Question 1

Using the add-ons for Zig Zag Word Search

Accepted Answer

Welcome to the tutorial for the add-ons for Zig-Zag Word Search.

There are two add-ons available for this software.

Extras add-on: use diagonals and segmented word lists
Random Shapes: No longer are you forced to use a grid, letters now go everywhere they want.

Let's look over what these two have to offer.

Extras Add-on

Diagonals look interesting, and can create a lot of new effects.

https://malcolm-en-gb.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/instances/wuGqS3zSeN/resources/Ms3phl3AIY/Zigzag%20word%20search%20diagonals.jpg (Zigzag word search diagonals)

The little crosses, as the diagonals go over each other, are a nice added difficulty and look really good in the solution too.

You can also use this option with the Word Snake option.

Word Snake

https://malcolm-en-gb.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/instances/wuGqS3zSeN/resources/1721Phn4Ed/ZigZag%20Word%20search%20snake.jpg (ZigZag Word search snake)

Word snake is a variation on the normal zig zag word search puzzles. Usually, the words can go anywhere they want, and in whatever form they want. In word snake, they will go into a single long line. This is represented in the solution by using a continuous line for the words, and the little dotted lines in between the words. You can see that the next word will always start next to, or diagonal to, the ending of the last word. This isn't a singular looping line, so there are two words that have a beginning and an end without anything connecting to them. See if you can find those the start and end point!

Random Shapes

This is by far the most interesting and unique variation on the zig zag word search puzzles. Usually, you'd only work within a grid, where each letter is directly next to its neighbours. Not in this variation. Here, the letters are placed more or less randomly on the screen.

https://malcolm-en-gb.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/instances/wuGqS3zSeN/resources/Xz5G2lP2no/zigzag%20random%20shapes.jpg (zigzag random shapes)

So how does this work? Well, if you go to style, and add a bit of "line width", you can see the boxes that the letters are contained in, and what boxes are neighbours.

https://malcolm-en-gb.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/instances/wuGqS3zSeN/resources/DEUgMzokYJ/Zigzag%20voronoi.jpg (Zigzag voronoi)

This is called a Voronoi Diagram. You can look up how this works if you want to, but the more interesting part is how this works. No longer are there three (or eight, if you use diagonals) possible routes from each letter, now it can be any random number. It adds a layer of difficulty, while looking very different from the puzzles you get with other word search options.

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.

Using the add-ons for Zig Zag Word Search

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

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