Since we can't pull actual puzzles into garden.org, let's do the next best thing!

Put the "Jigs@w 2" program onto your computer. A free version can be found at this link. https://www.tibosoftware.com/ I bought the $10 "entry" version to throw them some support since I really like the program. https://www.tibosoftware.com/j...

Upload photos or images that you think would make good puzzles onto this thread. Do NOT submit images that you have not created, without the express permission of the photographer/creator.

PHOTOS ON THIS THREAD ARE THE PROPERTY OF THE CONTRIBUTOR.

Images on this thread may not be used for purposes other than creating a puzzle for personal use, without the express written permission of the photographer. Photos of somebody else's artwork are likewise not permitted, unless the art is public domain. If you post a public domain image, please try to include attribution (the name of the photographer, if available). Thank you!!

If you have set your preferences to create a watermark on your photo, you might consider removing it from photos posted here (or not). Uploading a photo onto garden.org does cut down its size, making it less useful for creating prints, but it could still be stolen for online use. If you find it elsewhere online, tell Dave. He's pretty good at the "cease and desist" thing, and the above bolded warning should make things clear.

With the paid version, you can work the puzzles within the program with no time limit (with the free version, you get 2 days). However, it's easy to export the puzzles into a file on your computer, and then you can work them at any time. You can also download puzzles from PlayPen of Graphics for as long as Cubits remains functional.

There is a minimum size for photos that are used for puzzles in Jigs@w 2, and I will try to figure out what that is.

Making Puzzles

When I do a how-to, I tend to include every possible detail, so you can read along while you are doing the thing, step by step. That also means my tutorials are lengthy, but that doesn't mean they are complicated, just thorough. I try not to assume much tech know-how, so there's a lot of "click this... now you'll see that... look for this other thing and click on it... " Don't be nervous – nothing about this is tricky, I promise!

Getting Images
I have a folder on my desktop with images I thought would make good puzzles. To save a photo from the images thread to the folder on your computer, click on the thumbnail. Now right-click and choose "save image" and give the file a name & location. I use file names with the contributor's name and their title for the image.

Using the "Jigs@w 2" software

Click on the link to the software at the top of this puzzle forum page. Downloading the free version of the software (any of the versions) will give you all the features needed for the simple puzzles we've been doing. The download wizard works like any other – read and agree to the license, choose a place on your drive to put the program, etc.

This is an executable file! Brenda and I (and others on this thread, I'm sure) have installed it with no issues, but any time you download an executable file you are accepting the risk of downloading a virus. That's why you shouldn't click on links you don't know or trust.

I chose to put the icon on my desktop so I can find the program easily. Click on it to run the program, or click on the program from your start menu. If you don't purchase a full feature version, you'll probably get that little reminder about buying it each time you open the program. Just click "continue" and ignore it.

From the menu at the top right, choose "new puzzle." You'll get a pop-up dialog box headed "Choose Image From." Since you've stored puzzle pics on your computer, the answer is "local," so click on the circle next to the first option and hit "continue."

Now you're in the "open" dialog box. Navigate to the location of the image you want to use. Either double-click on the image, or click on the image and then click "open."

You'll see the image displayed as a simple puzzle. This is the fun part – choosing options for the puzzle!
There's a "Standard Tools" box in the upper left corner. You can change the shape of the pieces (from the pull-down menu; we've been using the second choice), the number of pieces, and the "chaos" of the shapes (how skewed they can be from the simplest version).

I've been using the second shape option and setting the chaos slider a little more than halfway to the right. As you move the slider controlling number of pieces, you'll see the actual number of pieces change on the puzzle and also in the information box at the bottom left corner.

If you want to randomize the orientation of the pieces, click the box next to "rotate" in the second box on the right side. There's also a box to click if you want to make a "surprise" puzzle, where the image doesn't show when you click "ghost" or "image" while working the puzzle.

OK, this is a somewhat non-intuitive part, although instructions are in the "help" section of the program. When you are satisfied with the puzzle you have made, click the "back" button in the upper left dialog box. A pop-up will ask, "Do you wish to proceed with your new puzzle?" Click "yes."

Another pop-up will now let you name your puzzle and save in a location of your choice. For some reason, you have to unclick a button for saving the puzzle as a "surprise" version (where the image won't show when you click "ghost" or "image" while working the puzzle).

I save the puzzle program files on my computer, just as I do the image files, but I put them in a different subfolder. I include the number of pieces in the name of the puzzle file, and if I have made a version with randomly-oriented pieces, I include an R in the name. Likewise, if I made a surprise puzzle, I put an "S" in the name.

To make another version of the puzzle for that image, click on "back" and start again with "new puzzle,
uploading the same image.

Now you can navigate to your puzzle file and click on a puzzle to work it!

You can also work puzzles within the puzzle program, but if you have downloaded the free version there's a time limit for doing so. "Jigs@w 2" also allows you to create folders to organize the puzzles you've created, although once you have saved the files in another folder on your computer, you might just want to delete them within the program so the workspace doesn't get cluttered.

Any questions? Just ask!

Grand Canyon, Life on the Edge


Grand Canyon Ridge


Grand Canyon Plateaus


Grand Canyon, Framed View


Grand Canyon Lichen

If I don't do puzzles, can I contribute a few photos for your use?

Yes, please!!

Thank you, Jill - I hadn't set up the program, but now I know how to use it, and I have a bunch of my own pictures I can make puzzles from!!

Since Cubits is still standing (for the moment), I did a puzzle set for Valentine's Day.

Enjoy!

https://cubits.org/PlaypenGrap...