Tutorials on Other Servers

Welcome to the LDraw.org tutorials section. Here you can learn techniques to enhance your proficiency with various programs of the LDraw System Of Tools. Easy to follow step by step instructions teach you everything from using software programs to creating stunning renderings.

The tutorial section is constructed in a unique way to allow for easy expansion and addition of topics. We always have someone working on a new tutorial for LDraw.org. Courses are divided up into the following categories:

{anchor anchor="modeling" text="Modeling"}
{anchor anchor="rendering" text="Rendering"}
{anchor anchor="building_instuctions" text="Building Instuctions"}
{anchor anchor="parts_authoring" text="Parts Authoring"}

Within those categories there are levels - beginner, intermediate, and advanced. For more information on contributing to the tutorials section at LDraw.org, see the {anchor anchor="help out_write_tutorials_for_ldraw_org" text="bottom of the page"}.

Learn the essentials of putting your LEGO models into the LDraw format using a variety of LDraw-based editing programs.

Beginner Modeling

<a class="external" href="http://www.holly-wood.it/ldraw/aioi1-en.html" target="_blank">LDraw All-In-One-Installer tutorial</a>

Use the LDraw All-In-One-Installer, in short AIOI, if you want a quick and easy way to install the LDraw Parts Library and many of the popular 3rd party tools as well. In this tutorial written by Willy Tschager you'll get an overview on the differnent screens shown by the AIOI as well as some background information.

<a href="omr_compliance">Preparing a MPD file for Official Model Repository compliance</a>

Preparing a model to follow the Official Model Repository specifications can be a daunting task, as there are many little details to take care of. Philippe "Philo"Hurbain guides you through the process.

<a class="external" href="http://www.holly-wood.it/mlcad/install1-en.html" target="_blank">Manual installation advice for the LDraw Parts Library and MLCad</a>

This tutorial by Willy Tschager will teach you how to set up manually a simple LDraw system with the MLCad editor and the LDraw Parts Library.

<a class="external" href="http://www.holly-wood.it/mlcad/basic1-en.html" target="_blank">Digital building with MLCad</a>

This tutorial will teach you the basics to build digital models in MLCad. Furthermore it will show you tips and tricks and help with troubleshooting problems you might encounter.

<a class="external" href="http://www.holly-wood.it/mlcad/language-en.html" target="_blank">Changing MLCad's language interface</a>

Tutorial on how to change the default language MLCad displays by Willy Tschager.

<a class="external" href="http://www.holly-wood.it/mlcad/mlcad_ini-en.html" target="_blank">MLCad.ini file for the Minifig Generator</a>

The MLCad.ini file tells the program - among other things - which parts are available in MLCad's and Bricksmith's minifigure generator.

Intermediate Modeling

<a class="external" href="http://www.holly-wood.it/mlcad/easyrotation-en.html" target="_blank">How to easily rotate a group of parts in MLCad</a>

Willy Tschager shows you an alternative, more visual approach to rotate a group of parts around a common self-defined rotation point using a helper part created for the purpose.

<a class="external" href="http://www.holly-wood.it/lsynth/tutorial-en.html" target="_blank">Using LSynth via MLCad</a>

Tutorial on how setup and run LSynth through MLCad's interface by Willy Tschager.

Advanced Modeling

<a class="external" href="http://www.holly-wood.it/mlcad/advanced1-en.html" target="_blank">Advanced digital building with MLCad</a>

Everything you always wanted to know about Buffer-Exchange and MPD - Multipart Documents (but were afraid to ask). In this tutorial Willy Tschager teachs you advanced techniques to build digital models in MLCad. Furthermore he will show you tips and tricks and help with troubleshooting problems you might encounter. The tutorial is based on MLCad 3.4.

<a class="external" href="http://www.holly-wood.it/mlcad/unofficial1-en.html" target="_blank">Adding unofficial LDraw parts to MLCad</a>

This tutorial will teach you how to add not yet certified LDraw parts to MLCad's parts library. It also covers other programs of the LDraw System of Tools and how they deal with unofficial parts. The tutorial is based on MLCad 3.4.

<a href="http://wiki.ldraw.org/index.php?title=Scaling_Down">How to build a Formula 1 race car with virtual bricks</a>

Luca Rusconi teaches you how to scale down a Formula 1 race car using official information about the chassis dimensions, the shape and geometry of the suspensions, the engine configuration, etc.

Orient yourself with the many complexities of creating high quality rendered models and scenes of your LDraw creations.

Intermediate Rendering

<a class="external" href="http://www.holly-wood.it/ldview-en.html" target="_blank">Quick rendering a model with LDView using a batch file</a>

A tutorial on how to make a batch file to quick render a model in LDview by Willy Tschager.

Advanced Rendering

<a href="article/440.html">Building an army</a>

Philip Heinrich teaches you how to create a winner for LDraw's Scene of the Month contest.

Learning how to make building instructions so others can have fun with your models.

Beginner Building Instuctions

<a class="external" href="http://www.holly-wood.it/ldraw/helper-en.html" target="_blank">Helper files for building instruction images</a>

Ever wonder how to add "arrows", "dotted lines" and numbers to your building instructions? Obtain the tools from Willy Tschager's web site to build like the pros.

<a class="external" href="https://sites.google.com/site/workingwithlpub/" target="_blank">Working with LPub</a>

A tutorial by Jaco van der Molen explaining how to work with LPub to make instructions

<a class="external" href="http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=83642" target="_blank">Creating Building Instructions using LPub</a>

A step-by-step guide to creating your own instructions using LPub. It includes a short guide which walks through the basics of producing a set of instructions, as well as a full guide with more details on the main steps and features of LPub.

Learn how to create your own LDraw parts and how to submit them to the Parts Tracker for inclusion in our official updates.

Beginner Parts Authoring

<a class="external" href="http://www.holly-wood.it/ldraw/authoring-en.html" target="_blank">Bits and Pieces</a>

Here's a crash course by Willy Tschager in LDraw part authoring. Learn that you don't have to be a math guru or hack your way through a jungle of ones or zeros.

<a class="external" href="http://www.l3go.bugge.com/articles/Reviewing-parts-tutorial.shtml" target="_blank">Reviewing parts for LDraw</a>

Niels Bugge dives into the nuts'n'bolts of part reviewing and gives clues to ease the work of the reviewers.

<a href="http://wiki.ldraw.org/index.php?title=Avoiding_T-Junctions">Avoiding T-junctions in LDraw parts</a>

Travis Cobbs explains what T-Junctions in LDraw parts are and how you can avoid them.

Intermediate Parts Authoring

<a class="external" href="http://philohome.com/isecalc/edger.htm" target="_blank">Edger tutorial</a>

Tutorial describing the use of Lee Gaiteri's Edger, an optional lines calculator (tutorial written by J.C. Tchang)

We're looking for more good tutorials for the site to help out our new users and users who want to learn more. If you enjoy using the LDraw System Of Tools, this would be a great way to give back to the community! Tutorials only take an evening or two to write, so you're not killing yourself with a time commitment. The other cool thing is, no web skills are needed to write. Write your tutorial in plain text format, spacing out paragraphs, and zip up any images you create when you send it in. If this sounds like something you would like to do, drop the webmasters a line and let them know. Thanks!