Elegant Memorials Blog

Funeral programs can be a treasured keepsake when a memorial photo collage is added. You could, of course use Microsoft Word or Publisher to make your collage. However, if you are working with many photos, and want something a little quick and easier for layout, you may want to try some of the free collage making software websites. You can quickly make photo collages, save them into one photo, and then easily inserted into your funeral program.

We’ve reviewed four collage making websites to help you decide which will work best for your project.

Four Free Photo Editing and Collage Design Programs

PicMonkey

Picmonkey is a popular and well known free graphics program. It’s very simple to use. Simply click the collage button at the top of the website page and the file upload window comes up immediately. Upload your photos first, then drag and drop into pre-formatted collage sheets. There are many different collage layouts to choose from and you can easily round the corners of your photos and change spacing and background colors. When done, save the file to your computer and insert into your program or keepsake.

Fotoflexer

This website is pretty easy as well. To get started, click the Upload Photo Button. Photos can be positioned on blank canvas where you can control the layout, or you can use the EZ collage feature for pre-formatted collage feature. It’s a little awkward getting to the EZ collage/editor. They make you upload a photo first. Once a photo is uploaded, you can click the EZ collage button. These collage templates are pretty basic, mostly square shapes. Once you have inserted your photos into the collage, hit the “customize” button to use a wide variety of features, including special graphic effects and styles, borders, and text captions. There seems to be a lot of functionality, but the interface isn’t as easy as it could be. You can probably get good results; you just have to spend time learning the system.

You can save your creation to your computer.

piZap

Pizap has a robust collage editor. It had many different shapes, including hearts, puzzle and many different collage designs. It also had an extensive collections of decorate collage sheets, frames and borders. I really enjoyed testing different collage designs on this website.  It also has other more advanced enhancement features like frames and borders.

When saving my finished image, they wanted you to log into Facebook or Twitter Account to save. Create an account beforehand to avoid using your Facebook or Twitter account to save.

PhotoCat

Very simple interface, simply click the “Web” option, then choose the collage option and begin making a collage immediately in the editor window. The collage sheets are primarily square shapes, however, this website does have nicely decorated collage sheets. You can also add frames, text and other enhancements to your photos from here. I like the photo background sheets because you can freely move the photos around.  This program has a good balance between ease of use and functionality. I loved the collage background design pages.  They could have a few more collage sheet designs.

Elegant Memorials now sells funeral program templates which allow you to change the color of the background with just a few simple clicks.

There are many ways of personalizing a funeral program from adding sentimental pictures and graphics to adjusting the size and style of font. Now, users can further customize a program by choosing templates that allow you to change background colors as well.

This option makes the funeral program templates more versatile by giving customers the opportunity to change the program’s colors to one more desirable. Many prefer to have the program highlighted with their loved one’s favorite color or a hue that will fit the theme of the funeral, memorial or Celebration of Life ceremony.

You can change a single color or create a beautiful gradient of colors. What’s great is that you can experiment to get whatever color scheme you want. Users can select to change the color of the borders, background and text.

Changing Background Colors
Changing the background color is easy:
1. Select the top lavender background box; right click and choose “Format Autoshape.”
2. Choose the “Colors and Lines” tab.
3. Click the down arrow on the fill color box and choose the color that you want.
5. Hit OK to save changes.
6. Do the same for the bottom lavender box.
7. Make sure to delete this box when done by selecting the edge of the box and pressing delete or backspace.

The backgrounds use autofill shapes, so you can easily change colors by accessing the shape properties.

Changing Border Colors
The colors of borders or picture frames can easily be changed to correspond to the rest of the funeral program’s color scheme. This can be done by:
1. Select and right click inside the grey picture box and choose “Format Autoshape.”
2. Choose “Colors and Lines” tab.
3. Under “Fill,” click “Fill Effects.”
4. Click “Picture” tab and select picture. Click OK.
5. Click OK to save changes.
6. Delete this box when done by selecting the edge of the box and pressing “backspace” or “delete.”

Make The Perfect Funeral Program ... It's Easy

• Professional Designs formatted using Microsoft Word or Publisher
• All test can be changed, including the program title
• Flexible Designs and Layout
• Instant Download and Live customer support

Choose a Program

Elegant Memorials now has two new designs available in the Bifold (Single Fold) Format.  They are "Purple Frame" and "Yellow Floral Border" Funeral Program Templates.  These templates feature decorative borders for a more simple and conservative design look.  As with all our templates, they are formatted with a cover photo and have enought room for service information, an order of service, poems, scriptures and additional clipart.  These designs are perfect for a funeral, memorial or celebration of life service. Check out these new designs and our other designs by clicking this funeral program templates link.

Working from home and owning a business has never been more convenient or easier to do. Because of today's advancing technology - and sometimes uncertain economy and job market -- more people are looking to self-employment as an option and are starting companies that you normally wouldn't expect to see. Creating printed funeral and memorial programs and is one of those companies.

Because there will always be funeral and memorial services, there is an equal need for funeral and memorial programs and keepsakes. Sometimes, basic funeral programs or booklets may be provided by funeral homes and included as part of the funeral costs. Design options are typically limited, so customers often use outside companies to create the programs that they want.

With so many families seeking outside companies for funeral stationery, a funeral programs business is a potentially lucrative venture. All you need to do is get started so you help others during their time of need.

Getting Started

You don't need a lot of seed money to get your business off the ground, but you should have some motivation and creativity. These guidelines provide an overall view of what you need to start a funeral program business:

1. Decide what type of service you want to offer: Will you create funeral programs for others and print them, or have them print their own? What styles, layouts will you offer?

2. Select a name: Look around online to get some ideas. You want a title that is catchy, yet speaks to the type of business you are in. If you want to form a corporation or LLC, it's best to seek legal advice on that matter, since the rules are different in all 50 states.

3. Get the proper equipment: Besides a reliable Internet provider and telephone service, you will want a good computer and printer. You will also need some word processing software such as Microsoft Word (PCs and Macs) or Apple iWorks' Pages for Mac users.

4. Use funeral program templates. Pre-designed templates will help you create beautiful program in a fraction of the time. For a minimal price you can instantly offer a wide variety of styles, themes and layouts without the hassle of having to design them yourself. Elegant Memorials offers many different funeral program packages to help you get started.

5.  Learn and understand the funeral and memorial business.  Although you will be providing a design and printing service, you will need to understand basic information about the funeral and memorial industry.  You customers will expect you to know the basics about funerals and memorials, and about the information that typically belongs in a program.  Do a little research about how funerals and memorials are conducted, and get some basic information about what poems, scriptures songs, obituaries and other important information that you will be including in the programs for your customers.

6. Draw up your price list: Look at comparable companies online to get an idea of how much programs cost. Make sure you leave enough room to make a profit, but don't out price yourself either.

7. Market yourself both online and in person: Get business cards and distribute them wherever you go. Create a website and Social Media pages, such as Facebook, Pinterest and Google Plus.

Believe in Yourself

If you have faith and confidence that your business can be success, then it probably will be. Make time to grow your business. All new businesses take awhile to get off the ground. However, you will only get from your business exactly what you put into it.