How to Create Freeware Jigsaw Puzzles

Computer based jigsaw puzzles provide all the fun of a traditional puzzle without lost pieces.

Jigsaw puzzles are a fun way to stretch your mind, and with freeware you can create your own digital jigsaw puzzles. Digital jigsaw puzzles online allow you to use your own images as the basis of the puzzle. So, instead of doing a generic jigsaw puzzle, make one with an image of your pet or of a favorite photo.

Things You'll Need

• Computer with Internet connection
• Digital image

Instructions

1. Download a free puzzle creation program. There are several options available, depending on your computer's operating system. Jigsaw Puzzle Lite from Kraisoft runs on Windows based computers. Picpuz is a Linux-based jigsaw puzzle creator by Kornelix. Both allow you to create puzzles from your own images and to choose the number of pieces. Neither of these programs embeds ads in the software.

2. Select an image to transform into a jigsaw puzzle. If you choose a digital photograph, make sure it is in JPEG or TIFF format. Jigsaw puzzle creators cannot handle images in RAW format. Also, there are thousands of free fine art and nature images available online that you can use. Be sure that you own the rights or have the right to use to any image you use to create a jigsaw puzzle.

3. Open the jigsaw puzzle creation software. Follow menu prompts to locate the image you want to use on your hard drive. Set the difficulty level or number of pieces you want, as well as any other options. Jigsaw Puzzle Lite allows you to select a ghost image that sits behind the puzzle pieces as a guide. The program creates a jigsaw puzzle out of your image based on your selections.

4. Save your jigsaw puzzle to its own folder on your hard drive. You can solve your custom jigsaw puzzle as often as you like, or burn the files to a CD to share it with friends.

Tips & Warnings

• Look for an image with distinct light and dark areas. An image with too many similar colors is confusing and difficult to solve in a jigsaw puzzle format.

• Always keep an anti-virus program running on your computer when downloading software.

References

• Gizmo's Freeware: Best Free Jigsaw Puzzle and Creator
• Kornelix: Picpuz
• Kraisoft: Jigsaw Puzzle Lite

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• Kraisoft: Jigsaw Puzzle Lite
• Kornelix: Picpuz