Getting started with Puzzle Maker

Once Puzzle Maker is installed and licensed, you get a Puzzle section on the Add-ins ribbon tab, with Insert Image, Create Puzzle, Shuffle, Solve, and Preferences buttons. Here’s how to make your first puzzle.

Create your first puzzle

1. Create a new PowerPoint presentation.
2. Click Insert Image on the Puzzle tab, choose any image file, then click OK. This inserts a shape with your picture as its background fill, which makes it easy to change the outline of the puzzle pieces later.
3. Select the image you just inserted.
4. Click Create Puzzle on the Add-ins tab.
5. Choose a puzzle style: Jigsaw or Straight.
6. Enter the number of Rows and Cols. The dialog updates to show how big each puzzle piece will be.
7. Click OK. The image is converted into individual puzzle piece shapes.

Your puzzle is now a set of real PowerPoint shapes, ready to style, shuffle, or print.

Style the pieces

Because each piece is a normal PowerPoint shape, you have full PowerPoint styling power over it:

1. Select the puzzle piece shapes.
2. Use Shape Format → Shape Outline to change the border or color.
3. Use Shape Format → Shape Effects (for example Bevel) to give the pieces a 3D look.

For a worked example, see How to create a 3D Puzzle in PowerPoint using any image or the Puzzle Maker video.

Shuffle and solve

• Shuffle: select the puzzle pieces you want scattered, then click Shuffle on the Puzzle tab.
• Solve: click Solve to snap the pieces back to their original, completed layout.

Note

Solve is only available to the person who created the puzzle, not to the end user who receives a shuffled file.

What to do with the finished puzzle

• Print it out and cut out the shapes for a physical puzzle.
• Shuffle the pieces and share the PowerPoint file for your class or team to reassemble on screen.
• Convert the file to Google Slides and share it for solving there.

For questions about licensing, moving computers, or troubleshooting, see the Puzzle Maker FAQ & fixes.