Last month I wrote about the new book-making feature on Ancestry called AncestryPress (read the article here). You can use it to create professionally-bound books showcasing your family history.

This month, I’d like to follow-up by announcing a new AncestryPress feature—a tool for creating large, frameable family tree charts. And, I’ll give you a few tips on creating attractive pages in your AncestryPress book.

FAMILY TREE CHARTS
The holidays are around the corner, and if you don’t think you’ll finish your AncestryPress book in time—or, if you’re looking for a simpler alternative—consider the new family tree charts on AncestryPress.

These charts take only minutes to create and make attractive wall hangings. They are 24 x 18” and cost $19.95.

The standard family tree chart, which starts with the person of your choice and includes six generations of family members.

The combination family tree, which includes a husband and wife, their children, and two generations of ancestors.

To create a family tree chart, simply go to www.ancestrypress.com, click “Get Started,” and then click “Make a Family Tree Chart from Template.”

Ancestry will automatically create the family tree chart based on information from your online family tree. If you don’t have an online family tree you can still create a family tree chart, but you will have to upload the photos and type in the names and dates on your own.

Remember, if you want to give these charts as gifts you’ll need to order them two to three weeks ahead of time.

IMMIGRATION AND MILITARY PAGES
Since I last wrote, AncestryPress has introduced several new template pages. One is a military page template, which you can use to honor a member of your family who has served in the military. The other is an immigration page template, which can be used to highlight an individual immigrant or immigrant family.

Here is a sample military page I created using the template:

Here is a sample immigration page I created using the template:

To locate these templates, do the following:

1. Click the “New page” button at the top of the AncestryPress homepage.
2. In the window that appears, select “Other Pages.”
3. Select the page layout you want.
4. Customize the page to fit your personal style.

CREATING ATTRACTIVE HISTORICAL RECORDS PAGES
When you create a book in AncestryPress, you can create interesting historical records pages using any historical records you have attached to your family tree from an Ancestry database.

Just click “Ancestry Records” on the left-hand side of the AncestryPress homepage; then, type in the name of the person whom the record is attached to. Any media items for that individual, including photographs and historical records, will appear. Click the historical record you want and drag it onto a blank page.

This is the page where I dragged my grandfather’s WWI draft registration card.

Historical records page of my grandfather’s WWI draft registration card.

 This is the same page, after I manipulated the record.

I didn’t like the black space between the front and back pages of the WWI draft registration card, so I made two separate pages and moved them closer together. Also, I created a callout box with my grandfather’s signature from the card.

The key was to create copies of the record and then crop them to show the portions I wanted. Here are step-by-step instructions:

1. Click on the record. A toolbar appears with a “Duplicate record” button. Click on it. A second record appears.
   

   
   “Duplicate record” button.
   

2. Click on the new record. Boxes appear on the edges of the image. Hold the left mouse button down on one of the boxes and drag it to crop the image.
3. Crop one image to show the front page of the record. Crop the other to show the back page of the record. Position the records where you want them.
4. Click the record with the signature on it. The toolbar appears. Click the “Duplicate record” button. A second record appears.
5. Click the record. The toolbar appears.
6. Use the Zoom-in/Zoom-out bar on the toolbar to enlarge the record. Use the “Drag the image within frame” button on the toolbar to position the enlarged signature within the frame.


“Zoom-in/Zoom-Out” bar.



“Drag the image within frame” button.

7. Hold the left mouse button down on one of the boxes on the new signature image. Drag it to crop the image. Crop the image so only the signature appears.
8. Position the new signature box where you want it.

THE FUTURE OF ANCESTRYPRESS
As AncestryPress evolves, you will see more and more templates for both family tree charts and family history books. Keep up with what’s new at AncestryPress by clicking the “Community” tab on the AncestryPress homepage.

You will find announcements about program fixes and updates, and you can read user comments and add your own. Start a conversation with other Ancestry members and share your tips or read about great page-making ideas.

Jana Lloyd is editor of the Ancestry Monthly newsletter. She can be reached at AMUeditor@ancestry.com but cannot assist with personal research questions.