Picture Cross (sometimes known as 'Picross', 'Nonograms' or 'Griddlers') are classic logic puzzles where you must use the number clues provided to fill in cells to paint a picture.
Picture Cross Color adds a new twist: there are now multiple colors that can be used to fill squares. You'll reveal a color image as you solve the puzzle.
Picture Cross Color adds a new twist: there are now multiple colors that can be used to fill squares. You'll reveal a color image as you solve the puzzle.
How to play
The object of Picture Cross Color is to reveal the hidden image on the grid, by using the number clues to determine whether each grid square should be filled with a specific color or left blank.
To the left of each grid row, and at the top of each grid column, you'll see a Clue Label.
The numbers in each Clue Label tell you how many consecutive squares of a each color (blocks) need to be filled on that line.
Please note: Picture Cross Color uses slightly different rules to the classic (single-color) Picture Cross puzzle.
1. If a clue contains two consecutive blocks of the SAME color, there must be at least ONE empty square separating these two blocks on the grid.
2. Adjacent blocks of DIFFERENT colors don't have to have ANY empty squares between them.
Use the buttons directly below the puzzle to select the current paint colour, or 'X' (useful for marking cells that you have determined must remain blank):
When you select a paint color, the clue boxes matching that color will be highlighted with a solid border. You can use this to help if you're having difficulty distinguishing between color shades on your device's screen.
If you fill a square incorrectly, you can erase it by tapping on the filled square again with the same tool (Paint or 'X') selected.
The numbers in a clue label are crossed out as blocks of the correct color and length are filled on that line. Once all the numbers in a clue label are crossed out, the clue label turns gray. This means that the contents of the line LOGICALLY satisfy the clues. The position of each block within the line may still not be correct!
Tap on a grayed out Clue Label to automatically fill any remaining unfilled squares on that line with Xs.
To the left of each grid row, and at the top of each grid column, you'll see a Clue Label.
The numbers in each Clue Label tell you how many consecutive squares of a each color (blocks) need to be filled on that line.
Please note: Picture Cross Color uses slightly different rules to the classic (single-color) Picture Cross puzzle.
1. If a clue contains two consecutive blocks of the SAME color, there must be at least ONE empty square separating these two blocks on the grid.
2. Adjacent blocks of DIFFERENT colors don't have to have ANY empty squares between them.
Use the buttons directly below the puzzle to select the current paint colour, or 'X' (useful for marking cells that you have determined must remain blank):
When you select a paint color, the clue boxes matching that color will be highlighted with a solid border. You can use this to help if you're having difficulty distinguishing between color shades on your device's screen.
If you fill a square incorrectly, you can erase it by tapping on the filled square again with the same tool (Paint or 'X') selected.
The numbers in a clue label are crossed out as blocks of the correct color and length are filled on that line. Once all the numbers in a clue label are crossed out, the clue label turns gray. This means that the contents of the line LOGICALLY satisfy the clues. The position of each block within the line may still not be correct!
Tap on a grayed out Clue Label to automatically fill any remaining unfilled squares on that line with Xs.
Solving the puzzle
■ A good starting point is to find clues that describe a complete line. For instance, for a 10x10 grid, look for clues whose separate blocks add up to '10' and fill them in. (Don't forget that adjacent blocks of the same colour must have a gap of at least one square between them, adding '1' to the total.)
■ Use the 'X' option to mark squares that you know for certain can't be filled with a colour. For instance if a clue for a row only contains RED blocks, you can place an X on any squares where the intersecting column's clue doesn't contain any RED blocks.
■ Filled squares (and Xs) in a line will provide more information for solving perpendicular lines. All the Picture Cross puzzles in Puzzle Page contain enough information to be solved logically without needing to guess.
■ There are several other techniques that you can apply methodically to each clue and line but we will leave these for you to discover through practice.
■ Use the 'X' option to mark squares that you know for certain can't be filled with a colour. For instance if a clue for a row only contains RED blocks, you can place an X on any squares where the intersecting column's clue doesn't contain any RED blocks.
■ Filled squares (and Xs) in a line will provide more information for solving perpendicular lines. All the Picture Cross puzzles in Puzzle Page contain enough information to be solved logically without needing to guess.
■ There are several other techniques that you can apply methodically to each clue and line but we will leave these for you to discover through practice.
Extra help
If you're stuck on a Picture Cross Color puzzle, you can use coins to buy hints.
Hints can be used by tapping on the relevant icon in the status bar area.
The cost (in coins) to use each hint is printed under its icon.
Hints can be used by tapping on the relevant icon in the status bar area.
The cost (in coins) to use each hint is printed under its icon.
■ Suggest a move
If you're struggling to see a logical move to enter, use this hint. A row or column's clue will light up. Tap that clue and the game will automatically fill in all or part of that line, based on the information gained so far in the puzzle.
Please note that this often won't give the whole solution for a line - you may need to complete the rest as the remaining information becomes unambiguous, as surrounding cells are solved.
■ Check for Errors
Use this hint to highlight all the cells with incorrect values.