[KEY TOPIC] LDD feature requests

[Aanchir]

Here's a big issue that bothers me: DesignByMe mode should not have the same color palette in the brick tray as LEGO Universe mode. This makes things incredibly confusing, since there are only 35 colors of bricks on DesignByMe mode and 141 colors listed in the color palette. Ideally, this should be changed back to how it was in LDD 3.0: instead of having numerous color categories, each of the 35 colors in DesignByMe should have an independent color swatch. If that's not practical, it should be at least changed so all the colors in the categories that do not actually appear in DesignByMe mode should disappear when you switch to that mode.

This same problem exists in Creator and Mindstorms modes, which have a few more colors. Additionally, I think that once you "filter bricks by boxes", the color palette in the "filter bricks by color" tool should shrink to include only bricks from the "box" you have selected.

On a related note, several parts in DesignByMe mode appear in color 297 Warm Gold. However, this color does not appear on the color palette under any category within any mode. There was a similar problem with color 119 Bright Yellowish Green in LEGO Universe mode back in LDD 3.0. It was as annoying then as it is now.

[Studbringer]

I would like a better hinge tool, while building the Creator set 4993 Cool Convertible i can't control the arm lifting the roof up and down the rear end... problem with hinge tool is it only allows one hinge to be controlled, not any 2 connected diffrent hinges

Edited January 13, 2011 by Superkalle
Moved to correct topic

[Zerobricks]

A possibility to save view position!

[Superkalle]

A possibility to save view position!

Please explain how you mean.

[Zerobricks]

Like when you set a good view of the model and want to save it. Would be great to make stop motions in LDD too.

[Superkalle]

Like when you set a good view of the model and want to save it. Would be great to make stop motions in LDD too.

OK, gottcha. I think . Naturally it will save the current view when you save the model, but I guess that's not what you mean.

In LDD Manager, I actually included a function so you can create a model and explicitly set camera-model distance. Kind of meaningsless feature I know, but it was the first subfunction needed to autogenerate multiple screenshots to create a "fly by" of a model (using stop motion). However, I haven't come any further, but for someone with programmer skills it shouldn't be difficult to make a stop motion tool, even with movements within the model (like minifigs walking).

[AndyC]

On that note, the ability to autogenerate a screenshot by passing command line switches to LDD would be a pretty handy feature.

[Zerobricks]

On that note, the ability to autogenerate a screenshot by passing command line switches to LDD would be a pretty handy feature.

Whats wrong with Ctrl+K?

[AndyC]

Whats wrong with Ctrl+K?

You can't easily do that from a script or an automated program, at least not in a controlled fashion.

[prateek]

I want a keyboard shortcut for the "Colour Picker Tool" (the icon of a dropper)

[Daedalus304]

I think it would be really handy if we could create our own custom "themes", and if we could have special set/model modes.

"Custom theme" is basically what it sounds like: Let us create a theme where we choose which bricks, and how many of each, are in the brick pallet. The first (And perhaps most immediately useful) application of this would be that it would enable us to create a brick theme using only parts that we actually own. Or, it would let us do things like entirely disassemble a virtual model and rebuild it without cluttering up the building area OR potentially forgetting which pieces were and weren't used.

I can imagine it may be a bit tedious to go through and add bricks one by one... but, perhaps if they let you select an LDD model and add it to the "theme", it would speed things up. Heck, that in conjunction with Eurobrick's own Official LDD Database would speed the process considerably.

The set/model mode idea is basically the same idea on a much smaller, more focused scale. If we could just open an LDD file with all the parts in the brick pallet - and only those parts, that would be cool as well.

I don't know how useful the rest of you guys would find these options - but I know I'd greatly appreciate them.

[Calabar]

@Daedalus304

As you can notice, LDD has something similar already: the "filter bricks by boxes" funtion, that insert in the palette only the bricks used in a specified set, in the right colour and in the exact number.

It is the button that in LDD4 is in the left-bottom corner, the third button (not available in universe mode).

The only step missing is the chance to create user defined "boxes".

I tried with LDD3 but it don't accept my custom files.

That would be very useful to built sets with a defined part list such as official sets.

Imagine a software that accept the part list and create the file, for example the LDD Manager of Superkalle.

About themes, instead, did you try to create a theme file, put it in LDD main folder and give access to it in the preferences.ini file? Probably that will not work, but if you want to do a try...

[Lalror]

I would like a terrain mode that I could use to make ground similar to the surfaces in the TT games only without all of the trees and things that can be easily made with Lego.

A minifig creator tool that we can use to create minifigs with easier.

[Superkalle]

A minifig creator tool that we can use to create minifigs with easier.

Can you ellaborate on that a bit. What kind of features should such a tool have compared to what you can allready do in LDD?

[Lalror]

Can you ellaborate on that a bit. What kind of features should such a tool have compared to what you can allready do in LDD?

It would ultimately contain the high level of detail pieces for all the minifigs that Lego has ever created, but, it would also allow for changable colors such as the decal mode allows currently. It would look very similar to the minifig creators in the TT games, which take less time to find the types of pieces for specific body parts. Basically, it would be a mini-program that would include more options than the LU mode has currently, and would make the minifig creating process simpler to use.

Also, on a side note, I would to be able to use the actual pieces that the minifig are made up of, e.g. I would be able to take the hands off from the larger torso piece.

[RubeusHagrid]

I'm going forMore mini parts, accessories, animals, place parts in containers without a legal connection, part list, more car bases, LOADS more pieces.

Please Listen LEGO...

[SpiderSpaceman]

1. first person Minifig views. (place 'observer' figures inside a model and see through their little eyes - bonus: walking them through would be amazing beyond words)
   
2. Online realtime Co-operative building. (I have a ton of little cousins who would be ecstatic to build with me from afar)
   
3. Include Universe mode automatically
   
4. hinge animation loops on a timeline
   
5. put flex abilities on all the technic tubing
   

place parts in containers without a legal connection

I cheat it all the time, but a "drop to surface" feature would be nice

Edited March 29, 2011 by SpiderSpaceman

[Superkalle]

Also, on a side note, I would to be able to use the actual pieces that the minifig are made up of, e.g. I would be able to take the hands off from the larger torso piece.

The general rule in LDD is that only parts that are packaged as separte parts from the factory are available as individual elements in LDD. In other words, premounted parts, such as minifigs arms, legs, and hands are not available.

So what about the 2x2 turntable I hear you us say - e.g. how the bottom half was used as grebble in the Taj Mahal set. Well, there is really no reason why it couldn't be made available as separate parts in LDD, but at the moment it isn't (don't know why to be honest).

[Lalror]

I have mentioned this before, but I would like to see more minifigure interaction, with the minifigs being in higher detail they could be animated and could thus interact with the surroundings that you build. For those of you who understand the "behaviors" found in Lego Universe, this would be another feature that would be super fun to see happen. I love the way that I can climb up a high staircase I build, smash a hidden door that will build itself back in 3 seconds, and enter a fortress from which I can dive from and fly for a few seconds before I hit the ground below.

[Lalror]

This is a very simple update to add, but would make the whole LDD experience so much better. It would be nice to be able to import your own backgrounds in the view mode. This way, I could do my models against a nice solid black, or find a cool space picture. This would allow people to showcase their models so much nicer than they can currently, and I am sure would be a welcome update to everyone.

[Brickdoctor]

This is a very simple update to add, but would make the whole LDD experience so much better. It would be nice to be able to import your own backgrounds in the view mode. This way, I could do my models against a nice solid black, or find a cool space picture. This would allow people to showcase their models so much nicer than they can currently, and I am sure would be a welcome update to everyone.

If you use the Take Screenshot function (Cmd+K or Ctrl+K), then LDD saves a .png image with a transparent background to your pictures folder and you can use an image editor to neatly insert a background using layers.

[SpiderSpaceman]

If you use the Take Screenshot function (Cmd+K or Ctrl+K), then LDD saves a .png image with a transparent background to your pictures folder and you can use an image editor to neatly insert a background using layers.

but on this topic, it'd be great if the screenshots got named after the model, instead of just lddscreenshot∞

[Brickdoctor]

but on this topic, it'd be great if the screenshots got named after the model, instead of just lddscreenshot∞

You can always just rename them, but yes, it would be nice if we got a 'Save As' type dialog box to specify what name and where to save the file.

[Lalror]

If you use the Take Screenshot function (Cmd+K or Ctrl+K), then LDD saves a .png image with a transparent background to your pictures folder and you can use an image editor to neatly insert a background using layers.

This is great, thanks for letting me know!

[SpiderSpaceman]

This is great, thanks for letting me know!

BUT

watch out for the transparent colors. they tend to wash out to an extreme on the screenshots, and they'll make a clear window to the background sometimes when it doesn't make sense for them to