Web Paint-by-Number Forum
Topic #251: Size preference?
By Kadou (Kadou)

#1: Kadou (Kadou) on Nov 16, 2010

No, this is not about how big you want it to be... ;)

I have noticed some puzzles have blank rows and columns on the outside of the image. I was wondering if it had anything to do with making the puzzle rows and columns multiples of 5. This can make it easier to count clues from the bottom and the right.
Should puzzles be the same size as the image or do players prefer grids with even 5s?
#2: Teresa K (fasstar) on Nov 16, 2010
I personally prefer puzzles with grids in multiple of 5, or my counting gets messed up. Of course, on smaller puzzles, it doesn't matter that much. I don't mind extra white space (or black space) around the image.
#3: Liz P (lizteach) on Nov 16, 2010
I prefer creating in multiples of five, but sometimes the funky extra columns and rows can add to the challenge of solving, which I always welcome.

A couple of times, I've needed to resize an image once I've started on it (easier than recasting the whole thing, in most cases) and it turned out to need a few more rows or whatever. For most puzzles, you can just have the blank rows and columns if you're adding more space, but for a WCP, where it can only add up to 80, it might make a difference. That happened with my Donald Duck puzzle in the last WCP.
#4: Byrdie (byrdie) on Nov 16, 2010
Have learned to prefer multiples of 5s but it's not a deterant for me.
#5: ant (agrest272) on Nov 18, 2010
multiples of 5.. but nothing is worse than a puzzle thats a multiple of 5 with 2 or 3 rows blank
#6: Joe (infrapinklizzard) on Nov 18, 2010
Sure there is - a puzzle that isn't a multiple of 5 with 2 or 3 rows blank...
#7: ant (agrest272) on Nov 18, 2010
touche.. unless its a puzzle where the blank rows make it a nice multiple of 5 again, like an 18x10 with 3 blank rows haha
#8: Joe (infrapinklizzard) on Nov 18, 2010
I've seen that, ant!

I, myself, very much prefer multiples of 5.

While I've never seen a professional puzzle that has a blank row or column, I'd rather have that than a non-5 format. (For that matter, I've never seen a professional puzzle in other than a multiple of 5.)

I will beat on a puzzle I'm making until it fits into a multiple of 5. I've only violated that a few times, one of which was for a WCP (which ironically required a 40x40 that week).
#9: bugaboo (bugaboo) on Nov 21, 2010
multiples of 5 are much more convenient for solving
#10: Barb Edwards (babarann) on Nov 28, 2010
I prefer grids in multiples of 5. Blank rows <5 make sense, but blank rows >5 do not, unless the extra white space helps the design.
#11: Joel Lynn (furface1) on Dec 16, 2010
I agree with Babarann.

Goto next topic

You must register and log in to be able to participate in this discussion.