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Draw My Tree docs

Convert a GEDCOM file to a printable PDF

A .ged file is data; a PDF is something you can hand to a printer. Draw My Tree turns one into the other: import the GEDCOM, and the tree is drawn with the generations aligned and the couples side by side. Export it as a vector PDF that prints sharp at any size, or as SVG or PNG if a printer wants those instead.

Create a free account and import your file, then open Export on the rail and choose PDF. If you have not exported a GEDCOM before, Import a GEDCOM from Ancestry, MyHeritage or FamilySearch has the click paths, what the file contains, and what happens to it when you upload it.

What you get

  • A vector PDF. Text stays text and lines stay lines, so the file has no fixed size and prints crisp on a letter sheet or a 48-inch poster. Drop it into an email, a document, or a print order.
  • SVG if a printer or a design tool prefers it. Same vector quality, opens in any browser.
  • PNG or JPEG for a chat, a slide, or a social post. Bitmap, so pick the export size for the use; scaling a small PNG up makes it blurry.
  • A live preview before you commit, showing exactly what the file will contain.

What stays editable is the tree, not the PDF. The PDF is a snapshot; the tree behind it is what you correct and export again.

Choosing a layout before you export

The PDF prints what the tree shows, so set that up first.

  • Scope. Full tree, or only what is on the canvas. Zoom to a branch and choose the viewport scope to print that branch alone.
  • Focus. Show one person's ancestors or descendants, or the line between two people, before exporting. This is how a large tree becomes a readable page.
  • Look. Choose card shape, typeface, and colours, or pick any preset in the export dialog to re-theme the file without touching the tree on screen.
  • Cards. Hide photos or dates to make cards smaller and fit more on a page.
  • Watermark. Off by default on a paid export; on if you want to credit the tool when sharing publicly.

Sizes and print-shop advice are in Print your family tree, and the Ancestry-specific path is in How to print your Ancestry family tree.

Also available: PNG, SVG, JSON, CSV

The same Export panel writes the other formats, so one import covers every conversion people search for:

  • GEDCOM to PNG or JPEG: an image of the drawn tree at the export size you choose.
  • GEDCOM to SVG: the vector drawing, for printers and design tools.
  • GEDCOM to JSON: Draw My Tree's own format, carrying everything including stories and media links. Free on every account, and it re-imports without loss.
  • GEDCOM to CSV: one row per person with parent, child and spouse IDs, for Excel, Google Sheets, or a script. Events and media do not come through.
  • GEDCOM to GEDCOM: export again after fixing names and dates, and carry the corrections back to the app you came from.

Frequently asked questions

Is it free? Importing the GEDCOM and drawing the tree is free with a free account. JSON export is free. PDF, SVG, GEDCOM, CSV and full-resolution images come with a one-time Keepsake Export for that tree, or with the Family Plan for every tree; a guest tree exports a watermarked PNG for free. Prices are on the pricing page.

How large can the tree be? Files up to 25 MB import, which covers tens of thousands of people. The PDF has no page limit, but a tree that size wants a focus filter or a poster-sized sheet to be readable.

Will it print at poster size? Yes. The PDF is vector, so a print shop can output it at any width without loss. Ask for the width you want and send the file as is.

Does the PDF include photos? If the people in your tree have portraits, yes. A GEDCOM does not carry images, so add them after import if you want them on the print.

Convert your GEDCOM now, or try the layout as a guest with a few typed names first.