Macintosh-Compatible LDraw Software: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 14:36, 23 July 2008

This is an inventory of Macintosh compatible LDraw software. Everyone is encouraged to contribute updates, clarifications, and corrections to this page. The objective is to compile and maintain a definitive list of the tools Mac users have at their disposal to work with the LDraw system.

Editors

These programs can be used to create LDraw models.

Bricksmith: Arguably the premier Macintosh LDraw editor. Features a minifig editor, a flexible part browser, and more.
ldglite: Keyboard oriented editor with numerous options. Faithful to the original LDraw and LEdit interface.
LEGO Digital Designer: Limited translation between LDraw and LDD format is possible.
BrickDraw3D: Features drag-and-drop part insertion and movement.

This editor no longer seems to be available:

Mac Brick CAD: Multiple versions of this editor are available. [1]

Viewers

These programs are primarily intended to view existing LDraw models.

LDView: Robust viewer with fly-through mode, automatic part downloading, and numerous rendering options.
L3Lab: Viewer with many useful options including an "exploded" view.
LCX: Experimental viewer with BFC tools and a rudimentary text-based editor.

Instructions

Create step-by-step instructions to show others how to build your models.

LPub: Page layout program to create building instructions for LDraw models.

Utilities

Some of these utilities are command line programs that may require familiarity with the Terminal to employ.

LSculpt: Generate "studs-out" LDraw surfaces from arbitrary 3D models.
LSynth and LSynth Service: Synthesize flexible elements like hoses and chains. [2]
L3P and L3P Launcher: Convert LDraw files to POV-Ray format for high-quality rendering. LGEO parts can be substituted. [3]
PreL3P: Convert newer color codes to a format understood by L3P.
txt2dat: Generate textual LDraw stickers.
Isecalc: Compute part intersections.
Linetrim: Clip lines against surfaces.
Planarcheck: Test quadrilateral coplanarity.
Coverer: Generate a sheet of triangles and quads between lines.
Ytruder: Another way to generate a sheet of triangles and quads.
TextWrangler LDraw Kit and ldlocate: Improve TextWrangler's ability to edit LDraw files.
LDraw-mode for Emacs: Adds functionality for working with LDraw files to the Emacs editor. [4]
img2sticker: Convert images to optimized LDraw stickers. [5]
LDMerge: Merge and un-merge separate LDraw part libraries.
Part Search Services: Look up selected part information in popular databases.
l2rib: Convert LDraw models to RenderMan format.
LDTrim: Reformat LDraw code for clarity and consistency.

Web

Although not strictly Macintosh oriented, web based LDraw tools are accessible to Mac users.

@@ Line 38: / Line 38: @@
 * [http://www.br-eng.info/my-lego-roscomenu-29/my-ldraw-roscomenu-45/17-my-ldraw/50-txt2dat '''txt2dat''']: Generate textual LDraw stickers.
 * [http://www.philohome.com/isecalc/isecalc0.htm '''Isecalc''']: Compute part intersections.
 * [http://www.philohome.com/isecalc/linetrim.htm '''Linetrim''']: Clip lines against surfaces.
+* [http://www.philohome.com/isecalc/planarcheck.htm '''Planarcheck''']: Test quadrilateral coplanarity.
+* [http://www.philohome.com/isecalc/coverer.htm '''Coverer''']: Generate a sheet of triangles and quads between lines.
+* [http://www.philohome.com/isecalc/ytruder.htm '''Ytruder''']: Another way to generate a sheet of triangles and quads.
 * [http://anoved.net/tw_ldraw_kit.html '''TextWrangler LDraw Kit'''] and [http://anoved.net/tw_ldraw_kit.html#ldlocate '''ldlocate''']: Improve TextWrangler's ability to edit LDraw files.
 * [http://folk.uio.no/fredrigl/technic/ldraw-mode/ '''LDraw-mode for Emacs''']: Adds functionality for working with LDraw files to the Emacs editor. [http://folk.uio.no/fredrigl/technic/ldraw-mode/install-linux.html]