Answers.Body: <p>You need:</p>
  
  <p><a href="http://designbyme.lego.com/en-us/Default.aspx?icmp=COCreateShareSpotlightUSDBM" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Digital Designer</a> (Or anything that can produce Ldraw files, there are some listed in <a href="https://bricks.stackexchange.com/q/12/85">this question</a>)</p>
  
  <p><a href="http://www.blender.org/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Blender</a> (Or another renderer that supports Ldraw)</p>
  
  <p><a href="http://wiki.blender.org/index.php/Extensions:2.4/Py/Scripts/Import/LDRAW" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Blender Script</a> (This is necessary for Blender to read you Ldraw models)</p>
  
  <ol>
  <li>Recreate your creation in Lego Digital Designer.</li>
  <li>Export as Ldraw format</li>
  <li>Import in Blender</li>
  <li>Create &amp; render Blender scene</li>
  </ol>
  
  <p>(I haven't tried but it should work)</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2011-10-28T19:47:23.787Z
Answers.Text: I'd tend to replace the first requirement by "a LDraw file, created either with your favorite LDraw editor, or exported straight from LDD". Pov-Ray works too.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Joubarc
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2011-10-29T07:10:58.463Z
Answers.Text: I am surprised by the recommendation of LDD. LDD has a very limited part library, which shifts every few months. Surely LeoCAD, MLCad or the other myriad of real LDraw tools should be the starting point.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Danny Staple
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2012-01-13T08:01:20.297Z
Answers.Text: @dannystaple LDD has an extended mode that you can turn on using a config setting to access a much wider range of elements: http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=53760
Answers.UserDisplayName: Zhaph - Ben Duguid
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2012-01-13T15:17:03.743Z
Answers.Text: While the blender script sometimes works, the technique of importing an LDraw file into LeoCAD, then exporting it as either an obj or 3ds file and importing it into Blender has been MUCH more reliable from my experience. In the python script, bricks often get left behind, lack all of their verticies, or simply don't get imported. A massive contrast from the LEOCAD technique provided by PeterDC.
Answers.UserDisplayName: HaydenStudios
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2012-01-14T13:26:08.117Z
Answers.Text: Since the "Design by me" product is to be removed by Lego, it makes a lot of sense to switch the config as the upload/pricing will be of little/no use again.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Danny Staple
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2011-10-28T18:47:47.573Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2011-11-21T16:59:49.720Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2017-04-13T12:47:56.213Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Pubby
Answers.Body: <p>In addition to the other answers, the oldschool way using POV (in use before there even WAS a LEGO Digital Designer) still works.</p>
  <ol>
  <li>Model your creation in a LDraw compatible modelling tool of your choice (such as <a href="http://mlcad.lm-software.com" rel="nofollow noreferrer">MLCad</a>) but there are other choices</li>
  <li>Use one of several export programs (such as <a href="http://www.hassings.dk/l3/l3p.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">L3P</a>) to create a POVRay compatible file</li>
  <li>Add a few commands to move the camera to taste and run a render in <a href="http://www.povray.org" rel="nofollow noreferrer">POVRay</a>.</li>
  </ol>
  <p>All of the renders on my site, <a href="http://miltontrainworks.com" rel="nofollow noreferrer">http://miltontrainworks.com</a>, such as this one:</p>
  <p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/BCWVT.jpg" alt="MTW-5001-yg render" /></p>
  <p>Taken from the <a href="http://miltontrainworks.com/MTW/products/item_info_5001.php#MTW-5001-yg" rel="nofollow noreferrer">MTW-5001-yg listing</a>, were done this way.</p>
  <p>You can read more about all the tools mentioned at the <a href="https://ldraw.org/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">LDraw website</a>.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2011-11-26T20:10:06.210Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2020-06-22T15:01:39.973Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2020-06-22T15:01:39.973Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Larry Pieniazek
Answers.Body: <p>Here's a method you'll be able to use with the latest stable version of Blender, without any extra plugins or addons.</p>
  
  <ol>
  <li><p>Build your model in <a href="http://ldd.lego.com" rel="nofollow">LEGO Digital Designer</a> and export as an LDraw file.</p></li>
  <li><p>Import into <a href="http://www.leocad.org/files/" rel="nofollow">LeoCAD</a>, then export as a .obj file.</p></li>
  <li><p>Import into <a href="http://blender.org" rel="nofollow">Blender</a> with the built-in .obj importer.
  You can then setup the scene how you want.</p></li>
  </ol>
  
  <p>Also, if you're just starting out with Blender, you may want to try an under-development, photorealistic renderer called Cycles, as you'll be able to get nice-looking images much more quickly than if you were to use Blender's default internal renderer. From 2.61 onward, Cycles is now another render engine option in all official Blender builds.</p>
  
  <p>You may want to check out <a href="http://blenderguru.com/videos/introduction-to-cycles" rel="nofollow">this superb introduction to Cycles</a>.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2011-10-29T06:56:12.243Z
Answers.Text: Also, some beginner tutorials: http://www.blender.org/education-help/tutorials/getting-started/
Answers.UserDisplayName: Peter Cassetta
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2011-10-29T06:34:17.297Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2012-01-12T22:29:46.813Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2012-01-12T22:29:46.813Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Peter Cassetta
Answers.Body: <p>The <a href="https://www.bricklink.com/v3/studio/download.page" rel="noreferrer">Studio</a> tool from BrickLink uses the LDraw Parts library and has both the POV-Ray renderer as well as a &quot;Photo Real&quot; renderer baked in for some fairly realistic renderings of your models.</p>
  <p>For example:</p>
  <p>A selection of wheels and axles. You can see the logos on the studs of the modified 1x2:<br />
  <a href="https://i.sstatic.net/vjnKs.png" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/vjnKs.png" alt="Various Wheels and Axles" /></a></p>
  <p>Apple Macintosh Sample Model:<br />
  <a href="https://i.sstatic.net/Yys1M.png" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/Yys1M.png" alt="Apple Macintosh Sample Model" /></a></p>
  <p>Apple Macintosh Sample Model with &quot;UV Degradation&quot; and &quot;Scratches&quot; enabled in Material Effects:<br />
  <a href="https://i.sstatic.net/pfWek.png" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/pfWek.png" alt="Rendered with aging" /></a></p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2020-06-23T16:30:58.310Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2020-06-23T16:30:58.310Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Zhaph - Ben Duguid
Answers.Body: <p>Let me suggest <a href="http://usa.autodesk.com/3ds-max/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Autodesk 3ds Max software</a> or <a href="http://usa.autodesk.com/maya/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Autodesk Maya software</a> for achieving this. You can find free bricks and models meshes right <a href="http://www.bricks3d.com/2009/01/29/free-lego-bricks-and-model/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">here</a>. Additional information on lego visualization can be found on <a href="http://www.okino.com/tutorials/lego_import_and_rendering.htm" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Okino's website</a>.</p>
  
  <p>Here is the example of a rendered still. Doing a manual simply involve making parts of the model visible/invisible and positioning the camera appropriately.</p>
  
  <p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/3CpPt.jpg" alt="enter image description here">
  This model was rendered by flickr user <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26422154@N04/sets/72157604962626539/detail/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">bloggerknight</a> using 3ds Max and the VRay renderer</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2012-01-13T10:53:40.127Z
Answers.Text: While I like the render, there's only a limited set of parts compared to LDraw lists, and things like MLCad/LeoCad etc. really help with lining up the parts properly, but I've yet to find a decent workflow that results in sensibly sized models in 3DS Max - the imports from LPub for example were always rather tiny :(
Answers.UserDisplayName: Zhaph - Ben Duguid
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2012-01-13T14:41:54.027Z
Answers.Text: you're supposed to model the missing parts yourself :) That make it a workflow that isn`t meant for all.
Answers.UserDisplayName: jfyelle
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2012-01-13T15:02:44.883Z
Answers.Text: heh. True, but I'd rather spend the time working on my shaders and getting it to sit right on a photo background if I know others have produced a full set of models in something else ;)
Answers.UserDisplayName: Zhaph - Ben Duguid
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2012-01-13T19:15:17.893Z
Answers.Text: with the peeron measured colors and the "Arch and design" materials, you can get photorealistic plastics that are perfectly matching reality. with a calibrated background, you could get a an image that no one could tell it`s 3D. (I am assuming you have all the lego parts properly modeled, with the studs and lego embossing)
Answers.UserDisplayName: jfyelle
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2012-01-14T07:49:28.377Z
Answers.Text: Yep, I was using the Arch and Design materials, and the rest, but had had some difficulty getting the model to a decent scale if I recall correctly.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Zhaph - Ben Duguid
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2012-01-14T15:41:26.650Z
Answers.Text: I believe LEGO does their boxes and manuals using Maya. I wanted to write about that but couldn`t find any publicly available information. Someone, somewhere has all the bits it takes :)
Answers.UserDisplayName: jfyelle
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2012-01-14T17:48:09.113Z
Answers.Text: Yes, lots of references to it on EuroBricks, not much else. Although I think I could just make it out in one of the "behind the scenes" videos recently.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Zhaph - Ben Duguid
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2011-10-30T02:45:59.357Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2011-10-30T02:45:59.357Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: jfyelle
Body: <p>I'd like to know how I can create computer imagery of my own models or existing models.
  How can we do photographic quality or cartoon like images?</p>
  
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2011-10-28T19:06:10.520Z
Comments.Text: Zhaph, digital imagery isn`t covered with plan making.
Comments.UserDisplayName: jfyelle
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2011-10-28T18:10:41.773Z
Comments.Text: possible duplicate of [Do any programs exist that allow you to build own LEGO plans?](http://bricks.stackexchange.com/questions/12/do-any-programs-exist-that-allow-you-to-build-own-lego-plans)
Comments.UserDisplayName: Zhaph - Ben Duguid
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2011-10-28T18:13:00.617Z
Comments.Text: Both Lego digital designer and Ldraw allow for the creation of CGI LEGO models. Additional software may be required for photo-real rendering
Comments.UserDisplayName: Zhaph - Ben Duguid
Tags: <software><cad><rendering>
Title: How can I create synthetic imagery (rendering) of LEGO models?
UserDisplayName: jfyelle
ThreadText: # How can I create synthetic imagery (rendering) of LEGO models?
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2011-10-28)
  
  I'd like to know how I can create computer imagery of my own models or existing models.
  How can we do photographic quality or cartoon like images?
  
  **Tags:** software, cad, rendering
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_1**: possible duplicate of [Do any programs exist that allow you to build own LEGO plans?](http://bricks.stackexchange.com/questions/12/do-any-programs-exist-that-allow-you-to-build-own-lego-plans)  
  > **username_1**: Both Lego digital designer and Ldraw allow for the creation of CGI LEGO models. Additional software may be required for photo-real rendering  
  > **username_0**: Zhaph, digital imagery isn`t covered with plan making.  
  
  ---
  
  ## 5 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_2 on 2011-10-28. Score: 13
  
  You need:
  
  [Digital Designer](http://designbyme.lego.com/en-us/Default.aspx?icmp=COCreateShareSpotlightUSDBM) (Or anything that can produce Ldraw files, there are some listed in [this question](https://bricks.stackexchange.com/q/12/85))
  
  [Blender](http://www.blender.org/) (Or another renderer that supports Ldraw)
  
  [Blender Script](http://wiki.blender.org/index.php/Extensions:2.4/Py/Scripts/Import/LDRAW) (This is necessary for Blender to read you Ldraw models)
  
  1. Recreate your creation in Lego Digital Designer.
  2. Export as Ldraw format
  3. Import in Blender
  4. Create & render Blender scene
  
  (I haven't tried but it should work)
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_3**: I'd tend to replace the first requirement by "a LDraw file, created either with your favorite LDraw editor, or exported straight from LDD". Pov-Ray works too.  
  > **username_4**: I am surprised by the recommendation of LDD. LDD has a very limited part library, which shifts every few months. Surely LeoCAD, MLCad or the other myriad of real LDraw tools should be the starting point.  
  > **username_1**: @dannystaple LDD has an extended mode that you can turn on using a config setting to access a much wider range of elements: http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=53760  
  > **username_5**: While the blender script sometimes works, the technique of importing an LDraw file into LeoCAD, then exporting it as either an obj or 3ds file and importing it into Blender has been MUCH more reliable from my experience. In the python script, bricks often get left behind, lack all of their verticies, or simply don't get imported. A massive contrast from the LEOCAD technique provided by PeterDC.  
  > **username_4**: Since the "Design by me" product is to be removed by Lego, it makes a lot of sense to switch the config as the upload/pricing will be of little/no use again.  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_6 on 2011-11-26. Score: 12
  
  In addition to the other answers, the oldschool way using POV (in use before there even WAS a LEGO Digital Designer) still works.
  
  1. Model your creation in a LDraw compatible modelling tool of your choice (such as [MLCad](http://mlcad.lm-software.com)) but there are other choices
  2. Use one of several export programs (such as [L3P](http://www.hassings.dk/l3/l3p.html)) to create a POVRay compatible file
  3. Add a few commands to move the camera to taste and run a render in [POVRay](http://www.povray.org).
  
  All of the renders on my site, <http://miltontrainworks.com>, such as this one:
  
  ![MTW-5001-yg render](https://i.sstatic.net/BCWVT.jpg)
  
  Taken from the [MTW-5001-yg listing](http://miltontrainworks.com/MTW/products/item_info_5001.php#MTW-5001-yg), were done this way.
  
  You can read more about all the tools mentioned at the [LDraw website](https://ldraw.org/).
  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_1 on 2020-06-23. Score: 6
  
  The [Studio](https://www.bricklink.com/v3/studio/download.page) tool from BrickLink uses the LDraw Parts library and has both the POV-Ray renderer as well as a "Photo Real" renderer baked in for some fairly realistic renderings of your models.
  
  For example:
  
  A selection of wheels and axles. You can see the logos on the studs of the modified 1x2:  
  [![Various Wheels and Axles](https://i.sstatic.net/vjnKs.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/vjnKs.png)
  
  Apple Macintosh Sample Model:  
  [![Apple Macintosh Sample Model](https://i.sstatic.net/Yys1M.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/Yys1M.png)
  
  Apple Macintosh Sample Model with "UV Degradation" and "Scratches" enabled in Material Effects:  
  [![Rendered with aging](https://i.sstatic.net/pfWek.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/pfWek.png)
  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_7 on 2011-10-29. Score: 3
  
  Here's a method you'll be able to use with the latest stable version of Blender, without any extra plugins or addons.
  
  1. Build your model in [LEGO Digital Designer](http://ldd.lego.com) and export as an LDraw file.
  2. Import into [LeoCAD](http://www.leocad.org/files/), then export as a .obj file.
  3. Import into [Blender](http://blender.org) with the built-in .obj importer.
     You can then setup the scene how you want.
  
  Also, if you're just starting out with Blender, you may want to try an under-development, photorealistic renderer called Cycles, as you'll be able to get nice-looking images much more quickly than if you were to use Blender's default internal renderer. From 2.61 onward, Cycles is now another render engine option in all official Blender builds.
  
  You may want to check out [this superb introduction to Cycles](http://blenderguru.com/videos/introduction-to-cycles).
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_7**: Also, some beginner tutorials: http://www.blender.org/education-help/tutorials/getting-started/  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_0 on 2011-10-30. Score: 2
  
  Let me suggest [Autodesk 3ds Max software](http://usa.autodesk.com/3ds-max/) or [Autodesk Maya software](http://usa.autodesk.com/maya/) for achieving this. You can find free bricks and models meshes right [here](http://www.bricks3d.com/2009/01/29/free-lego-bricks-and-model/). Additional information on lego visualization can be found on [Okino's website](http://www.okino.com/tutorials/lego_import_and_rendering.htm).
  
  Here is the example of a rendered still. Doing a manual simply involve making parts of the model visible/invisible and positioning the camera appropriately.
  
  ![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/3CpPt.jpg)
  This model was rendered by flickr user [bloggerknight](http://www.flickr.com/photos/26422154@N04/sets/72157604962626539/detail/) using 3ds Max and the VRay renderer
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_1**: While I like the render, there's only a limited set of parts compared to LDraw lists, and things like MLCad/LeoCad etc. really help with lining up the parts properly, but I've yet to find a decent workflow that results in sensibly sized models in 3DS Max - the imports from LPub for example were always rather tiny :(  
  > **username_0**: you're supposed to model the missing parts yourself :) That make it a workflow that isn`t meant for all.  
  > **username_1**: heh. True, but I'd rather spend the time working on my shaders and getting it to sit right on a photo background if I know others have produced a full set of models in something else ;)  
  > **username_0**: with the peeron measured colors and the "Arch and design" materials, you can get photorealistic plastics that are perfectly matching reality. with a calibrated background, you could get a an image that no one could tell it`s 3D. (I am assuming you have all the lego parts properly modeled, with the studs and lego embossing)  
  > **username_1**: Yep, I was using the Arch and Design materials, and the rest, but had had some difficulty getting the model to a decent scale if I recall correctly.  
  > **username_0**: I believe LEGO does their boxes and manuals using Maya. I wanted to write about that but couldn`t find any publicly available information. Someone, somewhere has all the bits it takes :)  
  > **username_1**: Yes, lots of references to it on EuroBricks, not much else. Although I think I could just make it out in one of the "behind the scenes" videos recently.  
  
  ---
  
  