Answers.Body: <p>LDD will produce printable instructions on its own.  You can print these into PDF files.  Do you not like the LDD-produced instructions?</p>
  
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Answers.CreationDate: 2016-03-30T15:05:28.147Z
Answers.Text: Yes, that is a diplomatic way to put it!  ;)  
  
  Not only can you not design sub-assemblies in LDD, but the piece sequences LDD picks are a bit random -- LDD often picks pieces to "assemble" which aren't connected to anything.  
  
  See the comments [here](http://bricks.stackexchange.com/questions/12/do-any-programs-exist-that-allow-you-to-build-your-own-lego-manuals?lq=1) for a particularly egregious example.
Answers.UserDisplayName: MonkeyWidget
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Answers.CreationDate: 2016-03-30T14:04:19.037Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2016-03-30T14:04:19.037Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: chicks
Body: <p>I'm on OSX and I've got a bunch of models made in Lego Digital Designer.  They look awesome!  Now I want to make instructions.  </p>
  
  <p><strong>Q: how do I get from my .ldr files to images or PDF?</strong><br>
  I'll take anything!</p>
  
  <p>There are a couple questions here on stackexchange that are similar, but years have passed and some of the references seem out of date.</p>
  
  <p>From my research I believe (one) workflow is:</p>
  
  <ul>
  <li>build a model in CAD of choice (I'm using LDD, but there is also LeoCAD)</li>
  <li>import the model into Bricksmith</li>
  <li>in Bricksmith group the parts together to make "steps"</li>
  <li>export the steps from Bricksmith, which makes a .ldr for every step!</li>
  <li>now it's time to render: bring it into LPub</li>
  <li>... this is where I'm stuck.</li>
  </ul>
  
  <p>The fundamental problem seems to be: LPub is... suboptimal</p>
  
  <ul>
  <li>LPub needs parts files</li>
  <li>LPub hasn't been updated in a while</li>
  <li>The parts files are generated with Windows-compatible scripts</li>
  <li>the parts files I've used so far just crash LPub</li>
  </ul>
  
  <p>So, is the answer </p>
  
  <ul>
  <li>"here's how to fix LPub" ?</li>
  <li>Or "Stop using LPub" ?</li>
  </ul>
  
  <p><strong>Here's what I've found so far:</strong></p>
  
  <ul>
  <li><a href="http://umlautllama.com/w2/?action=view&amp;page=Making%20Lego%20Instructions" rel="nofollow">Making Lego Instructions</a> - outlines the workflow I described</li>
  <li><a href="http://www.ldraw.org/library/official/parts.lst" rel="nofollow">LDraw parts.lst</a> - this is the "missing file" that gets generated.  Points to many other files.</li>
  <li><a href="http://wiki.ldraw.org/index.php?title=LDMakeList" rel="nofollow">LDMakeList</a> - the script that generates the list</li>
  <li><a href="https://code.google.com/archive/p/lic/" rel="nofollow">Lego Instruction Creator</a> - stagnant project that was an alternative to LPub.  Has complicated dependencies.</li>
  </ul>
  
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2016-03-30T15:06:41.520Z
Comments.Text: Update: I'm exploring the print options on LeoCAD, as suggested by [aphink](http://bricks.stackexchange.com/questions/6643/what-is-the-easiest-option-to-start-making-instructions).  I'll update here with more details.
Comments.UserDisplayName: MonkeyWidget
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2016-12-25T20:11:48.800Z
Comments.Text: Have you taken a look at http://stud.io? It's a Windows and Mac app that works with both ldd and ldr formats based on the LDraw parts library.
Comments.UserDisplayName: Zhaph - Ben Duguid
Tags: <instructions><cad><ldraw><diy>
Title: How do I make instructions from my .ldr/.lxf files on OSX?
UserDisplayName: MonkeyWidget
ThreadText: # How do I make instructions from my .ldr/.lxf files on OSX?
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2016-03-30)
  
  I'm on OSX and I've got a bunch of models made in Lego Digital Designer. They look awesome! Now I want to make instructions.
  
  **Q: how do I get from my .ldr files to images or PDF?**  
  I'll take anything!
  
  There are a couple questions here on stackexchange that are similar, but years have passed and some of the references seem out of date.
  
  From my research I believe (one) workflow is:
  
  * build a model in CAD of choice (I'm using LDD, but there is also LeoCAD)
  * import the model into Bricksmith
  * in Bricksmith group the parts together to make "steps"
  * export the steps from Bricksmith, which makes a .ldr for every step!
  * now it's time to render: bring it into LPub
  * ... this is where I'm stuck.
  
  The fundamental problem seems to be: LPub is... suboptimal
  
  * LPub needs parts files
  * LPub hasn't been updated in a while
  * The parts files are generated with Windows-compatible scripts
  * the parts files I've used so far just crash LPub
  
  So, is the answer
  
  * "here's how to fix LPub" ?
  * Or "Stop using LPub" ?
  
  **Here's what I've found so far:**
  
  * [Making Lego Instructions](http://umlautllama.com/w2/?action=view&page=Making%20Lego%20Instructions) - outlines the workflow I described
  * [LDraw parts.lst](http://www.ldraw.org/library/official/parts.lst) - this is the "missing file" that gets generated. Points to many other files.
  * [LDMakeList](http://wiki.ldraw.org/index.php?title=LDMakeList) - the script that generates the list
  * [Lego Instruction Creator](https://code.google.com/archive/p/lic/) - stagnant project that was an alternative to LPub. Has complicated dependencies.
  
  **Tags:** instructions, cad, ldraw, diy
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_0**: Update: I'm exploring the print options on LeoCAD, as suggested by [aphink](http://bricks.stackexchange.com/questions/6643/what-is-the-easiest-option-to-start-making-instructions).  I'll update here with more details.  
  > **username_1**: Have you taken a look at http://stud.io? It's a Windows and Mac app that works with both ldd and ldr formats based on the LDraw parts library.  
  
  ---
  
  ## 1 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_2 on 2016-03-30. Score: 1
  
  LDD will produce printable instructions on its own. You can print these into PDF files. Do you not like the LDD-produced instructions?
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_0**: Yes, that is a diplomatic way to put it!  ;)    Not only can you not design sub-assemblies in LDD, but the piece sequences LDD picks are a bit random -- LDD often picks pieces to "assemble" which aren't connected to anything.    See the comments [here](http://bricks.stackexchange.com/questions/12/do-any-programs-exist-that-allow-you-to-build-your-own-lego-manuals?lq=1) for a particularly egregious example.  
  
  ---
  
  