M2m

Some small updates: I got all parts working (except flex parts). So this also includes minifigs now :) Still looking on how to add logo on studs, textures, seems, and of course flex parts.

Cool thanks for the tip ! This helped me to get minifigs working:

Ok I got it working. Seems the program doesn't like paths with spaces (which are in osx indicated with the \ character). I copied my LOD0 folder to a path without spaces and it converted all files in 1:17. Just a question - did you get an obj file for part 84638 (mini upperpart w. hook) ? I didn't find this brick among several others.

Some more refinements on the program:

I get directory not found error on MacOS and the UI is super small (mind this is a Retina Display - so the screenshot is 4 times bigger)

True. That’s in the viewer. I am however sure that other commercial 3D applications also have viewport optimizations.

There used to be a LDD to LWO converter. And I am personally working on LXF (LDD) to OBJ converter which I can however only test once I am back at my computer at home. PS: don’t worry about the ‘heated’ discussion.

I don’t challenge that the design of bricks is IP, but using them to render creations is as dubious as rebuilding full sets in LDD (sets are certainly also IP) or taking screenshots of LDD or its parts (or any other program if it really matters). Anyway I guess we can agree on our disagreement.

In 2012 the European Court of Justice ruled that “copyright protection does not extend to the software functionality, the programming language used and the format of the data files used by the program...” (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/SAS_Institute_Inc_v_World_Programming_Ltd?wprov=sfti1) I guess using data files of LDD is in line with the courts rule. As of the EULA of LDD it is governed by Danish Law so I expect the EU Court is relevant (as long as there is no DEXIT at least )

Don’t think it’s necessary to remove invisible sides. LDD doesn’t do that and if there is a performance issue with too many parts (and sides) this would first affect you in LDD and only after that in the 3D editor of your choice (3DS Max, Blender, Maya, etc.). If you talk about rendering, the renderer will take care of the invisible parts itself (even so there are certain performance gains in case this is done before). But unless you target ‘The Lego Movie’ complexity and size of scenes it doesn’t matter. For the 1st LEGO movie they had a LDD - Maya importer. But I am pretty sure this didn’t use OBJ for interchange but rather brick reference and LDD transformation info (rotation, translation) as TLG has its brick library in Maya I heared. For us hobbyists I however see a direct LDD - OBJ exporter could be useful to provide more flexibility and choice when it comes to rendering. In fact I guess modifying my LXFtoRIB script to output OBJ shouldn’t be too hard. One would just have to apply matrix transformation to all bricks read in based on the lxf read in.

I think that you probably have a loop issue. I had problems in the beginning too and my generated obj files where several MBs big. I was just looping (and writing) to much. I fixed it and now they are just a few kB big.

I have a very early version of lxf to rib (rib is Pixar rendermans format). I am thinking if I can add a lxf to obj option.

Great ?? As I am on travel I couldn’t test it myself yet, but certainly will once back home. Also I will try to compare your results vs mine. Great job once again.

I expect the next version of mscOS will still support ‚legacy‘ applications. But after that (so in 2 years) probably only 64Bit apps will work. There is still virtual box or dual boot to windows I guess. On Linux then also Wine and there is also a wine mavis port - for which I didn’t check if it works with LDD. By the way. Can you add a screenshot of the message.

Further update Things working: Colors of non-transparent bricks alot of bricks including rotation alpha channel (comes out of the box with renderman) Future (in no particular order): Transparent bricks logo on stud Textures better plastic material shader

Congrats and cool stuff. You should try to add some most wanted missing parts Or maybe the monorail tracks !

Some more progress. No textures or even color support. Not all parts work. Forget about flex parts.

Some progress: LXF to Renderman

Added a renderman converter:

Quickly threw this together. My 1st python program. https://github.com/sttng/LDD

This reads like some of the stuff done in UCS sets or LEGO ideas. I tried to copy this style once for one of my instructions: https://github.com/m2mmbp/bricktopia-planitia/blob/master/17011_BI_EN_01.pdf

Found this on Vimeo (it’s not mine) BrickIt Script: gumroad.com/l/BrickIt BrickIt will allow you to build quickly and easily Lego models in Maya

Instructions here: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/m2mmbp/bricktopia-planitia/master/17011_BI_EN_01.pdf

Finally got the time to look into this tool. Really cool ! Ended up doing a whole booklet (with instructions at the end) https://raw.githubusercontent.com/m2mmbp/bricktopia-planitia/master/17011_BI_EN_01.pdf

Recently finished this. Based on the reference below: