Answers.Body: <h2>How lego does it today.</h2>
  
  <p>I found little information about Autodesk Maya being the 3D modeling software being used. Here`s a blurb about their current design process : </p>
  
  <blockquote>
    <p>Primary concept and development work takes place at the Billund
    headquarters, where the company employs approximately 120 designers.
    The company also has smaller design offices in the UK, Spain, Germany,
    and Japan, which are tasked with developing products aimed
    specifically at these markets. </p>
    
    <p>The average development period for a new product is around twelve
    months, in three stages. </p>
    
    <p>The first stage is to identify market trends and developments,
    including contact by the designers directly with the market; some are
    stationed in toy shops close to holiday periods, while others
    interview children. </p>
    
    <p>The second stage is the design and development of the product based
    upon the results of the first stage. As of September 2008 the design
    teams use 3D modeling software to generate CAD drawings from initial
    design sketches. </p>
    
    <p>The designs are then prototyped using an in-house stereolithography
    machine. These are presented to the entire project team for comment
    and for testing by parents and children during the "validation"
    process. Designs may then be altered in accordance with the results
    from the focus groups. </p>
    
    <p>Virtual models of completed Lego products are built concurrently with
    the writing of the user instructions. Completed CAD models are also
    used in the wider organization, such as for marketing and packaging.</p>
  </blockquote>
  
  <p>Source : <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lego" rel="noreferrer">wikipedia</a></p>
  
  <h2>How people do it themselves</h2>
  
  <p>LEGO provide software that does just that. Check for "<a href="http://designbyme.lego.com/en-us/Default.aspx?icmp=COCreateShareSpotlightUSDBM" rel="noreferrer">LEGO Digital Designer</a>" which allows to create a model, save a building manuals and buy the LEGO parts online.</p>
  
  <p>Also check up this related question :<a href="https://bricks.stackexchange.com/questions/12/do-any-programs-exist-that-allow-you-to-build-own-lego-plans">"Do any programs exist that allow you to build own LEGO plans?"</a></p>
  
  <p>For more information on how to create high quality computer images of LEGO models, check this question : "<a href="https://bricks.stackexchange.com/questions/338/how-can-i-create-synthetic-imagery-rendering-of-lego-models">How can I create synthetic imagery (rendering) of lego models?</a>"</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2020-09-26T07:20:46.183Z
Answers.Text: The http://designbyme.lego.com site doesn't work anymore,  but Lego Digital Designer can still be downloaded from https://www.lego.com/en-us/ldd
Answers.UserDisplayName: Razvan Socol
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2011-10-27T18:01:59.947Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2017-12-18T12:52:01.613Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2017-12-18T12:52:01.613Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: jfyelle
Body: <p>I wish to know how the LEGO instruction manuals are made. What is the process currently used?</p>
  
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2011-10-26T23:35:27.113Z
Comments.Text: possible duplicate of [How are Lego sets designed](http://bricks.stackexchange.com/questions/113/how-are-lego-sets-designed)
Comments.UserDisplayName: HaydenStudios
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2011-10-27T03:55:55.137Z
Comments.Text: I'm about to self answer myself. It may deserve it`s own question... you tell me. but the sets are built using Autodesk Maya.  The instructions are rendered. I should have some material to show... Let me check.
Comments.UserDisplayName: jfyelle
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2011-10-27T04:35:58.287Z
Comments.Text: Not a duplicate - the people making the manuals are not even the designers.
Comments.UserDisplayName: Joubarc
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2011-10-27T19:13:04.803Z
Comments.Text: Alright, agreed. Not a duplicate.
Comments.UserDisplayName: HaydenStudios
Tags: <instructions>
Title: How are the LEGO instruction manuals made?
UserDisplayName: jfyelle
ThreadText: # How are the LEGO instruction manuals made?
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2011-10-26)
  
  I wish to know how the LEGO instruction manuals are made. What is the process currently used?
  
  **Tags:** instructions
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_1**: possible duplicate of [How are Lego sets designed](http://bricks.stackexchange.com/questions/113/how-are-lego-sets-designed)  
  > **username_0**: I'm about to self answer myself. It may deserve it`s own question... you tell me. but the sets are built using Autodesk Maya.  The instructions are rendered. I should have some material to show... Let me check.  
  > **username_2**: Not a duplicate - the people making the manuals are not even the designers.  
  > **username_1**: Alright, agreed. Not a duplicate.  
  
  ---
  
  ## 1 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_0 on 2011-10-27. Score: 11 | Accepted answer
  
  ## How lego does it today.
  
  I found little information about Autodesk Maya being the 3D modeling software being used. Here`s a blurb about their current design process :
  
  > Primary concept and development work takes place at the Billund
  > headquarters, where the company employs approximately 120 designers.
  > The company also has smaller design offices in the UK, Spain, Germany,
  > and Japan, which are tasked with developing products aimed
  > specifically at these markets.
  >
  > The average development period for a new product is around twelve
  > months, in three stages.
  >
  > The first stage is to identify market trends and developments,
  > including contact by the designers directly with the market; some are
  > stationed in toy shops close to holiday periods, while others
  > interview children.
  >
  > The second stage is the design and development of the product based
  > upon the results of the first stage. As of September 2008 the design
  > teams use 3D modeling software to generate CAD drawings from initial
  > design sketches.
  >
  > The designs are then prototyped using an in-house stereolithography
  > machine. These are presented to the entire project team for comment
  > and for testing by parents and children during the "validation"
  > process. Designs may then be altered in accordance with the results
  > from the focus groups.
  >
  > Virtual models of completed Lego products are built concurrently with
  > the writing of the user instructions. Completed CAD models are also
  > used in the wider organization, such as for marketing and packaging.
  
  Source : [wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lego)
  
  ## How people do it themselves
  
  LEGO provide software that does just that. Check for "[LEGO Digital Designer](http://designbyme.lego.com/en-us/Default.aspx?icmp=COCreateShareSpotlightUSDBM)" which allows to create a model, save a building manuals and buy the LEGO parts online.
  
  Also check up this related question :["Do any programs exist that allow you to build own LEGO plans?"](https://bricks.stackexchange.com/questions/12/do-any-programs-exist-that-allow-you-to-build-own-lego-plans)
  
  For more information on how to create high quality computer images of LEGO models, check this question : "[How can I create synthetic imagery (rendering) of lego models?](https://bricks.stackexchange.com/questions/338/how-can-i-create-synthetic-imagery-rendering-of-lego-models)"
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_3**: The http://designbyme.lego.com site doesn't work anymore,  but Lego Digital Designer can still be downloaded from https://www.lego.com/en-us/ldd  
  
  ---
  
  