October 11, 2026 · News

Preparing Paperlore: Jigsaw 1.1 — five new categories and a fresh look for familiar pictures

The catalogue is growing, and every existing category will receive newly generated artwork. We have spent the past week refining our paper style for the next update.

Elephants at a waterhole: the original illustration with a coarse crumpled texture — The same scene from Animals: the current illustration on the left and a new render prepared for the update on the right. Patch 1.1 is still in development.

New elephants-at-a-waterhole render in the layered coloured-paper style — The same scene from Animals: the current illustration on the left and a new render prepared for the update on the right. Patch 1.1 is still in development.

Work on Paperlore: Jigsaw continues after release. We are preparing patch 1.1, which will add five new categories and completely regenerate the artwork in all existing categories. There will be a reason to revisit the catalogue even if you have already assembled your favourite pictures.

A fresh look for familiar artwork

Over the past week, we have spent a lot of time comparing renders. Where does paper really look like paper, and where is a surface too noisy? How strong should the shadow between layers be? Does the distant forest stay crisp with a character in the foreground? Those questions have gradually become a clearer set of rules for our illustrations.

The updated style puts more emphasis on cut edges, folds and thin layers of paper. Surfaces will be calmer, with less coarse grain, while form and short contact shadows provide depth. Intricate folds, animal silhouettes and the structure of objects still matter: smooth paper should not reduce an interesting scene to a few simple patches of colour.

Take the elephants at the waterhole. In the original, skin, shore and water all have a dense crumpled texture. In the new render, it is easier to distinguish an ear from the head, splashes from the water and the calf from the shore. Curves and overlapping paper pieces create the volume rather than a cracked surface. The palette and lighting have changed too: this is a fresh interpretation of a familiar scene, not a filter applied to the old image.

This matters when solving a jigsaw. You look closely at each piece as well as the whole picture: the edge of a leaf, part of a wing, a fold in fabric. We need distinct areas of colour, crisp details at every depth and scenes with features you can recognise as you build them.

Here are three more comparisons from Animals and Nature. The right-hand images are work-in-progress candidates for the patch, not replacements already in the released game. Click either version to view the details.

The barn cat: stripes without the visual static

A cat leaps after a mouse in a barn — original version — Animals. Compare the cat’s flank, the edge of the hay bale and the floor: small texture marks give way to distinct paper pieces.

A cat leaps after a mouse in a barn — new render — Animals. Compare the cat’s flank, the edge of the hay bale and the floor: small texture marks give way to distinct paper pieces.

In the old version, fur, straw and floorboards compete for attention with tiny marks and irregularities. In the new render, separate paper pieces form the cat’s stripes and broad cut strips make up the straw. The pose, whiskers, paws and woven rope still have plenty of detail. We are removing surface noise, not the scene itself.

The waterfall: separating water from stone

A forest waterfall surrounded by rocks and trees — original version — Nature. Rather than the same surface pattern everywhere, rocks, water and foliage have their own distinct shapes.

A forest waterfall surrounded by rocks and trees — new render — Nature. Rather than the same surface pattern everywhere, rocks, water and foliage have their own distinct shapes.

The original waterfall had a crumpled texture across rocks, water and treetops alike. In the new picture, facets define the stones, long pale layers form the falling water and overlapping silhouettes build the forest. The composition and lighting have changed too: this comparison shows a different way of constructing the scene, not just a texture change.

The mountain river: keeping movement, reducing clutter

A mountain river runs through a conifer forest — original version — Nature. Compare the foam on the rapids and the foreground stones: the water still moves, with fewer tiny incidental marks.

A mountain river runs through a conifer forest — new render — Nature. Compare the foam on the rapids and the foreground stones: the water still moves, with fewer tiny incidental marks.

The old river is full of tiny splashes, veins on rocks and fine needles. In the new version, broad blue strips and white foam edges describe the current. It is easier to follow the river into the distance. Needles, cones and the distant forest are still there; paper layers describe their shapes instead of fine surface texture.

Shared references across the catalogue

We have gathered these decisions into a dedicated generation skill: a set of guidelines and visual references for creating and reviewing new renders. It helps keep Paperlore consistent from one picture to the next. We still examine every illustration individually, checking the action, anatomy, scene depth and how well it will work as a puzzle.

We are using the same guidelines to recreate the artwork in every existing category. Our aim is a catalogue that feels coherent as you move between older and newer worlds, with familiar scenes worth another close look.

Patch 1.1 is still in development. We will announce its release date once preparation and testing are complete. Until then, we will share new pictures and the changes taking shape in our paper world.