Stud.io Instruction Maker Tutorial

Here's my video giving an overview of all elements of Bricklink's Stud.io 2.0 Instruction maker feature, including my own techniques and process of making instructions. If you have any questions or comments, leave them below and I'll try and address them all!
I hope you enjoy!
Downloads:
Stud.io 2.0: www.bricklink.com/v3/studio/d...
Trebuchet Instructions: drive.google.com/file/d/189eC...
Uplink Instructions: drive.google.com/file/d/1t48h...
Video Sections
0:00 - Introduction
0:50 - Submodel tool basics
2:07 - Instruction making basics
5:31 - Identical Submodels
7:13 - Page Designer basics
11:20 - Global Style editor
14:29 - Step Formatting
15:36 - Using submodels to create callouts
17:02 - My process
19:29 - Buffer Exchange tool
20:40 - More techniques
21:50 - The end!

[@tK-fg1nr]

This type of quality content deserves more subscribers, excellent tutorial.

[@unpixelled]

Thanks! Trying to get it more out there, I have been thinking about doing more tutorials on stud.io

[@tK-fg1nr]

@@unpixelled would love to see more tutorials from you, kinda a noob at stud.io, but your tutorial had tremendous helped me when i was making instructions for one of my models.

[@H-G4M3R]

Thank you! This helped a lot for my custom Spider-Man HeadBrickz

[@NCXDesigns]

Informative and excellent walk through on the basics. Now I see why some people charge what they do for instructions on much larger models. It's probably just as time consuming as designing the model itself

[@ThinkCleverAndSmart]

Excellent tutorial! Definitely a must watch for anyone starting with studio instructions!

[@TallMatt]

Currently in that exact process; seeing your seal of approval makes me immediately feel at ease with watching this tutorial!

[@PatrickJoergensen]

This really helped me! Thank you very much for a thorough walkthrough of the basics! :)

[@jimmywoody6962]

Really good explanation of the different features of Stud.io, great for video for beginners. Excellent tutorial! 👍

[@jerrymyboy]

I learned how to do instructions by intuition but your video just expanded my knowledge on how to make them better! Thanks man!

[@user-jh6gt4wz1i]

DUDE, THANK YOU! The buffer exchange and the multiple (linking and getting 4X signs) callout builds were something driving me nuts! I've made about 22 instructions already, some of 1k+ models and I found out just today that I've been missing some features on them. THANKS THANKS THANKS!

[@unpixelled]

You're welcome! I can do more tutorials on this matter if you're interested?

[@butchaa31]

@@unpixelled hi thank you for your tutorial, it was bugging be on how to get multiple of a sub model thank you, I would love to see more videos of the callout function. Many thanks

[@bku123]

Great tutorial. Finally something explained I couldn't find out where to use it for. Many times in my drawings I was wondering how to push an axle (or something else) in place. If you do this in the drawing, the axle stays outside in the whole drawing. Explaining the Buffer Exchange in this tutorial is the answer. Well done!

[@Jupiterblitz]

Very helpful. Straighforward, most comprehensive and answers all questions I've got with the instruction designer. Thank you.

[@TheARI0]

Great explanation! Gonna try on my moc

[@grahambiddle5284]

Many thanks.This basic stuff is what newbies need. Sometimes you have to explain what is obvious to you to the rest of us!! Excellent vid!!

[@unpixelled]

Thanks so much!

[@kraken8296]

this is the best tutorial. i am begginer and i didn't know anything about it and now i know much more then i expected. thanks

[@poopyman961]

This was very helpful, thanks! :)

[@Blake_Hogan]

This helped me sooo much! thank you!!!

[@SirBricks]

Amazing tutorial!

[@Kapot7]

thank you so much, it helped me alot.

[@kyr_taap]

I did design a few things already and now one has gotten too big to just watch and build 😅 I also wanted my children to do the building with me. After watching your tutorial I'm pretty confident that I can make some instructions for it! Thank you!

[@ray-rayslegoworld1786]

This video was very helpful to me, thank you

[@inkyoggy]

thank you so much! this is an amazing tutorial!

[@jessegros4573]

This is really helpful.

[@RL1911]

Fantastic tutorial! I was able to create my first set of instructions with your help. So surprised it doesn't have more views. Thanks!

[@unpixelled]

Well feel free to share this tutorial around! I'm going to be doing more eventually, working on some big stuff at the moment.

[@elecode.0103]

I realy thank you, now I know how I can Make the Instructions for my Builds

[@LordFindogask734]

Fantastic tutorial. This helped me so much with my first instructions! Thank you!

[@unpixelled]

Thank you so much! I love your work!

[@leumas_brick]

This was very Helpful-Thank You!

[@unpixelled]

You're welcome! are there any more things you're interested in tutorials for?

[@Tyfighter1977]

Great tutorial Unpixilled, I've definitely been doing things the hard way. Thanks!

[@unpixelled]

Thank you!

[@brickhead_07]

Me too!

[@trx4957]

This was pretty helpful. I'll have to come back and look at this again the next time I need to make instructions. It's so stupid that Studio doesn't have any built in tutorials itself but thankfully people like you exist to fix that

[@unpixelled]

And I have more tutorials on the way!

[@trx4957]

@@unpixelled 200,000 tutorials are posted with a million more well on the way

[@unpixelled]

@@trx4957 A surprise to be sure... but a welcome one :D

[@toparchitecture]

You literally saved me! Now I'll create cooler instructions! Thanks!

[@unpixelled]

Thanks!

[@grohl666]

Excellent!

[@memyselfandlego]

Thank you soooo much for including buffer exchange in your tutorial! It makes a huge difference for technic models' instructions. It's so hard to find anyone who mentions that. Great job! Cheers

[@unpixelled]

Is there anything else you'd like to see me cover?

[@memyselfandlego]

Hi @@unpixelled, thanks for asking. As a matter of fact I am facing a challenge and I hope you can help me: Lego sets usually have models A and B for any given parts list. I’m building a car chassis that serves two car models (let’s name them A and B), so I’d like to have an instructions manual that is initially the same (the chassis) and at certain step I’d like to have the option to build either car model, A or B after skipping some pages. How to do that on step editor or page design without having the chassis assembly shown all over again? Cheers

[@memyselfandlego]

Oh, another thing just came up: how do I "extract" the springs form the small shock absorbers on studio? Item 731c05 for example. Thanks!

[@p.f.657]

very good job, sir!

[@unpixelled]

Thank you!

[@KAK_PAN]

It's like watching tutorial to make tutorials. Haha. Great video by the way.. Very helpul!

[@unpixelled]

Thank you! I'm looking to make some new tutorials soon :)

[@brickhead_07]

Really helps me with doing my instructions, they will become much netter now.

[@hi.360]

My god u r a life saver

[@cardboard9124]

well this makes me feel great about modifying a 1000 part build without any submodels

[@TheHoytPowerHawk]

Looking very professional! I was looking for that callout functionality in particular. The only thing I thought looked a bit weird and un-Lego-like was the text field "Floating until next steps".

[@unpixelled]

Yeah that was one of my older designs, in my more recent ones I don't do that anymore, it all depends on how you order your parts in the steps. There's definitely ways I could redo it but it's not something I've decided to focus on.

[@rogerzutter]

Well done bro 👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻

[@unpixelled]

Thanks!

[@benjaminwharton1595]

Excellent tutorial

[@unpixelled]

Thank you very much, are there any other tutorials you'd like to see?

[@benjaminwharton1595]

@@unpixelled I don't know at this stage - I just started my first Stud.io build

[@hi.360]

Thanks man

[@hi.360]

That one dislike is from your rival

[@Sahai768]

you?

[@hi.360]

I am going to build a Star Wars clone base integrated into a mountainside

[@qbmodels4394]

Thanks for the video; it's very well done and really informative :-)

[@unpixelled]

Thanks! Are there any more tutorials you'd be interested in?

[@qbmodels4394]

@@unpixelled I've only just started looking at the Bricklink and the LEGO designer studios....have you used both??? Maybe a comparison would be useful. Also, is there any recommended shortcut keys and tips to pass on to less experience users..that could be useful. Thanks for reaching out.

[@unpixelled]

@@qbmodels4394 I have used both but I recommend stud.io, I could to a stud.io build tips video if you're interested in that.

[@qbmodels4394]

@@unpixelled That would be awesome

[@Arcanace]

Why did I watch this after making instructions :/ It would have been so helpful!

[@alexshepherd]

Thanks for your tutorial, particularly the submodels, and how to create a callout for a submodel. Suppose I have two beams with pins facing each other. In the final model, these beams are touching, but I want to show them spaced apart in the first few instruction steps. Is there a way to do this? Moving a part seems to move it in all subsequent steps. I wondered if there is a way to have two submodels shown separately, then moved together. I can see that a callout is one possibility, but I would prefer the main steps to show parts separated and then brought together. Cheers for any suggestions you can give me

[@unpixelled]

You can achieve this using the buffer exchange tool to do this as the best method, this is around 19:29 in the video

[@TheMakuta345]

This is such a helpful guide! The only issue I'm still running into after watching this is adding a background to my pages. Is there a way to add an image to all future pages? It's rather tedious inserting and re-scaling the same image 75 times

[@unpixelled]

Yes there is, I learnt this a month or so after making this guide, where you select the background you have the option of colour and image at the top of the small popup, select window and then select center if you would like it to fill up all the blank space. Just goes to show that everyone is learning even me, this is probably the main thing I would add to my video if I could

[@studclone]

Amazing turtorial Nice for beginners and helpfull and not even an 1k likes so PLEASE LIKE BECEAUSE THIS IS REALLY GOOD

[@unpixelled]

Thank you so much for the kind words!

[@philiplotherington941]

Awesome tutorial, is there any way to rotate the page image in the instruction maker so I can view different angles of the model at each step of the build.

[@unpixelled]

Yes you can! If you check the step formatting section (it's around 14:40 start) you can change the model's orientation to get different views of the build. I use this a lot in my own process.

[@motosakai6445]

can you help me my app has an error that it shows wrong colors: example like yellow color become cyan, blue become orange, red become blue,... thank you very much

[@raytahirmushtaq752]

great tutorial. I have a question. how can we import any customer made part that is not included in the part list of the software?

[@unpixelled]

Using the accompanying Parts Designer program

[@brenengjesdal9023]

Thank you so much, I'm creating instructions for a 1645 part model right now. But it is terribly slow on my good PC. Is it because of the number of parts, or is there some issue with Stud.io refusing to use my GPU? I cannot render with my GPU and it has slowed me down significantly. If you know anything about this, please help because I have checked everywhere and tried everything.

[@unpixelled]

It's most likely a pc issue than a software issue but I'm not 100% sure.

[@jeffs7528]

How do I use multiple sets in one pallet for a multi alternate build

[@unpixelled]

Make separate instructions, combine them

[@benjrobrt9029]

how do i rotate the camera angle on the instructions

[@unpixelled]

14:45 Onwards

[@MrKev526]

Thank you for your tutorial. I did find it helpful. Could I just check something please? DO I have to make the model first before going into the instructions. It may sound obvious but for a 63 year old it's not. Thank you.

[@unpixelled]

Yes I'm afraid you do

[@yoshiproductions7724]

How do you turn the build so it shows on the instruktions?

[@unpixelled]

You click the button on the top bar for instructions, you can see it in the video

[@bananus815]

i already built something but its all in 1 step. is there a way to get the instructions fast? i really want to build it now but i dont know how

[@unpixelled]

There's no way to do it fast or automate it, it has to be done manually, LDD offers automatic instructions but these are typically poor quality and can result in impossible or paradoxical orders of steps.

[@koenwilms5392]

can you make a video how you remove pieces from a model in the correct order?

[@unpixelled]

You can remove them in whatever order you want

[@frankunodostres473]

ok so I have this problem: I was sent a file of a pretty complicated technic based model (approx. 1000 pieces) and I want to build it IRL. is there some way for the program to disassemble it and automatically put it together again? I tried the instruction maker and it doesn't help at all because I don't even know where to start.

[@unpixelled]

You would need to do it manually

[@Dzoo99]

Hi there. thanks for the tutorial. In Callout - Layout - after selecting rows or columns, if you change the size of the frame containing your layout, the count multiplier (2x) ends up too far away from your box and I can't find a way to move it back to any desired place. I can add text manually but it's not always convenient.

[@unpixelled]

You could change the sizing and scale but it depends on the location of your callout on the page.

[@spilaerik]

Hi Unpixelled, I would like to know your opinion. I am gonna build something very huge in bricklinks Stu.io 2.0. Do you think it is possible to make instructions after the whole project is fully build? Or is it much better to do it continuously? Thanks for an answer!

[@unpixelled]

As someone who's built huge projects in stud.io I definitely recommend afterwards and with lots of submodelled sections. If you do it continuously you may be unable to go back and change things forcing you to reset your instruction process. In general I recommend only making instructions when the model is complete anyway however I do sometimes tweak the model while making instructions such that the instructions work better,

[@spilaerik]

@@unpixelled thank you very much. Will do it according to your recommendation!

[@jaymihalco3916]

Hi Nice tutorial. Question: At about the 6:00 minute mark you mentions the 4 struts. How did you actually place the pieces? I can't get then to align properly. Any help or advise would be great. Thanks.

[@unpixelled]

So I placed the two angle pieces first, set them both at a 45 degree angle then placed the axle between the two, I don't believe it aligns exactly as I haven't used this model much recently, but that's how I did it.

[@jaymihalco3916]

@@unpixelled Thank you!!!

[@jolagalazka8609]

Is there any way to see the actual instructions of a set within the application?

[@unpixelled]

I'm afraid not but there are many websites that host instructions

[@scrubymcgee8745]

I have a weird issue when I export my instructions - there's half of a transparent image of the step on the exported pdf page, when in the editor there's nothing in the background. How do I fix that?

[@unpixelled]

It may be due to your resolution or your background image settings? I can't say more without seeing the issue.

[@Zakuda-sanWOLF34]

I was having o much trouble trying to make clear instructions for my models I've been starting in Hopes that they would become real sets in the future, but the steps were mixed up, the segments were colliding into each other and the view wasn't working out. thanks so much for the help

[@unpixelled]

Of course, glad I could help!

[@Zakuda-sanWOLF34]

@@unpixelled Ever since the lego optimus prime set came out I thought, "Will there be more?" but none yet. so I thought "If nobody gonna do it then why not me" so Im doing it myself

[@unpixelled]

@@Zakuda-sanWOLF34 Heck yeah that's the attitude to have!

[@Zakuda-sanWOLF34]

@@unpixelled thank you so much

[@joseescobedo7899]

So what I learned is I'm gonna have to redo my restaurant all over again...

[@unpixelled]

Yup, instructions can be pain but worth it.

[@robwartseducation6978]

Is there a way to change the angle of an object assemled? Sometimes very intricate connections are hidden behind the model and pupils get confused by my instructions generated in Studio 2.0.

[@unpixelled]

Change step view, model orientation will let you change the camera settings, it's at about 14:47 in the video.

[@robwartseducation6978]

@@unpixelled Thank you so much! You saved me from tons of questions during the lessons.

[@freakysnuke2571]

Is there any way of maybe having the instruction maker as a separate window so that you don't have to reload the model each time you exit / reload the instructions each time? Also when I for example convert submodels into callouts it's often very laggy and in general the instruction maker becomes really laggy when the instructions become a little bit too large (I'm not talking 800 pages but just 50). Is this normal?

[@unpixelled]

I'm afraid there's not really a way around this, stud.io lags quite a lot, I've got quite the beefy PC and it still stutters and lags for me.

[@freakysnuke2571]

@@unpixelled ok

[@studclone]

STAR WARS Line: 7:20

[@petercole3178]

are there any good Ipad Lego building apps?

[@unpixelled]

Not to my knowledge, pretty much only available on PC and Mac.

[@bku123]

In below reaction you are asking if there is need for more tutorials. Well, Partdesigner which can be used to make parts yourself for Studio, is also a nice program, but quite difficult to understand how it exactly works. I can reshape some parts, bit it goes wrong with adding the connectivity. If you know well how the program works, can you make a tutorial for this then?

[@unpixelled]

I do know how it works but not well enough, I suspect your issue with connectivity is you need to group it to the pieces.

[@bku123]

@@unpixelled Yes, I know. I get it working sometimes, but placing the connection points correctly seems to be difficult. Thanks for your reaction, I keep looking for a good tutorial.

[@unpixelled]

@@bku123 I tend to place them using the coordinate system, I'll line up the part on 0 0 0 then place the connections relative to that.

[@studclone]

good mic

[@williamsmith4414]

does anyone know how to undo hiding of pieces and sections of Lego pieces?

[@unpixelled]

Select them and click show

[@williamsmith4414]

@@unpixelled OK, thx for that.

[@mithridil]

I have a question I never found the answer till now. If you are building a building and it has some submodels (windows that you should attach to walls) how can i handle the steps? I mean, I want to start building it from the base, then reach the level of the window submodel, pause the expansion of the walls so i can show the window's submodel build then attach it to the walls, then continue building the wall where it's left before. How am I supposed to handle this? My only guess was, I don't match the main building into a submodel, only the furniture inside and the windows, then match the whole unsubmodeled building with the submodeled windows and furniture and I just generate the steps automatically, but I haven't tried yet. Would this solve my problem?

[@unpixelled]

If I understand what you're asking correctly, put the window submodel inside the wall section

[@mithridil]

@@unpixelled Yes, actually I found a way. I create the window as submodel and the rest of the building will be released. I grab all together (building and windows) and put them into submodel. Then I go to instructions>steps and place the whole building with the windows as a step. Then when I go into this step I release it and start creating steps before. When I reach the window's level I place the submodeled windows and then continue with the rest of the building. That way It becomes exactly like the lego instructions

[@unpixelled]

@@mithridil Sounds good! If you join the discord you can show it off, it's my preferred method to give out advice and help

[@shaldurprime7154]

what is the preview button good for, I have never not seen it greyed out, and I've looked really hard

[@unpixelled]

I've not seen it as other than greyed out either, I believe it can generate a preview of the final product but I'm not 100% certain.

[@shaldurprime7154]

@@unpixelled presumably its a sort of full screen presentation mode, exactly the kind of thing needed to record and later post instructions for a moc like I'm sure many people would like to do but the fact that it refuses to function is yet another addition to the list of greivances i have with this program after only a month, dozens of small yet rather egregious flaws that make the user experience barely tolerable

[@unpixelled]

@@shaldurprime7154 Yeah stud.io is a program with a lot of quirks and issues, I'm certain it's capable of functioning but I'm yet to find out how and personally after having used this program for over three years, most of the flaws are fine, you can live with them.

[@shaldurprime7154]

@@unpixelled please tell me there is a shift-click multiselect sort of function, i havent been able to find one yet and it is a pain in the ass

[@unpixelled]

@@shaldurprime7154 You mean like drag clicking or ctrl clicking?

[@moditorplayz]

i can't move the model with my mouse

[@unpixelled]

In regards to which part?

[@jovlem]

At 22:18 you create instructions 4x for the same parts. How do you do that. I can only drag one arrow from it and also don't get the "4x" below it. I guess I need to set something up before but can't figure out what?

[@unpixelled]

I'm not sure exactly when in the video you're referring, I think you have the wrong timecode but I think your issue is the same submodels are not in the same step.

[@jovlem]

@@unpixelled My bad, I mean at 15:51. I have 2 "builds" that are the same. I created for both a different sub model but I still can get only one arrow. Does it matter which one I use for "convert to callout"? How does Stud.io "know" that these two sub models are the same, do I need "tell" that somewhere or is this supposed to work automatically?

[@unpixelled]

@@jovlem Are they the same submodel or two submodels that have the same parts in them?

[@jovlem]

@@unpixelled They are two submodels with the same parts. How can I make it so that they are the same submodel?

[@tdog-jy1pp]

that still seems like it would take forever especially for someone like me who likes to build bigger things like the union pacific big boy for instance

[@unpixelled]

I'm doing instructions for 14k+ builds, it does.

[@fakeisnothing6384]

is there a way to make the parts from your set ship to you?

[@unpixelled]

Could you clarify what you mean by ship set?

[@unpixelled]

Oh sorry, I'm really dumb, you can order them from bricklink.

[@fakeisnothing6384]

@@unpixelled I dont think somebody who is "dumb" can create such a complex and interesting set! also does it cost money for the shipping?

[@unpixelled]

@@fakeisnothing6384 I have my moments. There are many sellers on bricklink from a wide variety of countries so the cost of shipping will vary.

[@VT29steamtrain]

How can I automatically generate instructions rather than doing it by steps. I have done alot of work on a model and is too large to sort into steps.

[@unpixelled]

There is no way to automatically generate instructions in stud.io. This is because of the complexity of Lego connections, while I've built large models and made instructions for them you have to do it manually. While LDD does have an auto-generate feature, it's highly flawed as demonstrated in the video.

[@VT29steamtrain]

@@unpixelled ah that's real bad

[@unpixelled]

@@VT29steamtrain There's no other way to do it and have it work. You can use LDD if you want but it'll look terrible and contain errors. The control and customisation of stud.io is superior and worth the time.

[@VT29steamtrain]

@@unpixelled well I've started making some sub models so lets see how it goes

[@WombatCombatPictures]

This was very helpful! Thank you!

[@unpixelled]

Thank you!

[@imbored394]

Ikr this video is very helpful