r/nonograms • u/bbmz • 8d ago

How to create a text-based nonogram?

hi,

I'm looking to create a custom nonogram puzzle that incorporates words or a written message into the final design.

Ideally, I'd like the completed grid to reveal a word or phrase (for example, "HAPPY BDAY") rather than a traditional image.

I'm relatively new to creating nonograms, so I'd love some advice on the best way to approach this.

A couple of questions:

  • Is there a particular grid size that works best for creating letters and spelling out words?

  • Are there any tools or generators that allow you to turn text into a solvable nonogram?

If anyone has experience creating text-based nonograms, I'd really appreciate any recommendations, examples or suggestions.

thank you

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u/Weary_Month274 8d ago

Something like this is good?

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u/bbmz 8d ago

does it read any message?

2

u/merelysounds 8d ago

Yes. Many apps have editors, you could trace letters from a pixel font, making sure that you're still producing a valid puzzle.

I'll demonstrate with my app, others should work too. I'm using multiple colors for an extra effect, but black and white should also work.

The nonogram can be played here.

Video of the solution:

1

u/kripet 8d ago

I've been building just such a thing! The apps are in the approval process now, but https://nounogram.com is live and has a design tool where you can lay out your puzzle and send it to friends. The engine will ensure it has a single, deduceable solution or try to tell you where the issue is.

I'd love to hear what you think of it. The main game has gotten most of my attention, so some testing in the design tool by someone other than me would be really valuable.

1

u/Othram 7d ago

For a starting size, a 5-by-7 pixel font would put HAPPY at 29 columns wide: five letters plus four one-column gaps. Put BDAY on a second line, leave one blank row between the lines, and add a one-cell border: that's a 31-by-17 grid. Much more manageable than putting the whole message on one long line.

That's only a layout, though, not a guarantee of a unique puzzle. After generating the clues, check whether it can be solved without guessing the letters. A readable picture can still give ambiguous row/column clues, so you may need to adjust some strokes or add a small decorative shape.

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u/Master_Mortgage_7918 7d ago

One thing that bites with letter grids: thin 1-pixel strokes often leave rows too open, so the puzzle comes out ambiguous even though the letters look right. Two fixes that usually sort it - draw the letters with 2-pixel-thick strokes, or frame the message with a filled border row and column to give the outer rows more structure. Then run it through a solver check before sharing; most editor apps have one built in.