Question 1

Create Shaped Mazes for Mazes 2D Tiles (Video)

Accepted Answer

With the Masks-Add-On for Puzzle Maker Pro – Mazes 2D Tiles you can use your own images to create a mask (a.k.a. shape) and use the manual editor to adjust the shape. The video demonstrates how this is done. If you prefer to read, there’s also this Tutorial: Create Shaped Mazes.

You can find more tutorials on the Mazes 2D Tiles tutorials page. Video tutorials can be found in the Mazes 2D Tiles Playlist.

Question 2

Creating Square Tiles with MS Powerpoint (Video)

Accepted Answer

The video demonstrates how to create square tiles in MS Powerpoint. The actual tiles are just an example, you can create anything you want, as long as the tiles are square (height and width are equal). After drawing and editing the tiles, you save them as PNG images, using thenaming format that’s required by Mazes 2D Tiles.

You can find more tutorials on the Mazes 2D Tiles tutorials page. Video tutorials can be found in the Mazes 2D Tiles Playlist.

Question 3

Generate Isometric Tiles from your Square Tiles (Video)

Accepted Answer

With the Tile Multiplier for Puzzle Maker Pro – Mazes 2D Tiles you can create a real 3D looking isometric maze from your own square tiles. Each flat tile turned into a 3D cube alike isometric tile. Choose your own shading for the 3D effect. The video demonstrates how this is done.

You can find more tutorials on the Mazes 2D Tiles tutorials page. Video tutorials can be found in the Mazes 2D Tiles Playlist.

Question 4

Height Map Editor Tutorial - Quick Overview

Accepted Answer

The Height Map Editor is an interactive tool to create your own 3D landscape. You can raise and lower individual squares (blocks) and level entire rows and columns.

There is one basic rule for the height of the cells: cells in front have to be lower than cells in the back. (Otherwise there would be a path on the back of the cell, which is not visible).

The Height Map Editor always applies this rule automatically, which may cause some unexpected results when you’re changing the height of some cells. That’s why there’s an Undo option, so you can always go back to the previous version of the height map.

https://malcolm-en-gb.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/instances/wuGqS3zSeN/resources/s49dpbE6ax/Height%20Map%20Editor%20Screenshot.jpg (Height Map Editor Screenshot)

In the screenshot you can see:

You can save the height map as a preset for later use.

You can find more tutorials on the Mazes 3D Isometric tutorials page. Video tutorials can be found in the Mazes 3D Isometric Playlist.

Question 5

Getting Started with Mazes 3D Isometric (Video)

Accepted Answer

The video contains a short overview of the options and functions for the module Puzzle Maker Pro - Mazes 3D Isometric

You can find more tutorials on the Mazes 3D Isometric tutorials page. Video tutorials can be found in the Mazes 3D Isometric Playlist.

Question 6

Height Map Editor for Mazes 3D Isometric (Video)

Accepted Answer

The video gives a quick overview of the Height Map Editor for Mazes 3D Isometric.

You can find more tutorials on the Mazes 3D Isometric tutorials page. Video tutorials can be found in the Mazes 3D Isometric Playlist.

Question 7

How to create Triangulated Mazes using Puzzle Maker Pro - Mazes 2D Random Shapes?

Accepted Answer

This short videos shows how to create Triangulated Mazes using Puzzle Maker Pro - Mazes 2D Random Shapes

Question 8

How can I create Voronoi mazes with Puzzle Maker Pro - Mazes 2D Random Mazes?

Accepted Answer

This short video shows you how to create Voronoi mazes with Puzzle Maker Pro - Mazes 2D Random Mazes

Question 9

How to create Mazes with random shapes using Puzzle Maker Pro - Mazes 2D Random Shapes?

Accepted Answer

How to create Mazes with random shapes using Puzzle Maker Pro - Mazes 2D Random Shapes?

This tutorial applies to Puzzle Maker Pro - Mazes 2D Random Shapes.

The tutorial "How to use Mazes 2D Squares" describes how to use the generic options for Mazes 2D.

The module Mazes 2D Random Shapes is available in Puzzle Maker Pro v2022.11 (or newer)

Mazes 2D Random Shape lets you create mazes with random shapes (polygons and triangles), resulting in a completely different maze each time you create or preview a maze.

The module includes

Voronoi Cells (an organic looking pattern)
Triangulation (irregular triangles)

In addition to the Random Shapes options, this module includes the 'standard' maze generation and style options in the Puzzle Maker Pro - Mazes 2D collection.

Note: The Masks Add-On is not available for this module.

Creating Random Shapes Mazes

Select Mazes 2D in the main Puzzle Type dropdown menu, then select either "Voronoi Cells" or "Triangulation" in the (maze) Type dropdown menu. Click "Next Preview" to quickly get a first impression. (Changing settings does not automatically create a new preview, because you may want to change multiple settings, and the mazes, especially at larger sizes, may take some time to generate).

Creating Voronoi Mazes

You may not know it by this name, but this type of pattern is quite common in nature, and also in logistics. Mr Voronoi created an algorithm to divide an area (in our case the canvas) in smaller areas (cells), where each point in the cell is closer to its center than to other centers. This is used for example to determine which area is served by a subway or bus station, or by a distribution center. In nature you can see patterns like this for example on a giraffe.

https://malcolm-en-gb.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/instances/wuGqS3zSeN/resources/nnlJcWzUpc/Voronoi%20Cells%20Example.png (Voronoi Cells Example)

In this example image, the dots are placed randomly. The black lines (cell borders) are equally distant from the two points they separate. Voronoi on Wikipedia.

https://malcolm-en-gb.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/instances/wuGqS3zSeN/resources/QGe4Be3GsF/Voronoi%20Maze%20-%20Even%20Spread%20Screenshot.png (Voronoi Maze - Even Spread Screenshot)

The number of rows and columns for the maze are used to determine the format of the puzzle (square, rectangle), and to calculate the total number of points or cells. Due the to the random way these mazes are generated, there are not actually 20 cells horizontally and 20 cells vertically in this example.

Changing the layout of the maze

All the common customization and randomization options for Mazes 2D will work for the Voronoi Cells as well, except that masking is not available. (This could cause parts of cells to be masked, which is too complex to calculate at reasonable speed).

https://malcolm-en-gb.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/instances/wuGqS3zSeN/resources/hz0oqLdFtc/Voronoi%20Maze%20-%20Centered%20Spread%20Screenshot.png (Voronoi Maze - Centered Spread Screenshot)

The "Spread" slider will force the points to be more close to the center (while still random). This results in a maze with a very different look and feel, more like an old city.

Creating Triangulation Mazes

Triangulation is a way to connect all the dots (or centers) with non-overlapping triangles. Resulting in a pattern that is related to, but very different from the Voronoi pattern.

https://malcolm-en-gb.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/instances/wuGqS3zSeN/resources/OQ37BNZiND/Triangulation%20Example.png (Triangulation Example)

In this example image, the dots are placed randomly. The black lines connect the dots that are closest to each other, resulting in triangles.

https://malcolm-en-gb.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/instances/wuGqS3zSeN/resources/LRAtNzr3PJ/Triangulation%20Maze%20-%20Even%20Spread%20Screenshot.png (Triangulation Maze - Even Spread Screenshot)

When we use triangulation to create a maze, the lines are connected more sharply, maybe less esthetically pleasing than Voronoi. This type of maze is also quite unique.

Changing the layout of the maze

All the common customization and randomization options for Mazes 2D will work for the Triangulation as well, except that masking is not available. (This could cause parts of cells to be masked, which is too complex to calculate at reasonable speed).

https://malcolm-en-gb.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/instances/wuGqS3zSeN/resources/dz1nOOI91v/Triangulation%20Maze%20-%20Centered%20Spread%20Screenshot.png (Triangulation Maze - Centered Spread Screenshot)

The "Spread" slider will force the points to be more close to the center (while still random). This results in a maze with a very different look and feel.