The Software I Use
You would be correct in asking “Just tell me what to buy and use!!” Of course, my reply would be. “That’s up to you and your budget”. BUT I’ll tell you what software I use:
Pip Nash Puzzle Studio
Discover Pip Nash Puzzle Studio
Well, here’s something I certainly didn’t expect to be including when I originally wrote this page: software I’ve created myself!
Over the years, I’ve used a variety of programs to make crosswords, wordsearches, Sudoku, mazes and other puzzles. Many of them are excellent, and I still have considerable affection for the tools that helped me get started.
But I gradually found myself wanting something a little different. I wanted a collection of puzzle makers that were straightforward to use, had a consistent appearance and could produce attractive, printable puzzles without too much fiddling around.
With a great deal of help from ChatGPT, plenty of experimentation and more than a few frustrating moments, Pip Nash Puzzle Studio gradually took shape. The result is one application containing twelve different puzzle makers. I’ve designed it with ordinary puzzle enthusiasts in mind, particularly families, schools, churches, clubs and people who want to create their own puzzle books.
It has become an important part of my own puzzle-making activities, and I’m continuing to develop and improve it.
There’s even a free edition! If you’d like to see what I’ve been working on, you can try four of the puzzle makers directly on this website. Codeword, Sudoku, Wordsearch and Maze are available in Puzzle Studio Lite, completely free.
Make Your Own Puzzles for Free
I should emphasise that developing my own Studio doesn’t mean I’ve abandoned all the other software listed below. Those programs have played an important part in my puzzle-making journey, and many of them continue to be useful. But I must admit there’s something rather satisfying about opening a program you’ve helped to create and watching it produce exactly the sort of puzzle you wanted!
Crossword Compiler
I bought this on a yearly subscription basis and use it a lot for newspaper style crosswords, free-form crosswords, criss-cross and codewords. It even has a Sudoku compiler if you don’t have any other software for Sudoku.
BP Maze Generator
This is a one man band publisher with excellent support and a superb YouTube channel. Bowes Publishing is my first port of call when looking for puzzle creation. Reasonably priced with sales at various times of the year. Keep the Gumroad website bookmarked and keep checking!
Sudoku Generator
See above.
Check out the YouTube channel www.youtube.com/@bowespublishing
BP WordSearch Generator
Another excellent offering from Bowes Publishing that I use all the time. If there is ever a problem the support is excellent.
BP Puzzle Generator from Bowes Publishing
bowespublishing. gumroad.com/ or the- .com/
A PowerPoint add-in with over 20 unique, different types of puzzles – all with full commercial rights.
BP Mega Pack from Bowes Publishing
A group of useful tools to help in creating puzzle books for KDP. There is a Lite (free) version available at bowespublishing. gumroad.com/l/freemegapack
Affinity Publisher
affinity.serif.com/en-gb/publisher
This is the best Desktop Publisher around. Lots of tutorials online and on YouTube. I use it to create books, leaflets, posters and so much more. A lot of my books are written, formatted and exported to PDF using Affinity Publisher. Affinity is now free to use from Canva.
ChatGPT
The original and still the best chatbot. Ask it questions with prompts, and it will provide you with intelligent answers. More than a search engine, ChatGPT could even write a book for you. Free limited version available. I use this combined with two custom GPTs called Logic Puzzle Maker and Puzzle Constructor for creating Logic Puzzles. Using the prompt: Please can you design me a logic puzzle about a seaside town? I was soon provided with the information I needed to create my logic puzzle.
Since writing the original version of this article, my use of ChatGPT has developed considerably. I’ve been using it to help create my own puzzle-making software, including the twelve makers that now form Pip Nash Puzzle Studio. I’ve discovered that you don’t necessarily need to be a programmer to take part in developing software. You do, however, need patience, a clear idea of what you want, and a willingness to test things carefully. I’ll be writing more about this rather unexpected adventure on the Puzzle Pieces blog!
Midjourney
A superb text to image processor for picture, cartoons and other visual delights. The basic plan is well worth the money. I use it for book covers and fun images.
Ideogram
This is the new kid on the block and is great for producing images that require accurate text such as posters and colouring pages with quotes in them. Again, the basic plan is well worth acquiring. Free limited version available
Creative Fabrica
This is the site from which I get fonts, clipart and SVG images. If you need a particular image or font then this site will probably have it!
Google Fonts
Google Fonts is an absolute goldmine for usable, downloadable fonts. Couldn’t do without it when producing websites. Free to use and download.
Photoscape X
What a wonderful, little known graphics software. Photoscape X is very useful for cropping images and removing backgrounds. Quick and easy to use with many more tools I haven’t even discovered yet. Free version available.
Office 365
The essential software from Microsoft. Worth the yearly subscription especially if bought from Amazon. It includes Word, PowerPoint and Publisher. I use the software every day and it never lets me down.
PDF24 Toolbox
A free and easy to use set of PDF tools – all of which have their uses at some point. There is both online and downloadable versions. I downloaded it and use it every week. Free to download and use.
PDF Gear
pdfgear.com
I use PDF Gear for converting PDF files to PNG pictures. Smooth, quick and simple to use. Produces great results.
IrfanView
This is one of those pieces of software that sit unused on your desktop for ages. However, when you need it for resizing or batch converting images while, it becomes indispensable. Free to download and use.
KDP Rocket
I bought this to help me with my cosy mystery books. However, it is terrific for optimising book listings on KDP.
Now I don’t use each and every one of these every day, but they all play their part in smoothing my workflow and time management and making the production of puzzle books more efficient.
Do I need every one of them? Probably not. But most of them appear to me to be essential. I have labelled in italics eight of them as Absolutely Essential. Try some and form your own opinions.
Why no prices? Simply because prices seem to vary up and down! Sales appear to occur more regularly- especially online. There are particular times of the year… you probably know exactly when I mean!
Free Colouring Pages
All our Free Colouring Pages are carefully edited by human hands for your enjoyment. Click on any of the colouring pages and download them onto your computer. Each colouring page can be printed out on your printer at A4 size.
East Devon Cosy Mysteries
Enjoy Cosy Mysteries ? Then head over to eastdevoncosymysteries.com and discover Frank and Ella Raleigh’s escapades as they solve cosy mysteries in the East Devon area. Start with Cidered in Sidmouth.
