Hi all -->
I am currently working on a Python script that imports LDRAW models into Blender. Does anyone here use LDRAW? If so, I will work on the interface so it looks somewhat nice and make the thing public. Otherwise, I’ll just keep it simple for my own personal use.
Also – does anyone know of (and recommend using) any 3d formats that allow you to directly modify an object’s transformation matrix?
Matt
I would love to have an LDRAW importer for blender! Can’t wait to see it.
Dan
Hrm… I voted that I did use LDraw, though technically I don’t. I’ve looked at it, and when I get some real time to invest in 3D art, I definitely intend to get LDraw and play with it. I loved Lego’s in my younger days, and was really interested in the pictures of master builder’s models, but never had enough blocks to really try anything fancy. 
For those who don’t know what LDraw is, it is a CAD-type tool for designing and rendering models made from Lego blocks (though, in this case, virtual Lego blocks, hehe). Used either to develop models virtually, to perfect them before actually building them (so you know in advance how many, and what type of peices you need, also looks like it will create building instructions too, so you can print them out, or distribute to friends). Also you can just build the virtual models, and render them, without ever building the thing out of real Legos… and that’s where Blender would come in, to place the LDraw models into scenes, play with them, maybe animate them too (if LDraw doesn’t do animation). Get it, or find out more at www.ldraw.org.
Imp
Thanks for the explanation, IMProvisar…I should have thought of explaining what it is.
Most of the script architecture is done right now, except for the interface with Blender. I made it generic, as I originally wanted to export to Lightflow. I will most likely have an alpha (REALLY alpha) version of the script done this weekend. I haven’t done any serious Blender scripts yet, so I’m keeping my schedule slow–so I don’t rush it and write junky code. I will try to finish the geometry import, and start work on materials. I’ll post whatever I get done to http://www.geocities.com/zerog_studios (look after Saturday).
Matt
I just looked at that program. Would be nice…IF it could export to Blender. I lost my legos A LONG TIME AGO, and it would be nice to play with them again
funny 
I have been using Lego from very early age until I was 15 years old (now 33) but we did radiocontrolled cars at the end (this was in the age of Commodore 64) , but I have never heard of a 3Dstandard called LDRAW even if have used 3D since january -98, and another thing is, why not make a script for it ?
because there are tons of other 3D standards that is more important used as import possabilities, to be implemented into Blender, as for now Blender has VRML and DXF import and export…so don’t expect anything fast about this, instead, make a Python script for it, there are one for OBJ, both import and export, works great for me ! I Use it for take my models in into LightWave…
so again, sorry for sounding negative, but this is where we are…if no Blender coder/developer wants to really put this in into Blenders code, maybe some, but I wonder, since not many uses LDRAW that I am aware of, the world of 3D is bigger than that and uses many more 3D standards than this one… 8)
Ztonzy, there are a ton of other 3d standards. As far as I’m concerned, Blender isn’t a 3d standard yet, but it is obviously worthwhile. I’d prefer to model in Blender than in 3ds max. If I understand correctly, you are saying that LDRAW is not a worthwhile standard, and you are entitled to that opinion. It is possible to bypass a minor standard and model Legos in Blender manually. Why do the work, though? Users of LDRAW have already done the work for us; they have made most Lego parts after taking meticulous measurements. LDRAW is a standard that supports those parts directly. LEdit, MLCad, and other LDRAW modelers allow the user to build a Lego model piece by piece, instead of by modeling each individual piece, which can be a real pain.
LDRAW modelers do not export to any other program, and the only exporter I know of right now is a program called l3p that exports to POVray. I don’t want to learn a POV GUI, and I don’t want to edit camera views, animation, etc. by typing in parameters. I know how to use Blender, and enjoy using it, so I’ll do animation in that program.
Bottom line: I am linking “standards” together and making content more portable. When I get more proficient in C++ I would be willing to add the importer to Blender itself.
No hard feelings, ztonzy – the discussion is important! 
Matt
THIS IS MY 100th POST! Wohoo!!
lol… I think this is a classic case of miscommunication.
Ztonzy, Meestaplu isn’t asking someone to add LDraw import to Blender, he already writing a script to do it himself! He’s just asking if anyone else would want to use it, and if so, he’d make it a bit more presentable, and make it available, rather than something designed just for his personal use. He was rather clear about that, saying he’s nearly done, and expects to have an alpha version for us this weekend. 
Meestaplu, I think Ztonzy thought you were asking the Blender coders to create an LDraw import option, and thought they had better things to do. Of course, if it’s something you want (and me too, sometime soon :)), and you’re capable of doing it, he doesn’t have a problem with it.
No need for LDraw to export to Blender, since Meestaplu’s writing a script for Blender to import LDraw.
Off to clear up more misunderstandings…
Imp
<insert ceremonial music>
With thy action, thou hast made the forum’s life better and will now bear the honorofic title of Forum Zorro!
:Z
Martin
PS: partly kiding, of course, sinze the title of forum zorro has already been reserved by ztonzy 
PPS: good job though.
Now that it’s all cleared up , Version 0.1 Alpha Geometry Only is up. I have two example pictures to show that it works…it did a better job than I expected. It’s just REALLY slow right now (about 3 minutes to import the second example). I also wrote up some documentation for it; that’s available in the zip file. The speed should improve by a huge amount if I can implement polar decomposition as eeshlo so kindly suggested.
Link:
http://www.geocites.com/zerog_studios/ldraw.html
Have fun…
Matt
that just gave me a contest idea…
as soon as you have an optimized non-alpha release, I’ll explain a bit more, but I guess you can already guess a little what it is.
Martin
lol… Thanks. You know, I just now noticed I became a Forum Monkey 31 posts ago, lol.
BTW, Meestaplu, will your script eventually set textures too?
Imp
none taken 
and congrat to the 100th post =)
mr zorro :Z
oh well, I haven’t got it yet or ever will…Kib hasn’t allowed me it sadly 
oh well, I haven’t got it yet or ever will…Kib hasn’t allowed me it sadly :([/quote]
Hrm… how about you get “Forum Zorro”, Meestaplu gets “Forum Legohead”, Theeth gets “Forum Title Setter” and I get “Forum Mediator”, hehe. 
Imp
How about when we hit 1,000 posts, we get the title of Forum Zorro? Ztonzy, IMProvisar, and I can have something else, like, uh…
Kib, can we add in like 4 new ones that are referential to pop culture like Zorro is? Dibs on the “2-smilies-that-are-fighting!”
:Z Or, we can get the title of “Forum Mask-Of-Zorro!”
Nah, let’s just have “Forum Zorro” be honorary whenever someone requests it… no, no, just me, IMP, and Ztonzy. (IMP seems to want it, Ztonzy got it, and I got the idea of three guys becoming Zorro! :Z )
Could open up a whole slew of things… Forum Batman (for anyone seeming like they may have a secret lair), Forum Superman (Kib perhaps), Forum Spiderman, even Forum Silversurfer, hehe. I’d be happy with Forum Qwaichang… that was a cool character.
Imp
LDraw looks pretty cool. I would be interested in an import script for Ldraw to Blender.
Version 0.2 is out; in 0.1 I uploaded the wrong datpkg so it wouldn’t work. 0.2 fixes that, and now it does individual piece meshes.
Sorry if 0.1 caused confusion…
hmm, for the risk being an off topic thread/post,
I have hard time remembering where Zorro come to
play a part for me, but I think it was basse that made
ztonzy the snowman with zorro stuff on him or before,
can’t remember, but the renders of it is here:
(sorry for crosspost): https://blenderartists.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=7994
if any shall have zorro forum name, it shall be me, and no one else
LOL :Z !!
and you others can have what you want, I want zorro… hehe
hehe…
I still play with legos.
i have way too many too
BMD