this finished up and working perfectly for all the wonderful genealogists we get to work with.

When you first try out Family ChArtist you might take a look at some of the embellishments and backgrounds and wonder how they could work well with a genealogy chart. Several of them are deep colors. We've done that on purpose, so that you have the flexibility to make the chart the way you want it to be. You have all the control, even in how deep or light the colors are. We've called that transparency. Let me show you... All these charts are from the same background.
We've given that to you on a sliding scale, so that you get to decide exactly where you want it. And we'll let you decide how vibrant you want your backgrounds, your embellishments and even the pictures you've added.By letting you decide on the transparency, we've let you decide whether you want to focus on the genealogy information or make it more of an art piece with the genealogy a more subtle aspect.So be gathering those pictures, and get your information ready. It's coming.

And We're Back..... Introducing Family ChArtist

IT'S FINALLY READY. Introducing....
Over the next couple of weeks we are going to introduce you to our new Genealogy Chart tool--Family ChArtist. The most powerful, easy to use, fantastic, amazing, wonderful way to make a genealogy chart--easy, fast, inexpensive and even free. (Nope, I'm not excited about it ;-)) Watch here every day over the next couple of weeks you'll be all ready to give it a try yourself. We'll be announcing the release date next Monday the 22nd.

So to start out with, let me show you some of the charts coming out of this new tool.











And if you don't see what you want yet, stay tuned, we're just getting started. You'll be in charge and we'll be showing you how you can create anything you want. See you tomorrow.

Breaking my silence.

As you know, if you follow me on facebook, twitter, or this blog, I have been unusually quiet lately. Being quiet isn't one of my strong suites you know. I have thought of it as a kind of drum roll leading up to a new product we are just about to launch. We have been ultra busy getting something really exciting ready for you. And we have a second FamilySearch certification under our belts as of last week. But it isn't quite ready yet. So keep your eyes glued and I'll have some wonderful things to show you shortly.

But in the meantime I have to break my silence on two things. First, I was featured in an exciting new publication. Mormon Entrepreneur Magazine http://www.mormonentrepreneur.net/. Mark Mugleston was a delight to talk to and I quite enjoyed our interview, but I wasn't really thinking about what would be in the rest of the issue. This month's issue is all interviews with some of the leading company founders in genealogy. It was THE MOST fascinating read. I clicked to give it a quick glance and got totally engrossed tonight. I'm sitting in Mesa, about to show off our new product tomorrow at the Family History Expo, finishing things up, haven't been to bed before 2 am for way way way too many days, and I completely couldn't stop reading. I finally tore myself away because I have several hours more work to do tonight. But I can't wait to get back to it tomorrow night after the conference. Congratulations Mark on tapping into the core of the family history industry and helping us all learn from some of the leaders out there. I'm so so honored to be included.

Second, I've been really remiss in not sharing with you the press release sent to me by Lisa Louise Cooke. She and I are real kindred spirits and I so enjoy her work. So in case there is someone who hasn't heard already, I add my endorsement to her new iphone app. I'm so excited for her to be breaking into this new territory. Congratulations Lisa. You are an inspiration as usual. I hope it is really successful for you.

Press Release:

SAN RAMON, Calif. – January 4, 2009 - The Genealogy Gems Podcast, the #1 podcast in the genealogy category in iTunes has launched the first ever genealogy podcast app for iPhone and iTouch (in partnership with Wizzard Media). The Genealogy Gems Podcast app provides users with streaming genealogy audio and video on the go, and exclusive Bonus Content.

A free “online genealogy radio show,” The Genealogy Gems Podcast has provided innovative research strategies, family history expert and celebrity interviews, and genealogy news since 2007. These “gems” of genealogical information inspire family history researchers of all experience levels and helps them make the most of their valuable research time. The new app provides one more way for the popular podcast to reach it’s worldwide audience.

“Mobile technology is the wave of the future,” says Producer and Creator Lisa Louise Cooke. “At Genealogy Gems we strive to be out in front bringing the highest quality genealogy education to those seeking to enrich their lives through family history research. The app makes this possible on a whole new level.”

The app streams all the episodes (including show notes!), and new episodes are downloaded automatically. Bonus content on the new app includes exclusive material such as audio files and custom genealogy themed wallpaper, as well as Cooke’s 20 page pdf e-book 5 Fabulous Google Research Strategies for the Family Historian. New bonus content will be added as episodes are published. Cooke says users have much to look forward to, “There’s always something new coming to your iPhone and iTouch with the Genealogy Gems Podcast app!

About Genealogy Gems

Genealogy Gems is one of the leading producers of online quality genealogy-related media. Also found at the Genealogy Gems Web site http://www.GenealogyGems.TV , recognized as one of the 101 Best Web Sites for Family History 2009: The Family History: Genealogy Made Easy Podcast, the Genealogy Gems TV Channel at YouTube, the Genealogy Gems News Blog, Genealogy Gems Premium Membership including exclusive podcasts and videos, and The Genealogy Gems Podcast Toolbar.

Lisa Louise Cooke is the author of Genealogy Gems: Ultimate Research Strategies, and national genealogy speaker. She also produces and hosts The Family Tree Magazine Podcast, teaches online webinars, and writes and produces videos for the magazine.

Media Contacts:

Genealogy Gems

Lisa Louise Cooke, Producer and Creator

Phone: (925) 272-4021

Email: genealogygemspodcast@gmail.com

Website: http://www.GenealogyGems.TV

One of our greatest successes this last year.

We received this email over the holidays from a lady whose sister was working on some charts for their family. She gave us permission to share it with you.

As you know...when one positive action is set into motion, there are always ripples that no one can imagine. I want to share one of them.

I good description of who I am is: Lemony Snicket and the Series of Unfortunate Events, Katrina, and a Tsunami all rolled into one. When they say "your life can change on a dime" that is me. I have lost everything. My faith sustains me...and a sense of humor! I have many blessings and having an amazing family and friends has made all the difference in surviving vs. thriving.

The miracle I want to share with you...in this season of miracles...is this: my sister said you wanted a picture of my family. It makes me incredibly sad to think that I do not have one of the four of us...they were all destroyed. [Her husband and died previously and there were no pictures of them all together] I kept thinking about it and how my family has no photo history. One day I was cleaning out one of my mother's cupboards...unrelated to all this.... but being pushed by a force greater than me, when I found an 8X10 frame with a picture of ALL four of us! I was ecstatic and called my sister right away to make sure that my family could be represented with a photo on the chart. I also thought this would be a great Christmas gift for my two adult children...I was so happy to be able to give them a piece of their history! When I removed the original photo, there were TWO more at different stages of our family's growth...this was more than I could have asked for...it was a miracle...created by you. I want you to know that by initiating this mission, you have provided my family, not only with their roots, but a present day gift that continues to make us all smile.

My sister and I have a very strong connection and I know she was a part of this discovery. This miracle has brought me a sense of peace unlike any I have felt for a very long time...and I know in her good & kind heart, my sister wishes this for me too.

Again, we love working in family history and we are so excited to help you share your family history with your family. It is just a miraculous place to be.