VectorPaint seven-piece puzzles: fix the pieces before checking a silhouette

English translation of the Chinese original, translated on 2026-11-03. Original publication dates, attribution, code and version notes are retained.

A shape puzzle must use the same pieces in its prompt and solution. Create seven original geometric pieces in VectorPaint, beginning with a rectangular arrangement and then trying another silhouette. This exercise does not use standard tangram proportions or assume a built-in solver. You preserve, place and verify the shape and count of every piece yourself.

Define seven source pieces on a grid

Create a 1000 by 800 pixel canvas with a piece inventory on the left and assembly area on the right. Sketch a rectangle divided into seven regions by non-crossing straight lines, then draw each region as a separate closed polygon with the Pen tool. This does not require automatic cutting. Label pieces A–G and record relative corner positions. Keep the reference rectangle and division lines on their own layer, which can later be hidden. They are construction references, not an eighth puzzle piece.

Reassemble the source rectangle first

Place all seven pieces back inside the reference rectangle, using different fills to inspect their boundaries. Check for missing pieces, overlap and gaps with strokes disabled so thick outlines cannot conceal errors. Correct the relevant nodes rather than stretching a piece to fill a hole. Confirm that the pieces reconstruct the starting shape before attempting free arrangements. Save this baseline with every piece separately selectable. Reimporting a preview image would not preserve seven independently editable paths.

Preserve piece geometry during movement

Duplicate the baseline into a separate practice area and use movement and rotation without changing sizes or vertices. Decide whether reflection is permitted and state that rule; a solution must not secretly rely on a forbidden flip. Retain IDs while checking that A–G each appear once. Select whole objects rather than individual nodes before dragging. Begin with three pieces and add the rest gradually. If a target does not work, change the target instead of shrinking pieces or adding an undisclosed patch.

Check both seams and the outer silhouette

Zoom in on every shared edge and zoom out for the silhouette. Slight overlap can leave a plausible outline while changing the assembly, so inspect with contrasting piece fills. Temporarily highlight a piece to see whether another conceals much of it, then restore the palette. Hide IDs and internal lines to assess the target outline. An abstract target is acceptable; naming it as an animal does not prove geometric correctness. Verify joins and piece count independently of the silhouette’s name.

Make separate prompt and solution copies

The prompt can show the target silhouette and piece inventory, while the solution exposes boundaries. Derive both from the same verified source and match IDs, rules and revisions. A monochrome display treatment must not become an extra usable piece. State allowed transformations, whether all pieces are required and whether overlap is permitted. Describe only the rules you actually designed. Without exhaustive verification, provide a checked arrangement rather than claiming it is the unique solution or that other valid assemblies cannot exist.

Shuffle and rebuild to test repeatability

Shuffle the seven pieces in a test copy and rebuild using the written prompt, without leftover construction guides. Add any missing reflection rule or revise the solution if an undocumented condition is necessary. Check that no inventory piece was accidentally duplicated into the solution, producing eight objects despite a seven-item list. Compare the result with the baseline to distinguish handling errors from faulty piece definitions. This does not prove every person can solve it, but tests whether your files and instructions reproduce the supplied arrangement.

Distinguish working files from shareable outputs

Retain editable pieces and export clearly named prompt and solution images. Inspect the smallest piece, IDs and seams at intended size and check transparent output for leftover reference rectangles. Keep the solution separate when sharing a puzzle. Physical pieces require a separate paper-size and cutting proof; screen joins do not validate production tolerances. Preserve complete paths so later targets use the same geometry rather than corners reconstructed from a compressed image.

Diagnose deformation and duplicates first

For an imperfect reconstruction, inspect non-uniform scaling, moved nodes, overlapping duplicates and altered references before anything else. Do not paint gaps in a matching colour to conceal geometry errors. Investigate white seams using the contrasting baseline and normal-size viewing. Verify piece identity by selecting objects rather than counting labels. After repair, reconstruct both the source rectangle and the target. Keep the exercise only when the same seven pieces reproduce both checked arrangements.