Rectangular Puzzles

Classic jigsaw puzzles with interlocking tabs

Overview

Rectangular puzzles are the classic jigsaw format with interlocking tabs on all sides. Each piece connects to its neighbors through curved tabs that can point inward or outward.

Size Variations

Explore different grid sizes:

ggpuzzle

print(ggplot() +
  geom_puzzle_rect(
    aes(fill = after_stat(piece_id)),
    cols = 2, rows = 2,
    seed = 42
  ) +
  scale_fill_viridis_c(option = "viridis", guide = "none") +
  coord_fixed() +
  theme_puzzle() +
  labs(title = "2x2"))

print(ggplot() +
  geom_puzzle_rect(
    aes(fill = after_stat(piece_id)),
    cols = 4, rows = 3,
    seed = 42
  ) +
  scale_fill_viridis_c(option = "viridis", guide = "none") +
  coord_fixed() +
  theme_puzzle() +
  labs(title = "3x4"))

print(ggplot() +
  geom_puzzle_rect(
    aes(fill = after_stat(piece_id)),
    cols = 6, rows = 5,
    seed = 42
  ) +
  scale_fill_viridis_c(option = "viridis", guide = "none") +
  coord_fixed() +
  theme_puzzle() +
  labs(title = "5x6"))

Figure 1: 2x2 (4 pieces)

Figure 2: 3x4 (12 pieces)

Figure 3: 5x6 (30 pieces)

API

result_2x2 <- generate_puzzle(
  type = "rectangular",
  grid = c(2, 2),
  size = c(200, 200),
  seed = 42,
  fill_palette = "viridis"
)
render_puzzle_preview(result_2x2, title = "2x2")

result_4x3 <- generate_puzzle(
  type = "rectangular",
  grid = c(3, 4),
  size = c(300, 400),
  seed = 42,
  fill_palette = "viridis"
)
render_puzzle_preview(result_4x3, title = "3x4")

result_6x5 <- generate_puzzle(
  type = "rectangular",
  grid = c(5, 6),
  size = c(500, 600),
  seed = 42,
  fill_palette = "viridis"
)
render_puzzle_preview(result_6x5, title = "5x6")

Figure 4: 2x2 (4 pieces)

Figure 5: 2x2 (4 pieces)

Figure 6: 2x2 (4 pieces)

Color Palettes

All viridis palettes work beautifully with puzzle pieces:

ggpuzzle

make_palette_plot <- function(pal) {
  ggplot() +
    geom_puzzle_rect(
      aes(fill = after_stat(piece_id)),
      cols = 4, rows = 3,
      seed = 42
    ) +
    scale_fill_viridis_c(option = pal, guide = "none") +
    coord_fixed() +
    theme_puzzle() +
    labs(title = pal)
}

print((make_palette_plot("viridis") + make_palette_plot("magma") + make_palette_plot("plasma")) /
(make_palette_plot("inferno") + make_palette_plot("cividis") + make_palette_plot("turbo")))

Figure 7

API

# Generate all palette previews and combine into a grid
palettes <- c("viridis", "magma", "plasma", "inferno", "cividis", "turbo")
items <- lapply(palettes, function(pal) {
  generate_puzzle(type = "rectangular", grid = c(3, 4), size = c(300, 400), seed = 42, fill_palette = pal)
})
render_puzzle_grid(items, ncol = 3, labels = palettes)

viridis

magma

plasma

inferno

cividis

turbo

Figure 8

Fill Direction

Control the spatial order of color assignment. This is distinct from palette_invert which reverses the dark↔︎light ends of the palette.

ggpuzzle

make_direction_plot <- function(dir) {
  ggplot() +
    geom_puzzle_rect(
      aes(fill = after_stat(fill_order)),
      cols = 3, rows = 3,
      fill_direction = dir,
      seed = 42
    ) +
    scale_fill_viridis_c(option = "viridis", guide = "none") +
    coord_fixed() +
    theme_puzzle() +
    labs(title = paste0("fill_direction = \"", dir, "\""))
}

print(make_direction_plot("forward") + make_direction_plot("reverse"))

Figure 9

API

directions <- c("forward", "reverse")
items <- lapply(directions, function(dir) {
  generate_puzzle(type = "rectangular", grid = c(3, 3), size = c(300, 300), seed = 42, fill_palette = "viridis", fill_direction = dir)
})
render_puzzle_grid(items, ncol = 2, labels = paste0("fill_direction = \"", directions, "\""))

fill_direction = "forward"

fill_direction = "reverse"

Figure 10

Offset (Separation)

Control spacing between pieces:

ggpuzzle

make_offset_plot <- function(off) {
  ggplot() +
    geom_puzzle_rect(
      aes(fill = after_stat(piece_id)),
      cols = 3, rows = 3,
      offset = off,
      seed = 42
    ) +
    scale_fill_viridis_c(option = "plasma", guide = "none") +
    coord_fixed() +
    theme_puzzle() +
    labs(title = paste0("offset = ", off))
}

print(make_offset_plot(0) + make_offset_plot(5) + make_offset_plot(10) + make_offset_plot(20))

Figure 11

API

# Generate offset previews in a grid
offsets <- c(0, 5, 10, 20)
items <- lapply(offsets, function(off) {
  generate_puzzle(type = "rectangular", grid = c(3, 3), size = c(300, 300), offset = off, seed = 42, fill_palette = "plasma")
})
render_puzzle_grid(items, ncol = 4, labels = paste("offset =", offsets))

offset = 0

offset = 5

offset = 10

offset = 20

Figure 12

Fusion Groups

Merge pieces together using PILES notation:

ggpuzzle

# Standard
print(ggplot() +
  geom_puzzle_rect(
    aes(fill = after_stat(piece_id)),
    cols = 4, rows = 3,
    seed = 42
  ) +
  scale_fill_viridis_c(option = "magma", guide = "none") +
  coord_fixed() +
  theme_puzzle() +
  labs(title = "Standard"))

# With row fusion
print(ggplot() +
  geom_puzzle_rect(
    aes(fill = after_stat(piece_id)),
    cols = 4, rows = 3,
    seed = 42,
    fusion_groups = "R1,R2,R3"
  ) +
  scale_fill_viridis_c(option = "magma", guide = "none") +
  coord_fixed() +
  theme_puzzle() +
  labs(title = "Row fusion"))

Figure 13: Standard 3x4

Figure 14: Row fusion: R1,R2,R3

API

# Standard
result_standard <- generate_puzzle(
  type = "rectangular",
  grid = c(3, 4),
  size = c(300, 400),
  seed = 42,
  fill_palette = "magma"
)
render_puzzle_preview(result_standard, title = "Standard")

# With row fusion
result_fusion <- generate_puzzle(
  type = "rectangular",
  grid = c(3, 4),
  size = c(300, 400),
  seed = 42,
  fill_palette = "magma",
  fusion_groups = "R1,R2,R3"
)
render_puzzle_preview(result_fusion, title = "Row fusion")

Figure 15: Standard 3x4

Figure 16: Standard 3x4

TipAspect Ratios

Rectangular puzzles handle any aspect ratio - wide, square, or tall. See the Aspect Ratios Tutorial for examples comparing all puzzle types.

Parameters Reference

Parameter	Type	Default	Description
cols	integer	3	Number of columns
rows	integer	3	Number of rows
seed	integer	random	Random seed for reproducibility
offset	numeric	0 (mm)	Piece separation distance
tabsize	numeric	6 (%)	Tab size as percentage of edge length
jitter	numeric	2 (%)	Randomness in tab shape as percentage
min_tab_size	numeric	0 (mm)	Minimum tab size in millimeters
max_tab_size	numeric	Inf (mm)	Maximum tab size in millimeters
fusion_groups	string	NULL	PILES notation for fusing pieces
fusion_style	string	“none”	Style for fused edges: “none”, “dashed”, “solid”

Code Example

ggpuzzle

# Visualize with ggplot2
ggplot() +
  geom_puzzle_rect(
    aes(fill = after_stat(piece_id)),
    cols = 6, rows = 4,
    seed = 42, offset = 5
  ) +
  scale_fill_viridis_c() +
  coord_fixed() +
  theme_puzzle()

# ggsave("rectangular_puzzle.png", width = 10, height = 8, dpi = 300)

API

# Generate puzzle
result <- generate_puzzle(
  type = "rectangular",
  grid = c(4, 6),      # 4 rows, 6 columns
  size = c(400, 600),  # height=400mm, width=600mm
  seed = 42,
  offset = 5           # Slight separation
)

# writeLines(result$svg_content, "rectangular_puzzle.svg")
render_puzzle_preview(result)