Designing your own funeral card starts with three choices: which text tells who you were, which image fits that, and how do you ensure the design is ready when it's needed. Pay special attention to readability, a calm balance between text and image, and a format that a printer or funeral director can process without any hassle.
Many people want their farewell to look on paper exactly as they envisioned it, without bereaved loved ones having to rush to find a design. By thinking now about text, color, and photo, and storing the result safely, no one has to guess your taste afterwards.
Which text belongs on a funeral card
A funeral card has little space, so every word counts. Choose a short, warm text that matches how you lived: a line of poetry, a favorite phrase, or just a few straightforward words. Avoid long stories on the card itself — those belong more in a speech or in a letter you keep separately. Don't forget the practical details: name, birth and death date, and optionally time and place of the service. If you'd rather arrange these separately, you can also record this kind of information and wishes in advance in your broader funeral wishes you can record now, so text and practical details stay together.
Image and typography: simplicity stays beautiful longest
A photo often says more than a long text, but not every photo works in small format. Choose an image with sufficient sharpness and contrast, and test how it looks in black and white — many printers still work that way. With typography: the fewer typefaces, the calmer the result. One main typeface for the name and one for the accompanying text is usually enough. Color can add a nice personal touch, but keep it subtle if the card will be printed, because screen and paper show color differently.
Format and finishing that make printing easier
A funeral card is usually folded into a small card format, so work as much as possible in the format it will be printed in. Leave margins free of text and image so nothing gets cut off during trimming. Choose paper that fits the mood: matte for a subdued appearance, glossy for something more lively. Save your design in a format a printer or funeral director can use directly, such as a high-resolution PDF, so no time is lost converting files later.
Setting up your design in advance for later
The biggest advantage of designing it yourself is that you can do it at your own pace, without the pressure of a few days after a death. Once you're satisfied, it's wise to store the file somewhere safe and easy to find, along with the rest of your funeral wishes. In an encrypted environment like storing your documents safely and encrypted your design stays protected until a trusted buddy can access it at the right time. That way no one has to search for the right file on an old computer or in an outdated mailbox.
Leaving room for whoever finishes it
No matter how complete you make the design, it's nice to leave a little space for whoever actually sends the card. A line for the exact date and time of the service, or a brief personal addition from a loved one, can make the card feel a bit more human. If you want to know exactly how such a design is stored together with your other wishes and released, you can read about that step by step at the explanation of how PSILY works.
Curious how you keep designs and wishes like these organized in one place? Start free and prepare your own funeral card, text, and wishes at your convenience, so everything is there exactly as you intended.