How do I make instructions from my .ldr/.lxf files on OSX? I'm on OSX and I've got a bunch of models made in Lego Digital Designer.  They look awesome!  Now I want to make instructions.  

Q: how do I get from my .ldr files to images or PDF?
I'll take anything!

There are a couple questions here on stackexchange that are similar, but years have passed and some of the references seem out of date.

From my research I believe (one) workflow is:


build a model in CAD of choice (I'm using LDD, but there is also LeoCAD)
import the model into Bricksmith
in Bricksmith group the parts together to make "steps"
export the steps from Bricksmith, which makes a .ldr for every step!
now it's time to render: bring it into LPub
... this is where I'm stuck.


The fundamental problem seems to be: LPub is... suboptimal


LPub needs parts files
LPub hasn't been updated in a while
The parts files are generated with Windows-compatible scripts
the parts files I've used so far just crash LPub


So, is the answer 


"here's how to fix LPub" ?
Or "Stop using LPub" ?


Here's what I've found so far:


Making Lego Instructions - outlines the workflow I described
LDraw parts.lst - this is the "missing file" that gets generated.  Points to many other files.
LDMakeList - the script that generates the list
Lego Instruction Creator - stagnant project that was an alternative to LPub.  Has complicated dependencies.
LDD will produce printable instructions on its own.  You can print these into PDF files.  Do you not like the LDD-produced instructions?