| In time the VHS tape was developed and large | | | | Remember that if you want to use color pictures |
| cumbersome movie cameras that would use | | | | through out your book you will need to get your |
| these tapes to record family events and have | | | | book printed on a color printing machine, which of |
| them played on your home VCR and TV. In time, | | | | course is more expensive to reproduce than a |
| very small, moderately priced, digital movie | | | | B&W book. (in some cases individual color pages |
| cameras were introduced, where the movies | | | | can be inserted into a B&W book but this can |
| could also be played back directly from the | | | | service can add up in cost too, unless you just |
| camera to your television, and the sales went | | | | have a few color pictures you want to add). |
| wild. | | | | One of the first things to do before you even get |
| Then the digital still camera started to become | | | | stated is to contact all your family members. You |
| popular and the digital movie camera has gone | | | | will want to do this for two reasons, first you will |
| from three versions of digital tape to a mini CD. | | | | want to be able to get pictures and information |
| In the mean time the sales of digital cameras | | | | from them for the book, and second, you will |
| have rocketed and all sorts of different versions, | | | | want to know how many people might be |
| attachments and recording medias have been | | | | interested in getting a book when it is finally |
| developed. | | | | printed. The more books you can get printed, the |
| If you were one of the people who used an old | | | | less it will cost everyone to get a piece of family |
| 8mm or Super 8mm movie camera, and now | | | | history. |
| want to watch those old movies, it is getting | | | | We recommend that you contact a book printer |
| difficult to find projectors to view them on, and if | | | | or self publisher, like BookMark Self before you |
| you had a VHS movie camera, it has long since | | | | start your book, to get some details on the best |
| been retired (probably in the same place your old | | | | way to proceed. Pictures for example should be in |
| film camera is). | | | | at least 300 dot-per-inch size, otherwise they just |
| The only thing that has remained constant in | | | | do reproduce well. It would also be beneficial to |
| recording family history over that past several | | | | use one of the better quality word processing |
| hundred years are books. You don't need any | | | | software packages, this may also save you |
| special machinery to view them, they don't go | | | | money later on if conversions need to be done. |
| obsolete and they last for generations. | | | | Once you understand some of the criteria needed |
| If you are one of the lucky families that with a | | | | to make your book the best it can be, you can |
| family Bible which has been used to record | | | | begin your project. Since this is a book that will be |
| aspects of your family over the generations, | | | | around for many decades, you will want to take a |
| consider yourself very fortunate. But now you | | | | bit more time at the beginning to ensure you |
| can do even better. With the technologies | | | | understand the best ways to proceed. |
| available today anyone can put together a Family | | | | All in all, it is pretty easy to become the author of |
| History Book. You can combine both pictures and | | | | a valuable piece of family history. You will have |
| text to make some of the most interesting and | | | | the ability to make this book exactly the way |
| compelling books you will ever read. Family History | | | | you want, and that is one of the features that will |
| Books will be cherished by your entire family for | | | | make it so valuable in the future. |
| generations to come. | | | | So ... go ahead and get started, these kinds of |
| With most families having access to at least one | | | | projects are fun for everyone. Your family |
| home computer, and often a scanner to scan old | | | | members will enjoy digging out old family pictures |
| pictures, making a family book is fun and easy. All | | | | and relating stories to you. You might even want |
| you really need to get started in a home | | | | to add in a family reunion before you complete |
| computer with some sort of word processing | | | | the book, wouldn't it be nice to have a group |
| software on it like Word, Works or WordPerfect. | | | | photo to go into the book? Imagine the fun you |
| If you have a scanner and want to add pictures | | | | can have creating a lasting legacy of your families |
| into your document you will make your book | | | | history. |
| much more interesting and valuable. | | | | |