So let's get into it: what are the five reasons why puzzles are good for your brain?
Research has shown that solving puzzles can help children learn to solve problems, and adults can use puzzles to keep their brains sharp. When you work on a puzzle, you are using your brain in ways that it doesn't usually get used in, making the process refreshing.
Have you ever felt the endorphin rush of finding and placing that long saught after puzzle piece? Us too, and it's addictive. The cool things is that puzzles help you think about the end goal, how to achieve it, and give you satifying milestones along the way. The best part? There is no right or wrong way to puzzle.
Puzzles are also a great way to stimulate your creativity. When you work on a puzzle, you have to piece together different parts of the puzzle to form a complete picture. This process gives puzzlers a more complete prospective, thinking not only of the segment at hand, but other placements. This is your brain thinking about how all the pieces of the puzzle fit together and it also has to be creative in order to form a useful picture.
Puzzles are one of the first ways children can stimulate their brain and later in life, it can keep your mind sharp. This is why puzzles are good for toddlers, and adults alike. In fact, many doctors suggest using and solving puzzles regularly, as a form of cognitive exercise. Whether it is a jigsaw puzzle or a Sudoku puzzle, they can help you stay mentally fit. Puzzles also positively contribute to neural plasticity - which is the act of building new connections. This tests your brain’s capacity and flexibility.
Puzzles are a great way to stimulate your brain and improve your memory. Puzzles of all sorts have been shown to improve memory, problem-solving skills, and even help you learn new languages! A study from the University of Toronto found that people who completed a puzzle for three hours a week showed significant improvement in their cognitive abilities.
These spacial reasoning, concentration, and problem solving skills are why puzzles have been shown to help your brain. Puzzles are a great way to keep your brain sharp and working at its best.
Puzzles are a fun way to connect with friends and family. Puzzles can be done by one person or with a group. Puzzles can also be used as a teaching tool. For example, you could use puzzles to teach shapes, colors, or math - and in group collaborations it often requires describing the pieces that you're looking for.
Puzzles are great because they are an intentional change of pace from the day-to-day world. They are also the perfect challenge, because you know there is a solution (unless you lost a puzzle piece, then you're out of luck). It's for these reasons that whatever the age or interest, puzzles make a pretty ideal gift - especially since you can customize what is printed on them now.
The future of puzzles is wide open. It’s hard to say what puzzles will look like in the future, but no matter which shape they take, puzzles will remain a fun way to keep your brain sharp while you spend time with your family and friends. So go ahead and design your own puzzle, whether it’s thinking up a new brain buster the world has never heard before or creating a customized jigsaw puzzle from a cherished photo of your own. The challenge is on!
Selecting the ideal image for your puzzle is like finding the right book to read on a rainy day. It determines the level of challenge, the engagement, and ultimately, the satisfaction derived from completing the puzzle. But striking a balance is key - a good puzzle requires some mental rigor but doesn’t suck the fun out of the activity.
When it comes to designing a great puzzle, there are several factors to consider:
The level of detail in your puzzle can make a big difference. Ideally, each piece should have enough detail to be distinct from others but not so obvious that pieces are placed easily. It’s about finding that sweet spot where there’s just enough challenge to keep things interesting.
For instance, consider our Easter Eggs Jigsaw Puzzle. The intricate details of the image increase the level of difficulty - while our Shuttle Liftoff Jigsaw Puzzle has more easily defined objects (such as the shuttle, the ground, and the water tower), which can be taken on separately, if needed.
Large spaces with uniform colors can significantly up the difficulty level. While this can be good for those seeking a challenge, it should be used in moderation.
In our Totem of Trans Am Jigsaw Puzzle, if more blue sky was shown, it would be more difficult, and if less was shown, it would likely be easier. The key is to strike a balance between uniform and varied colors.
The shape of your puzzle pieces also plays a role in the overall difficulty. If all pieces were a uniform color and shape (called a "ribbon cut"), this could not only be difficult but potentially tedious as very similar pieces could seem like they fit in the wrong place.
At Puzzery, we add a small variation to our ribbon cut puzzle piece shapes to avoid this issue. However, we are also trialing adding a randomized puzzle piece shape option for those seeking an extra challenge.
Finally, consider how your image is composed. For example, having distinctive items around the edge of your design can give puzzlers a great start and a strong foundation.
For example, in our Golden Gate Sunset Jigsaw Puzzle, we included some distinctive pieces near the edge to make it easier for puzzlers to find and identify where they go. For hardcore puzzlers who solve puzzles without referencing the box, this can be nice touch.
Now that we’ve explored the importance of image composition and how it can affect your puzzle-solving experience, let’s tackle the next big question - where can you find the perfect image for your custom puzzle?
Selecting an image for your puzzle is like finding the right book to read on a rainy day. It sets the tone and can significantly enhance the experience. But what if you’re not sure what image to use? Or maybe you’re looking for something a little different than the usual family photo or pet portrait. You’re not alone. We’ve all been there, and that’s why I’ve got something special for you.
In the world of digital art, “royalty-free” is a term that refers to a type of license that allows you to use an image without having to pay royalties or license fees each time you use it. This means you can legally print these images on your puzzles without any worries.
There are hundreds of sites that offer royalty-free images, but today, I’ll walk you through five of my favorites:
Unsplash is a treasure trove of high-quality images from professional photographers around the world. Perfect for landscapes, animals, and everything in between.
Pexels offers free stock photos and videos across a wide range of categories. Its large database includes everything from foggy forests to color-specific galleries.
Pixabay hosts free images for personal and commercial use. It was one of the first royalty-free sites to emerge and offers a vast array of fun designs and patterns.
Burst is Shopify's royalty-free image library. This site is best for lifestyle photos, and close up images.
Canva is always a great place to check. You can download templates or use their design tools to create your own.
Still not sure? Check your camera roll. For example, did you know that over 70% of the puzzles we print here at Puzzery have pets on them?
Did you know that over 70% of the puzzles we print here at Puzzery have pets on them? That’s right, pets often are the go-to puzzle design for puzzle lovers.
Overall, the art of puzzle design is a fascinating journey that combines creativity, strategy, and a deep understanding of what makes a puzzle enjoyable. Keep some of these details in mind when selecting an image, and your custom puzzle is sure to be a hit. So whether you’re designing a puzzle for yourself or as a gift for someone special, we hope this guide inspires you to create something truly unique.
Happy puzzling!
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As a new dad living on the West Coast, I’ve come to further appreciate the little things in life. The sound of waves crashing on the shore, the smell of pine trees during our family hikes, and the joy of watching my little one solve their first jigsaw puzzle. But there’s something else that’s often on my mind - our planet’s future.
When we started Puzzery, we knew it was not just about creating custom jigsaw puzzles; we’re about preserving special moments for future generations - and part of that is preserving the world that we live in. That’s why we’ve made a commitment from day one to offset 100% of carbon emissions from both the creation and shipping of our puzzles worldwide.
To do this, we support innovative companies that are literally pulling carbon out of the air. Together with these businesses, we’ve managed to remove thousands of tonnes of carbon from the atmosphere and provide carbon-neutral puzzles for thousands of orders. How cool is that?
For every order we receive, we use a special formula to calculate the production and shipping emissions. We then set aside a portion of our revenue for carbon removal companies that have been vetted by scientists from Carbon Direct. These companies use our contributions to remove the equivalent amount of carbon created by our puzzles and shipments. Any extra funds go towards further development of carbon removal technologies.
Let me introduce you to some of the companies helping us make a difference:
Heirloom: These guys have developed a direct air capture technology that enhances the carbon mineralization process. Instead of using energy-intensive fans to draw air in, Heirloom speeds up the rate at which naturally occurring minerals capture CO₂.
Remora: This company has found a way to capture CO₂ right from semi-truck tailpipes as they drive! The captured CO₂ is then stored for long-term safekeeping.
Charm: Charm uses plant waste to capture CO₂, converts it into a stable, carbon-rich liquid, and safely stores it deep underground—out of reach from wildfires and soil erosion.
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As a dad who loves nature and wants his children (and future grandchildren) to enjoy it too, I’m proud of what we are doing together.
Happy puzzling! 🧩