Some of my puzzles are composites of many photographs. I was asked how they were done. Here’s a synopsis I wrote for a friend:

I use photographs or photo-paintings or watercolor paintings that I've created over the past and present 5-10 years. They are all my own work. I have to size the final image to fit the puzzle size requirements-something that can take quite a bit of doing. Then the image goes to a company that prints it onto puzzle pieces and cuts the puzzles. As for the composite puzzle with all those birds, I worked on it for several months off and on. I had to find a background that worked for contrast and interest, and then add more trees and branches, which were "cut" out of another picture in Adobe Photoshop, then "pasted" it where I wanted it. The birds were each put there the same way-quite a tedious job to get all the tiny bits of feathers etc. to cut and paste. Pretty much everything had to be resized as well- the originals were from many different sources and sizes. In the Photoshop application each cut out item is on a separate "layer", like real cut outs, and can be easily moved around, until I "sew" the whole thing together, or in computer speak-"Flatten the image". Then it is converted to appropriate format for the printer/puzzle program.

Here’s a new one I’m working on-I’ll put it up for a virtual puzzle soon, and also for sale. I’ve changed this 1000 piece puzzle since I first made this trial version. It is quite difficult! I will post a revised edition of this one on the virtual puzzle page and it will be for sale soon.