The best way to master Adobe Photoshop. Photoshop Tips & Tricks is built on reader questions about image manipulation, painting and getting the most from Photoshop. In the Design & Publishing Center,   Photoshop Tips & Tricks Department. . .

Convert a photo to a Puzzle

clipping paths to the rescue

The Question:
Photo to Puzzle:
I would like to know how to take a picture and break it into puzzle pieces that could be taken apart and put back together. ultimately, i want one image to be puzzle pieces that could be used in power point. each "piece" of the puzzle will represent a group, and when finished, all the pieces will form one pic. Thank you.
Our reply to a question sent in by: Lisa Hamrick
 
We get this question about once a year. Each year our answer changes due to new techniques and software capabilities.
    Start with an Illustrator file of puzzle pieces you've developed. Use the Pathfinder palette to 'individualize' the pieces into individual closed paths. Drag the pieces, one by one into your Photoshop file's Paths palette. Now it's a simple matter to click the "Make Selection" button at the bottom of the palette (empty, dotted line circle in the middle) -- return to layers, and "float" that section of the image to a new layer. (Command/J will do that quickly for you.)
   You can do this in Photoshop, but it will take a bit more time because the pen tool is not as good as Illustrator's. Just draw your puzzle grid over the image. Make it an active selection and float each piece to a new layer.
   Too much trouble? Then you need Xenofex from Alien Skin software. It has a built in "Puzzle" filter that does a smooth job of instantly creating a puzzle from your photo.
(See our review, and information about the 'Puzzle' maker in DT&G Online.)
 
Lisa, when you finish that project, we'd like to see it! Thanks for writing.

  Retrieved from Photoshop 911: 10/01/2002
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