Flocked Puzzles vs. Regular Puzzles: Understanding the Differences

Why Puzzle Craftsmanship Matter

The value of a piece of jewelry isn’t just about the stones it holds; its design and craftsmanship play a big role too. Similarly, a puzzle’s worth isn’t determined by its image alone—its materials and the way it’s made matter just as much.

A high-quality puzzle doesn’t just feature a beautiful, distinctive design—it also pairs that design with the most fitting finish. For example, the oil painting style puzzles often choose the matte lamination with delicate texture, the modern style puzzles tend to choose velvet touch matte laminating process, and cartoon illustration style puzzle prefer delicate glossy film or even a shimmering finish. Fun and textured crafts can make the puzzle experience more fun and Increase the ornamental value of the puzzle.

Beyond these common lamination techniques, there is also a less common puzzle finish — the flocking process.

What Are Flocked Jigsaw Puzzles?

The flocking process is relatively complicated. First, it’s need to brush glue on the surface of the puzzle, and then use a special flocking machine to flock it. There is a lot of material loss during the process, and the labor cost is very expensive, which directly leads to the cost being more expensive than other ordinary lamination processes. Therefore, fewer puzzle brands choose to use this craftsmanship to produce puzzles.

As the name suggests, flocking involves adding a fine layer of velvet-like fibers to the puzzle surface, creating a soft, furry texture that mimics the feel of animal fur. The pieces look fluffy, and the touch is gentle and soothing, making this technique especially suitable for puzzles featuring animals, clothing, or fabric patterns. When flocking is applied to the animal designs in a puzzle, an already adorable image can becomes even more vivid. It allows you to imagine the sensation of petting a real animal while assembling the puzzle—as if you were instantly transported from your home to a wide, beautiful farm—adding an extra layer of charm and relaxation to the relaxing puzzling experience.

Of course, the same animal-themed puzzle can also be made without flocking—using only basic printing to cut costs and play it safe. Customers might still purchase it for the cute design, but it inevitably loses that precious tactile experience. For puzzle enthusiasts who value stress relief and relaxation, the difference in touch is significant—and the absence of that soothing texture can feel like a major drawback.

In summary, the image is the outward appearance of a puzzle, the material serves as its backbone, and the craftsmanship is its very soul. Without any one of these elements, a puzzle can never truly become a favorite in the heart of an enthusiast.