Picture maze and method of generating the picture maze

Abstract

A picture maze and a method of producing the picture maze are described. The picture maze comprises a maze wherein a significant portion of the image data for a desired picture is contained within the lines of the maze such that one or both the color and intensity of the lines vary over their lengths relative to the picture content. Methodologies for producing a picture maze are also described wherein a digital image of a maze and a digital image of a picture are combined and the opacity of the maze's digital image is adjusted as necessary to permit the picture's digital image to be viewed.

1 . An amusement puzzle comprising: 
 a substrate having a top surface;    a plurality of lines marked on the top surface, the lines forming, 
 a labyrinth of pathways extending between adjacent borders of the plurality of lines,  
 wherein a limited number of passageways are defined by the plurality of lines and the labyrinth of pathways with a limited number of passageways extending between one or more entry locations into the passageways; and  
 wherein one or both the color and intensity of the plurality of lines (i) differ from one or both the color and intensity of the adjacent pathways, and (ii) vary along the lengths of the lines to form a predetermined image.  
   
   
   
       2 . The amusement puzzle of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined image is a photograph.  
   
   
       3 . The amusement puzzle of  claim 1 , wherein plurality of lines comprises at least about 25% of a total area of the top surface.  
   
   
       4 . The amusement puzzle of  claim 1 , wherein the limited number of passageways comprise one or more lines extending between one or more entry locations.  
   
   
       5 . The amusement puzzle of  claim 1 , wherein one or both the color and intensity of the labyrinth of pathways varies along lengths of the pathways to form a predetermined image.  
   
   
       6 . The amusement puzzle of  claim 1 , wherein the substantial majority of the plurality of lines do not form any readily discernable patterns other than those resulting from the variations in one or both of the color and intensity of the lines.  
   
   
       7 . The amusement puzzle of  claim 1 , wherein the lines are rendered in grayscale and the intensity of the plurality of lines vary.  
   
   
       8 . The amusement puzzle of  claim 1 , wherein the lines are rendered in color and both the intensity and colors of the plurality of lines vary.  
   
   
       9 . The amusement puzzle of  claim 1 , wherein the labyrinth of pathways are of a generally uniform color and intensity.  
   
   
       10 . A picture maze comprising a plurality of lines that define a least one passageway between at least one start location and at least one finish location wherein one or both the color and intensity of the plurality of lines vary over their lengths, the varying color and intensity of the lines forming a predetermined image.  
   
   
       11 . The picture maze of  claim 10 , wherein the maze is printed on a substrate.  
   
   
       12 . The picture maze of  claim 10 , wherein the maze is etched on a substrate.  
   
   
       13 . The picture maze of  claim 10 , wherein the maze is woven on a substrate.  
   
   
       14 . The picture maze of  claim 10 , wherein the maze is electronically displayed.  
   
   
       15 . The picture maze of  claim 10 , wherein the picture maze is computer generated by combining a digital image with a digitized maze to create a picture maze file and producing the picture maze file on a substrate.  
   
   
       16 . A method of generating a picture maze having a plurality of lines that define a plurality of pathways with at least one passageway between at least one start location and at least one finish location, wherein one or both the color and intensity of the plurality of lines vary to form a predetermined image, the method comprising: 
 displaying image files for a maze and a picture in an image editing program;    overlaying the maze image and the picture image one on top of the other; and    merging the picture image and the maze image.    
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising: 
 reducing the opacity of the picture maze image.    
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the image editing program is one of JASC Paint shop™ and Adobe Photoshop™.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising: 
 producing the picture maze.    
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising: 
 digitizing one or both the maze and the picture to create picture maze image files.