Get started with I Spy Creator

I Spy Creator is a web app. There’s nothing to install. Here’s how to export your first puzzle.

Note

Each image you upload becomes one object scattered through the puzzle for students to find. It isn’t one photo you search within. Upload individual pictures of the things you want found.

1. Open ispy.bearwoodlabs.com in your browser. The app starts in demo mode so you can try everything before buying.
2. Upload the images you want scattered through the puzzle.
3. Let the app auto-generate the puzzle layout. Click Shuffle as many times as you like until you get a layout you like.
4. Preview the puzzle and its answer key.
5. Adjust page size, orientation, spacing, and answer-grid layout to taste.
6. Export the finished pages to PowerPoint (PPTX) for further styling.

If you’re in demo mode, export is locked until you enter a license key on the site. See find your license if you’ve bought one but can’t locate the key.

Get a more organic, non-grid layout

By default, pieces tend to fall into a grid-like arrangement. For more organic, rotated placement:

1. Enable Rotate Pieces.
2. Increase Allow Smaller Pieces.
3. Choose a mid-range Base Size.
4. Click Shuffle.

Fix small answer-key images

Answer-key image size follows your page and layout settings. Open the page settings and reduce items per row. Fewer items per row gives each image more room. Reduce spacing too if the grid still feels cramped. This is covered in more depth in the FAQ.

Use your export elsewhere

The exported file is a standard .pptx, so it opens in PowerPoint, LibreOffice Impress, Canva, or Google Slides on Mac or Windows.

For a worked example, see How to Create a Sea World I Spy Worksheet.

Move to a new device

Open the same app URL on the new device and enter your existing license key again. No reinstall or repurchase needed. See the new computer guide for more on moving between devices.