Using color for Maze pathways - A Case Study

Today I will explore the use of colored pathways as a choice when creating a maze and show how that decision will impact the look of the maze. Previously I looked at 12 different pathway options with #11 being using colored pathways. As an example I used the red wine maze. As you can see the burgundy pathways define the wine resting in the wine glass. Easy to understand for the viewer/solver.

But that maze is the end product, a result of a construction decision that I think was the correct one. Let’s look at a different maze that could be created with or without colored pathways and see what happens as we make different selections.

For our example we will be doing the famous Route 1 road sign from California, also known as the Pacific Coast Highway or simply the Coast Highway.

Maze Design 1 - Colored background used

Looks like the sign you might see on the side of the road (mazed!)

Route 1 Sign Maze

Maze Design 2 - Pathways colored as is

For our second example we simply lose the background color and change the pathway color to the former background color. The maze sign is recognizable, but the color is very subtle but visible. For some designers this would be an acceptable solution. In this instance I would want this maze to have a bit more color….so

Maze Design 3 - Pathways colored, but twice as thick

So I took the maze above and doubled the thickness of the lines to increase the appearance of the color in the background. It definitely works to achieve more color. And, depending on how you feel about the maze you have designed this might be a great solution. But there are 2 more options, best these options should be decided on before you have started mazing.

Maze Design 4 - Twice the pathways, original thickness

This option will make for a maze that is twice as long (or at least has twice as many pathways). For the example I cut the original maze in half (not recommended) to quickly construct it. The result is a darker background, a more difficult maze, and a longer design and drawing process. This is a nice option if you want to increase difficulty. There is certainly enough space to make this complicated ! We do have 1 more option to look at…

Maze Design 5 - Twice the pathways, double thickness

To bring the options full circle I took Maze design 4 and doubled the thickness of the pathways as I had before in Maze Design 3. The width almost switches this maze from a standard maze construction to a standard equal maze construction. Lots of color in this one.

So those are 4 possible designs for the same maze, with 4 different colored pathway options. I wanted to illustrate that the use of color is about more than color you assign the path, but also about their spacing and their thickness. Any could be used depending on how you want the final maze to look and the difficulty you want to give the solver. Here is a comparison of all 4 colored pathway examples together so you can more easily compare them. Which do you prefer ?

Let’s look at some additional maze art I have made where I used non-black lines and talk about why. These are more about keeping the integrity of the illustration than coloring it, but it is a similar story.

First we have my Mount Rushmore Maze. I really enjoyed making this one. The president’s are carved into the side of the mountain and using black made them to defined IMO. The grey lines look more natural, as if the carvings are part of the structure (which they are!).

My second example is the Giant Causeway Maze. Maybe we have a theme, because once again I used the color brown to draw the basalt columns, as black contrasted too much with the illustration. So in these first 2 examples I wanted the nature scenes to look natural. Using black in either would make them look too bold/unnatural.

My third example comes from my maze of the Gibraltar Lighthouse. Same idea, but a bit different. The lighthouse is made of stones. I used black for the outer walls, but all internal walls or mortar was a more natural grey.

My last example is more in line with the California street sign above. I made a red barn maze in 2 different variations. I prefer the colored red vs the red lines, but you may disagree. For some applications you may want one over the other. You have the option.

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Maze Art: Advanced Tips to Creating Your Own Masterpiece

Maze Art Case Study - Bodiam Castle Maze Coloration & Improvement

How to Create Maze Art in 6 Easy Steps + Case Study

Types of Maze Intersections and Junctions

Want to know what types of intersections will you find in drawn mazes ? Are you an artist or a maze solver ? Below is a partial list with examples of the types of pathways and junctions that can be made to create a drawn maze using mostly a grid-like pattern. Slight variations of these would exist for non-grid maze creations also, like hand drawn, triangular, hexagonal, etc. Lets’ start with the most simple part of the drawn maze.

I break maze intersections and junctions into 6 categories:

1. No Choice Pathways

2. Intersections

3. Spirals

4. Loops and Branches

5. Dead Ends

6. Special Pathways

Let’s look at each of these categories with details, and examples.

No Choice Pathways:

• The Main Path or Main Passageway

Looks like a standard straight line. There are no choices to make other than to continue forward on the path you are on. Not a junction or an intersection really, but what you are on before you get to one and so a great place to begin.

• The Left or Right Turn

No choice is available, but the main path turns to the left or right to change the direction of the solver. Not a junction or intersection, just a new direction for the main pathway. Happens countless times in a maze !

• The Back and Forth

This stands in for all possibilities of patterns with no choices - and there is an infinite amount ! If you break it down it is just a pathway with many turns and because there are no choices it is in some ways filler. I would define this one as a series of pathways and turns that move the solver back and forth on the pathway without any choice of direction as in a labyrinth. A very common pathway configuration.

Intersections:

• The Standard Intersection -

Looks like a plus sign to the solver. At an intersection the solver must decide between turning left, right or continuing to go straight on the current pathway. A standard intersection has 3 choices (4 if you think returning the way you came is a good idea).

• The T - intersection -

The main path comes to a junction where the maze solver has two choices and needs to go either left or right. Looks like a T (but can also be a T on its side if you are traveling on the same pathway). The main pathway in this junction ends, so continuing the way you came is not an option. A choice must be made.

• The Take or Continue intersection -

The standard and most common choice you will have to make many times in a maze. Looks like a T on it’s side, and can go in any direction as long as the main pathway continues on (this is what sets this intersection apart from the T - intersection above). A decision needs to be made to continue on your path or turn onto another path. Below are versions to turn left or right vs. continuing on the main path.

• The Y - intersection -

An angled version of the T intersection that looks like the letter Y. The maze solver must make a similar choice as in the T intersection. Continuing on the main path is not an option.

• The Multi-choice intersection-

A maze solver comes to a section where the main pathway splits off into many different directions from the main passageway. Different from a standard intersection in that it can have more than 3 new options. This also has the most different options on how it can look. A maze with Multi-choice options will typically be more difficult to solve. Also, the pathway options may be spaced over a larger area. The example on the right has 7 possible paths close together that can chosen.

• The Fork intersection -

A specific type of multi-choice intersection - a pathway that comes to a decision intersection that breaks into 3 - 5 possible choices, all typically pointing in an onward direction, looking similar to a fork.

Spirals:

• The Spiral or vortex -

A pathway that spirals into itself and then spirals to exit thru a series of continual left or right turns. Basic spirals do not have any intersections or junctions for the solver to choose. Often used to create a particular look for the maze.

• The Multi Spiral Path -

This is a particular type of spiral path that includes additional branches inside the spiral that may be chosen by the solver. Those new pathways eventually lead to dead ends inside the spiral with only one pathway spiraling out (although the 1 spiral out is not a strict rule).

• The Spiral Dead End -

A pathway that uses a spiral to trick the solver into a dead end. Instead of a path spiraling in and then spiraling out, you only spiral in to a dead end.

Loops and Branches:

• The Return Path or Looping Path -

A pathway that when taken, unknown to the maze solver will return them to the same spot by looping back around, essentially wasting the time of the solver. The pathway might take many turns, but the long term destination loops back around. In the example below the choice of leaving the main path leads to a looping path. Can be used to reduce the difficulty of the maze by replacing some dead ends with looping paths. It will make the maze longer, but more enjoyable when incorrect paths are taken. Instead of reaching a dead end the solver loops !

• The Side Branch -

A pathway taken off the main pathway that returns to the same main pathway further on in the maze. By taking the side branch the solver continues towards solving but has not taken the simplest path to reach the same point. Different from a looping path in that you do move closer to solving the maze when you take a side branch. Will never look exactly like the example below, but will have the same general structure.

• The Optional Side Branch -

Similar to a side branch but involves an obvious choice for the solver. Very common in a Find Items Maze and an Avoid Items Maze where you may need to strategically take the optional side pathway to fulfill a condition of solving the maze (example: maze instructions are to find all the balls and then exit the maze - and a ball is on the optional side branch). While the side branch above is taken unknowingly, this is taken with strategic intention (often because it is obvious).

Dead Ends:

• The Dead End -

A pathway that can no longer be traveled on because it has ended. The solver loses and the maze maker wins…I would be surprised if the dead ends you encounter are ever as easy as the example below to see before you reach the end.

• The Filler Dead End -

This is a particular type of dead end that is made by a maze maker with the only purpose of filling up space. Often it is unintentional in the greater design of the maze and no maze solver would ever take these mini paths. They truly are filler. A dead end path that no human would ever take (a computer program would check it out though).

Special Pathways:

• The Weaving Pathway -

Used in Weaving Path Mazes and Pipe Mazes, this path does not dead end when a wall is encountered if the pathway you are on continues directly on the other side of the pathway that it crosses. It is a way of making 3D movement part of a maze that is drawn on a 2D dimension like a piece of paper or computer screen. To help some solvers they can optionally be shown with arrows to indicate movement across pathways (example on the right). These are fun pathways to include in a maze but can be difficult to design without some practice. In fact if you like games where you need to observe mistakes, I wrote a post where you need to find my weaving design mistakes !

• The Trail Path -

Used in Hidden Message mazes, Letter mazes and Number mazes. In this pathway movement along the pathway “captures” letters or numbers as you go over them in the pathway. So the solver is not avoiding the letters, but rather collecting them. In the example below from the start the different possible movements create different words, going clockwise: Straight : “THEN” ; Straight, right “THERE” ; Right “THY”; Left, Down “THATS”; Left “THANK YO”. Intersections exist, but they are not important to the solving.

• Random Shaped Intersections & Pathways -

  Most commonly found in mazes that are drawn by hand or that use objects as the walls of the maze. Pathways meander more than normal and have irregular shapes depending on what object is used to make the walls. In the example below how would you define the pathways and intersections ?

• Moving Intersections & Pathways -

  I was unsure what to call these but they are a late addition to the list. I was inspired by a video game and a video showing a maze puzzle. Here is a video of the classic retro arcade game Ladybug: Make sure to watch until the ladybug approaches a green wall.

I am interested in using this rotating wall in a drawn maze, but was struggling how to actually make it friendly for the solver. I should also mention that if you draw these doors, you could make them only open/swing in one direction ! Maybe a door with a handle on only one side….

• Conditional Intersections - which are created by conditional walls/pathways essentially

A puzzle designer created a conditional maze that uses colored doors ! Very nice concept. You can find the maze download, and other puzzles on his puzzle page. The use of color means that intersections change depending on the rules set.

I hope to make some new mazes based on these conditional intersections. When I do, I will add some links here.

I did a 3 part blog series on maze constructions if you want to design your own type of maze. Part 2 speaks about pathway options including weaving pathways !

Part 1 - Starting and Ending a Maze - Speaks to the 9 most popular ways to start and stop a maze

Part 2 - Maze Path options - Explores the 12 different pathway options for a maze

Part 3 - Conditional Path options - Speaks to 11 different conditional options to add to a maze to make it more enjoyable

How to Make a Laser Maze

In a series of posts I will show you how to make a maze in a wide variety of design constructions. The 44th type of maze construction is the Laser maze. Let’s define what I mean, then get into the example. This particular maze type was brought to my attention on the reddit maze page by user naveedurrehman. It is a puzzle type drawn maze and unique in that the pathways are invisible initially and created by the maze solver !

LASER Maze - A type of PUZZLE maze where THE SOLVER USES PHYSICS TO DETERMINE WHERE A LASER beam WILL BOUNCE in order TO SOLVE THE MAZE.

I want to mention there is a physical version of this maze type, and it may make you think of the movie Entrapment starring Sean Connery and Catherine Zeta-Jones. Also, Mr. Beast featured one on his channel.

And there is also a physical kids game version of this maze made by Thinkfun where you use mirrors to solve challenges. The game was the winner of the Good Housekeeping Best Toys Award !

How to Make a LASER Maze (DRAWN)

Step 1 - Draw the Outline and Possible Goals

The outline of a laser maze includes 3 sides with an opening for the initial laser to move through. It is possible to do multiple shapes but the most basic is 3 sided for this example. Goals, or possible goals line the outside of the walls. I suggest nothing less than a 4x4 grid, meaning 8-12 possible goals around the border. I like using pink blocks to highlight and guide where mirrors can be placed during maze creation.

Step 2 - Draw the Initial Laser and Mirror

Draw a laser, at the top reflecting off the first mirror/wall. This is essentially your “START”.

Step 3 - Draw the Solution

Add mirrors (walls) that the laser will bounce off of to make the maze solution. In my example below, I fill most of the maze.

Step 4 - Add the Unused Mirrors (walls)

If the solver followed the physics of the laser and bounced in the correct directions, any walls you add will never be used. Be mindful to not block any used pathways that would re-direct the solution. I also deleted my pink block guides.

Step 5 - Add the Directions

This is a type of maze that needs instructions to solve. Add them to the maze. I used simple directions.

Step 6 - Create the Solution (OPTIONAL)

Make the solution to the maze.

Additional Laser Maze Examples

Each laser does not need to bounce 1 level or block, it can move across larger distances. There is no need to fill each block with a mirror, gaps are interesting ! Here is a 5x5 version that includes gaps:

For my next example, I lined 3 sides with possible goals, so 15 total possible goals instead of just 10 using the 2 sides.

Additional Design Discussion:

Do they need to be square/rectangular ? No. But the use of right angles makes solving easiest. There is no question which direction the bounce is going to go to. A triangle, hexagon, and other geometric shapes would also work, with some complications to work through.

How big can they be ? As large as you can imagine.

Only right angles ? You can use other angles, but they complicate the design for both the creator and solver.

Ready to make your own laser maze ? Good Luck !

I did a 3 part blog series on maze constructions if you want to design your own type of maze. Part 3 includes all of the conditional maze options.

Part 1 - Starting and Ending a Maze - Speaks to the 9 most popular ways to start and stop a maze

Part 2 - Maze Path options - Explores the 12 different pathway options for a maze

Part 3 - Conditional Path options - Speaks to 11 different conditional options to add to a maze to make it more enjoyable

Interested in learning how to make or draw other types of digital mazes ? I have step by step instructions on how to make over 40 different maze types.

If you prefer making labyrinths, you can find step by step labyrinth making instructions.

Twisty Little Paths: Creating New Types of Experimental Mazes

I spent an entire month making Experimental Mazes were I came up with 11 different types of mazes. Each type had at least one daily maze posted on the site and some of these experiments had up to 5 different versions. Today I want to pull each of these new maze creations together and review them, see how I did, what worked and get some feedback from you.

Part 1 - Perspective Arrow Maze

This idea is pretty simple: Arrow Maze + a change in perspective. I did 5 different versions and below is my favorite example. A typical Arrow Maze is flat and I thought adding some perspective would be interesting. I enjoyed making this and getting the maze aligned as I made it in sections.

Perspective Arrow Maze

Part 2 - Multi Arrow Maze

This idea is connected Arrow Mazes. Day 1 is Arrow Maze 1 you solve normally. Day 2 adds Maze 2 (the upper left corner). The solver starts in the same place, but tries to reach the Day 2 Goal in Maze 2. This continues each day. Day 3 adds Maze 3 and a new GOAL. By day 5 you have 5 Arrow Mazes combined into one. Can you solve each maze in order ? Good Luck. To clarify, landing on a corner of the center arrow maze opens up the new maze section to you.

Multi Arrow Maze

Part 3 - Color Grid and Grid Maze Combo

Another combination maze, this one featuring a color grid maze and a grid maze. Since the Color Grid is already “gridded” this made it easy to create a 2-in-1 maze. Solve the 2 mazes in any order. In this case the start and goal is the same for each maze type.

Color Grid and Grid Maze Combo

Part 4 - Folded Grid Maze

A Grid Maze that has the appearance of being a folded piece of paper based on changing the perspectives on a few sections. I did 2 versions. Easy to make. Looks more interesting than a regular grid maze, but is nothing earth shattering.

Folded Grid Maze

Part 5 - Layered Grid Maze

A Grid Maze that uses multiple layers to give the maze a more interesting look. Honestly, this is not very experimental in hindsight. It looks marginally more interesting, but at the end of the day is still just a grid maze.

Layered Grid Maze

Part 6 - Arrow and Grid Maze Combo

Another 2-in-1 maze experiment. This one combines the Arrow and Grid Mazes. I made it to be solved Arrow Maze first, then Grid Maze after, returning to the original start, but you can technically solve in either order. I like the idea of the start of one is the goal of the other. I did 4 different mazes of this type.

Arrow Maze Grid Maze Combo

Part 7 - The Sectional Maze

A Sectional Maze uses lightly connected sections and weaving pathways to travel throughout the maze. Nothing too crazy, but a new type of maze for me. Maybe the newest portion is the one way pathways between sections. I feel like this is a small version of something much larger and more interesting.

Sectional Maze

Part 8 - Standard Perspective Maze

A standard maze where I have played with the perspective. I think this is the least appealing maze I made playing with perspective. Boring in this example and possibly boring in most examples. When I originally thought of it I was thinking it would look like a folded piece of paper. This particular example is also a Kids maze.

Standard Perspective Maze

Part 9 - Stacked Grid Maze

A Grid Maze (blue) inside a grid maze (black). Day 1 included only the black walls, while Day 2 uses both black and blue to create the walls. I stopped after 2 days as the solution stays generally the same on day 2 in this version.

Stacked Grid Maze

Part 10 - Pipes and Arrow Maze Combo

Another 2-in-1 maze that combines Pipe Mazes and Arrow Mazes. These can be solved in any order. I looks a bit odd but these are 2 of my favorite maze types. I will say as a designer this maze type takes a long time to make. If I could make this faster I would make more.

Pipes and Arrow Maze Combo

Part 11 - Stacked Standard Maze

5 Mazes in 1. Each Day for 5 days I added a new layer to solve. Each smaller arrow adds a new layer of walls to impede you. So the maze starts with black walls only. The next maze on day 2 uses black and grey walls. Then + Blue, + Red, and finally + Green. I thought this was a fun idea. But the actual execution is tough on the eyes and not as enjoyable to solve as I thought. I wonder if wider spacing for all maze pathways would improve it.

Stacked standard maze

The odd sizes mean I did not make these mazes into a traditional free downloadable book, but I did gather them into a 31 page booklet. It is not recommended for printing. The download is 392Kb and is best used on screen.

Are there some mazes you like that should be continued and explored ? Send me a request.