Etch (Mind Loft)

About Etch (Mind Loft)

Etch is Mind Loft's picture puzzle. Each row and column has a list of numbers saying how many squares are filled in a run, in order, and the job is to work out which squares those are. Get every line right and a small picture appears.

Every board has exactly one solution and can be solved by pure line logic, so there is never a point where you have to guess. You can drag to fill a run, mark squares you have ruled out with an x, and watch each clue cross itself off when its line is satisfied. On a touchscreen nothing is placed until you lift your finger, and Undo (or Ctrl+Z) takes back your last stroke. Marking is free, but filling a square that is not part of the picture turns it red and counts as an error.

A clean solve with no errors scores a perfect 10 and every two errors cost a point; ties break on fewest errors, then time. Puzzles are 10x10 Monday to Friday, 15x15 on Saturday and 20x20 on Sunday. A new picture arrives at midnight Eastern each day.

How to play Etch (Mind Loft)

1. Open Etch and press Start.
2. Read the numbers beside each row and above each column; each is a run of filled squares, in order.
3. Fill the squares the clues force, dragging to fill a run, and mark ruled-out squares with an x.
4. Finish every line to reveal the picture; avoid filling squares that are not part of it.

Tips

• Start with the biggest clues: in a 10-wide row, a run of 8 must cover the middle six squares.
• Mark empties with x as soon as a line is complete; they are free and help the crossing lines.
• Lines with a 0 or a full-width run settle themselves immediately.

Questions