Question 1

How to use your own images with Connect the Dots

Accepted Answer

This video tutorial demonstrates how you can import your own JPG and PNG images to create Connect the Dots puzzles

Question 2

Is there a demo version of BookPublisherTools software available?

Accepted Answer

It is possible to get the demo version for Puzzle Maker Pro here. The demo version includes all puzzle modules, but will create watermarked puzzles.

For other products, please contact our helpdesk to get a temporary license for testing.

Question 3

Is there a video overview of Puzzle Maker Pro - JigSaw Squares?

Accepted Answer

For those who prefer video tutorials instead of written text, here's a video overview of Puzzle Maker Pro - JigSaw Squares

Question 4

Latin Squares Video Overview

Accepted Answer

This video shows what you can do with Puzzle Maker Pro - Latin Squares

Question 5

Link Finder (Plugin for Powerpoint) tutorial video

Accepted Answer

Link Finder (Plugin for Powerpoint) tutorial video

Question 6

Masks Add-On for Mazes 2D Squares Video Overview

Accepted Answer

Masks Add-On for Mazes 2D Squares Video Overview

Question 7

Mazes 2D Tiles - Tile format and naming conventions

Accepted Answer

The most complex and most fun part of Mazes 2D Tiles is creating your own tiles. You can use the tiles that are supplied, or buy tiles on the internet, but you can also create your own tiles. With your own tileset you can create truly unique puzzles.

In this tutorial we'll desribe how to create the tiles for square and isometric mazes, with and without the Tile Multiplier Add-On.

Creating Square Tiles for Mazes 2D Tiles

Tiles for Mazes 2D Tiles have to be saved in a .png format.

Naming conventions

We've set up a simple standard, where each side of a tile gets a number. The code consists of the numbers for the sides that are connected. The name of the file (the image file for the tile) has to start with this code, followed by a dash ("-"). The dash is required to let the software know where the code ends.

For example, a tile with a corner that connects sides 1 and 2, has code 12. The filename for this image can be something like "12-top right corner.png" or "12-corner with tree.png". You can also have both names, the software will randomly pick one of them each time this type of tile is needed.

https://malcolm-en-gb.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/instances/wuGqS3zSeN/resources/pgaxGX167f/Square%20Tile%20Numbering%20convention.jpg (Square Tile Numbering convention)

There are 16 possible codes for square mazes:

0 – optional, empty square. You can use this for embellishments, like trees, your logo, etc

1, 2, 3, 4 – Dead end

12, 23, 34, 14 – Corners

13, 24 – Straight connection

1234 – Crossing (all sides connected)

123, 124, 134, 234 – Split / three-way connection

In addition to those 16 codes, you’ll need two additional images:

s – start image (this will be printed over the start tile)

e – end image (this will be printed over the finish tile)

Image Size

The image size (or canvas size) for your tiles depends on the size of the mazes you are going to generate:

If you’d be creating a maze of 40 by 40 on that canvas, each square would be just 50 by 50 pixels.

When the squares are printed on the canvas by Mazes 2D Tiles, they will be resized to fit.

The default tiles in Puzzle Maker Pro were created at 500×500 pixels.

Drawing the Tiles

Drawing the tiles is actually very easy. The important thing to do is make sure that the connections, at the edges of each square, are at the same place for each tile. Below is the template we used for Adobe Illustrator:

https://malcolm-en-gb.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/instances/wuGqS3zSeN/resources/xqzaVE3Tmn/Adobe%20Illustrator%20template.jpg (Adobe Illustrator template)

This template has several options for each tile. If you don't have the option to create multiple artobards, it's best to create a template that has all sides connected, and use that for all other tiles as well.

While we use Illustrator for the example, any editing software will do, such as Adobe Photoshop, Corel Paint, Affinity, Canva, or even the software that comes with your computer, such as MS Paint.

To summarise, you'll need 16+2 Tiles for your maze:

1-top.png
2-right.png
3-bottom.png
4-left.png
12-topright.png
23-rightbottom.png
34-bottomleft.png
14-topleft.png
123-toprightbottom.png
124-toprightleft.png
134-topbottomleft.png
234-rightbottomleft.png
13-topbottom.png
24-rightleft.png
1234-allsides.png
0-blank.png (optional)
S-Startsymbol.png
E-Endsymbol.png

For each of the files, the code at the start (the numbers plus the dash) have to be there. The rest of the filename can be omitted, or changed to something else if you want to. You can also create multiple tiles for the same code, for extra variation.

Creating Isometric Tiles for Mazes 2D Tiles

The standard naming convention for isometric tiles looks a lot like the square tiles: the code for each tile consists of the numbers for the sides that are connected. The tiles are just rotated 45 degrees.

1 – Top Right (instead of top)

2 – Bottom Right (instead of right)

3 – Bottom Left (instead of bottom)

4 – Top Left (instead of left)

Again, the name of the file has to start with that code, followed by a dash (“-“).

For example, a tile with a corner that connects sides 1 (top right) and 2 (bottom right) has code 12. The filename could be something like “12-simple corner.PNG”

For isometric mazes there are 16 possible codes as well:

0 – optional, empty square. You can use this for embellishments, like trees, your logo, etc

1, 2, 3, 4 – Dead end

12, 23, 34, 14 – Corners

13, 24 – Straight connection

1234 – Crossing (all sides connected)

123, 124, 134, 234 – Split / three-way connection

In addition to those 16 codes, you’ll need two additional images:

s – start image (this will be printed over the start tile)

e – end image (this will be printed over the finish tile)

(The list of files that are required for isometric mazes is identical to the list for square mazes, although the tiles look different.)

Drawing the Tiles

For Mazes 2D Tiles we follow the isometric ‘standard’ that is used by most game developers: For the basic tile, the width is twice the height. In addition to that, you can add depth to the tiles, by drawing ‘suggested’ depth below the tile.

It’s usually easiest – but not required – to start with square tiles, and then rotate and resize them. There are other options, depending on the tools you have. For example, in Photoshop you can use ‘smart objects’ to do the transformation for you (after you set it up just once).

The steps to transform a square tile into an isometric tile:

Rotate the tile 45 degrees clockwise
Scale the tile to fit onto the canvas – if you have a 200×200 pixel tile and rotate it, it will be approx 280 pixels wide, so scale it back to have a total width of 200 again
Re-scale the tile – Horizontally to 100%, vertically to 50%. Immediately you’ll see the isometric look of the tile.
You can save the tile as PNG image. If you started with a 200×200 pixel tile, the canvas should now be 200 (wide) x 100 (high).
Optionally add additional lines and colors to suggest depth.

For an in-depth tutorial on how to do this, you can look at our tutorial on how to create isometric tiles with Adobe Illustrator, where we go into detail on the creation of isometric tiles.

Image Size

The image size of the files for isometric tiles depends on the embellishments you use:

The size of the basic tile should have a 1:2 ratio for the height:width sizes. If the tile is 200 pixels wide, it should be 100 pixels high. (The proper working of Puzzle Maker Pro – Mazes 2D Tiles depends on this, otherwise the results will not look right)
If you have added depth to the tile, either by adding additional lines or shading at the bottom, or by placing objects on the tile that stick out on top (e.g. towers, persons, arrows), the tile size can be larger. If you add depth suggestion at the bottom, each tile should have the same additional depth!
Mazes 2D Tiles will use the height of the smallest tile to determine the depth of the tiles. and align the tiles according to that height
If you have objects sticking out on top, these should be drawn over the tiles behind it. Mazes 2D Tiles will take this into account when setting up the canvas dimensions and margins

More Tutorials

Question 8

Mazes 2D Tiles Overview (Video)

Accepted Answer

This video shows the different options in Puzzle Maker Pro – Mazes 2D Tiles.

Question 9

On how many computers can I install Puzzle Maker Pro?

Accepted Answer

Aach license of Puzzle Maker Pro is sold to be used by one single person on one single computer. However, we can fully understand that you may want to use the software on both your laptop and your desktop. This is allowed.

However, if more than one person will be using the software at the same time, it's only fair that you purchase multiple licenses. Incidental use, such as a spouse, parent or child helping you out for an hour or two, is allowed. However, if you have a VA (Virtual Assistant) or an in-house assistant who's also spending considerable time with the software, that person should have a license of their own.

To summarise: every person using the software should have their own licence to the software.

Question 10

Overview of all Mazes 2D Tiles Tutorials

Accepted Answer

Welcome to our Overview Page for all tutorials for Mazes 2D Tiles. Below you find all our tutorials

Getting Started with Mazes 2D Tiles. We recommend you start here, as this tutorial has all the information to get you going with this product.

Something doesn't work right? Troubleshooting Mazes 2D Tiles explains the most common problems you can run into, and how to solve them.

To create more unique puzzles, you can also create your own tiles. We have a separate tutorial with the Naming Conventions and how to make your own tiles. The written tutorial uses Adobe Illustrator, but we also have a video on creating square tiles with MS Powerpoint.

If making 18 separate tiles sounds like a chore, our Tile Multiplier Add-On creates extra tiles based on already existing tiles, and we have a separate tutorial on how to use the Tile Multiplier Add-On. We also have a video on using this Add-On to automatically generate isometric tiles from your square tiles, for your isometric mazes.

Speaking of isometric, we have a separate tutorial about creating isometric mazes with Mazes 2D tiles. This discusses the options and challenges that are unique to making isometric mazes.

For Isometric mazes, separate tilesets are used. Because of that, we have a tutorial on how to create isometric tiles with Adobe Illustrator. If text isn't your thing, we also have a video tutorial on how to create isometric tiles.

And if you want to make your puzzles more unique, consider looking at our tutorial on how to use the mask editor for mazes 2D. We also have a video on making shaped mazes with the masks Add-on.