Did you know that you can build LEGO models online using LEGO Digital Designer?

If this is the first you’re hearing about it, ask a parent and then get started by downloading the free LEGO Digital Designer 2.0.

Once you’ve got it installed, read on for some tips to help get you started with building virtual creations!


Selecting Parts
Selecting a part is as simple as opening the menu of LEGO elements, clicking on a part, and dragging it to the building area.


Once the part is in the building area, you can rotate it by using the arrow keys on your keyboard:

• [arrow right/end] = rotate clockwise
  
• [arrow left/home] = rotate counterclockwise
  
• [arrow up/page up] = rotate up
  
• [arrow down/page down] = rotate down

You might find it helpful to create a building palette by placing the parts you’d like to use in the building window at the side of your model. You can then use the “clone part” function to continue building.

Building Your Model
LDD 2.0 is “smart” about how bricks fit together, so if a part doesn’t fit the way you expect it to, rotate the model to see how the pieces are attached together. What looks like a gap from one angle may actually be a solid connection (and the opposite is true as well). A quick rotation can save you lots of rebuilding time.

Here are some keyboard shortcuts for viewing your model:

• [+]= zoom in
  
• [-] = zoom out
  
• [4] = rotate clockwise
  
• [6] = rotate counterclockwise
  
• [2] = rotate up
  
• [4] = rotate down

If you often build with a certain theme, you can create a file in LDD with the parts you use most often. From there, you can quickly get into building your own digital LEGO models. It’s like using the starter models in the program, except that you built them!

Like all programs, or even real LEGO building, building with LEGO Digital Designer takes a little practice – but after that, not only can you build digitally, but you can share your model in the online user galleries!

Build on…

Joe Meno is the founder and editor of BrickJournal, a LEGO fan publication. He also is a member of the North Carolina LEGO Users Group (NCLUG) and has been involved with fan community events and projects since 2004.