Ebook: Building with virtual LEGO: getting started with LEGO Digital Designer, LDraw, and Mecabricks

Virtually build any LEGO creation you can imagine--with any LEGO part ever made! This fun guide shows how to create just about anything from virtual LEGO blocks using free software. Learn how to install and customize LEGO Digital Designer, navigate the user interface, and get started on your own projects. LDrawTM and Mecabricks are also clearly explained. Building with Virtual LEGO: Getting Started with LEGO Digital Designer, LDrawTM, and Mecabricks features DIY projects that illustrate each technique and software tool. You will see how to upload and share your creations online--even modify projects that others have built! Find out how to: Download, set up, and configure LEGO Digital Designer Navigate the LDD user interface, menus, and tools Identify the different Lego parts and explore brick palettes Quickly and easily start creating your own LEGO models Access the huge library of out-of-print LEGO bricks in LDrawTM, including those designed by hobbyists Get up and running on Mecabricks and launch creative projects online Write clear instructions and share them with other virtual LEGO enthusiasts Create custom bricks and participate in the LDrawTM parts design process;Cover -- Title Page -- Copyrights Page -- About the Author -- Contents at a Glance -- Contents -- Acknowledgments -- 1 Building with Virtual LEGO -- What's Virtual Building All About? -- Is Virtual Building for You? -- Overview of Virtual Building Options -- Summary -- 2 Gallery of Cool LDD Models -- Keytar -- Great Temple of Odan -- A Gentleman's Tank -- Death Angel Mecha -- Chocolate Milk Maker -- A15 Comet -- Alien vs. Predator Diorama -- Pentagon -- Ford Pinto -- Robot Chassis -- Pumpkin Factory -- Antarxa -- Summary -- 3 Choosing Between Software Options -- General Editor Limitations -- System Requirements -- Ease of Installation -- Brick Palettes -- Maximum Build Size -- Community -- Summary -- 4 Installation and Overview of LDD and LDraw -- Downloading LEGO Digital Designer -- Downloading LDraw -- Legacy LDraw Software -- Summary -- 5 Brick Palettes -- LEGO Digital Designer (LDD) -- Mecabricks -- LDraw -- Summary -- 6 Building with LEGO Digital Designer -- Exploring the Application -- Menus -- Checking Out the Workspace -- Building Basics -- Advanced Building Techniques -- Summary -- 7 Building with LDraw -- LDraw Editor General Features -- Building with Bricksmith -- Building with LDCad -- Summary -- 8 Building with Mecabricks -- Navigating Mecabricks -- Building in Mecabricks -- Interacting with Other Platforms -- Summary -- 9 Building Instructions -- Creating Instructions in LDD -- LPub: Building Instructions for LDraw -- Manually Generating Instructions -- Summary -- 10 Community -- Websites -- Software -- Creating New Parts for LDraw -- 3D Printing Parts -- Summary -- Index -- A -- B -- C -- D -- E -- F -- G -- H -- I -- K -- L -- M -- N -- P -- R -- S -- T -- V -- W.