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Build Your Tribute: adding the scenes, photos, music and voice

How to fill in each part of Build Your Tribute: scenes, portrait, photos and videos, stock images, background, music, voice recordings and closing scene.

Updated 2026-10-19

1. Opening scene and fonts

Set the title, name and dates people see when the video starts, and choose the fonts and colours.

Open the tribute and stay on Build Your Tribute. Click Opening scene in the guide on the left.
Check Enable Opening Scene is set to On. Turn it Off if you don't want an opening scene.
Open Text below the preview. Type a title in Your Text, or click Suggestions to pick one such as "In Loving Memory".
Type the person's name in Name and their dates in Date.
For each line, set the font size (1 to 20) and choose a font from the list under it. Click the colour box to change the colour.
Use the arrows next to each line to move it. Use Move All Text to move every line together.
Click + Additional Field if you need another line, such as a short verse.
Open Image or Video to add a picture behind the words, or Background to give this scene its own colour or picture.

Which fonts can I use?

Fonts are grouped as Classic and dignified, Elegant and premium, Personal and handwritten and Modern and uplifting. The finished video uses the same fonts.

Does the opening scene use the tribute background?

Yes, unless you give it a background of its own. Click Use the Tribute background to switch it back.

2. Opening portrait

Add one favourite photo of the person, shown straight after the opening scene.

Click Opening portrait in the guide on the left.
Check Enable Opening Portrait is set to On.
Open Image or Video, then Upload Your Own, and click Choose image or video. Pick the photo from your computer.
Use Original or Fit and the Pan arrows to frame the photo. Click Crop Image to trim the edges.
Open Text if you'd like words on the portrait, such as the name. It starts with the opening scene's text style.
Open Background to choose what shows around the photo.

Will the portrait copy the words from the opening scene?

No. It starts with the same style, but only shows the words you type into the portrait. Changes here don't affect the opening scene.

Why does it say my photo is small?

Photos under 1000 pixels may look blurry on a big screen. The photo is still added. Use a larger copy if you have one.

3. Uploading photos and videos

Add the family's photos and home videos, which make up the heart of the tribute.

Click Photos & videos in the guide on the left.
Click Choose Photos & Videos, select the files and click Open. You can also drag files onto the box.
Wait while each file uploads. The box shows which file it's working on.
Check your files under Your Media. Each one shows its number in the order it will play.
Drag the photos and videos into the order you want. On a phone or tablet, hold the handle in the corner and drag.
Click the X on a photo to remove it.

Good to know

iPhone (HEIC) photos are changed to JPG in the browser before they upload. Just choose them as normal.
Photos can be JPG, PNG, WebP, GIF, BMP, HEIC, AVIF, TIFF or common camera RAW files. Videos can be MP4, MOV, WebM, AVI, MKV, M4V or 3GP.
Each video gets a small preview picture so you can tell your clips apart.
Photos under 1000 pixels get a note that they may look blurry on a big screen. They are still added.
Use random transitions mixes dissolve, fade and push transitions between items.
How long each photo shows sets the time for photos you add (1 to 30 seconds).

Limits on a tribute

If the invite has a photo limit or a time limit, a bar shows how many items and how much time are used. Whichever limit fills first stops more uploads. Remove an item to make room.

A file says it is too large. What can I do?

Trim or compress the video first, for example with HandBrake, iMovie or QuickTime Player (File > Export As), then upload it again.

Can I change the order later?

Yes. The order saves straight away, and you can also move items on the timeline in Edit Your Tribute.

A RAW photo wouldn't upload. Why?

Some RAW files can't be converted in the browser. Save it as a JPG or PNG first, then upload that.

4. Stock images and videos

Add tasteful pictures such as flowers and landscapes between photos, or use stock videos for scenes and backgrounds.

Click Stock images in the guide on the left.
Click a picture to add it to the tribute. You can click as many as you like.
If there are more pictures, click the Show ... more images link under them. Hover over a picture to see its title.
Click a selected picture again to take it out.
For stock videos, open Background (choose Background Video) or a scene's Image or Video panel and choose Stock Videos. Click the play button to watch one first.

Your funeral home's own stock

Images and videos you upload in Settings, under Media Library, show at the top of the stock lists for every tribute.

Do stock images count towards the photo limit?

Yes. Each stock image you add counts as one item, and its time counts too.

Can families use our own stock images?

Yes. They see your images at the top of the list, before the Tribute Creator collection.

5. Background

Choose the colour, picture or video that sits behind the photos and scenes.

Click Background in the guide on the left.
Open Colour to pick a swatch, or use the colour slider, RGB boxes or colour code under Custom Selection.
Or open Background Image and click a picture to use it full screen.
Or open Background Video and click a video. It loops for the whole tribute.
Or open Upload Your Own and click Choose image to use a picture of your own (JPG, PNG, WebP, GIF or HEIC).
Check the Active label shows on the choice you want. Click the X to remove a picture or video.

Does this change the scenes too?

Yes. The opening scene, opening portrait and closing scene use this background, unless you give a scene its own.

Can one photo have a different background?

Yes. Select the photo in Edit Your Tribute and open its Background tab.

6. Music and grouping by length

Choose the music that plays softly behind the photos, from the library, your own music or an uploaded song.

Click Music in the guide on the left.
Press the play button on a track to listen. The tracks are grouped by length: Under 3 minutes, 3 to 5 minutes and 5 to 7 minutes.
Press the + button to add a track. Add more tracks if you need them. They play one after another.
Drag the added tracks to change their order, or click the bin to remove one.
To upload a song, click Upload Your Own Music (or drag & drop) and choose the file (MP3, MPEG, WAV, AAC or M4A).
Read the Copyright Confirmation Required box and click I Accept & Upload.
Tick Automatically sync photos to music if you want every photo timed to fit the music.
For a silent tribute, click No Music. Voice recordings and the sound in videos still play.

Your funeral home's own music

Music you upload in Settings, under Media Library, shows at the top of the list for every tribute, marked Custom.

How do I know if one track is long enough?

Use the length groups. A 5 to 7 minute track is usually enough on its own. A short track is often paired with a second one.

Why can't I change how long photos show?

Photos are timed to fit your music. Untick Automatically sync photos to music to choose the length yourself.

Will the music drown out a voice recording?

No. The music softens while someone is speaking and comes back up in the pauses.

7. Voice recordings: record or upload

Record a spoken message in the browser, or upload one the family already has, such as a voicemail.

Click Voice recording in the guide on the left.
To record, click Record New Memory and allow the microphone when the browser asks.
Tap the round button to start, speak, then tap it again to stop.
Give the recording a name and click Save. Click Discard to start again.
To upload instead, click Upload a Recording and choose the file (MP3, M4A, WAV, AAC, OGG or FLAC, under 100 MB).
Press play on the recording card to listen. Click the pencil to rename it, or the bin to delete it.

The microphone isn't working. What can I try?

Check the browser is allowed to use the microphone and close any other programs using it. Then refresh and try again. Chrome on a computer works best.

Can I record on an iPhone?

Yes, in Safari. Chrome on iPhone can't record audio.

Can I add more than one recording?

Yes. Each one goes on the Audio row of the timeline, where you can move it.

8. Closing scene

Add a final message at the very end of the tribute, such as "Forever In Our Hearts".

Click Closing scene in the guide on the left.
Check Enable Closing Scene is set to On.
Open Text below the preview and type your message in Your Text, or click Suggestions.
Add a name or dates in Name and Date if you'd like them.
Set the fonts, sizes, colours and positions the same way as the opening scene.
Open Image or Video or Background to add a picture or change what's behind the words.
Click Continue to Edit Your Tribute to arrange everything on the timeline.

How long does the closing scene show?

It comes straight after the last photo and stays on screen to the end. If voice recordings run longer than the photos, it stretches to cover them.

What if I add a video to the closing scene?

It plays once and then holds on its last frame.