Calabar

Hi fmaas and welcome. Your question is off topic here, anyway it seems the pdf has been removed from LEGO site. Look at here for reference. Perhaps it will appear again in the future, let's wait for it.

@Brickdoctor A pair of questions: - is "Preview" the image editing software provided with MacOS by default? - does it correctly managed transparencies? - about resizing, the procedure is the same I described for pixbuilder? (the point is the maximum value related to the longer side)

Very interesting software, but I think that it goes beyond the intent of this guide.

Software Guide ImageMagik [Win|MAC|Linux] [standalone] [OpenSource] Use ImageMagik to automatically batch crop and resize more images with a single click. Windows Prepare the ground - Download the zip (portable) version of ImageMagik for Windows from here. - Open the archive and extract these a single file: mogrify.exe (executable). - Create a new folder and put inside mogrify and a copy of all the images you want to batch crop and resize. Warning!: the images in the folder will be overwritten and replaced by processed images. Create the batch/command/bash file - Open up your favourite text editor and paste in the following command: mogrify -trim -fuzz 0 +repage -thumbnail 256x256 *.png pause This will create thumbnails no larger than 256x256 pixels with the blank borders trimmed. - Edit these dimensions according to the requirements (typical size are 512x512, 448x448, 384x384, ...). - Save this file in the same folder as the files you want to convert, with a filename like "resize_256.bat". Start the process - Double click on the .bat file and all the .png files inside the folder will be processed. A "Ready Pack" for Windows is available here. MAC Prepare the ground - Mac Version of ImageMagik is available through their repository (Click here for further informations) - Open the archive and extract these a single file: mogrify.exe (executable). - Create a new folder and put inside mogrify and a copy of all the images you want to batch crop and resize. Warning!: the images in the folder will be overwritten and replaced by processed images. Create the batch/command/bash file - Open up your favourite text editor and paste in the following command: mogrify -trim -fuzz 0 +repage -thumbnail 256x256 *.png This will create thumbnails no larger than 256x256 pixels with the blank borders trimmed. - Edit these dimensions according to the requirements (typical size are 512x512, 448x448, 384x384, ...). - Save this file in the same folder as the files you want to convert, with a filename like "resize_256.command". Start the process - Assign to the command file the proper permissions to allow it to run: Linux and OSX users may need to edit the file's permissions to allow it to run: right-click on it, click on "Show Info", then change the permissions under "Permissions" to show 755. - Execute the command file. Linux Prepare the ground - Linux Version of ImageMagik is available through their repository (Click here for further informations) - Open the archive and extract these a single file: mogrify.exe (executable). - Create a new folder and put inside mogrify and a copy of all the images you want to batch crop and resize. Warning!: the images in the folder will be overwritten and replaced by processed images. Create the batch/command/bash file - Open up your favourite text editor and paste in the following command: #!/bin/bash mogrify -trim -fuzz 0 +repage -thumbnail 256x256 *.png read This will create thumbnails no larger than 256x256 pixels with the blank borders trimmed. - Edit these dimensions according to the requirements (typical size are 512x512, 448x448, 384x384, ...). - Save this file in the same folder as the files you want to convert, with a filename like "resize_256.sh". Start the process - Assign to the bash file the proper permissions to allow it to run: set permissions to 775. - Execute the bash file. NOTE: at the moment the procedure has been tested on a Windows PC only.

Thanks for the hint, I'll add this software to the index.

What don't work on your computer, the sticker generator or the whole "all in one installer"? In the second case I think the problem is easily solvable.

The download link is correct, it seems the site of the author is down. Perhaps you can find the software in the LDRAW All in One Installar. Or perhaps you can try BMP2DAT, another software that should have the same function.

Here is a short guide created to help users to obtain screenshots with a decent quality with LDD. The guide consists in a list of suggestions, that the user can suit his/her needs. It is mostly thought to be used for thumbnails of the sets inserted in the Official LEGO Sets made in LDD topic. Set your display at the maximum resolution available [1] Use LDD in Full Screen Mode, hide all sidebars. Place the model properly. - Dispose elements inside the model so that it is not too "scattered". Try to avoid blank spaces inside the scene. - Choose the right angle so that all the model is well visible and not too "flat". - If the model is higher than large, you can rotate the model 90° to better fit a wide 3D display area. Fit the image to the 3D display area, using the Reset View (fit on screen) button, the round arrow at the centre on the bottom. From LDD options, set the maximum graphic quality available. Save the model and Restart LDD to make the changes effective. [2] Take the screenshot (CTRL+K or Command+K on MAC) while you are in "Building Mode". Choose the folder where to save the screenshot, so that you will be able to find it later. In older version of LDD, the screenshot was saved in your Images folder (Documents/Images for Windows users, User/Image for MAC users). [3] Open the image file with photoediting software (see below) Crop the image removing blank stripes Resize the image at the desired size Save the modified image, using PNG format and keeping transparency as Alpha Channel. Now you have your screenshot/thumbnail with a good quality! NOTEs [1] Sometimes it is possible to set a resolution greater than the maximum supported by your display. With Windows XP for example you can use "pan and scan virtual desktop". Else you can use "downscaling" (scale an hight resolution to the resolution supported by your display) if your video card allows that, but that's more complicated. [2] If your graphic settings are already at the maximum available quality, you can skip this step. If your computer is enough powerful to allow you to work with these settings, this step can be done first. [3] Starting from LDD 4.3.6 it is possible to choose a different folder as a default folder for screenshots. LDD and transparent colours The present version of LDD has a problem with transparent bricks, that results washed out. A trick to partially fix this issue consists in overlap the (with transparency) screenshot with itself: inside the photo editing software copy the whole image and past it few times (usually 3-4 times are enough to obtain a good result). (thanks to Zinfinion and Aanchir for the hint) For Windows Users As photo editing software, I suggest you to use PixBuilder Studio: it is extremely light, powerful and you can use it as a portable software (don't need any installation). Obviously you can use any other software you are more at ease with. - CROP image with pixbuilder: select the area you want to save, then from the Menu Bar on the top: Edit -> Crop Selection. - RESIZE image with pixbuilder: from the Menu Bar on the top: Edit -> Image Size. Select a proper value for the longer side and make sure that "Constrain Proportions" checkbox is marked. The default algorithm is the standard bicubic one and it is good for this, don't modify it. For example you can set 512 pixel for big sets or smaller values for smaller sets, if you are creating a thumbnail for the "Official LEGO Sets made in LDD" topic. For Mac Users As photo editing software, it is possible to use Preview, the default image and PDF viewing software provided with OS X. Obviously you can use any other software you are more at ease with. - CROP image with Preview: just click and drag to select, then go to Tools -> Crop (or Command+K). - RESIZE image with Preview: go to Tools -> Adjust Size. Select a proper value for the longer side and make sure that "Constrain Proportions" checkbox is marked. (Thanks to Brickdoctor for the hint)

@tikicult Thanks for the fast fix! It is not a problem if a set is a duplicate, but add the duplicate tag can help indexer and users browsing the topic, so I ask to report this information. About the search, you would have had better luck using set's number instead than set's name: different sources could report slightly different names. I usually refer to brickset, but other users often use different sources. PS: sometimes set's number could be wrong... it is better to use both!

Well done, DLuders. If your link is permanent, I could add it to the original topic.

@King of Nynrah Your entry here need the thumbnail to be considered regular. Please use transparent or white background. @tikicult Hi and welcome. Some little notices: - as you can see I highlighted set's data - Image is a bit oversized, you should stay inside a 512x512 pixel square (remember to crop the image before resizing). - Use CTRL+K to take the screenshot, so that you can obtain a transparent PNG image without the grill and the buttons of LDD. - Your set already appears in the index, so you should report it as a duplicate. - LDD provides a decoration for the letter. Take it from here (look for the decorations lxf file). If you didn't do that already, read the rules of the topic in the first post.

Try to contact the author of the post, and if you get no response, try with the users that wrote after him. I'm interested in the file too, if it is possible to recuperate it.

What is the OS? I've similar problems (but not with LDD) with a HD2500 and Win8 CP (beta drivers for intel cards are very immature yet). The problems happens every time you use LDD or under particular conditions? (for example after you resumed the PC from an hibernation). Anyway graphic drivers for intel gpu are not the "state of the art", even if in many cases could be adequate.

@Stephan You can use this page on the TLG website to obtain the ElementID from the DesignID, manually replacing the DesignID inside the URL.

Oh, I lost this post. What does nvm means? Please don't use "sms" language, many foreign users, like me, could have difficulties to understand. About your problem, unfortunately it is not possible to use custom decorations in LDD without violating the EULA of the software. Anyway you could use other LEGO CAD software based on LDraw system, that allow you to to do that and much other. If you want a LDD-like software, I suggest you the excellent SR 3D Builder (the commercial version allow you to easy manage animations too, thanks to the animation consolle).

@mikul Thanks for this information and welcome here in the forum.

@Lego Otaku Thanks! ;) About the index, the problem is due to its extreme length. It seems that the forum is not able to manage posts with more than about 286.000 characters. We are discussion about the best solution, the one you are proposing now has been discussed and it seems it don't like to Superkalle (don't like to me too much too, too many topic to manage this index!), so probably we will try to add some post to split the index in two or more parts.

@Lego Otaku Could you add "indexable" set's data? I need the set data are clear and well highlighted to approve the entry.

Great Work C3POwen. Do you think the guide could be considered "complete" now, even if still a work in progress?

Index updated. 411 Sets has been added to the index (48 alternative, 39 duplicate, 5 incomplete). Check your sets and report errors or inaccuracies in the index, if any! 2 Sets has not been added to the index because irregular. Fix your sets in order to be added to the index! List of Irregular Sets: - 6228 - Thornraxx - by Bonehead74 - Details Missing, LXF missing, Image Missing - 9461 - The Swamp Creature - by CM4S - LXF missing, Image Oversized Lists of previously reported irregular posts here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here and here. Thanks again to AndyC that made the great part of the work!

I don't know if it is the right section, probably the LEGO general discussion would be better and would have greater visibility, anyway... The good things: - he gave you the credits. The bad things: - he didn't ask you the permission. - he sell the instructions of the model (that is: he take advantage of your work for profit). I think it is not a good think to sell a LEGO design anyway (both because LEGO is not something your but belongs to TLG and because I see LEGO as something fun, where the pleasure is to share your creations, not try to take profit by them), but selling the work of another person is really deprecable. Ask him to take a GPL code, make some modify and sell the software as closed. Probably a lawyer will knock at his door the following day! What he told is simply out-of-the-world. If you can proof the authorship of the models, he could have legal issues. Anyway, in this situation, it is a matter of fairness.

I mean something simple. As the question "how convert an LDD file in LDraw format" is very common, it would be useful a topic that describe how to that, showing methods and problems, and giving some useful suggestions. It should be a very brief guide, we could include links to these old topics for completeness.

Does the problem happens with all lxf file or only with those created in the last days, after the issues with LDD?

If it is a server related problem, you should try to start LDD offline disconnecting the PC, and it should be work fine. There are two preferences.ini files. Did you checked the one in the user directory as I suggested before? Anyway, it seems that the problem is not due to that. Try, anyway.

So it seems to be a problem related to some kind of update that most users received for their LDD. Or did you update something other? (operating system, video driver, etc...)