Levels mode: turn 4 photos into a progressive paint-by-number challenge

Besides creating a single picture, Color Memories has a levels mode: a 4-photo challenge with increasing difficulty, designed for anyone who wants something longer than a single picture, or for doing it as a family, trying each level in turns.

How does it work?

Why is the assignment random?

Not choosing which photo goes on which level is part of the fun: you don't know if your seemingly "hardest" photo will land on Easy or on Expert, so each level is a surprise until you generate it. If you want to control the difficulty for a specific photo, you can always create a standalone picture outside levels mode and choose the level yourself.

Ideas to get the most out of it

• As a family: four photos, one for each family member, and everyone takes charge of "theirs" as it unlocks.
• A weekend of memories: four different moments from the same trip or era, to relive them one by one.
• Real progression: since the assignment is random and the difficulty rises, you end up practicing on easier levels before reaching Expert (~100 colors, 1,300+ zones), instead of jumping straight into the hardest one.

Levels relay mode: the two-player challenge

If the "as a family" idea appeals to you, there's a variant built exactly for that: the relay challenge, for two players. One paints Level 1 and, once it's complete, Level 2 unlocks for the other — and so on up to Level 4. You don't need to be online at the same time: it's perfect for "I'll do mine tonight, you do yours tomorrow." You play it from the same "Two players" button on Home, with a code to invite the other person.

Which photos should I pick for the 4?

The same rules as for any picture: a clear subject and good light give better results at any level. More detail in which photos work best for paint by number.

With one extra nuance because of the random assignment: since you don't know which photo will land on Expert, it's worth making sure all four hold up well to high detail. Don't include "a weak one" thinking it'll land on Easy — Murphy's law says it'll land on Expert. Four photos with a clear subject and good light guarantee the challenge looks complete no matter where each one lands.

Why the locked progression works so well

The lock between levels isn't a whim — it changes the psychology of the challenge. With all four pictures available at once, the natural thing is to pick at them — start whichever one appeals most, leave it half-done, jump to another — and end up with four pictures at 30%. With locked progression, each level becomes the goal, finishing it has a double reward (the picture and the next unlock), and the rising difficulty acts as a learning curve: by the time you reach Expert you've already got three pictures' worth of practice behind you, and the 1,300 zones feel a lot less daunting. It's the same mechanic that hooks people in any good video game, applied to a calm hobby.

Frequently asked questions about levels mode

Can I change a photo after starting the challenge? No: the four photos are locked in when you create the challenge (it's part of the surprise of the random assignment). If you change your mind, you can start a new challenge with four different photos.

Do I lose my progress if I switch devices? The challenge's state (completed levels, locks) follows you if you use your account; half-finished levels resume where you left them on the same device.

How long does it take to finish a whole challenge? Adding up all four levels, between 6 and 10 hours of painting depending on your pace — spread across as many sessions as you like. It's deliberately a "seasonal" project, not a one-afternoon thing: there's a per-level estimate in the difficulty guide.

Does the final timelapse also work per level? Yes: each completed level has its own timelapse and its own celebration, just like any picture.