Transcript Ideas For Your Future

Intro to LDraw System of Tools
Scott Wardlaw
Member LSC
June 18, 2010
Briefing Overview
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What is LDraw
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Building Digital Models
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Checking Part Movement
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Making Renderings
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Creating Instructions
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Purchasing Parts
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Help and Information
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What is LDraw?
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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
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Community of Developers
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Dedicated volunteers work behind the scenes:
Part Authors
Program Developers
Business
Public Relations
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Creating Digital Models
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Computer Aided Design (CAD)
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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
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Your models in life-like appearance
Visualize new colors before purchase
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CAD Software - MLCAD / BrickSmith
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MLCAD (Windows OS)
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Create steps for instructions
Minifig generator
Spring generator
Flexible belt generator
Flexible hose generator
Mosaic generator
Etc. etc.
BrickSmith (Mac OS)
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Basic MLCAD features
Create steps for instructions
Minifig generator
Functional Undo Button
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CAD Add-On Tools (for Modelers)
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Bitmap2Ldraw / Sticker Generator
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Txt2Dat
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Create new LDraw road plates
Lemon
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Work only with the parts of the chosen color
LEGO Road Macro
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Create an LDraw sticker part from text words
Color Manager
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Create an LDraw sticker part from a bitmap image
Create list of parts in a model that aren’t in another
Peeron_to_MLCAD
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Helps in recreating official sets in LDraw
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Testing Movement in LDraw
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SR3D Builder
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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
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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
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Rendering Your Model
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L3P / L3PAO
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Create POV-Ray code from LDraw models
Fine tune settings such as:
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POV-Ray
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Camera angle
Light source(s)
Floor and background
Quality of render
Persistence of Vision – Ray tracer
Free high quality rendering tool
LGEO
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Add-on library to POV-Ray for better part rendering
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Rendering Details
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Adding Stickers
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Curve / Bend / Rotate
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Add lights where they would be in real life
Floor and Background
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The real world isn’t flat and square – good
scenes aren’t either!
Light Sources
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Stickers add a surprising amount of realism
Can be a specific color or image of your choice
For Advanced Setup / Techniques:
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See Tutorial on Brickshelf by user Koyan
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Creating Instructions
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LPub (LDraw Publisher)
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Create instructions from predefined steps
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Exportable to PDF file
Build Steps
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Placed in the model by MLCAD / BrickSmith
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Define which parts are added at each step
Rotation Steps
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Placed in the model by MLCAD / BrickSmith
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Define a new orientation of the model
Sub Models
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For building multiple copies of sections of a model
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BrickLink Marketplace and Stores
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BrickLink Collection of Stores
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Over three thousand stores selling LEGO pieces!
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Currently ~90 million pieces available for sale!
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Over 2.6 million different piece types / colors!
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Picture / reference catalog of nearly every part,
set, and minifig that LEGO has ever made
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Extensive part / set search features
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Keep wanted list of parts / sets / figs
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Keep favorite list of sellers
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Keep sellers honest with feedback system
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Get notified when a rare part is available for sale
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Buying and selling has never been so easy!
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BrickStore – Inventory Software
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For Buyers / Model Builders
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Imports LDraw Models to BrickLink format
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Gives pricing range information
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Helps determine availability of pieces
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Test price / availability of different colors
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Printable parts list
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Upload to BrickLink wanted list
For Sellers / Keeping Inventory
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Part out sets for selling pieces
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Set prices based on market averages
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Upload to Bricklink store inventory
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Getting Started with LDraw
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Ready to Start / What to Do
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Ready for More Parts
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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
Download unofficial parts from LDraw PartsTracker
Get involved and create the LDraw part you need
Get BrickLink Account
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Sorry, must be at least 18 (or a parent)
Recommend a PayPal account for easy payment
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Getting Help
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Look for Tutorials
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Holly-Wood.it has great MLCAD tutorials
LDraw.org has extensive documentation
MLCAD / BrickSmith websites
Ask Questions
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Search LUGNET.com for answers
Send an email to LDraw or software author
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Discussion and Questions
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Discussion / Questions
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Now Go Create Something Really BIG!
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