LDraw All-In-One-Installer

This section will help you set up the files you need to get started with LDraw. The installation process is not complicated, but it does require a working knowledge of computers.

What is LDraw?

The term "LDraw" can be used to refer to the original DOS based LDraw program, the LDraw parts library, the LDraw file format or the LDraw System Of Tools. As you can see this can be very confusing for new users. For this tutorial LDraw will refer to the LDraw System Of Tools, which you will be installing on your computer.

In a nutshell, LDraw is a free "CAD"-like set of programs that allows a user to create virtual LEGO® like models on your computer. You can use it to document models you have physically built, create building instructions just like LEGO, render 3D photo realistic images of your virtual models and even make animations. The possibilities are endless. Unlike real LEGO bricks - were you are limited by the number of parts and colors - in LDraw nothing is impossible. You have an unlimited supply of virtual bricks in every possible color. Even colors that LEGO has never created!

As stated LDraw is a series of various programs. At the basic level you need at LEAST two of these applications:

1. The LDraw Parts Library
2. An editor

The parts library is the core of the program as it has over 9500+ LEGO parts (as of February 2020). Note that the ONLY brick we ENDORSE is LEGO although the parts format can be used for any other type of brick (MEGA Block, Block-it, etc). LDraw.org, however, DOES NOT SUPPORT OR ENDORSE these other types of bricks and they are NOT part of our official parts library. Also while our parts authors are hard at working creating new LEGO parts NOT ALL LEGO bricks are currently available in the library. The process is very hard and time consuming and our part authors are all volunteers. So be patience if the piece you are looking for is not in the library. If a part is not in the library you can check the LDraw Parts Tracker to see if the part is in production. Otherwise, you can post a request for a part creation to the LDraw Forums.
An editor allows the user to create virtual models using a graphical windows interface in the process. LDCad is the newest among the three currently used by LDraw users and by many considered the most complete. LeoCAD is a great editor for Windows, Linux and macOS which has offered several improvements to the straight LDraw .dat format. It supports some basic animation (via key-framing) and can also export to 3DStudioMax, POV-Ray, and Alias Wavefront. MLCad is considered a bit old-fashioned but very easy to use if you are comfortable using Windows and the drop & drag concept.

If you want to create 3D images (renders) of your models that you created in LDraw you will need several more add-ons to LDraw:

3. LDView
4. POV-Ray

LDView is primarily a viewer program that does also convert your LDraw model file (.ldr or .mpd) into a POV-Ray file (.pov). POV-Ray is the ONLY non-LDraw program of the bunch. It is used to create stunning 3D images of anything. See sample 3D images of what POV-Ray can do by visiting: http://www.povray.org/ website for more information.

Step 1

Automated installation (Recommended)

The LDraw All-In-One-Installer (AIOI) is the easiest way to install the LDraw parts library and many of the popular 3rd party tools on a Windows PC running a modern 64-bit operating system (such as most versions of Windows 7/8/10/11). The LDraw Additional-Tools-Installer (ATI) allows you to install those older apps which have not been updated to a 64-bit version.

The AIOI requires the 64-bit edition Windows XP or newer — If you are using an older version of Windows (such as Windows 95, 98, ME, NT4, 2000, or XP below SP2), or a 32-bit version of a newer version (not common), you will need to follow the manual install instructions at http://www.holly-wood.it/mlcad/install-en.html.

• Download the following file
  

  LDraw.org:	All-In-One-Installer (AIOI)	LDraw_All-In-One-Installer_2024-01_setup_64Bit_v1.exe
  	Additional-Tools-Installer (ATI)	LDraw_Additional-Tools-Installer_2024-01_setup_32bit_v1.exe

• Execute the AIOI
  To start the installer double-click on the LDraw_AIOI_20XX-0X_setup_64bit_vX.exe file. A tutorial with screenshots of the single dialogs can be found at http://www.holly-wood.it/ldraw/aioi1-en.html.
  NOTE: You must have administrator rights on your account in order to properly run this installer.

The 64 Bit installer file is 588 MB in size and the following library files and applications are included. Note that newer version of each application may be available as this installer was created for the release of the latest LDraw parts library update, which happens twice or three times a year.

64 Bit AIOI

32 Bit ATI

Manual installation instructions

Takes you through step-by-step installing a simple LDraw system with the LDraw Parts Library and MLCad as editor you need to begin creating your own virtual LEGO models. These are the classic LDraw installation instructions. Allows hands-on control of the process.

Step 2

Dive in!

Learning how to use your new editor may be a challenge, but with a little practice you will get the hang of it. There are tutorials for LDCad, LeoCAD and MLCad available online. These should help you in your journey to becoming a 3D LEGO-style modeling expert.

• LDCad by Roland Melkert
• LeoCAD tutorial by Leonardo Zide
• MLCad tutorial by Willy Tschager

Step 3

Take it further

Check out the tutorial page where you can learn techniques to enhance your proficiency with various programs of the LDraw System Of Tools. Easy to follow step by step instructions teach you everything from using software programs to creating stunning renderings.

Help!

Need help with any of this? Check out LDraw.org's Forums and ask a large group of users for help.