GC220FN - Pixel by Pixel
By: Team Monkeyboy
1. Here is the Puzzle.
Geocache Description:
The coordinates listed above ARE NOT the cache. They will, however, guide you to the beautiful and historic downtown Newark, Ohio, home of the Licking County Courthouse, built in 1878.
Decode the following puzzle and hunt down the magnetic key holder:
Additional Hints:
2. Identify the Code used in the puzzle grid.
Use this link to learn more about this puzzle game.
Pic-a-Pix
3. Solve the Puzzle.
Step 1
1. For every row or column with a '0', fill in all x's.
2. For column P, there is no other way that all the numbers can fit. Fill in Solid and X.
3. For Row 28, there is no other way that all the numbers can fit. Fill in Solid and X.
Step 2
1. For Column C, the last 4 must start at the end. Fill in Solid and place an 'X' above.
2. For column D, the last '1' is the last cell. Fill in the X above.
3. Continue across for known values for columns E, F, H, I, J, L, N, O, R, S, T, V, W, and X.
4. For Row 27, all seven '1's have been identified. Fill in all other cells with an X.
5. For Row 26, all seven '1's have been identified. Fill in all other cells with an X.
6. For Row 25, the first 3 must start at the beginning. Fill in Solids and an X at the end.
7. For Row 25, the last 2, 3, 3 can ONLY fit in the way it's shown. Fill in all Solids and Xs between and to the left.
8. In Row 25, the only remaining number is a 3. Cell J25 is known, so the three can extend to the right a MAXIMUM of two more cells. Fill an X in Cell M25.
9. In Rows 12, 13, and 17, all values are '1', so each known cell must be alone. Fill in X's left and right.
10. For Column W, the last three 1's are now defined. Cross them off the list at the top.
11. For Column S, the last two 1's are now defined. Cross them off the list at the top.
12. For Column O, the last two 1's are now defined. Cross them off the list at the top.
Step 3
1. For Column K, there is not enough room to place the final '6' in rows 23-25. Fill in X's.
2. For column E the last available 1 is now defined. Fill in the X above.
3. For column F, the last remaining digit (3) must start at the Cell F25, moving up. Fill in solids.
4. For column H, the last remaining digit (3) must start at the Cell H25, moving up. Fill in solids.
5. For column I the last available 1 is now defined. Fill in the X above.
6. For Row 25, there is only one place left to place the remaining 3. Fill in solids and xs for entire row.
7. For Row 24, all 1's are now defined. Fill in X's for the rest of the row.
Step 4
1. In Column S, Fitting in both Solids and spaces from Top to bottom forces a solid into cell S23. Fill in Solid.
2. For Row 23, there is only one way to fill in all remaining threes. Fill in Solids and X's for the entire row.
3. For column D, the last available 1 is now defined. Cross it off.
4. For column E, the last available 1 is now defined. Cross it off.
5. For column G, filling in solids and spaces forces the middle 6 into the second group. Fill in solids.
6. For column I, the last available 1 is now defined. Cross it off.
7. For column J, the last available 1 is now defined. Cross it off.
8. For column M, filling in solids and spaces from top to bottom forces the 6 into the third group. Fill in solids.
9. For column N, the last available 1 is now defined. Cross it off.
10. For column O, the last available 1 is now defined. Cross it off.
11. For column R, filling in solids and spaces from top to bottom forces the first 6 and the last 6 into the first and third groups. Fill in Solids.
12. For column T, the last available 1 is now defined. Cross it off.
13. For Column U, filling in solids and spaces forces the 6 into the first group, and the four and one into the second group. Fill in solids and X's.
14. For Rows 10, 12, 13 and 17, since all numbers are 1's, all solids must stand alone. Fill in X's left and right.
15. For Row 20, since the largest number is a 2, it's not possible for cell Q20 to be solid. Fill in an X.
Step 5
1. For Column F, Filling in solids and spaces forces the 6 into the first group. Fill in solids.
2. For Row 2, column F must be a '1', so fill in X's left and right.
3. For Row 3, the visible solids must be 1's. Fill in Xs left and right.
4. For Row 3, Cell D3 cannot be solid, because it would force E3 to be solid, and the first number would be a 3, not a 2. Fill in X.
5. For Row 4, the last two digits are 1, 1. Filling in solids and spaces backwards from the end means U4 must be 1. Fill in X's left and right.
6. For rows 5 and 6, the last three digits are 1's. At minimum, both of the visible solids at the end must be 1's. Fill in X's left and right.
7. For row 7, the first visible solid must be a '1'. Fill in X's left and right.
8. Since column D starts with a 3, Cell D2 cannot be solid. Fill in an X.
9. For row 2, the first solid is known to be the first 1. Cross it off.
10. For Row 11, filling in solids and spaces forces Cells F11, K11, L11, Q11, and V11 to be solids. Fill them in.
11. For Column F, having a value in F11 forces all the remaining cells in group 2 to be x's. Fill in X's.
12. For Column K, Having a solid in K11 forces the 6 to be in that group. Fill in solids and X's for the entire column.
13. For Row 20, since the last solid is isolated, it must be a 1. Fill in X to the right.
14. For column H, since the remaining numbers are 2's, no single spaces can be solid. Place an X in H9, H11, H14.
15. For column 11, the first 4 is forced into the first four available cells. Fill in solids.
16. For Column D, having a solid in D11 forces the remaining 3 into that group. Place an X in D14, and in all cells in groups 1 and 3.
17. For Row 16, filling in solids and spaces forces Cells N16 and O16 to be part of the first 4. Fill in solids and X's left and right.
18. For Row 18, filling in solids and spaces forces Cells N18 and O18 to be part of the first 4. Fill in solids and X's left and right.
19. For Rows 10, 12, and 13, since they are all 1's, each solid must be single. Fill in X's left and right.
Step 6
1. For Column J, the remaining 6's can only fit in two places. Fill in solids and X's for the entire column.
2. For Row 16, the firt encountered solid must be the second 1. Fill in X to the left.
3. For Row 17, since all numbers are 1's, cell J17 must be a single. Fill in X to the left.
4. For Row 18, filling in solids and spaces from left to right means there is only one way to complete the row. Fill in all solids and x's for the entire row.
5. For row 19, the six must be attached to the first encountered solid. The remaining solids are now known. Fill in Solids and X's for the entire row.
6. For Column E the 6 must be in the third group, leaving the 1 as the isolated solid in group 2. Fill in all solids and X's for the entire column.
7. For Row 3, the first 2 is now defined. This also defines the first '1'. Fill in solids and X's.
8. For Row 4, the first 3 is now defined, as is the following '1'. Fill in solids and x's.
9. For Row 5, the first 1 is now defined, as is the following 3. the remaining three 1s are now identified. Fill in solids and Xs for the entire row.
10. For Row 6, the first 1 is now defined, as is the following 2. The three remaining 1s are now defined. Fill in solids and X's for the entire row.
11. For column F, the remaining 2 is now defined as F19 and the cell below. Fill in all solids and X's for the entire column.
12. For column G, all numbers have been defined. Fill in X's for the remainder of the column.
13. For column H, all numbers have been defined. Fill in X's for the remainder of the column.
14. For Column I, the first 2 has been defined. Cross it off, and place X's above and below.
15. For column I the last 2 is forced to be cell I19 and I20. Fill in solids and X below.
16. For Row 20, the first two 2's have been defined, as have the remaining numbers. Fill in X's for the rest of the entire row.
17. For row 21, filling in solids and spaces forces only one possible way to complete the row. Fill in all Solids and X's.
18. For Column S, the last two available 1s are now defined. Fill in X's above.
19. For column T there is only one way to fill in the 3 and 1. Fill in solids.
Step 7
1. Row 17 is now completely defined. Fill in all X's.
2. For Row 16, there is only one way to fill in the 4. Fill in solids and an X to the right.
3. For row 1, the next available 1 is defined. Cross it off.
4. For Row 7, the first two ones are now defined. Cross them off.
5. For Column N, three more 1's have been defined. Cross them off.
6. For column M, there is only one place to put the leading 3. Fill in solids.
7. For Row 2, Cell M2 must be a single. Place X's left and right.
8. For row 2, Cell P2 must be a single. Place X's left and right.
9. For row 2, there is only one way to put in the 4. Fill in solids and place an x to the right.
10. For Row 3, all four remaining 1's have been defined. Fill in X's for the entire row.
11. For rwo 4, there is only one way to fill in the 4. The remaining two 1's are defined. Fill in solids and X's for the entire row.
12. For Row 7, there is only one way to fill in the remaining numbers. Fill in solids and Xs for the entire Row.
13. For column X, the three must be in the second group. Place an X in cell X2.
14. The only remaining cell in Row 2 is the final 1. Fill in solid.
15. For column W, the first 1 has been defined. Cross it off.
16. For columns Q and V, all numbers are 1s, so all solids must be single. Fill in x's to the top.
17. For column V, the last two remaining cells are the undefined 1's. Fill in solids.
18. For column W, filling in solids and spaces forces a solid into cell W16. Fill in solid.
19. For Row 16, the final 1 has been defined. Fill in X to the right.
20. For Row 11, there is only one way to fill in the remaining three 4s. Fill in solds and X's for the entire row.
21. For Row 9, filling in solids and spaces for the row forces Cell K9 to be the start of the first 4. Fill in solids and X's.
22. For Row 9, the last two fours can only be placed one way. Fill in solids and X's.
23. For Row 14, there is only one way to fill in the numbers. Fill in all solids and X's for the entire row.
Step 8
1. For column I, the final 1 has been defined. Fill in all X's for the entire column.
2. For column M, all numbers have been defined. Fill in X's for the entire column.
3. For column O, all numbers have been defined. Fill in X's for the entire column.
4. For column R, all numbers have been defined. Fill in X's for the entire column.
5. For column T, all numbers have been defined. Fill in X's for the entire column.
6. For column W, all numbers have been defined. Fill in X's for the entire column.
7. For Column N, the remaining 1 and 4 can only be filled in one way. Fill in solids and X's for he entire column.
8. For Column S, the remaining 3 and 1 can only be filled in one way. Fill in solids and X's for he entire column.
9. For Column X, the remaining 3 and 1 can only be filled in one way. Fill in solids and X's for he entire column.
10. For Row 12, all five 1's have been defined. Fill in remaining X's.
11. For row 13, all fixe 1's have been defined. Fill in remaining X's.
12. For column D, the remaining 3 is now defined. Fill in solids.
Step 9
Final Solution.
Happy Caching!
This is a very interesting puzzle.
ReplyDeleteWe think that the numbers in the columns and rows determine whether the pixel that is located at their intersection is turned on or off.
When the puzzle is solved, the pixels that are turned on will either form numbers or letters that you can read to solve the coordinates.
That's our theory.
We don't know what the method of decryption is yet. Does anyone recognize these number strings, or have a theory as to how these number strings can be solved?
Found this information on solving this type of puzzle. Knew I had seen it someplace else.
ReplyDeletePic-a-Pix are exciting logic puzzles that form whimsical pixel-art pictures when solved. Challenging, deductive and artistic, this original Japanese invention offers the ultimate mix of logic, art and fun while providing solvers with many hours of mentally stimulating entertainment.
Pic-a-Pix is a block-placing puzzle based on a grid with a pixel-art picture hidden inside. Using logic alone, the solver determines which squares are painted and which should remain empty until the hidden picture is completely exposed.
Pic-a-Pix puzzles come in B&W and color, and are available in many sizes and difficulty levels taking anything from five minutes to several hours to solve. However, make one mistake and you’ll find yourself stuck later on as you get closer to the solution...
If you like Sudoku, Kakuro and other logic puzzles, you will love Conceptis Pic-a-Pix as well!
Thanks Bonny,
DeleteThat is very interesting history about this puzzle type.
Thank you for asking us to add this to the puzzle list. We have been working on solving it, and enjoy that it is challenging yet achievable. Every time we look at it, we make a little bit of progress.
Great Puzzle!!!
We've made great progress on the puzzle, and have the final coordinates, though the solve was a little slap-dash at the end. We had to make a few assumptions and see how it turned out with the numbers. We're a LONG way from being able to demo on here exactly how it can be proven. This is literally hundreds of tiny pieces of analysis, assumption, and logic. The final solution only comes into visibility Pixel by Pixel, as the name suggests. Really fun, though!
ReplyDeleteThank you. Was able to figure out the answer.
ReplyDeleteFantastic! This puzzle is hard work, but very rewarding.
DeleteThanks again for submitting it.