> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.colormass.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.colormass.com/building-blocks/integrations-and-plugins/blender-addon/getting-started.md).

# Getting started

## The colormass entry in the status bar

Everything setting the addon needs lives in one place: the colormass entry at the bottom right of Blender's status bar. It shows your name when you're logged in, and the texture size you work with.

![Blender with the colormass entry in the status bar](https://content.gitbook.com/content/v3R7xjvJcsIFNxg1zMmq/blobs/1vRx3rwifzPyp8xnXabE/images/blender-overview.png)

Click the entry to open the colormass popup. The same settings also appear under **Edit ▸ Preferences ▸ Add-ons ▸ colormass Platform Interface**.

## Log in

Enter the email address and password of your colormass account, then click **Log in**. The addon remembers your login, so you only need to do this once per computer.

![Logging in from the colormass popup](https://content.gitbook.com/content/v3R7xjvJcsIFNxg1zMmq/blobs/xmTNX1wGrmJHBQO38llk/images/popup-login.png)

## Your settings

Once you're logged in, the popup shows:

![The colormass popup when logged in](https://content.gitbook.com/content/v3R7xjvJcsIFNxg1zMmq/blobs/hRWea4bZsHVAseofXH1l/images/popup-connected.png)

* **Template editor:** whether a template editor is connected, and on which platform it works. From here you can upload objects or send the world to it. See [*Scenes*](/building-blocks/integrations-and-plugins/blender-addon/scenes.md).
* **Your name**, with a button to log out.
* **Organization:** the organization that new materials and HDRIs you upload belong to.
* **Texture size:** the largest size at which downloaded textures are used in the Blender materials: Original, 8K, 4K or 2K. Textures are always downloaded in original resolution and then scaled to the target resolution. Uploads always send the original maps (so no information is lost). When you change the size, the addon switches the maps of the open file right away. 
* **Cache folder:** where the addon stores downloaded textures.

## Where to find the addon

Besides the status bar, the addon adds a **colormass** panel wherever you need it:

| Where                                                                     | What you do there                          |
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------ |
| **Shader Editor ▸ Sidebar (N) ▸ colormass tab**, for an object's material | Download, create and upload materials      |
| **Shader Editor ▸ Sidebar (N) ▸ colormass tab**, for the world            | Download and upload HDRIs                  |
| **Properties ▸ World**                                                    | The same HDRI tools                        |
| **Properties ▸ Object**, for a mesh, light, camera or curve               | Upload the object to the template editor   |
| **Properties ▸ Render**                                                   | Set up Blender to render like the platform |

## Transfers

Downloads and uploads run in the background, so you can keep working in Blender. Their progress shows in the status bar, and the ✕ button next to it cancels them.

![A running upload in the status bar](https://content.gitbook.com/content/v3R7xjvJcsIFNxg1zMmq/blobs/ClweAIKNBO7J6cFOeNgW/images/transfer-progress.png)