Designing your own funeral card yourself starts with three choices: which text tells who you were, which image fits with that, and how do you make sure 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 hassle.
Many people want their farewell to look on paper exactly as they had imagined it, without bereaved family members having to figure out a design under time pressure. By thinking now about text, color and photo, and storing the result somewhere ready to go, nobody has to guess your taste afterwards.
What text belongs on a funeral card
A funeral card has little space, so every word counts. Choose a short, warm text that fits how you stood in life: 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, date of birth and death, and possibly time and place of the service. If you prefer to arrange this separately from the card, you can also record this kind of information and wishes in advance with the broader funeral wishes you can record now, so that text and practical details stay together.
Image and typography: simple 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 rule is: 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 also be printed, because screen and paper show color differently.
Format and finishing that makes printing easy
A funeral card is usually folded into a small card format, so work as much as possible in the format it will also be printed in. Leave margins free of text and image, so nothing gets cut off during cutting. Choose paper that fits the mood: matte for a restrained look, glossy for something more lively. Save your design in a format that a printer or funeral director can use directly, such as a high-resolution PDF, so no time is lost later converting files.
Set 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 save the file somewhere safe and easy to find, together with the rest of your funeral wishes. In an encrypted environment like storing your documents safely and encrypted the design stays protected until a trusted buddy can access it at the right time. That way nobody has to search for the right file on an old computer or in an outdated mailbox.
Leave room for whoever finishes it
However complete you make the design, it's nice to leave a little room for whoever ultimately sends out the card. A line for the exact date and time of the service, or a short personal addition from a loved one, can make the card just a bit more human. If you want to know exactly how such a design is kept together with your other wishes and released, you can read that step by step at the explanation of how PSILY works.
Curious how you keep track of these kinds of designs and wishes in one place? Start for free and prepare your own funeral card, text and wishes at your ease, so everything is there exactly as you intended it.