Help and frequently asked questions
The most important answers at a glance. Can’t find something? Write to us at hallo@lay-a-brick.de.
Building in the editor
How do I place my first brick?
Pick a part on the left and click on the baseplate. If you click on an existing brick, the new part goes on top. Press R to rotate it before placing, and hold down the mouse button and drag to build a whole row.
How do I remove a brick?
A short right-click removes the brick under the mouse pointer. With the eraser (key E), you can sweep over several bricks. You can undo everything with Ctrl+Z.
How do I rotate the view?
Hold down the right mouse button to rotate the camera, use the middle button to pan, and the mouse wheel zooms. On a trackpad, hold down the Space bar and drag. Keys 1 to 5 jump to fixed views.
What does “floating” mean?
A brick only holds if it is connected by studs to another brick or to the baseplate. The editor shows bricks without a connection in yellow, so they don’t end up in the instructions before they have support.
Which parts are available?
29 parts in 26 colors: bricks from 1×1 to 2×8, plates from 1×1 to 4×4, tiles, 45-degree slopes and round parts. Baseplates come in 16×16, 32×16, 32×32 and 48×48 studs.
Does the editor work on my phone?
To build, you need a PC, laptop or tablet. On your phone, you can view models and flip through any building instructions step by step.
Building instructions
How are the instructions created?
Automatically: the editor builds up your model layer by layer from the bottom up and groups bricks into sensible steps. Each step shows the parts you need and a small top view for orientation.
Can I change the steps?
Yes. In the instructions, you can merge, split and move steps and choose a different view for each step. The “Step size” slider makes all steps finer or coarser.
How do I save the instructions as a PDF?
Click “Print / PDF” and choose “Save as PDF” in your browser’s print dialog. Set the margins to “None”, and every page fits A4 exactly.
Saving and sharing
Where is my model saved?
Without an account, the editor saves automatically in your browser. With a free account, every model is also saved to the cloud, and you can keep building on any device. You can download a file as a backup at any time.
How do I share a model?
“Share” gives you a link and a QR code. Anyone with the link can see the model in 3D, print the instructions and build their own copy. It only appears in the gallery if you publish it.
What is a remix?
A remix is your own version of a published model. The remix’s model page automatically shows who created the original. Published models are licensed under CC BY 4.0.
Account and security
Do I need an account?
No. Building, printing and sharing via link work without an account. You need an account to save to the cloud, publish, give likes and take part in challenges. Accounts are available from age 16.
How do I protect my account even better?
Under Account → Security, you can turn on two-factor authentication. You then also need a code from an authenticator app when you sign in. Keep your recovery codes in a safe place.
How do I delete my account?
Under Account → My data. There you can first download all your data as a ZIP file. Deletion is immediate and permanent.
Content and rules
Why is my title rejected?
Brand names are not allowed on lay-a-brick – neither those of manufacturers nor those of films, games or characters. Describe your model in your own words, for example “spaceship” instead of a set name.
How do I report a model?
Every model page has a “Report” button. We review every report, obvious cases within 24 hours. You can also write to melden@lay-a-brick.de.