Tips for Great Puzzles
Not every image makes a good nonogram. Here's how to choose photos that create fun, solvable puzzles with recognizable results.
The Golden Rule
Think silhouette. If your image would look good as a shadow or stamp, it will make a great nonogram. The puzzle shows filled vs empty cells—so you need a clear distinction between “subject” and “background.”
What Works Well
Simple Silhouettes
Animals, people, objects with a clear outline against a plain background.
Icons & Logos
Simple graphics designed to be recognizable at small sizes work perfectly.
High Contrast Photos
Photos with a dark subject on a light background (or vice versa).
Bold Shapes
Geometric patterns, letters, numbers, and symbols with thick lines.
What Doesn't Work
Busy Backgrounds
Photos where the subject blends into a complex background become unrecognizable.
Low Contrast
Images where colors are too similar make it hard to distinguish the subject.
Fine Details
Intricate patterns, thin lines, and small features get lost in the grid.
Gradient Images
Smooth transitions create inconsistent thresholding results.
Pro Tips
Crop tightly around your subject. Remove unnecessary background to make the image fill more of the grid.
Try Adaptive mode for photos with shadows or uneven lighting. It adjusts the threshold locally for better results.
Start with 15×15 for most images. Increase to 20×20 or larger only if you need more detail.
Use the grid editor to fix small imperfections. Sometimes removing a few stray cells makes all the difference.
Aim for 30-70% filled cells. Too few or too many filled cells often result in puzzles that aren't uniquely solvable.
Try Our Example Puzzles
See what good nonograms look like! These examples demonstrate clear silhouettes with recognizable shapes—exactly what you should aim for.
Ready to Create?
Put these tips into practice and create your own puzzle!