Callouts
A callout of a submodel can be seen as mini instructions within the instructions. They show how to assemble a piece of the model before attaching it as a whole to the main model. LEGO does this all the time in its building instructions. You can also use multiple instances of a submodel, but only draw instructions once.
A submodel can be shown as a callout in your instructions.
Take a look at the official instructions for set 40252.
On page 8, step 11, you see a nested submodel that is shown in a callout. The callout is the box with light yellow background that shows how to assemble the submodel twice and then uses arrows to point to where these submodels (or subasseblies) should go.
On page 13 step 21 you see another example of a nested submodel in a callout.
On page 15 step 24 is a submodel in the main model shown in a callout.
Page 17 step 26 shows 2 different submodels in 2 separate callouts.
Practice with set 40252
If you did not follow the steps of Page layout and Submodels please do so first or download a prepared LDraw file to work with
In the menu go to Configuration > Build Instructions Setup... > Callout Setup
Change the border to have round corners
On the Contents tab make sure the option Per Step is unchecked to not show a PLI for every step of the submodel in the callout
Also uncheck Show Submodel image at first step and click [OK]
Navigate to page 26 and
Right click anywhere on a blank spot of the page and choose <Convert to Callout>
The result should look something like the image below:
Original instructions image © LEGO®
Please note that in this version of the LDraw model the Buffer Exchange has been left out. An example of Buffer Exchange in the original instructions is the way the 1x2 dark grey plate is hovering above the white 2x2 plate in step 1 of the submodel with the 2 red arrows pointing to where the 1x2 plate should go. See the image shown above. This technique is not a native LPub3D feature but is covered elsewhere on this website.
Continue working on the model to further mimic the original instructions
In the menu go to Configuration > Build Instructions Setup... > Page Setup
Set both left/right and top/bottom page margins to 0.5000 by entering the value in both input fields in the Margins section of the dialog and click [OK]
Right click on a blank spot in the PLI and choose <Change Parts List Placement>
Change Relative To to <Page> and click the [Top/Left] button and then [OK]
Make it a global setting by clicking [No] at the <Change only this step?> dialog
Right click the step number choose <Change Step Number Placement>
Change Relative To to <Parts List> and click the [Bottom:Left] button and then [OK]
Make it a global setting by clicking [No] at the <Change only this step?> dialog
Now right click on a blank spot in the callout and choose <Change Callout Placement>
Change Relative To to <Step Number> and click the [Bottom:Left] button and then [OK]
Right click the callout again and choose <Display Callout as Rows>
Right click the assembly image and choose <Change Assembly Placement>
Relative To should be <Page> and click the [Bottom/Right] button and then [OK]
This time click [Yes] to only affect this page
Right click on the pointer (the black line with the arrow that points from the callout to the assembly image) and choose <Add Pointer Segment>
Note that a thick square (handle) is added to the line: left click that handle point and drag it to make a nice 90º angle at the pointer line. You can activate Page Guides to help.
Note that similar handles are drawn at the beginning of the pointer (attached to the callout border) and at the end of of arrow head
Click and drag these handle points to form and place the pointer line and arrowhead
Right click the pointer again and choose <Set Border Attributes>
Change the Border Color to white and click [OK]
The result of all this work should resemble something like the image below:
Please note that LPub3D stats counting the step number at 1 again for the main model and for each submodel on a multi step page too. Step numbers do not increase throughout the model. This is why this is step 11 and not 24 like in the original instructions.
This feature may be added to LPub3D in a later version.
You can download a file with the progress so far here.
You can also use a submodel with only one brick in it with no steps and convert to a callout to point out where a certain individual brick needs to go if it is partially hidden or obscured by the rest of the model.
Continue to the advanced lessons.