A high-level introduction to the community-developed LDraw system of 3D LEGO software, the de facto library and file format for LEGO hobbyists to document and share their models via the Internet and highly-polished imagery and custom building instructions.

1. Virtual LEGO: Intro to Free 3D LEGO Modeling Software By: Tim Courtney BrickFest™ PDX 2004 February 14, 10:00 AM Portland, Oregon

4. Brief History 1995 2000 2005 1996: James Jessiman creates original LDraw/LEdit package 1997: James Jessiman dies Community of users assume maintenance and development roles LDraw tools gain popularity among LEGO fans… 1999: LDraw.org Launched 2001: CAD Summit at LEGO Direct 2002-3: First books on LDraw tools written 2003: LDraw.org Standards Committee launched 2004: Organization Bylaws

6. Introductions – who are you?

10. The System of Tools

16. System of Tools: Usage Model Build Model in MLCad Saved LDraw Model Convert to 3D File Format Batch Process Building Instructions (LPub) Archive or Share Your Model Raw Building Instruction Images Building Instructions (laid-out pages) POV-Ray L3P 3DWin Rendered Image POV-Ray L3P Animation Image Maya, 3DS, AutoCAD, etc… Editor MLCad File Format Converter L3P 3DWin Viewer/Renderer LDView LDLite Output? Images or Animations Renderer POV-Ray/MegaPOV 3DStudio Batch Processor LPub Output Images or Animations

18. Hierarchy Illustrated 0 Three Brick Stack 0 Name: 3 bricks.ldr 1 4 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 3001.dat 1 1 40 0 40 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 3001.dat 1 14 20 -24 20 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 3001.dat 0 Brick 2 x 4 0 Name: 3001.dat 0 BFC INVERTNEXT 1 16 0 24 0 36 0 0 0 -20 0 0 0 16 box5.dat 1 16 0 24 0 40 0 0 0 -24 0 0 0 20 box5.dat 0 STUDS 1 16 30 0 10 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 stud.dat 1 16 10 0 10 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 stud.dat 1 16 -10 0 10 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 stud.dat 1 16 -30 0 10 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 stud.dat 1 16 30 0 -10 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 stud.dat 1 16 10 0 -10 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 stud.dat 1 16 -10 0 -10 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 stud.dat 1 16 -30 0 -10 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 stud.dat 0 TUBES 1 16 20 4 0 1 0 0 0 -5 0 0 0 1 stud4.dat 1 16 0 4 0 1 0 0 0 -5 0 0 0 1 stud4.dat 1 16 -20 4 0 1 0 0 0 -5 0 0 0 1 stud4.dat 4 16 40 24 20 36 24 16 -36… 4 16 -40 24 20 -36 24… 4 16 -40 24 -20 -3 … 4 16 40 24 -20 … 0 Stud 0 Name: stud.dat 1 16 0 -4 0 6 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 6 4-4disc.dat 1 16 0 0 0 6 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 6 4-4edge.dat 1 16 0 -4 0 6 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 6 4-4edge.dat 1 16 0 0 0 6 0 0 0 -4 0 0 0 6 4-4cyli.dat 0 Disc 1.0 0 Name: 4-4disc.dat 3 16 0 0 0 1 0 0 0.9239 0 0.3827 3 16 0 0 0 0.9239 0 0.3827 0.7071 0 0.7071 3 16 0 0 0 0.7071 0 0.7071 0.3827 0 0.9239 3 16 0 0 0 0.3827 0 0.9239 0 0 1 3 16 0 0 0 0 0 1 -0.3827 0 0.9239 3 16 0 0 0 -0.3827 0 0.9239 -0.7071 0 0.7071 3 16 0 0 0 -0.7071 0 0.7071 -0.9239 0 0.3827 3 16 0 0 0 -0.9239 0 0.3827 -1 0 -0 3 16 0 0 0 -1 0 -0 -0.9239 0 -0.3827 3 16 0 0 0 -0.9239 0 -0.3827 -0.7071 0 -0.7071 3 16 0 0 0 -0.7071 0 -0.7071 -0.3827 0 -0.9239 3 16 0 0 0 -0.3827 0 -0.9239 0 0 -1 3 16 0 0 0 0 0 -1 0.3827 0 -0.9239 3 16 0 0 0 0.3827 0 -0.9239 0.7071 0 -0.7071 3 16 0 0 0 0.7071 0 -0.7071 0.9239 0 -0.3827 3 16 0 0 0 0.9239 0 -0.3827 1 0 0

22. MegaPOV 1.0

23. MegaPOV 1.0

24. LPub (and Photoshop for the layouts)

28. Questions?