View Changelog (v1.4.2 - August 15th, 2023)
Works in Blender v2.8 onwards.
How to Install and Use the Addon
Installation:
Download the .zip file. (DO NOT extract the zip file)
In Blender, navigate to Edit -> Preferences. Then the Addons tab.
Hit the install button, locate the zip and install the zip file.
Make sure the addon is displayed in the list and enabled (search for "Poliigon" if needed)
In the 3D viewport, press ‘N’ to open the side panel in the viewport
Click on the Poliigon Addon tab.
How to uninstall
In blender, Edit -> Preferences. Then the Addons tab.
Search for Poliigon
Expand the Poliigon Addon item, and press the "Remove" button
Alternatively, you can simply uncheck the box next to the addon name. This will only disable the addon, not uninstall it, making it easier to start using again later.
For full cleanup, you can delete your
~homuser~/Poliigon/folder - be aware that the default Library folder is~home_user/Poliigon/Libraryso you may want to move or save the Library folder if you choose to uninstall and not lose your local assets.
Indepth How-To:
Background
First released in summer of 2022, this addon allows you to browse, purchase, download, and import Poliigon assets all without ever leaving Blender. It supports loading textures, models, and HDRs, and more recently supports generating blender files for use in the Blender Asset Browser.
It supports Blender 2.8+.
Installation
User Account Setup
After installing the addon, you can go into the 3D view to log into your Poliigon account
If you haven’t already, select the Poliigon tab in the side panel.
Click on "Login via Browser"
A webpage will open. If you are not already logged in, go ahead and complete the login
Once you are presented with the "Return to the addon" screen, go back to Blender
Confirm or change default Poliigon library folder. This is where files will download to and import from*
You can also sign in using your email if you prefer:
If you haven’t already, select the Poliigon tab in the side panel.
Enter in your username and password, the same one you would use for the website.
Press Log In
Confirm or change default Poliigon library folder. This is where files will download to and import from*
* You can select add additional library folders in user preferences at any time
Navigating the Addon
Section Buttons
The addon’s UI is separated into sections, listed below from left to right.
Poliigon Assets (Whole Library)
Show My Assets (Owned Assets)
Show Imported Assets (Assets currently loaded into the scene.)
Account Details (Account-related Settings)
Addon Preferences (Shortcut to the addon in User Preferences)
Poliigon Assets Section
Searching
The search bar allows you to refine the search by category (e.g. Textures, Models) and subcategories (e.g. Bricks, Modern). Initially, it will only show one button, then more will be added as subcategories become available.
The results displayed will be identical to the website.
Asset Boxes
The buttons underneath each asset will change depending on whether or not the asset is purchased and downloaded.
Unpurchased
Eye Icon - This Quick Preview allows you to apply a low-resolution, watermarked preview to the selected object. (Only applicable for materials currently)
Download - This will download the asset at the default* resolution.
Down Arrow - This Quick Menu allows you to view a larger thumbnail and quickly open the asset online.
* Default settings can be changed in the addon settings menu.
Purchased
Download - If purchased but currently not downloaded, this button will download the asset to your Addon's primary library folder.
Import/Apply - Will import the downloaded asset into Blender, if an object is selected it will read as Apply, and will automatically apply the material to the selected object. If no object is selected, it will load the material into memory with a fake user but not apply it.
Down Arrow - This Quick Menu allows you Import/Download different resolutions of the asset.
Show my Assets Section
Same functionality as the main Poliigon Assets Section, however, results are limited to assets already purchased.
Show Imported Assets Section
Similar functionality to the main Poliigon Assets Section, however, results are limited to assets currently imported to Blender (Either applied to an object, or stored in memory via a fake user). This section not offer options to download or apply new resolutions.
Account Details Section
Adding Credits
Subscription Credits - Shows the current amount of credits from your Poliigon subscription
On-Demand Credits - Shows the current amount of on-demand credits
Setting Subscription
Displays Subscription Details
Subscribe Now / Change Plan - This button will open your browser at the appropriate page to purchase/edit a subscription
Addon feedback
Feedback survey: Opens the satisfaction survey
Share suggestions: Opens our hellonext board for the Blender Addon, where you can share ideas for specific features
Settings Button
Shortcut to open the Edit -> Preferences -> Addon window.
Addon Preferences
To access the addon’s preferences navigate to the Edit -> Preferences -> Addons section, and then find the Poliigon addon. Or, click the cog icon in the Poliigon 3d view panel. Below are details of what each option does.
Library + additional directories section
Library - Main root folder for the addon to use when downloading assets
Additional Libraries - Allows you to specify additional directories to scan for download assets. (Note - Only Poliigon assets are supported currently.)
Asset Browser Preferences
Library Name - The name the addon will create or search for in the blender File Paths section for library paths. This will be the display name of the Poliigon library in the Blender Asset Browser
Synchronize Local Assets - A button which kicks off creating the library and processing assets to display in the library.
Display Preferences
Thumbnail size - Changes how large to make the thumbnails displayed in the 3D panel grid viewer
Assets Per Page - How many assets to show per page in the main UI.
Note: We suggest using a page size of 10 or smaller for the best stability
Refresh data - (v1.2+) Force a full refresh of icons and addon internal data, also available as a refresh icon in the 3D view panel next to the search bar
Asset Preferences
Textures:
Default Texture Resolution - The default resolution that materials will be downloaded in
Models:
Download + Import .blend Files - If checked, will download blend files instead of FBXs, does not affect LODs
Link .blend files - If a blend file is available and the preference to prefer importing is checked, will aim to link objects instead of appending
Default Model Resolution - The default resolution that model textures will be downloaded in.
Download Model LODs - If checked, automatically download all Level of Detail FBX files with the model
Default Model LOD - Which Level of Detail to import, if LODs are already local. If NONE is selected, the default blend file will be imported. Otherwise, the according LOD FBX file will be imported.
HDRs:
Default HDR Lighting Resolution - The default resolution for HDR lighting, separate from background resolution.
Use JPG for background - If checked, the default import operation will a different background resolution as specified below
Default HDR Background Resolution - The default background resolution for HDRs if "Use JPG for background" is enabled. This value will only effect the scene background, not lighting. It is a way to improve background resolution without loading the memory heavy lighting EXR at the same resolution, but will face more clipping issues and not respond to scene exposure as well.
Brushes:
Default Brush Resolution - The default resolution in which brushes will be downloaded.
Other:
Auto-Download - Toggle automatic asset downloading after a purchase.
Use Micro-displacements - Set Blender to Experimental mode and adds a subdivision modifier, and adds a non-zero default displacement value to materials imported (For adaptive subdivision, note: Displacement strength will still need to be adjusted in the material shader). Does not apply to models.
Use 16 bit maps: If they exist, load the higher bit depth maps such as for normal map improved accuracy
Other preferences
Auto-check for update (daily): Checks for updates once per 24h (if Blender is open). You can also always press "Check for update".
Verbose logging to console: Enabled by default, adds additional debugging information into the output system console. Does not affect addon behavior.
Share addon errors/usage: Also available at time of log in. If enabled, automatically shares errors encountered inside the addon to developers. Additionally will send key events inside the addon, such as pressing operators or viewing sections, so that we may better understand its usage and improve performance. We do not send any usage behavior outside the Poliigon Addon itself.
Using Materials
Applying a material
Select the object you would like to apply a material to.
Click the “Apply” button on the material selection within the addon.
Material redo last settings
Right after importing or applying a material, look to the bottom left of the 3D view or press F9 to pull up the "redo last" menu.
Texture - Pick another texture resolution (limited to sizes already local)
Mapping - Pick between different texture mapping options:
Built in mapping options including: UV, Flat, Box, Sphere, Tube
Mosaic: a special de-tiling node good for breaking up repetition (also available from the "Shift-A > Poliigon Node Groups" menu in the shader node editor).
Scale - Change the size multiplier for mapping
Displacement - Adjust the displacement amount
16-Bit textures (if any) - Load higher bitdepth maps, at the cost of extra memory
Micro Dispalcements - (Cycles only) Automatically set up the material, and selected object(s), to have the micro displacement modifier.
Reuse Material - If you already imported the material before at that same texture size and mapping combination, reuse that material instead of generating a new one
Adjusting the imported material
To adjust the imported material, open the shading tab and locate the material node group.
Poliigon Nodegroup
Scale - Adjust the scale of the material.
Aspect Ration - Adjustment for non-square textures, will be adjusted automatically on import.
Translate X, Y - Move the texture along the X, Y access, corresponding to the UV.
Global Rotation - Rotate the material, corresponding to the UV.
Color Hue, Saturation, Value, Brightness, and Contrast Adj. - Adjustment sliders
AO Strength - Adjust the amount of influence the ambient occlusion texture has.
Roughness Adj. - Adjustment to the roughness map.
Normal Strength - Adjustment to the normal map’s strength.
Displacement Strength - Adjust displacement strength (Defaults to ZERO!)
Displacement Mid-Level - Adjust the mid-level of the displacement.
Bump Strength - Adjust the strength of the bump map (Defaults to 0.005)
Subsurface Multiplier - Adjust the effect of the SSS map.
* Certain values may be missing depending on the material imported. For example, if the material doesn’t have an SSS map, no Subsurface Multiplier value will be listed.
Using Models
Importing a model
Set the 3D Cursor to the desired location
Click Import within the addon
View the F9/redo last menu for more options on how to import, such as to import models as collections, or to change to link models instead of append (not applicable if importing LODs)
Model redo last settings
Right after importing a model, look to the bottom left of the 3D view or press F9 to pull up the "redo last" menu.
LOD - If any LODs are available, import that using the settings below. Not available if using "Link .blend file". LODs always load FBXs on disk, not the source blend file, so you may find there are some material setting differences.
Texture - Change the model texture to load, only will display already downloaded model resolutions
Import as collection - If ticked, create a collection for this model at the origin of the scene, and place an instance of that collection. Future model imports will continue to reference that existing collection instead of performing new imports.
Reuse materials: - If you have already imported this model before, reuse the prior material instead of creating a new duplicate
Link .blend file - If a blend file is available, live link the model. If disabled, all operations will act like "append"
Using HDRs
Importing an HDR will automatically assign it to the active world, or create a new one if necessary. You will not see this HDR unless you go into the rendered mode, and you can see the node layout in the shader window after switching to World. HDRs are imported with two image inputs, depending on your user preferences
Light - A higher-depth EXR file used to actually light the scene.
Background - The JPG image to be visible in the background render.
HDR redo last settings
Right after importing an HDR, look to the bottom left of the 3D view or press F9 to pull up the "redo last" menu.
Light Texture - The EXR resolution size which will be used to light the scene
Background Texture - By default will use the Light Texture, but you can select another typically higher resolution JPG
HDR Strength - How strongly the lighting texture will light up the scene
Z-Rotation - Rotate the whole HDR using this slider
Blender Asset Browser integration
As of the addon version 1.4.0, there is now support for the Blender Asset Browser. Once you have synced your local, already downloaded assets, you will be able to easily drag and drop them into your scene. Poliigon blend files for the asset library are generated on the fly, using your current user preference default values for which size and setting variants to use when generating files. You will notice "_LIB.blend" files appearing adjacent to your assets, which allows for this integration to work. Where possible, model files will link to the source blend file to avoid data duplication.
See the section in the Poliigon addon's user preferences to get started, click "Synchronize Local Assets" to generate the library. Broader support for the asset browser is coming soon.
You can also sync a single asset at a time from the asset quick menu:
Other Information
We recommend you leave files and folder structures downloaded as-is without renaming, to avoid breaking connections with the addon
Remember to always restart blender after performing any updates of the addon
If you run into issues, you can chat with help on this page using the chat bubble to connect with our support team.