Unadorned puzzles may be a thing of beauty to crossword addicts and trivia fiends. For everyone else here are some tips for dressing up those empty boxes and making them more inviting. But as with any document — use restraint. Try one or two of these ideas but not everything at once.
- Add a drop shadow. The criss-cross in this article looks less drab with a simple black drop shadow.
- Include appropriate clip art. Whether it's an artistic title (as in the puzzle on this page) or a simple pencil graphic, choose an image that draws the eye but doesn't distract from other content on the page. Does the puzzle have a theme? Use a graphic tied to the puzzle subject.
- Add a splash of color. Use colored boxes in a crossword or colored text in a Word Seek puzzle or set the puzzle in a color border. Fill in a few "starter clues" in a contrasting color.
- Use a decorative font (but keep it readable!) for titles or clues.
