3D Puzzles

3D Puzzles

The first jigsaw puzzles were created in London in around 1760. Since then, the whole genre of puzzles has developed and thanks to a Canadian developer today there are three-dimensional brainteasers – often called 3D puzzles.

Many of these 3D puzzles are made from wood or cardboard. Some are in styrofoam. Others are constructed out of metal. And even more, come in plastic or even fabric.

What is consistent about all 3-D puzzles is that they require the puzzle to be done in a certain order. Some of the pieces cannot be fitted in when others are already in place. Another common thing is a puzzle box. This is often a simple three-dimensional jigsaw puzzle that contains a small drawer or box for storage.

Puzzle globes – most known three-dimensional puzzles

Another style of the jigsaw puzzle that many consider to be a 3D puzzle is the puzzle globe. Like 2D puzzles, globe puzzles are commonly made of plastic. They are then assembled from pieces that form a single layer. The final form, however, takes on a three-dimensional shape. The majority of globe puzzles are designed to represent spherical shapes. These can include the Earth, particularly historical globes of the Earth, and the Moon. Puzzle globes are great 3d puzzles for kids.

Differences between 2D and 3D puzzles

What differentiates a 3D puzzle is that unlike a traditional puzzle it is not simply composed of a series of flat pieces that create a single unified image when put together. The 3-D puzzle is not necessarily more difficult, but it is invariably different and designed to boggle the mind and delight the senses. One use of 3-dimensional physical puzzles that is typical is to help audiences interpret artifacts in museum exhibitions. The reason behind this is simply that puzzles can be seen both as games and as complex activities that experts, like archaeologists, undertake when they re-assemble the fragments of history.

How three-dimensional puzzles are made

To design and fabricate 3D heritage puzzles, the makers’ workflow starts with an authentic artifact taken from a particular heritage collection. This is then digitized with technology like 3D scanning or modeling. After that, puzzle pieces are generated with a cell-fracture algorithm. This creates a set of puzzle pieces along with a single-core piece for the fabrication process. Ultimately, the pieces can be fabricated using 3D printing technology. The product is then post-processed to make the puzzle assembly.

To create a typical 3D puzzle, an industrial designer will come up with the method to create a three-dimensional puzzle and an illustrator will work with the templates to make them look as spectacularly real as possible. This can then turn flat graphics into three-dimensional renderings.

The flat one-dimensional graphics are then stuck to the foam, plastic metal, wood, or whatever will give the puzzle body and texture. When the puzzle is constructed – you have a 3D puzzle.

At PuzzlesPrint you can get traditional 2D jigsaw puzzles made with your photo. You can also make plastic jigsaw puzzles with any picture of your choice.

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