Jigsaw Puzzle Templates

[brainsick]

Hi.  I'm going through something of a jigsaw puzzle phase right now.  Jigs@w Puzzle 2 lets one create and solve custom software jigsaw puzzles.  It has an advanced feature where the user can create their own vector drawings to custom cut a jigsaw puzzle.  It also supports loading an EMF file to use as a template.  Inkscape can create EMF files. 

I have a workflow going where I can create designs in Inkscape using paths that I can then load into Jigs@w Puzzle 2 to custom cut a jigsaw puzzle. 

<Inkscape Picture>


<Jigs@w Puzzle 2 Advanced Template Picture>


<Jigs@w Puzzle 2 WIP Puzzle Progress>


I think it would be neat if there were a collection of high quality templates available.  Ideally, templates that would be suitable for physical cutting (laser, CNC) too.

My Inkscape skills are non existant.  I managed to scrape together this prototype after hours of trial and error and restarts.  I'm going to keep at it though.

I would love to see (and play) anyone's designs if they were inspired to make one.

[brainsick]

handmade-circular-puzzle-2.svg
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[brynn]

Welcome to the forum!

Inkscape has an extension for creating jigsaw puzzle cutting files.  https://inkscape.org/en/~Neon22/%E2%98%85lasercut-jigsaw  But as far as I know, it  only makes rectangular puzzles.  Here's one tutorial, which also uses GIMP in the process.  But as far as I understand, it can be done without GIMP too.  I think there is another tutorial somewhere, but I can't seem to find it.

When you wish for  more templates, is the template the picture which is created when the puzzle is finished?  Or is the template the pattern of pieces?

One thing which I find missing, both with Inkscape's extension, and with your example, is the lack of random variations, in both the shape of the pieces and the layout of the pieces.  I've enjoyed putting together jigsaw puzzles when I was much younger, and I undestand that having identical pieces actually can make the puzzle harder to complete.  So that some people might enjoy small puzzles, with nearly identical pieces, where the image is almost a solid color, or some repetitive pattern.  Those can be very hard puzzles.

But I tend to enjoy puzzles with a very large number of pieces, which are pretty small, but where each piece is unique, and only fits on its other edges with certain pieces.

Anyway, I might play with the site you provided, and try to come up with some other templates.  Especially if it allows for adding some randomization!

Thanks for sharing 

[brainsick]

Inkscape has an extension for creating jigsaw puzzle cutting files.  https://inkscape.org/en/~Neon22/%E2%98%85lasercut-jigsaw  But as far as I know, it  only makes rectangular puzzles.

Yes, I came across that plugin as I was hunting templates.  It's great at what it does, but I'm hoping to create puzzles with more complex cuts.

When you wish for  more templates, is the template the picture which is created when the puzzle is finished?  Or is the template the pattern of pieces?

When I refer to a template, I mean the pattern of the pieces, not the underlying image.  The underlying image would be customizable per user preference.

One thing which I find missing, both with Inkscape's extension, and with your example, is the lack of random variations, in both the shape of the pieces and the layout of the pieces.

Yeah, I have this same concern.  Having variation in the grid shape itself makes for more unique pieces.  I was hoping there might be a filter appropriate for adding distortion without breaking apart connected paths, but I haven't gotten around to playing with those yet.  I'm still in the kiddie pool playing with path operations. 

[brainsick]

I completely redid the radial template.  I think it looks a lot better.  I want to interlock the rings yet.  Not sure how to best go about that yet.


puzzleset-radial-cut1.svg
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I threw together a 28x20 grid that's suitable for puzzle mosaics. 


puzzleset-grid-28x20-cut1.svg
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Inspired by some GI Joe puzzles I had growing up.  There were 4 puzzles of different scenes that could be combined into a larger puzzle.




Sadly, Jigs@w Puzzle 2 doesn't support mosaics.

[brynn]

I don't understand what you mean about the mosaic.  Couldn't you just merge 4 different images together, for one huge puzzle?

It might not be very hard to add a randomization factor, into Inkscape's extension -- for someone who already understands how to do it.  But I know little to nothing about writing extensions.