LDD suggestions and extensions

quinyu

I have been using LDD (Lego Digital Designer) for a fair time now, and while it's pretty good, I don't know if development is dead on it. I would propose the following few wanted/needed additions:

• addition of older/newer parts. The previously very commonly used Technic 4/6/8 plates are for example nowhere to be found. But there are other idiosyncrasies, for example: we have the Exhaust Pipe (L) but the right one is not included. Close to NONE of the Model Team line is doable, for example, because they make heavy use of parts like that. In addition, fix the "colors ever used" bit - or make it an option to include historical but no longer current colors.
• Some part numbers are missing from the search, though the parts themselves are in the inventory. Same for searching for the names of parts as used on Peeron, for example. I am sure this as well as the previous one could be crowdsourced.
• Related to the previous: allow "favoriting" parts, on a separate tab/palette.
• Visual style of the environments is always a globe, and there is very little one can do to modify that. Please allow loading custom environments, and as such, make a half-globe (hemispheric) environment also possible for the purpose of, say, city, sea or road scenes.
• Allow exporting the scene to some of the more popular render platforms such as iray (as a Daz3D or Blender scene), keyshot or Octane. I am sure people would be welcoming that very much.
• The "generate instructions" sometimes makes things close to impossible to implement and build the way it is shown. Please fix as to get closer to the actual LEGO standards in that respect.

I would like to hear everyone's opinions about this, and in particular feedback from the officials.
Greetings

sid3windr

LDD is pretty much on life support from what I understand. There are however other, fan-maintained, tools that are up to date and provide better instructions etc. LDraw and Stud.io come to mind, but there certainly are others.

drdavewatford

My understanding is that LEGO is no longer actively supporting LDD.

quinyu

The mail that I have received from Support indicated that they are not doing so because of low interest. Sure, LEGO Worlds is (in many respects) a much better one; and yes, I am familiar with LDraw, MLCad and the lot. Nevertheless it was indicated that if there is enough interest, it might return to life. I am sort of split whether to go saying "okay, put all that into LEGO Worlds instead" since the two are not really meant to do the same, one is a CAD program, the other is a game. It would be great if you could, for example, build your own vehicles into LW, but I can also imagine the complex problems that would need to be resolved there.

And a happy new year to you all

Cyberdragon

Are there any Lego design programs for Android yet?

darthdc

Had a new patch installed for it today. A few new elements added, including a new 1x3 Jumper plate (it has 2 studs on it.)

Endigo_Vandane

I thought I was dreaming when I started up LDD 15 minutes ago.
Nice to know I'm not asleep.

Only downside is that now I have to update a lot of models...
What a great downside!

I'm so happy!!!

darthdc

Did notice a few Star Wars buildable figure heads, but you can only have them in one colour. The deco tool doesn't work on them.

ecmo47

Anybody have trouble opening old LDD files after downloading the update?

Bumblepants

ecmo47 said:

Anybody have trouble opening old LDD files after downloading the update?

Can't seem to get old files to open and work with the new parts which is frustrating. Haven't spent much time trying though.

ecmo47

It's seems to be working this morning! It magically fixed itself over night. Whew!