How to Distinguish Puzzle Materials?

Puzzles are a popular and educational toy loved by both children and adults. It’s a great way for families to bond and spend quality time together. Puzzles also help children develop various skills like concentration, patience, hand-eye coordination, confidence, and a sense of achievement.

When choosing puzzles, we often consider factors like aesthetics, theme, number of pieces, country of origin, and price. However, one crucial aspect is the quality of the puzzle, which isn’t immediately visible or tangible. Let’s explore the key factors that determine puzzle quality and the necessary criteria a production facility should have.

Expertise of Prepress Personnel:
The quality of a puzzle is strongly influenced by the printing process. Prepress, or the pre-printing process, plays a critical role. Skilled prepress personnel are essential. They should respect the original artwork, avoid unnecessary alterations, and ensure colors, proportions, and details are accurately represented.

High-Quality Image Source:
A puzzle’s quality starts with a high-resolution source image. Insufficient image quality cannot be compensated for. High-quality puzzles often begin with pristine source images.

Printing Proficiency – It’s About People, Not Just Machines:
Chinese printing facilities and professionals are world-class. The choice of printing equipment matters, but what’s truly significant is the expertise of the personnel. Color adjustments and ink control are subjective and rely on the printer’s aesthetic judgment.

Material Quality – The Paper:
While paper-making was invented in China, the quality of paper production lags behind some other countries. The source material, whether virgin or recycled, affects the puzzle’s final quality. Imported “waste paper” (recycled paper pulp) is often used in China, whereas original wood pulp paper is more common in imported puzzles.

Common Misconception – Interlocking:
Interlocking is one factor, but not the sole indicator of puzzle quality. Some puzzles, despite excellent material quality, might not have perfect interlocking, as seen in Japanese puzzles. This arises from different paper-making priorities.

Die-Cutting Craftsmanship – A Showcase of Artisanship:
Die-cutting is a critical step in puzzle production. The quality of die-cutting depends on the precision of the die and the expertise of the craftspeople. Top-notch blades, proper mounting boards, and double-cutting processes contribute to cleanly cut puzzle pieces.

Final Key Step – Puzzle Separation:
After die-cutting, the puzzle needs to be separated before packaging. This can be done either by an automated production line or manually. Both methods have their strengths. Automated separation offers consistency, while manual separation allows for meticulous inspection.

In summary, a puzzle’s quality is a result of a combination of factors including prepress expertise, high-quality image sources, skilled printing, superior paper material, precise die-cutting, and effective puzzle separation. Balancing these elements leads to a high-quality puzzle product.