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Intro to LDraw System of Tools

Intro to LDraw System of Tools. Scott Wardlaw Member LSC. Briefing Overview. What is LDraw Building Digital Models Checking Part Movement Making Renderings Creating Instructions Purchasing Parts Help and Information. What is LDraw?. System of Computer Modeling Tools

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Intro to LDraw System of Tools

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  1. Intro to LDraw System of Tools Scott Wardlaw Member LSC

  2. Briefing Overview • What is LDraw • Building Digital Models • Checking Part Movement • Making Renderings • Creating Instructions • Purchasing Parts • Help and Information

  3. What is LDraw? • System of Computer Modeling Tools • Open Standard for LEGO CAD Programs • First parts released to public in 1995 • Official specifications encourage development • Popular released tools include: MLCAD BrickSmith LPub L3 / L3PAO Many, many others • Community of Developers • Dedicated volunteers work behind the scenes: Part Authors Program Developers Business Public Relations

  4. Creating Digital Models • Computer Aided Design (CAD) • MLCAD (Windows OS) / BrickSmith (Mac OS) 1 • Create all you want – no parts to purchase • (Almost) every part – at your finger-tips • Beyond real brick for fitment and orientation • Focus and visualize only what you want • Branch models without having to rebuild them • Rendering • Your models in life-like appearance • Visualize new colors before purchase

  5. CAD Software - MLCAD / BrickSmith • MLCAD (Windows OS) • Create steps for instructions • Minifig generator • Spring generator • Flexible belt generator • Flexible hose generator • Mosaic generator • Etc. etc. • BrickSmith (Mac OS) • Basic MLCAD features • Create steps for instructions • Minifig generator • Functional Undo Button

  6. CAD Add-On Tools (for Modelers) • Bitmap2Ldraw / Sticker Generator • Create an LDraw sticker part from a bitmap image • Txt2Dat • Create an LDraw sticker part from text words • Color Manager • Work only with the parts of the chosen color • LEGO Road Macro • Create new LDraw road plates • Lemon • Create list of parts in a model that aren’t in another • Peeron_to_MLCAD • Helps in recreating official sets in LDraw

  7. Testing Movement in LDraw • SR3D Builder • Similar to MLCAD w/ specific features • Part connection detection • Selected connected parts move together • Life-like movement of axles, hinges, gears, etc. • Mirror building feature • LD4 Studio • Designed for Creating Movies from LDraw Models • Animation playback and manual control • Add lights and multiple camera angles • Powerful customizable POV-Ray export • Export to LDraw file after movement • Real-time motion / camera editing

  8. Rendering Your Model • L3P / L3PAO • Create POV-Ray code from LDraw models • Fine tune settings such as: • Camera angle • Light source(s) • Floor and background • Quality of render • POV-Ray • Persistence of Vision – Ray tracer • Free high quality rendering tool • LGEO • Add-on library to POV-Ray for better part rendering

  9. Rendering Details • Adding Stickers • Stickers add a surprising amount of realism • Curve / Bend / Rotate • The real world isn’t flat and square – good scenes aren’t either! • Light Sources • Add lights where they would be in real life • Floor and Background • Can be a specific color or image of your choice • For Advanced Setup / Techniques: • See Tutorial on Brickshelf by user Koyan

  10. Creating Instructions • LPub (LDraw Publisher) • Create instructions from predefined steps • Exportable to PDF file • Build Steps • Placed in the model by MLCAD / BrickSmith • Define which parts are added at each step • Rotation Steps • Placed in the model by MLCAD / BrickSmith • Define a new orientation of the model • Sub Models • For building multiple copies of sections of a model

  11. BrickLink Marketplace and Stores • BrickLink Collection of Stores • Over three thousand stores selling LEGO pieces! • Currently ~90 million pieces available for sale! • Over 2.6 million different piece types / colors! • Picture / reference catalog of nearly every part, set, and minifig that LEGO has ever made • Extensive part / set search features • Keep wanted list of parts / sets / figs • Keep favorite list of sellers • Keep sellers honest with feedback system • Get notified when a rare part is available for sale • Buying and selling has never been so easy!

  12. BrickStore – Inventory Software • For Buyers / Model Builders • Imports LDraw Models to BrickLink format • Gives pricing range information • Helps determine availability of pieces • Test price / availability of different colors • Printable parts list • Upload to BrickLink wanted list • For Sellers / Keeping Inventory • Part out sets for selling pieces • Set prices based on market averages • Upload to Bricklink store inventory

  13. Getting Started with LDraw • Ready to Start / What to Do • Download LDraw ‘Get Started’ bundle of software • Follow the online instructions – Advanced setup • Install all of the add-ons – you may use them later • Now start building models with MLCAD / BrickSmith • Get latest versions of the programs you use • Ready for More Parts • Download unofficial parts from LDraw PartsTracker • Get involved and create the LDraw part you need • Get BrickLink Account • Sorry, must be at least 18 (or a parent) • Recommend a PayPal account for easy payment

  14. Getting Help • Look for Tutorials • Holly-Wood.it has great MLCAD tutorials • LDraw.org has extensive documentation • MLCAD / BrickSmith websites • Ask Questions • Search LUGNET.com for answers • Send an email to LDraw or software author

  15. Discussion and Questions • Discussion / Questions • Now Go Create Something Really BIG!

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