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The billboard puzzle. [Ended, solution posted]

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stlpaul

Nordhbane's puzzle gave me an idea for a quick puzzle of my own. Similar but different. The giveaway ends on Monday the 18th of April. Good luck.:)

edit: I messed up and it was easier than it was supposed to be for the first few people who saw it. Image has been updated to be the correct version with the puzzle as originally indended. :P

SOLUTION: The giveaway code is on the billboard. The billboard is white (RGB values 255,255,255) and so is the giveaway code. Using the magic wand etc. shouldn't help in this case because there is no difference in the color. The trick is the fact that it's an indexed color image (each pixel is mapped to one of 256 defined values). In fact, the giveaway code is written using different color index values than the background of the billboard (index 255), despite the fact that the colors of the text and the billboard are all defined the same. So changing either of those values in the color index would reveal the code. See the second image below where I've changed color 255 to red.

View attached image.
View attached image.
8 years ago*

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29 Comments
stlpaul

Hint 1: Sometimes things look the same but are not the same.
Hint 2: Something is there, you can tell by the pixels.
Hint 3: Identical twins may look exactly alike but they have different names.
Hint 4: http://i.imgur.com/s3qv5JA.png
Hint 5: You'll need image manipulation software like Photoshop or The Gimp to solve this one.
Hint 6: The giveaway code is in the image itself, not hidden in metadata or steganographically hidden
Hint 7: Colors
Hint 8: 255
Hint 9: Notice that the file is a GIF and GIFs use indexed color mode
Hint 10: The giveaway is CMYK CMYW but the solution is RGB

8 years ago*
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stlpaul

Hints explained:

  1. The pixels were all white, but different index values
  2. Another clue to look at differences in pixels
  3. Another reference to the fact that different items in the index have the same color
  4. The game shown is Mappy, a hint to look at the color map
  5. This wouldn't be solved by looking at the file with a hex editor (unless you know how to parse GIF in your head)
  6. To focus people's attention away from decoys
  7. A hint to look at the color map
  8. Index value 255 was the billboard. Changing this would reveal the code.
  9. A more direct hint to look at the color palette
  10. A hint of the given away game and again to look at color values
8 years ago
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Adelion

Well, have a bump for now. The amount of clue I have for this one is as much as for Nordhbane's.

8 years ago
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stlpaul

I'll give some hints after a while if nobody gets it :)

8 years ago
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Adelion

There are at least some good cryptographers and decoders on this site so there will be solvers. For sure.

8 years ago
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Adelion

Have another bump. Seems like you are still missing an entry.

8 years ago
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Adelion

Hm, your new hint is actually irritating me more than giving me any idea. I think I found the twins but is that route going anywhere? Strangely it also gave me two "names" but they didn't help much either. So maybe there was some coincidence or I am missing some important step. Well, have another bump. Weekend is coming. Maybe people have more time to look at the puzzle now.

8 years ago
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danielrak

bump, will try to solve later

8 years ago
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MrFancyRat

Bump 4 solved

8 years ago
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gbmsilva

man... i using all kind of filters and nothing... can you enlighten me if i'm in the right track?

8 years ago*
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Nordhbane

Solved for bump. :) That was easy.

8 years ago
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FallenKal

Bump for solved.

8 years ago
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escollo

Bump for solved.

8 years ago
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stlpaul

Bump for any more solvers? Need more hints?

8 years ago
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stlpaul

hints added

8 years ago
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mrt39

No clue for now. Will get back later.

8 years ago
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MrFancyRat

Bump?

8 years ago
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chour

Littlebump.

8 years ago
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stlpaul

Bump for more hints added. Only 4 entries so far in the giveaway. 2 days remaining. Good luck :)

8 years ago
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stlpaul

Bump for 45 minutes to go in the GA. Big hint added. Talk to me if you're still struggling :)

8 years ago
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jeffhowe

DO you still need more entries? I just saw this.... OMG I only have 45 min?!

8 years ago
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stlpaul

Only 3 entries on the giveaway so far, so your odds will be good if you find the GA code :)

8 years ago
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jeffhowe

eeks, wont make it, kindda clueless even with so many hints

8 years ago
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stlpaul

I will post the solution after the GA ends :)

8 years ago
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Fruitbean

I'll admit im not any good at puzzles, just saw this as jeff & same reaction haha..!
Have a bump for now atleast paul = )

8 years ago
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metaleroed

aww man! I never saw this before and now it's too late! 22 mins to end and haven't even seen the jigsaw link..
that deff tops the special WL gas you've made and I lost, without dignity? idk about that... no sir..

edit: jigsaw? it's a puzzle, not a jigsaw.. think I may need help.. maybe :P

8 years ago
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stlpaul

No jigsaw required, there is just a regular Steamgifts giveaway link hidden in the image. :)

8 years ago
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metaleroed

yeah thanks, I know there wasn't a jigsaw :P Just saw the solution posted, pretty cool huh?
Nordhbane had discrepancies with the rgb codes and HEX, weird as I'm used to rgb pickers (I'm in the media editing business)
and knew about online ones tho I use local portable ones.. Anyways, I'm glad there's new ways to make puzzles/riddles and make it
more interesting, tho unfortunately I didn't get here in time. Blame the lack of bumps! damn the lack of bumps! XD XD

8 years ago
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stlpaul

solution posted :)

8 years ago
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Closed 8 years ago by stlpaul.