The ultimate guide to great puzzle designs

Some puzzles are more enjoyable than others - and it's not always about the image itself. Small details in the design and layout can make the difference between a puzzle that's satisfying to complete and one that ends up back in the box half-finished.

This guide covers what to look for when choosing (or creating) a puzzle image, plus some free resources if you need inspiration.

Key factors to consider

When it comes to designing a great puzzle, there are several factors to consider:

Detail level

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 the below puzzles. The intricate details of the image increase the level of difficulty - while the one with the rocket has more easily defined objects (such as the shuttle, the ground, and the water tower), which can be taken on separately, if needed.

Uniform colors

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 the below 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.

Puzzle piece shapes

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 use a variety of shapes to ensure that each piece has it's own home 💚

Image composition

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 the below 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.

Discovering the perfect image

So you know what makes a good puzzle image - but what if you don't have one? Maybe you want something different from the usual family photo or pet portrait.

Good news: there are plenty of free, high-quality images available online that you can legally use.

The world of royalty-free images

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

Unsplash is a treasure trove of high-quality images from professional photographers around the world. Perfect for landscapes, animals, and everything in between.

Pexels

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

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

Burst is Shopify's royalty-free image library. This site is best for lifestyle photos, and close up images.

Canva

Canva is always a great place to check. You can download templates or use their design tools to create your own.

Bonus option ✨

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?

Next steps

Keep these details in mind when selecting an image, and your custom puzzle will be more enjoyable to put together - whether it's for yourself or as a gift.

Ready to make your own?

Create a custom puzzle

Upload any image and we'll turn it into a premium jigsaw puzzle. Choose from 100, 200, 500, or 1000 pieces - all made in the USA and shipped carbon-neutral.

Try the puzzle designer