levelx.me

Here is what I will be creating in this tutorial:

Lets get started.

1- Create a New File in Adobe Illustrator ( I’m using version CS5 but the techniques used here will probably work in previous CS versions as well ).

Tip: Hide the art board to get rid of the annoying outlined canvas [ SHIFT+CTRL+H ]

2- Using the PEN TOOL, draw some Jigsaw like lines or just one line and copy/paste it again and use [ Object > Transform > Reflect ] to change its horizontal/vertical axis for making each line look different from the others.

3. Select all lines and Copy [ CTRL+C ] them, Paste in front [ CTRL+F ] and rotate them vertically. Also, adjust them to make it look like a jigsaw puzzle.

4. Select all the lines and Group [ CTRL+G ] them.

5. Create a rectangle or square using the Rectangle Tool [M], Make sure Rectangle is created above everything else. Adjust it above the lines so that its intersecting lines on all sides. We’re going to divide them in next step.

6. Now select the Rectangle and the lines all together, Open the pathfinder dialogue box by Going to Window > Pathfinder or [ SHIFT+CTRL+F9 ]

7. Now, click “Divide” which is the 1st option in Pathfinders section. This acts like a cookie cutter and now we’re left with nothing other than our needed Jigsaw Puzzle outline.

8. Right click the selected Jigsaw and choose Ungroup option [ SHIFT+CTRL+G ]. Now, you can select the individual pieces of jigsaw puzzle. Cookie for everyone ^^.

9. Now we want to create a Jigsaw Puzzle out of an Image. We need to have every piece of our Jigsaw on a separate layer. To do that select each piece and copy it [ CTRL + C ]. Create a New Layer by going into Layers Panel [F7] and Paste in Front [ CTRL+F ]. This will place that piece of jigsaw exactly on the same position as it was in our original layer.

Tip: You can lock the base layer while trying to Paste the piece on its new layer, Sometimes layers act weird and paste on the same layer objects were copied from.

As you can see in the Layers Panel below, I have copied and pasted each piece into its new layer. Now we can lock / hide any layer we want instead of locking/hiding individual elements on the same layer. The layer with complete Jigsaw Puzzle is hidden and Locked ( The layer on bottom in this image ).

10. Now lock all layers except the one with the first piece of our Jigsaw Puzzle. We will now “Place” an image into our canvas. Go to File > Place and select the Image that you want to use. After Image is placed, Select it, Adjust it and Send it to Back, You’ll see that outlines of our Puzzle Pieces are above the Image.

11. Now we will use Clipping Mask, but before doing that Select and copy the Image in your clipboard [ CTRL + C ] as we will be pasting same image in every layer.

Select image and the first piece of Jigsaw, Right click and select “Create Clipping Mask”.

This will show the image inside our first piece.

12. Now lock that Layer and select and unlock the next Layer i-e 2nd piece of the Jigsaw Puzzle. PASTE IN FRONT the Image that we copied previously and send it to back, Repeat the same process. i-e Select shape and image and “Make Clipping Mask”.

Once done, You’ll have the image shown in all pieces of the Jigsaw puzzle.

Tip: Its important you paste the Image at the exact location you copied it from. That’s why we are using paste in front option CTRL + F.

13. Now you can select each piece and double click on it or go to Isolation mode to edit the shape path, edit the clipping mask and its position etc.

Now you can play a little bit more, Add some drop shadows, use backgrounds etc. to give it the look you require. Here is my Final Output.

There are other ways to do it but I find it easier to use multiple layers instead of a single layer for more flexibility in selection and editing of individual pieces.

Have fun and keep practicing.

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AFI