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I wish to know how the lego instruction manuals are made. What is the process currently used?

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possible duplicate of How are Lego sets designed – HaydenStudios Oct 26 '11 at 23:35
Is this specifically about making the manuals (say, getting the breakdowns, printing, perhaps historically drafting), or about the whole conception-to-box product lifecycle? I read it as the former, which is not a duplicate. – Joe Wreschnig Oct 27 '11 at 0:25
I'm about to self answer myself. It may deserve it`s own question... you tell me. but the sets are built using Autodesk Maya. The instructions are rendered. I should have some material to show... Let me check. – jfyelle Oct 27 '11 at 3:55
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Not a duplicate - the people making the manuals are not even the designers. – Joubarc♦ Oct 27 '11 at 4:35
Alright, agreed. Not a duplicate. – HaydenStudios Oct 27 '11 at 19:13

1 Answer

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How lego does it today.

I found little information about Autodesk Maya being the 3D modeling software being used. Here`s a blurb about their current design process :

Primary concept and development work takes place at the Billund headquarters, where the company employs approximately 120 designers. The company also has smaller design offices in the UK, Spain, Germany, and Japan, which are tasked with developing products aimed specifically at these markets. The average development period for a new product is around twelve months, in three stages. The first stage is to identify market trends and developments, including contact by the designers directly with the market; some are stationed in toy shops close to holiday periods, while others interview children. The second stage is the design and development of the product based upon the results of the first stage. As of September 2008 the design teams use 3D modeling software to generate CAD drawings from initial design sketches. The designs are then prototyped using an in-house stereolithography machine. These are presented to the entire project team for comment and for testing by parents and children during the "validation" process. Designs may then be altered in accordance with the results from the focus groups. Virtual models of completed Lego products are built concurrently with the writing of the user instructions. Completed CAD models are also used in the wider organization, such as for marketing and packaging.

source : wikipedia

How lego used to do it

do you know?

How people do it themselves

Lego provide software that does just that. Check for "Lego digital designer" which allows to create a model, save a building manuals and buy the lego parts online.

Also check up this related question :"Do any programs exist that allow you to build own LEGO plans?"

For more information on how to create high quality computer images of lego models, check this question : "How can I create synthetic imagery (rendering) of lego models?"

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I'm worried about this answer - I suspect the promise of future additions is discouraging other people from answering, but it's uselessly incomplete right now! – Joe Wreschnig Oct 29 '11 at 19:38
a) I've removed the information I do not have at hand b) I moved the rendering information to it`s own question c) I made the answer wiki. I hope it`ll help encourage contribution. – jfyelle Oct 30 '11 at 3:12

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