Here's a few suggestions I have for the Workshop, specifically.
- A method to temporarily cut away a section of the model, to more easily access the inside
- An instruction builder, something like Lego Digital Designer or a number of the other 3D modeling programs
- More robust part search. Reference the part number that includes the color to the basic part number already listed. This would be especially useful so that you can search the number in an instruction manual instead of having to go to bricklink, then back to mecabricks. This gets tedious.
- Undo functionality, like CTRL+Z
- It may be beneficial to rework some of the shortcuts to bring them more in line with the shortcuts of major modeling software like Inventor or AutoCAD
- Mirror functionality
- Easy decal/sticker creator, for those bricks that have stickers stuck to them. The bricks that have printed graphics, should indeed be their own brick, but those with stickers should have a way to slap the sticker on and snap to a certain surface of the model.
- In the same token, it would be cool to be able to generate the graphics, brick graphics or stickers, so that someone can print them out and build the model
- Malleable strings/chains/ropes/tubes. It goes without saying, this is a much needed function or else the parts library will be filled with 6-100th generation copies of virtually the same parts. LDD even has it. It would also promote using those elements to make your own designs, and could prove interesting. It should be simple to create 5-10 moveable nodes on each part. You could even introduce a gravitation element so that strings and chains fall as they should.
- Updates to part snapping. I had the most trouble with parts that had holes and I needed things to line up. A shortcut could be introduced to activate "advanced" snapping mode, where each part would have even more snapping nodes, just so that it doesn't get in the way of builds that should remain simple.
- A "parts bucket". Basically, this would be a way that you could select all the pieces you need, to include colors right away, and put them in sort of a tab, that could later be selected and placed. This would be extremely helpfully in finding out what pieces still need to be modeled before publishing. If you had instructions for a set, you would go through and place them in your bucket, find what you're missing, model them, etc... Your bucket is saved when you exit the workshop, so that you can add parts to it. This may also be a good place to be able to pull the parts listing from. It may take some load off the code that extracts that data.
- Orthographic, non-projected view option. When clicking on front, back, right side, etc... it give you a perspective view depending on where center is. A non projected view would be great.
- An official parts/colors section, maybe a tab
- All other/custom parts/colors section, maybe a tab
- A click and drag/snap feature, like LDD
- Addition of "specific to color" part numbers on parts list
- A PDF download option. This could include instructions, but mainly because who uses CSV 😃 unless you code. User friendly would be nice though.
Undo/Redo is quite a complex function. Maybe I can find a way to reselect what has been moved - I see issues coming with groups though. To follow...
That Part Bucket in the works, yet? 😃
Could you please add the parts/prints for figures from the Guardians of the Galaxy sets (Starlord's helmet and guns, Rocket's head, Groot's head and torso, etc)
Hello, There is a special thread for that: http://www.mecabricks.com/en/forum/topic/50
Besides, the pieces you are asking for are very time consuming (I am talking about the 3d models, not decorations) and I would need the real parts. So it is unlikely it will happen very soon.
Hi, I'd love a more precise rotation tool (and maybe a more precise translation tool as well) and I'm sure others would as well. 😃
EDIT: I've just found out that there is already more precise tool functions in the Workshop. 😛
could scrubs add Professor Lupin's wavy hair?
@SwarlesTehBoss as I said before it is not the thread for part request.
Hi Scrubs,
this homepage is a seriously impressive tool.
Since I got more accustomed to it there are of course some nice additions which I'd love seeing.
A simple thing is that I work with different versions of a same build. Sometimes I get lost in the version I am currently working on. It would be great if the title of the actual project would be clearly displayed in the workshop mode.
Another thing is that it would be nice to have a fine tuning mode where one can move the elements not only by plate or half plate, but also for a forth or even an eigth of a plate, especially if you work with cheese slope mosaics this would be really great.
Best
-Cole
Hello,
Thanks for your suggestions. I keep all that in mine. I will start updating the workshop next months, and I will definitely look into that.
Would it be at all possible for you to add the paint feature like the one on LDD? For example, I want to make the Reverse Flash by using the Flash cowl piece(15554). So I want the cowl to be yellow, and the lightning bolts to be red, but can't in Mecabricks. There are many different parts where this could be a very useful tool for custom builds.
Thanks for your time.
Hello,
I was going to say no it is impossible when an idea popped to my mind 😉 However it would require a lot of work. So to summarize, it will probably not happen anytime soon but I keep the idea in mind.
@changewing1
Just use the regular flash's headpiece and replace it with this image in the exported decorations folder if you want to render the model.
Hi Scrubs, the new workshop and viewer look amazing, but the chrome looks a bit dark.and the black rubber a bit grey. Maybe this is just because it's not quite finalized, and it doesn't really need to be fixed. Just my personal opinion. 😉
For Chrome materials, this is due to the lighting and not really the colour value. It will probably change in the future when I'll find a solution I am happy with.
Ok so as I'm looking through the things people have suggested in this forum, I'm not seeing my Idea suggested so here it is: So i used these programs such as Workshop to know what parts i need to build something, mostly because I don't have the money to over buy on parts I need so I need to know how many of each individual part I need to buy to build said model in real life with bricks, So I know there is a part counter but I need it to be a little more advanced in part counting telling me specifically how many of each part in each color! I know you're busy Sire Scrubs, But whenever you could get around to it would be delightful! Thank you for hearing me and have a great day Sire! Thanks, Kaleb.
Kaleb,
This is available by every published build under the 3D preview. There's a link to the inventory where you can find the amount of bricks used along with the right color. There's also a way to get an inventory of private builds and it can be found here on the forum somewhere. 😉
I'm not sure if it has already been mentioned but I think it would be great if you could place the piece with your mouse. If you need to be more exact in your positioning, then you can use the grid system that is already in place. Also, I would like to have the same mouse controls as LDD- I really prefer those ones. Besides those things, this website is awesome and I've been telling my friends about it!
Could you make printed parts recolorable?
@swarlesTehBoss No it is not planned. Amount of work required and workshop performance drop is not worth it for now.
Another feature I'd love seeing in Mecabricks and I think it would be very useful when working with a blueprint.
It would be nice to have the option to implement an image in the background (if looking in orthographic view from the front), so one can build 1:1 from the image. This would be useful for custom (beyond 1x1 plate) mosaics as well as rebuilding eG a vehicle or a building...
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