GeneFrog Family Historyy
Decision time
OK, so what comes first? Let's start with the folder or binding of your presentation. A 'spring-back'
or 'clip-together' folder is ideal because you can complete one page, put it in the folder, and feel you are actually getting
somewhere. Remember that deadline? Whatever point you're at by the time the birthday comes around a loose leaf format can
be made to look complete. Besides, you might want to add another decade in ten year's time!
What comes next? Decide on the approach to your
presentation. Choose a format which allows you to complete one section at a time, or to change the order of your
pages at a later date. This is discussed in Start
writing. You really don't want someone to come up with the absolute classic photo or story at the
last minute and find that there is no way you can include it.
 
The next thing to consider is the paper you'll use. Most good stationers have an
excellent range of suitable paper. One suggestion is to have two complementary types of paper - one is essentially plain for written information, the
other has a border which acts like a photo frame. Alternate the written and photographic pages, printing on one side of the
paper only. This matches photos to the written pages and enhances presentation. You may find you have multiple
photo pages for each written page, or vice versa. Don't worry; the loose-leaf format allows you to mix and match.
Lastly think about the mechanics of production
for Grandpa's Place in History. Obviously
you'll need access to a computer, but if you don't have a scanner or adequate photo quality printer,
this need not stop you. Assemble the photos in the format you wish, with layout sketches on each page, then take them along to a photo shop
or one of the large stationery suppliers who should be able to scan them for you, saving them onto a digital storage medium, or else
print them directly onto your chosen paper. You could also co-opt a friend who has a
scanner. The next thing you know they'll be producing their own version of their Grandpa's Place in
History (or maybe Grandma's).
Don't worry about putting page numbers on until you've finished your project. You may decide that you don't want page
numbers at all on the 'photo frame' pages. When you are quite sure that you have finished, assemble everything in the required order
and work out which pages you would like numbers to appear on. Open any word processing (or even spreadsheet) package which you have
access to. Type the appropriate page number and test print this on a spare sheet of paper. When you're happy with the
positioning, feed each page of you finished production through one at a time, changing the page number as appropriate.
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