Instructions

Video Tutorials / Instructions

1. HOW TO DESIGN A CARD AND USE THE IMAGE EDITOR
   Explains the steps from start to finish on how to create a card, including the image editor tools.

2. HOW TO UPLOAD A PHOTO OR SIGNATURE (coming soon)
   Explains how to upload a photo or signature from your computer.

3. HOW TO CREATE A COPY OF AN OLD SIGNATURE (coming soon)
   Explains how to duplicate a signature from an old family heirloom, such as a letter, card, envelope, etc. so you can upload and cut it out for your card.

4. HOW TO USE THE SIGNATURE EDITOR (coming soon)
   Explains how to use the signature editor tools to delete a signature’s background and then place that signature on to your card.

5. HOW TO “SAVE A COPY” OF A CARD OR IMAGE (coming soon)
   Explains how to “save a copy” of a card or image.  This is useful if you want to repeat information on cards (ex. siblings) and not start from scratch.
   

6. HOW TO “RENAME” A CARD OR IMAGE (coming soon)
   Explains how to “rename” a card or image.

How to use the image Editor

FRONT SIDE:

1. For Text: Click on the “Text…2” button on the toolbar (first button on left).

2. Text fields/boxes are located on the left side of the screen, below the toolbar.

3. Click inside a text field/box and begin typing information.

4. Please be advised that there is a character limit for each text field. Once the maximum character limit is reached, you will no longer be able to add any more characters. we try to scale the text down to fit as many characters as possible, but at some point the text will not be legible if any smaller.

5. If there is a drop-down menu, click on the drop-down menu (example: flags) and make a selection.

6. For Images: Click on the “Image…3” button on the toolbar (second button on left).

7. Select an image from one of the following: “Upload New Image (My Computer)”, “Silhouettes Library”, or “Facebook” (coming soon).

8. Once image is in your photo gallery, click on the image and the image will appear on your card.

9. To move an image, click and drag the image to its desired position.

10. To scale an image, click on the gold slider (located underneath the card) and drag to the left to make it smaller or to the right to make it larger.

11. For image/photo: If you are not uploading a photo, select a silhouette from the silhouettes library. You can scale and move it just like an uploaded photo.

12. For signature: If you are not uploading a signature, type in ancestor’s name in signature field/box and directly underneath, select a font from the drop-down menu. Or if you prefer, leave this field blank and include no signature.

13. Once you have finished entering in all the information, you can proceed to the back of the card.

BACK SIDE:

1. For flag: Select a flag (ancestor’s birthplace) from the drop-down menu or type in the name of the country. Select “no flag” if you prefer no flag.

2. You can add a custom text field as well. Just hit “Add Field” button (located on the bottom left page).

3. To remove a field, hit the “Remove” button located underneath each field. If you remove the field, it is lost and you will have to re-enter any info you may have typed before.

4. Once you enter the information on the top part of card (ex. Name, Birth, Marriage, etc.), you can enter the ancestry tree members (bottom part of card).

5. For Ancestry Tree: Each text field/box has a “title”. Simply enter the appropriate name for that text field/box in relation to that ancestor.

Example: John Smith (ancestor) — James Smith (father), Mary Brown Smith (mother), John Smith (ancestor), Jane Jones Smith (spouse), James Smith (child #1), Betty Smith (child #2), and Paul Smith (child #3).

6. Once you have finished entering in all the information, you can proceed to the approval proof page and proceed to checkout.

Photo Requirements

1. It is best to use a clear, non-grainy photo for upload. Also, that there is no distracting background or other person(s) is/are next to your ancestor, if at all possible, for a more pleasing design (this is optional and only a suggestion).

2. Please ensure that the photo/image being uploaded is at least 300 dpi, with a minimum measurement of 2.5” (width) x 3” (height) to ensure a high quality printed card. Most designs have a 1.5:1 aspect ratio for the frame opening for photos. The final printed card has an actual size of 2.75” (width) x 3.75” (height), so photos larger than that will have to be scaled down.

3. If your photo’s aspect ratio does not equal 1.5:1 ratio, your image may be cut off on the top/bottom or sides when you scale it to fit the card frame.

4. Blurry and/or grainy images will print blurry and/or grainy – WYSIWYG: what you see, is what you get.

 Scanner Settings for photo uploads

HOW TO UPLOAD AN IMAGE

1. There are many options you have for adding an image to your card. You can upload photos and images from a digital camera or scanner. Also, you can use an image from the Web, such as your Facebook account.

2. Any image you plan to use must be:
300 dpi
100% output size for card (usually 2” W x” 2.5” L)

3. If using a digital camera photo, set your camera at a high enough resolution to result in 300 dpi for the intended print size. Megapixels determine the highest resolution for your camera. You cannot increase the resolution of a photo once it is taken.  Cropping your photo will reduce the number of pixels in the final image, so be careful.

4. If scanning a photo, make sure your scanner’s resolution is set to 300 dpi. If your scanned image is smaller than the recommended size (usually 2” W x” 2.5” L) or has less dpi than you need (under 300 dpi), you should rescan your original photo at a higher resolution (300 dpi or higher).

5. If you choose to use a web image, be careful. Usually, web images have a resolution of 72 dpi, which is much too low for quality printing. Also, most images on the web are protected by copyright laws and are therefore prohibited. It is best to upload the photos you would like to use, thereby controlling the dpi and final output size of the image. You can use images you have posted on Facebook. Simply click the “Facebook” button (coming soon) in the image uploader and sign-in to your Facebook. Then select your image.

6. For uploading signatures, download the .pdf signature form and follow the instructions. Signatures should be scanned at least 300 dpi, with a measurement of at least 2” (width) x 0.5” (height). Signatures larger than that may have to be scaled down.

How to use the Signature Editor
(coming soon)

1. Scan signature at 300 dpi. Select only the signature area to scan. Save as a .jpg, .png, or .pdf.

2. Go to the Image Editor and click on the “Image…3” button on the toolbar (second button on left).

3. Upload the signature to your photo gallery.

4. In your gallery, select the signature image.

5. Click on the “Magic Wand” button above the signature image. This will bring you to the Signature Editor.

6. Click on the Magic Wand button (first button on left on toolbar).

7. With the crosshair center, click on the background of the signature image to remove it. Remember to click inside letters that are closed off, which include, a, b, d, e, g, j, k, l, o, p, q, r, s, y, z (cursive writing).

8. Once the signature is cleaned, click on the “save” button. this will then allow you to name your signature on the next page. Hit “save” to save it.

9. Once saved, you will return to the Image Editor. Click on the new cleaned signature image and it will appear on your card.

10. To move an image, click and drag the image to its desired position.

11. To scale an image, click on the gold slider (located underneath the card) and drag to the left to make it smaller or to the right to make it larger.

Upload a Signature
coming soon

The best way to upload a signature, is to use photoshop or an equivalent program and cut out the signature with a magic wand tool. Then, upload it to the site. If that is not possible, below we explain how to use our tool on our site.

Click to download the .pdf signature form.  It will include instructions on how to make a copy of someone’s signature so you do not damage an original document.

Below are the instructions included on the .pdf signature form.

To add a signature to your card, you will need to upload an actual high quality scan of the signature.  Please follow instructions below carefully.  *Heritage Cards is not responsible for the original ancestor document. User assumes all responsibility.*

lf you have any questions, you may watch a “how to” video on creating and uploading a signature at: www.youtube.com/channel/UC01enVFxdeAHIm6KJcKH5BA (coming soon).  Please feel free to contact us at: support@myheritagecards.com.

1.) Make a copy of the original document that has your deceased ancestor’s signature (examples: letter, envelope with signed return address, birthday card, military card, canceled check, etc.). It is vital that you make a copy of the original document to ensure no damage is done to the original document.

2.) Take the copy and put it on top of a light box or tape it to a window with bright sunlight.

3.) Take this paper and line up the signature box below with the deceased ancestor’s signature.  Please keep entire signature inside the box. No part of the signature may touch the box. If signature does not fit inside the box, use a blank piece of paper.

4.) Trace the deceased ancestor’s name in the box below with a black pen/marker. A fine or medium point marker works best.

5.) Once signature is traced, please scan and upload image to your image gallery.

6.) Scanner settings: 300 dpi, target/scan size to 100% or original size (8.5 x 11).

7.) Preview your image and make sure it is right-side up and straight.

8.) If able, select only the signature area to scan. Otherwise, take scissors and cut out the signature box and then scan signature. Crop the image to the interior edges of the signature box.

9.) Name your file and save it to your hard drive as one of these file types: .jpeg, .pdf, .png.

10.) Go to the Image editor and click “Image…3” button on the editor toolbar (second icon on left).

11.)  Click “Upload New Image…8”.  Locate and select the signature file.  Click “ok” button.

Your signature image is now uploaded to your image gallery. For instructions on how to “clean/remove the white background” on your signature, please refer to the “how to” video on our youtube channel found at: www.youtube.com/channel/UC01enVFxdeAHIm6KJcKH5BA (coming soon).