TL/DR = Create a monogram image for your profile that can be used as the primary image. Color match the monogram to your background photo for profile style synchronicity.
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In this tutorial I will show you how to color match a monogram profile image to the profile background photo.
As we go back more and more generations into the past, the chance of finding a photo of our ancestor becomes more difficult. We can use a document as a primary photo for the profile in order to remove the baby blue or pink stock profile photo but a document is not so attractive. For ancestors that were missing a profile photo I began adding monograms. They look nice and give you something to look at when you are looking in the family tree view. As each person's monogram is (usually) different, it can have a rather pleasing look for a family tree.
As I began adding monograms I found that the black color didn't always fit well with the profile background photo. I tried adjusting the color using stock red, blue, green, etc. But unless you get very lucky, your photo probably won't match well.
I remember in the past using a program called "Eye Dropper." This program lets you select any color you see on your screen and then it captures the color code and lets you reproduce that color in other places. Ideally, you can grab a color off of your background image and make a monogram in the same color.
I found Eye Dropper in the Google store and was able to add it as a free add on to my Chrome browser. There are other programs that do the same thing.
For this exercise, we will be using the profile of my fourth great-grandmother Nancy (Hasty) Carter. She has a lovely blue background that I picked up at Rose's Colonial Backgrounds:
Using the Eye Program tool, I select "Pick color from webpage." My cursor is turned into a color picker with a small box next to it. As I move the cursor over different colors on the screen, the box shows the selected color.
Once I am satisfied with my choice, I click the mouse and the color is recorded. Then I just go to the program window and copy the color code. It is always a hash tag followed by a 6 digit letter and number combination. In this case #566073.
Then I go to my monogram maker - I have been using www.freemonogrammaker.com - they offer free monograms and building tools. In this example, i used this monogram:
https://www.custom.freemonogrammaker.com/product/diamond-monogram-maker-color-and-frame-can-be-changed/
Once I have entered my ancestor's initials, I then click on the letters and background and then enter "change color." There, you will find a hash mark with six zeros: #000000 - copy your color code over the six zeros and hit save.
When all of the letters and border have been color changed, save the monogram and then upload it to your profile. Add the monogram as the primary photo and save.
Here are some examples:
https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Hasty-524
https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Unknown-480554
I hope that some of you may find this helfpul to dandy up your profiles. If you have any questions, please ask.
edit: typo
