We specially purchase a very light colored 100% recycled board for our customers, specifically for our Wedding Puzzles. It is a light grey/white color and pens and markers are easily readable. We do offer options on the backing of the puzzle so we've made suggestions based on your choice of backing.

REGULAR BACKING: If you are writing on the back of a puzzle piece with our regular backing we recommend that you use a medium-point pen, such as a ballpoint pen. Puzzles are porous and markers may bleed.

WHITE BACKING: We recommend that you write with medium point pens, as puzzles are porous. Sharpie markers with a medium/large tip work very well and look amazing when complete.

Please avoid gel pens and fine-tipped writing instruments.

If you have purhased a puzzle with a photo, here are the steps that will guide you through the process.

1. Choose a photo that is print-ready, has the proper resolution and has been cropped to fit into the size of the puzzle that you purchased.
2. Upload the image to Etsy using the "Attach Image" button at the bottom of the conversation box. If you have difficulties, contact us.

We usually print immediately or within an hour when we receive your photo so be sure to carefully upload your desired photo.

A great puzzle starts with a great photo. We have many requests from customers to check photos but occasionally it is not possible for us to do because of order volume, such as the Holiday Season, It is always recommended to send us the highest resolution possible when ordering and to have the image cropped to size prior to submission.
CELL PHONE PHOTOS: Your photo file from a cell phone should be downloaded as "Actual or Original" size for the best results.
HIGH-RESOLUTION photos from a professional photographer are always preferred.
CHECK THE IMAGE: Right-click into the image, scroll down to Properties, then look at dpi and pixels. DPI 96 recommended. PIXELS 1000+ are minimums for up to 16x20 inches. 3MB files for 20x30 inches.

First, place a piece of cardboard or a cookie tray on a table, as this is what you will assemble your puzzle on. You will need to flip the puzzle over after you assemble and this is the easiest way to achieve this once assembled.

Next, turn all of the puzzle pieces so that the back is facing up. You should have the numbers facing you and all to the bottom right-hand corner. When we number our puzzles, we number in the bottom right-hand corner of the piece in numerical order.

Now you are ready to assemble. Simply take each piece and go in numerical order, making sure that the numbers are all in the bottom right-hand corner of the piece. That's it! Carefully flip the puzzle when complete and enjoy...

Not all puzzles are created equal. Don't be fooled by the price of a puzzle or the impressive piece count that is listed. Some companies give the industry a very bad name with their terrible product, thin board and poor print.

What to look for:
* Look at the size of the finished puzzle vs. the piece count. Is that 500 piece puzzle only 4x6 inches or does it have a finished size of 16x20 inches? Many companies hide their finished size in order to trick buyers into believing that they are getting a giant puzzle, only to find that they are getting a small puzzle with a billion small pieces. If the finished size isn't listed, ASK. Quality companies list their finished sizes and don't try to hide this detail.

*Thick puzzles are best!

The following are the MINIMUM recommended resolutions based upon finished sizes of puzzles. As always, the higher the resolution, the better the puzzle.

4x6 puzzles: 640x480 pixels minimum with 72 dpi
8x10 puzzles: 636x1024 pixels with 72 dpi
16x20 puzzles: 1600x1200 with 72 dpi
20x30 puzzles: 2048x1536 with 72 dpi

Pixels can be checked by right-clicking into the photo, scrolling down to the Properties section, then looking at the pixels. The dpi that is higher than 72 will produce a better photo with the need for fewer pixels. Remember, these are MINIMUM recommendations.

You can also check some of the listing photos for suggested resolution guides that will tell you how your photo will turn out based on size and submission.

Puzzles contain cardboard materials and should always be stored in a cool and dry place. Moisture, humidity, and sunshine are not a puzzles friend and should be avoided. If you are hanging a puzzle, please keep it out of direct sunlight. If storing your puzzle in a box, please avoid moist areas.