Wikipedia

BrickLink Studio

Studio 2.0
Other namesStud.io
DeveloperBrickLink
Initial releaseDecember 13, 2016; 9 years ago (2016-12-13)
Stable release
v3 2.25.11_3 / November 26, 2025; 2 months ago (2025-11-26)
Written inC#
EngineUnity
Operating systemWindows
MacOS
Available inEnglish
TypeComputer-aided design
LicenseProprietary
Websitewww.bricklink.com/v3/studio/main.page

BrickLink Studio (also known as Studio 2.0) is a freeware CAD software developed by BrickLink which allows for the creation of virtual 3D models with Lego bricks. It replaced Lego Digital Designer as the official Lego design software.[1]

History

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It was released on BrickLink as an open beta on December 13, 2016.[2] The next major update to the program, version 2.0, was released in open beta on July 18, 2018. Multiple features were added to the program, including a photorealistic rendering option, and BrickLink integration for ordering parts to recreate the model physically, as well as the Instruction Maker.[3] The software runs on the game engine Unity.[4]

The software is used in the BrickLink Designer Program, where it serves as the venue through which submitted designs are built.[5] Studio Early Access, a version where new features are released early, also exists.[6]

Initially, Studio for their own parts library silently used LDraw Parts Library, developed by LDraw.org Community under Creative Commons Attribution license. After LDraw.org's admin contacted with the Studio developers the info about use of LDraw has been publicly added to the website and into software.[7]

In 2021, it was revealed that the Eyesight, a render engine of the BrickLink Studio, is built from the Cycles render sources developed by Blender Foundation (at the time, Cycles' source has been already under Apache License, allowing it to be included into proprietary software, while Blender's source stays under GPL), but in same time BrickLink Studio proprietary binary included some GPL-licensed source from Blender too, at least parts of bf_blenlib source files, that is visibe in Studio binary file via hex editor. Later, the source of Eyesight was released on BrickLink site, as well as the modified sources of POV-Ray, FFmpeg and other sotware libs used in Studio.[7][8][9]

In January 2022, The Lego Group announced that BrickLink Studio would replace Lego Digital Designer (LDD) as the official Lego building software going forward.[10][11] The Lego Group has specific dedicated BrickLink Studio builders.[12]

PartDesigner

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A companion software, PartDesigner, allows for the design of custom parts which can then be used in Studio.[13]

Further reading

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  • Agarwal, Vishnu (2023). The Art of Virtual LEGO Design: Design LEGO Models Using Studio 2.0. Maker Innovations Series (1st ed.). Berkeley, CA: Apress L. P. ISBN 978-1-4842-8776-7.
  • Shenoy, Deepak (2025). The LEGO Builder's Handbook: Make Your Own LEGO Models. San Francisco, CA: No Starch Press. pp. 14, 19, 54, 104, 123, 160, 128, 164. ISBN 978-1-7185-0380-9.

References

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  1. ^ Ramos, J. F.; Trilles, S. (2025). "Improving creativity and digital competence through 3D design with Bricklink Studio". ICERI2025 Proceedings: 8455–8458. doi:10.21125/iceri.2025.2393. ISSN 2340-1095.
  2. ^ "BrickLink - Stud.io (Archived)". 5 January 2017. Archived from the original on 5 January 2017. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
  3. ^ Schulze, Alexander (2021). Programming with Lego® Mind-Storms® 51515 and Spike® Prime. dpunkt.verlag. ISBN 978-3-96910-556-6.
  4. ^ Cabrerizo, Alejandro; Zeurcher, Will; Wright, Thomas; Jamieson, Peter (2021). Stephanidis, Constantine; Antona, Margherita; Ntoa, Stavroula (eds.). "Lego®-like Bricks to Go from the Real to the Virtual World". HCI International 2021 - Late Breaking Posters. Cham: Springer International Publishing: 97. doi:10.1007/978-3-030-90176-9_13. ISBN 978-3-030-90176-9.
  5. ^ "Announcing the new BrickLink Designer Program!". Brickset.com. 9 December 2022. Retrieved 4 February 2026.
  6. ^ "Studio Early Access [BrickLink]". BrickLink. Archived from the original on 21 January 2026. Retrieved 29 January 2026.
  7. ^ a b "Technical Notes". BrickLink Help Center. LEGO Group. Retrieved 10 October 2024. BrickLink uses: Vignette renders created using LDraw, MLCad, L3PAdd-on and Pov-Ray
  8. ^ "BrickLink Studio's Eyesight, native on Linux". slswww.free.fr. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
  9. ^ "Studio Download". BrickLink. This software uses code of FFmpeg licensed under the LGPLv2.1 and its source can be downloaded here.
  10. ^ "BrickLink Studio Replacing LDD". BrickSet. 12 January 2022. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
  11. ^ Turner-Wharfe, Chris (12 January 2022). "LEGO Digital Designer wordt vervangen door BrickLink Studio". Brickfanatics (in Dutch). Retrieved 1 July 2025.
  12. ^ Yates, Jack (12 January 2022). "LEGO wants BrickLink Studio builders for confidential project". Brickfanatics. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
  13. ^ "PartDesigner". BrickLink. 12 January 2026.