[Troy] You open the mask...
[Rainie] ok
[Troy] Add a layer (of the photo you are using)
[Troy] get the magic wand... select the area you
want in the puzzle (the piece)
[Troy] while that selection is still highlighted
[Troy] select the photo
[Troy] copy it, paste into (which creates a new layer
with just that puzzle piece
[Troy] and when you are done, crop each piece with
one click and save each piece..
[Troy] I'm thinking that you could even use a MACRO
to record the majority of the steps and not much
to do :)
[Rainie] k... sounds easy enough
[Troy] clean and crisp pieces... oh and have the
backgorund set (initially to transparent..)

Using Troy's suggestion... shown here using Paint Shop Pro
This is the process I use now.

Open the mask and the picture you want to use.

 

Use the magic wand and click on the first piece on the mask/puzzle.

 

Select to COPY your picture.

 

Paste your picture as a New Layer onto the mask/puzzle.

 

You will see that the puzzle piece is showing on the mask/puzzle.

 

Select COPY

 

 

You've made your first piece of the puzzle!

 

Undo your PASTE LAYER.

 

Use the MAGIC WAND to select the next piece on the mask/puzzle.

Continue the directions until all the pieces of the puzzle are done.