Need some advice.

[Navian]

I don’t want to burden anyone with this, but has anyone here designed things for a funeral/memorial service?

The reason I'm asking, is because my grandpa passed away last night (10pm) from pneumonia. :(

Going to miss him.

I was asked (and honored to be asked) to do a few projects in a small amount of time. :eek:

Memorial Poster
Photo Slide Show
Memorial program

The pneumonia (the doctors checked) was caused by cardboard dust. it was from when he worked at a Frito Lay warehouse for 20+ yrs (and retired.) this explains his constant pneumonia, heart bypasses, and deteriorating energy levels.

I greatly appreciate any advice with this. (Recommended poster sizes, program sizes, slide show durations ect.. )

Thanks

[Ned]

I'm sorry for your loss, Navian.

Unfortunately, I can't help you much with the designing part for such an event. I imagine something like a letterpress print, for an ageless, classic look, particularily on the programs, would look very nice.

As for program size, I would use your standard church program booklet size, which I believe is 5.5" x 8.5" - don't quote me on that.

Poster size really depends on where you think they will be posted. On community bulletin boards and the like, you don't want an oversized poster. That will only overtake the board and cause hard feelings (and/or extra expense). Tabloid would be the biggest you could probably get away with there. Legal would probably would well, too. Take it out of the squarish dimensions to give a nicer feel to the poster.

[mojoprime]

wow, navian. i'm so sorry. that's just awful. lost my dad last year, so i feel your pain.

one of the folks did a program, and it was just 8.5 x 11, folded in half. that might be easiest; i know it was for us. i also asked all the folks that used to work with him (my dad was old-time newspaper guy, 40+ years) to send me some quotes about him, and i put them all together in a kind of handout thing.

we didn't do a poster, but we put up a lot of photos. i just couldn't do it.

as far as the slideshow, i think a little would go a long way. maybe pick a song or something that he liked, and then run the show for that duration. it was my impression from my dad's service that a little goes a long way. and everyone will love whatever you do.

take care, man.

[Ned]

one of the folks did a program, and it was just 8.5 x 11, folded in half.

By the way, that's what I meant by 5.5" x 8.5", Navian... just in case you didn't pick up on that... :)

[mojoprime]

yeah, you posted that just as i was putting mine up, ned. ;)

[Ned]

I noticed that, Mojo. :D

After reading your comment though, I thought, why didn't I just come out and say "lettersize folded in half"? That's why I posted that comment to avoid confusion. ;)

[SurfPark]

For the program, its nice to include a photo, years of life, a poem, and a mention of how the person was imporantant to your family.

The poster just needs to be a blown-up photograph that is mounted. They usually put these up on easels near flowers. Its just to picture the person in a happier time in their life.

Keep the slide show under 5 minutes. Use photos that were important landmarks in your grandfather's life if possible (birthdays, marriage, child birth, grandchildren's birth, reunions). Aim for photos that show him smiling and with other people.

With all the pieces, remember that less is more. This is one of those cases in which the artistic side of design should be downplayed for the sake of clairty. Use simple type, warm neutral colors, and have lots of white space. Your goal is to highlight the memory of the deceased, and that shouldn't be hindered by design.

I'm sorry to hear about your loss. I will pray for you and wish you and your family strength for the upcoming events.

[urstwile]

I'm sorry for your loss Navian.

I think all the suggestions given are right on target.

[Drazan]

For a slide show you can do flash, or a movie.

If you need help with anything, pm me and I am willing to do what I can.

((hugs))

[Tsmalldon]

Thats terrible to hear
I wish you all the best

Trev

[Navian]

I want to thank everyone for your advice and kind words. I appriciate it.

I'm still in the wait, for getting photos from family members.

(wish they would hurry!)

Just trying to look at the brighter side of everything.

[budafist]

I've designed order of service type things for funerals and bereavement cards. Go for classic if a bit on the traditional side. Keep in mind that many people keep these things so a timeless aesthetic is idea.

Programs generally have simple gold borders, cream or white stock, black text. A photo on the front, name and birth/death date is common.

I would steer away from black. Use light but neutral colours. Use serif fonts.

Depending on the religion of the family, there are some pictures that can be used.

[Virgo Nightingale]

Sorry to hear about your loss Navian. I lost my grandmother 2 years ago, it still hurts. I tear up a little every time I see an elderly woman who reminds me of her in either physical appearance or mental capacity (she had Alzheimer's).

My boss here has lost quite a few friends in the year and a half I've been here and we usually put together memorial posters for them – scan 75 or so photos, and collage them together with photo edges feathered onto two or three posters, then mount them on foamcore. We've made them rather large, 24x36 each usually (poster printer in-house). The home should have a few easels on hand for display.

[Navian]

Budah,
What serif font would you recommend?

Virgo, should I keep try to get them at 300dpi when I increase them to the 24x36 size? foamcore is the shizzle.




Oh, here is a picture of my grandparents. :)

http://img235.imageshack.us/img235/8594/img1162wa9.jpg

it was at my grandparents 50th anniversary lunch party.

He would have been 80 in May.

[Ned]

<--- is also a Taurus and a May baby.

(sorry, I just came out of the "What are you" thread.)

[Mynock]

Nav, I would use look at using black and white.

Also Nav try to get the originals if you can. If you have a choice take an original photo and scan it in at 600 or 1200 dpi depending on how large you want to go. 100-200dpi will be fine at arms length for large format. Also look at Gator Board instead of Fome Core. It's going to be more expensive, but it will old up better as it's wood-based and not foam based. Black gator board. Fome Core is widely available in white where Gator Board is normally black.

[Virgo Nightingale]

Virgo, should I keep try to get them at 300dpi when I increase them to the 24x36 size? foamcore is the shizzle.
Each poster had a collage of about 25 pictures, so it wasn't just one photo enlarged on each big board. We did scan them all in at 300 dpi (some at 100%, some at 200% or so, depending on the size of the original and whether we thought it was a good enough photo to be enlarged), we printed them in-house so we didn't have to worry about file size or whether someone else's equipment could handle it. Did you want enlarge one photo to that size? Could be tricky, depending on the size and quality of the original photo. I'd go as large and as high res as you think your computer can handle in a timely manner. But as Mynock suggests, you could probably get away with 150-200 dpi.

[Tea]

I'm sorry to hear of your loss. You might check with your funeral service provider, as many of them are doing photo movies/slide shows and have them put together in time for the viewing and service. I don't know what kind of time you have, but if it becomes down to scanning or videotaping your photos and then editing, you will be pushed for time especially if you are doing a program and poster as well.

On the other hand, what an honor to be asked to memorialize your grandfathers life.

[budafist]

Budah,
What serif font would you recommend?


Just a simple classic serif like Garamond. Cochin is also nice and it has a stunning italic (if you require the use of italics).

[morea]

condolences, Navian. I lost both my grandfathers last year. It was really hard and I still miss them a lot.

The lettersize folded in half for the program is the way I'd go. We also used sheets of posterboard to mount photos instead of a poster, and also a little memorial card with a peaceful scene on one side, and a poem or quote on the back, along with the loved one's name and dates (1922 - 2006).

[Ben Kessler]

My condolences, Navian.