BudsOwl Loc: Upstate NY and New England

Has anyone had puzzles done from photos? If so, what size do you recommend for a 500 piece puzzle and can it be either a landscape or portrait format. I went on line and saw a bunch of stuff from Amazon, but not sure if that is the best place to look.
Thanks and a Happy New Year to all.
Bud

bobmcculloch Loc: NYC, NY

Both Fine Art America and Pictorem where I have photos displayed offer puzzles, I have not ordered any so I can't comment on quality, FAA does do excellent printing as I have seen other of their products.

MikeG Loc: Northern Wisconsin

If you've got a problem ordering from Amazon use it as a search engine to find companies that make puzzles then go directly to that company's website. As a start go to website for Whimsy puzzles, one of many concerns that will fabricate a puzzle from your photos. Have you tried typing "jigsaw puzzles from pictures" into Google?

BudsOwl Loc: Upstate NY and New England

Thanks, I’ll have to check them out.
Bud

MDI Mainer

I too have never done puzzles, but I can vouch that FAA does first quality giclee prints at a very fair price.

https://fineartamerica.com/custom/create-custom-puzzles

Hip Coyote

I purchased three from Shutterfly for Xmas. The 550 piece was a bit pricy and the overall size of the pieces and total size is small...so I'd look elsewhere.

MDI Mainer

I would assume that (within limits) one can specify the overall size of the puzzle, no?

BudsOwl Loc: Upstate NY and New England

Thanks. I looked at Fine Art America and looks okay except their shipping price is pretty steep. Their price for the puzzle is pretty much in line as to what I would expect to pay for the size puzzle.
I have another question for all the hoggers who are following this thread: should I put a small boarder on the picture and also should I sign it inobtrusively in one corner?
Bud

dsnoke Loc: North Georgia, USA

Take a look at https://www.portraitpuzzles.com. The only drawback is that their aspect ratios don't fit most camera natural sizes. Otherwise highly recommended.

Drip Dry McFleye

My daughter had one made from one of my images for as Christmas gift. She used Shutterfly. Since it was a gift I don't know the cost, but I can say that I think they did a fine job of it.

Day.Old.Pizza Loc: Maple Grove, MN

Our local Walgreens Store offers same day delivery on 2 puzzle sizes. One a children’s size and one (guessing) about 255 pieces. You supply the photo. Comes in a Tin with a small contents photo. I was thinking about trying it for a Christmas gift. About $30.

scubadoc Loc: Sarasota, FL

I just had two puzzles made from animal photos taken on Safari. I used PuzzleU, which was very quick turnaround. You can specify number of pieces and size of puzzle. I had a 48 piece and a 100 piece puzzle made for my two grandsons. It kept them busy all day, the day after Xmas. Highly recommended by me.

MrPhotog

Having a border makes it easier to identify those pieces which fit on the border. Besides them having a straight side, any slight difference in the width of the border will indicate the pieces from each edge.

Check to see if you even have that option. Some companies will work from a print you make and provide them. Other companies may take a digital file and make their own print. You would have to specify a border.

You can increase the difficulty by not sending along a reference photo showing what the puzzle will look like when completed. Mass-market puzzles, of course, have that on the box cover so you know what you are buying.

Definitely sign it! You can be tricky with a hidden signature, or as bold as you wish. You can sign a single random piece after the puzzle is cut, or sign the print (or file) before it is cut.


There are precut, blank, jigsaw puzzles available which you can glue your own picture on. These tend to be low quality, and rather small size, and after you glue the photo on, you need to use a sharp knife to separate the pieces. Good gimmick for mailing to kids, but not much more than a gimmick.

One of my other hobbies is woodworking, and I cut kid's jigsaw puzzles on a scroll saw--but usually ones with only a few piece and not from photos. Perhaps when I get a chance I'll have to try doing one from a photo, with several hundred pieces. Some time ago I read a book on how to do this, and it didn't seem that hard. Hand cut jigsaw puzzles are works of craftsmanship, and very expensive, with one company selling them for around $700 for a roughly 1000 piece puzzle.

The nice thing about doing it myself is that I can chose the size, and whether I want it on wood or fiberboard.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

I use shutterfly but I have not done a 500 piece.

dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida

Jigsaw puzzles are a form of insanity!!! You take a perfectly good photo and pay to have it destroyed and sent back to you in hundreds of pieces and put it back to the place you began... the image!!!

https://www.createjigsawpuzzles.com/promotional/custom-puzzle-maker.html