It makes jigsaw puzzles to solve online, which I wasn’t really expecting. Does anyone enjoy solving them like this? I was expecting it would create some file for you to print, or be a service that would do it for you and ship it, or something.

I would be interested in a high quality version of what you suggested. TFA’s service? Not at all

I've seen several iPad puzzle generators that create random jigsaw puzzles from your Apple Photos, etc. It's not personally my thing, but I think people enjoy them as a sort of background activity while they're watching TV.

As far as physical, there are many businesses that take an image file, number of pieces, etc. and will create a custom jigsaw puzzle.

For example:

https://www.portraitpuzzles.com/custom-puzzles/

You might be interested in https://draradech.github.io/jigsaw/index.html

Used its output with a laser cutter and plywood, result was neat

I like the following jigsaw plug-in for Inkscape:

https://inkscape.org/~Neon22/%E2%98%85lasercut-jigsaw

I think Ravensburger has a service where you can upload images and then order the puzzle.

I like it. Kinda cool, and looks like it took a substantial effort. Completing the puzzle is great too.

This is pretty cool, lots of fun.

Neat project!

But I’ve realized, after doing a number of puzzles with my wife over the past several years, that most real life pictures don’t make great puzzles.

I mean, if you like the challenge of just putting random pieces together, maybe. (Or a pure white one [1], if you’re really up for the challenge.)

But the best puzzles are the ones that artists hand make specifically for puzzles that are super busy and detailed, and have all sorts of Easter eggs in them. Good examples are the Magic Puzzle Company ones [2].

I suppose that there are good pics you can find online of distant scenes, like a map of a city, or a crowded stadium, or a crowded street, etc. Maybe that’s a good use case for this.

EDIT: just tried it out with an image I found via Googling “detailed images”, and realized this is meant for much smaller puzzles than I’m used to doing, so not sure my comment is super applicable. My problem with digital vs physical puzzles comes down to 1) I don’t find small puzzles super fun, 2) not having enough real estate to sort/organize, and 3) the pieces are usually already oriented properly for you, or it’s fiddly dealing with orientation.

But the UX for doing smaller puzzles seems polished and well done, if you enjoy small digital puzzles!

[1] https://a.co/d/ddf9p6V

[2] https://a.co/d/dp3INCp

A search term you'll go a long way with for detailed images is 'Wimmelbilder':

https://old.reddit.com/r/wimmelbilder/

TIL, thanks!

Interesting! I am experimenting with videos as puzzles here: https://videopuzzle.org/ Seems to work quite well. The movement adds some challenge.

I have never tried solving a jigsaw puzzle. I have a question: Given a solved jigsaw puzzle, is it possible to swap the position of two pieces such that it fits but does not preserve the picture?

Only in the most poorly designed puzzles. Typically in a jigsaw puzzle, all pieces are uniquely shaped, meaning no two pieces have exactly the same shape, ensuring that each piece only fits in one specific spot to complete the picture

Counter example:

https://boingboing.net/2018/11/11/this-artist-uses-jigsaw-pu...

These are made using two or more puzzles that share the same cut pattern. Within a single puzzle, the shapes are (normally) unique.

> "all pieces are uniquely shaped"

How is that possible? There are four sides, and each side is either v or ^. That is only 2^4 = 16 possibilities

The ^s and and vs are not all the same shape and size, and are not in the same location on the sides. The inner "square" bit also isn't an exact square. Everything is wobbly and organic in shape.