Intro to LDraw System of Tools

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!