suenkachun

It’s been a while since I logged on here, but well done all on the recent progress made and please keep up the good work! I recently noticed an odd behaviour regarding two Decoration Sizes when creating more custom Decorations for my own LDD Projects. These did appear before but I chose to ignore them, perhaps now is the best time to see if they can be addressed. The first Decoration Size is the Flat Tile 2×2, which was already decoratable officially back in the day. What I usually do is create a Square Decoration then scale up to 1024px times 1024px before output. A few months ago, I created the following Floor Tile Pattern for a Custom LEGO Restaurant Project in LDD (Preview is 400px times 400px but original image is 1024px times 1024px). The Square Tile Pattern was designed to fit onto a White Flat Tile 2×2, and I also made three 1×1 Quarter versions and four 1×2 Half versions for any corner arrangements in the floor as shown below. The screenshot clearly demonstrates that in the 2×2 version the black border is slightly thicker than those of the other seven versions. As shown below, if the other seven versions are combined to recreate the Square Tile Pattern the correct thin border can be maintained, but this does not match with the thick border of the Square 2×2 version (this is especially noticed when I combine the tiles on the floor of the Restaurant). After further investigations, I was able to locate the source of the issue. Apparently, the Decoration Mapping of Flat Tile 2×2 has a slight border issue where elements too close to the border will be blurred and expanded. As demonstrated below, I applied the same custom Fire Alarm Panel Decoration to a Flat Tile 1×1 and a Flat Tile 2×2, the 2×2 version clearly does not stick to the edges with a darker unwanted border visible around the shape. The issue also seems to affect existing old official LDD Decorations too as shown below. The Ship Painting does not touch the border of the Flat Tile so works fine, but the Treasure Map and the Ultra Agent Attack Screen both have more than one expanded and blurry bit around the edges, while the custom Speed Camera Road Sign Decoration on the right demonstrates how the perfect Bright Red Frame is now distorted by the border issue with extra lines sticking out on each side. The second Decoration Size is the Flat Tile 2×4, only made decoratable via recent LDD updates if I remember correctly. What I usually do is create a 1:2 Rectangular Decoration then scale up to 512px times 1024px and rotate if necessary before output. Just like the Flat Tile 2×2 there also seems to be a border issue with its Decoration Mapping, which I noticed when trying to insert the following custom 2×8 Design but split into two halves (Previews are both 400px times 800px but original images here and here are both 512px times 1024px). For this pair of designs, the outer Black Frame is distorted just like the previous Speed Camera Road Sign with extra lines sticking out on each side. In the middle, the two halves of the text now fail to join up correctly since certain bits are distorted. I even created a full version here (512px times 2048px) which directly equals the two halves combined together. Hopefully, the issues with these two Decoration Sizes can be looked into and even solved eventually, but for now these slight imperfections will not affect any of my personal projects. After all, they are just merely tiny visual sores which can be ignored and fixed gradually. If anyone wants to test out the Floor Tile Decorations or the Railway Station Sign Decorations for themselves please download this ZIP Folder which contains the original PNG files of the ten Decorations plus the full 2×8 version of the Railway Station Sign. P.S., I tried decorating pairs of Wall Element 1×6×5 (Part 59349, hollow on one side) with custom Commercials and they worked perfectly with the two halves joining up completely, many thanks for making this Brick decoratable!

Thanks for the info, if that is the case nothing should be changed here. However, 15535 just might benefit from being re-positioned back onto the ground vertically (being an odd one out within similar Plates) so this will be another suggestion to consider as long as the change will not break too many existing models.

Just noticed a slightly odd behaviour with two LDD Parts. As shown above, a Part 15535 and a Part 18674 have been inserted, when placed horizontally like you usually would nothing is wrong, but when inserting them vertically the 15535 is clearly positioned slightly higher than the 18674 (height differences is less than one Plate); given that 15535 is a more recent addition perhaps it should be adjusted to match the other original Parts. On the other hand, Part 4740 is currently not aligned within one of the LDD base Grid Squares like other similar Plates. Since this was an official Part for a long time and was only recently modified to enable Decorations, perhaps this Part should be re-aligned if this was not its original position (which I cannot check back now).

Welcome! Please post in the supporting topic next time. For your question, once you extract the rar file, just copy all files into the corresponding position. For the Palettes folder in the rar file, please copy all its contents into the corresponding Palettes folder in your PC. Please extract the LDD.lif and LDDExtended.lif in the same way you extracted the db.lif file before you copy things over, then replace all files when prompted. For the db folder, first extract the db.lif file on your PC, then copy flies over and replace all when necessary. If you have added your own Decorations into LDD, please manually update the file DecorationMapping.xml on your PC. If you have added your own Colours into LDD, please manually update all colour-related files.

Due to the latest LDD updates, the PDF Guide regarding Decoration Sizes in LDD had to be updated again to add new information regarding newly added decoratable Brick surfaces. However, I just noticed this evening that the additional information for outputting Decorations of Part 3024 Plate 1×1 (Front Vertical Surface) and Part 3023 Plate 1×2 (Front Vertical Surface) had been accidentally swapped. I checked the original information provided here and corrected the PDF Guide immediately, with the correct information as follows: Decorations for Part 3024 Plate 1×1 (Front Vertical Surface) being a 1:2 Square after being scaled-up and the shorter side enlarged, while Decorations for Part 3023 Plate 1×2 (Front Vertical Surface) being a 1:4 Square after being scaled-up and the shorter side enlarged. Once the error was fixed, new information was added such as the surfaces of Bricks and Plates With Bow, more variations of Plates and Flat Tiles, more Wall Elements and so on. Some of the text has also been updated to better separate and identify the different Bricks within the two tables. The latest PDF Guide can be downloaded here (same link as before), sorry for all inconveniences caused! EDIT: Latest PDF changed the publishing date to today and restored formatting (I accidentally deleted the original Word, oops, thank goodness for the PDF)!

Thank you so much, I will download the latest files from GitHub later tomorrow then as some of these fixes will be important for a few of my current projects.

Thanks for all the speedy fixes. Are the updated files published on both Dropbox and GitHub or have they not been uploaded yet? I just installed the Dropbox version again and the new fixes seem to be not applied yet.

No problem, I will retrieve the exact Triangle with my Brick scan and begin there (the curved angles need to be precise). The two Flat Tile 2x6 are only shifted in the latest 220716.lxf file but none of my existing models are affected.

Found it, the one next to the AT-AT Stickers is missing since the two Flat Tile 2x6 got moved sideways causing the Flat Tile 1x1 to be moved too, thus deleting the 2654.

Unfortunately not, I guess you can check this file and compare it with yours, on my end there should have been two 2654 in the file but one got removed due to being placed incorrectly. I am trying to compare my file with your screenshot earlier but still cannot locate the missing 2654, If I do locate it I will post again.

No problem on my end too. Hopefully, you had a chance to check the removed Part 2254 in the latest 220716.lxf file (I posted a file saved on my end earlier), I guess the other issues I mentioned can wait till the next update but do check the issues with 4261. For the Triangular Sign, I have decided to scan an actual copy of the Brick (I fortunately own one physical copy) and start from there, as the current Decorations all have gaps from the edges anyways and my custom designs are usually occupying the entire Sign without any gaps (the main thing to get right is the three curved corners of the Triangle then the rest of the details can be rescaled based on this, so the scan will help).

Thanks, I guess newer versions contain the three torsos but with arms included? If that is the case, I might delete the files of this Brick as well. BTW, in case you want to check the latest 220716.lxf for the removed Part 2254, here is a copy saved on my end. Hopefully, you had time to look at the rest of the issues I mentioned as well (Part 32828, collisions for Part 35464 and Part 25195, Triangular Sign Decoration Mapping Image: I tried creating a custom Decoration using the current images but failed to do so, having a referencing image will be of great help). There was also the following info from an earlier post.

Thanks for the info. Perhaps you could pinpoint the missing assembly file for the torso, as I’ve always copied and replaced all files in each release (except for the DecorationMapping.xml which I manually update) so everything should be installed properly. Please check these issues too.

Just noticed one more issue: after the update, Part 11391 is still in an unknown category at the end of the Bricks menu, and now Part 9560 is in a second unknown category after the first. I’m guessing that 11391 should actually belong in one of the Minifigure categories while 9560 should belong in a Technic category? If not then perhaps the two Bricks can be placed into one unknown category instead of two separate ones, unless there is a good reason not to do so.

Only just had time to install the update, thanks for all the hard work! So far, everything seems to be working fine, but when I opened the latest 220716.lxf file, one of the Part 2654 got removed as a misplaced Brick. Another issue is with Part 32828. As shown below, try attaching it through a 85861 plus a 3062 beneath, and even after being adjusted the very tip may still collide with the 85861. If the 32828 is only attached to a 85861, at the moment we can’t push the 32828 all the way upwards. Also, if there is still time, could collisions be added to Part 35464 Slope 45 1x1 Double as this is the only newer Slope missing such data partially? For Part 25195, only the tube section requires collision data to be added while the Plate 1x6 at the base is fine, so this should be easy to do too. I’d happily expect to see these two Bricks modified for the next update if these can’t be done soon. P.S., can the Decoration Mapping Image or Dimensions Data for Part 30259 Triangular Sign W. Snap be shared as I’m hoping to finally add some custom Triangular Warning Signs to my projects? Thanks in advance!

Hopefully, everything will go smoothly for the next LDD update. Just a quick recap: Has Part 98107 been fixed as the only issue left is that nothing can be connected to the anti-studs at the moment? For other Bricks still requiring collision, please check my earlier post here. I understand that adding these data takes a long time, so the remaining Bricks in that post can be gradually fixed. Thanks for the continued efforts!

Thanks for all the hard work put into continuing to update LDD! If there is time, please check the post earlier included below for more Collision Data to be added. Perhaps 98107 can be fixed quickly as the only issue left is that nothing can be connected to the anti-studs at the moment, while the rest can be updated gradually since it takes a very long time to do so, and thanks for addressing issues regarding 32828 and 25893.

All the latest parts, decorations and updates are available in “Fix Version 20220302” so download that version (recommended to use the Dropbox version as there were previous issues on GitHub but sould be fixed already) and copy everything over to receive everything new (remember to manually update “DecorationMapping.xml” if custom decorations have been added), but that version still contain minor issues to be fixed (such as newer Bricks requiring collision data to be added) so check back here often for the latest news. Please note that newer contributions added since “Fix Version 20220302” will only be included in the next update which is a few months away, so these won’t be available right now. However, new parts may be published on GitHub when ready (use the Pre-release version) so download from there for early access if available. P.S., another important item to note since the last update was the issue with certain Bricks containing negative axis values within, which I first reported and soon got fixed (around 55 Bricks were updated if I remember correctly), can’t quote relevant posts directly as I’m on mobile but those files should be installed ahead of time before the next update to avoid relevant Bricks being possibly removed.

Thanks for the info. I tried modifying the entry in the 2020NewPreColoredParts.paxml too but no results, I think the assembly only considers the two arms as one and the two hands as one which explains why you could not change the colour of one hand, perhaps the Assembly setup needs to be modified or the Element itself needs to be updated to enable treating these elements as individual.

Not sure what is going on here, but just did a simple test: Inserted a 76382 with two different coloured hands (3820); whenever a Decoration is applied manually onto either the front of the torso, back of the torso or either arm, the colour of the left hand will immediately change back to the same one of the right hand. However, you can always apply the Decoration first then change the colour of the required hand afterwards or edit the lxfml afterwards (change lxf extension to ZIP then extract) to manually type in the required Decorations (then copy new files back into ZIP and change back to lxf). BTW, I checked the latest 2020NewPreColoredParts.paxml file and noticed that three Elements have quantity="0" instead of quantity="1" (simply search for quantity="0"), which will produce negative values in Red in the menu when inserting copies. These include: <Brick designID="70644" materialID="149" quantity="0" ItemNos="70644"/> <Brick designID="17485" materialID="194" quantity="1" ItemNos="6081211"> <Decoration surfaceID="1" decorationID="18279"/> </Brick> <Assembly designID="76382" quantity="0" ItemNos="6219093"> <Part designID="3814" materialID="192"> <Decoration surfaceID="1" decorationID="763821"/> <Decoration surfaceID="2" decorationID="763822"/> </Part> <Part designID="3818" materialID="192"/> <Part designID="3819" materialID="192"/> <Part designID="3820" materialID="192"/> </Assembly> <Assembly designID="29959" quantity="0" ItemNos="6176618"> <Part designID="28240" materialID="330"> <SubMaterial surfaceID="1" materialID="192"/> <SubMaterial surfaceID="2" materialID="268"/> <SubMaterial surfaceID="3" materialID="192"/> <SubMaterial surfaceID="4" materialID="138"/> <Decoration surfaceID="5" decorationID="29959"/> </Part> <Part designID="28235" materialID="330"/> </Assembly> Was this meant to be or were they just typos? Unless there are specific requirements for these three Elements, the three quantity="0" should be amended to quantity="1" matching all other Elements.

No worries, glad that I could help!

I made a screenshot just in case there are still some things unclear. The screenshot shows the “LDD New Parts.rar” file from Dropbox downloaded from the Firefox (Beta) Browser on Windows (11), then the “File Properties” of the downloaded file is opened to “unblock” it (option is highlighted in the Red Frame). Sorry that my Laptop interface is in Chinese but changing to English requires a restart so this had to be kept in the Screenshot. Once the file is unblocked, extract its contents using any file extracting tool then proceed with the actual steps of copying its contents over. The built-in Windows File Explorer can only uncompress ZIP Files, so I use the free programme “7-Zip” for this.

It should not do that. The .rar file should be opened with a programme which extracts compressed files such as 7-Zip (at least on Windows). Download the file using a Web Browser such as Firefox and uncompress, then perform further extraction as I mentioned earlier. P.S., there is an annoying Windows habit of treating files as harmful ones from other computers once modified or downloaded so please remember to open the “File Properties” of the .rar file after downloading to unblock it before uncompressing it.

I’ll try my best to answer some of the questions you’ve raised. For extraction, the first step is to Extract The LDD LIF File “db.lif” as this is the file containing all the LDD Parts and Decorations, download the relevant software and follow the instructions posted in the key topic (first post). This part should be relatively straight forward so no further explanations are necessary. The main LDD File (Users/[UserName]/AppData/Roaming/LEGO Company/LEGO Digital Designer) should contain the “db.lif” Folder and the “Palettes” Folder. Extract three files: the “db.lif” Folder plus the “LDD.lif” and “LDDExtended.lif” Folders which are both under the “Palettes” Folder (these two Files help determine the Contents of LDD Regular Mode and LDD Extended). Please also remember to back up the three extracted files somewhere else. After extraction, the “Palettes” Folder should now contain: the “LDD” Folder, “LDDExtended” Folder and a bunch of other unextracted “.lif” Folders. For the extracted “db.lif” Folder “db”, it should now contain: “Assemblies” Folder: contains the “.lxfml” files for assemblies in LDD, “Decorations” Folder; contains all the Decoration PNG Image Files, “MainGroupDividers” Folder: contains all Images of part groups, “MaterialNames” Folder; contains all the English and German Names of Colours in LDD, “Primitives” Folder: contains the Technical Data of LDD Parts where “LOD0” within contains the 3D Models of LDD Parts, “CurrentMaterials.xml”: lists all Current Colours in LDD, “DecorationMapping.xml”: list which assigns each Decoration onto the correct Brick Surfaces, “info.xml”: contains regular info about LDD, “Materials.xml”: contains the RGBA Values of all Colours in LDD and “pes.xml”: this file says something about friction which might have something to do with the old exploding animation. Using the latest “Fix Version 20220302”, download the “LDD New Parts.rar” from Dropbox and extract the file. Within the extracted “LDD New Parts.rar” file there should be: “LEGO Digital Designer” Folder, “Change log.txt” which describes the latest changes and a series of LDD Files where the numbered ones include actual copies of the latest Bricks in LDD (since the very first update) and the other two are virtual LEGO Colour Charts in LDD. Within the “LEGO Digital Designer” Folder there should be two Folders: “db” and “Palettes”. Simply copy the entire “Palettes” Folder and paste it into the main LDD File then select “Yes to all” when prompted regarding whether you want to replace all files. For the “db” Folder, you can also do the same and copy the entire Folder then paste it into the main LDD File and select “Yes to all” when prompted regarding whether you want to replace all files. By doing this, the newly added “2020NewPreColoredParts” Folder should now be placed alongside the “LDD” Folder and the “LDDExtended” Folder so there are now three Folders under the “Palettes” Folder, and the newly added “2020NewPreColoredParts” Folder is accessed through LDD MINDSTORMS (select “Filter bricks by boxes” and “2020NewPreColoredParts” should now be the first option under “LDD MINDSTORMS”, where newer Decorated Bricks are already pre-assigned onto the relevant Brick Surfaces for easy inserting and use). However, many LDD users such as myself have imported our own Custom Decorations into LDD, which involves adding more Decoration PNG Image Files into the “Decorations” Folder under the now extracted “db” Folder and manually typing in the relevant Connections in the “DecorationMapping.xml” File also under the now extracted “db” Folder. If this is the case, this file cannot be copied over as it will replace the original file thus removing all Custom Connections added. To successfully combine the two files: copy all Custom Contents typed within the main “DecorationMapping.xml” File the paste onto the new “DecorationMapping.xml” File from the latest update, then replace the main “DecorationMapping.xml” File with the new “DecorationMapping.xml” File from the latest update with the Custom Contents added. As updating LDD only usually involves copying files and replacing the original one as one batch, where a certain file should be placed does not need to be determined as the location of each file is already pre-set when performing batch-replacing. Hopefully, this has answered your questions regarding LDD Updates.

Unfortunately, I just noticed a few more minor typos in the PDF Guide, within the two Methods to output Decorations For Part 3062 Round Brick 1×1 several values and other text were incorrect. The correct information should be: Create the Decoration within a Borderless Square with both Height and Width 0.9 cm, then either align the Square to the centre of another Transparent Borderless Square but with both Height and Width 0.96 cm (0.3 cm gap on either side) and scale up the new Square to 1024 Pixels times 1024 Pixels for output; or scale up the Decoration to 960 Pixels times 960 Pixels, align the scaled-up Square to the centre of a Transparent Borderless Square with both Height and Width 1024 Pixels (36 Pixels gap on either side) and output. Due to these updates, the corresponding values of Part 3062 Round Brick 1×1 in the previous two tables have also been updated: for Dimensions, it used to be 0.96 cm times 0.9 cm, but since the note “Place Within 0.96×0.96 Square” is already there the correct Dimensions should now be 0.9 cm times 0.9 cm; for the scaled-up values, it used to be 1024 Pixels times 960 Pixels, but since the note “Place Within 1024 Pixels times 1024 Pixels Times 1024 Pixels Square” is already there the correct values should now be 960 Pixels times 960 Pixels. The updated PDF Guide can be downloaded here (same link as before), sorry again for all inconveniences caused!