# Getting Started

The HEAT Bridge is a program that directly interacts with the HEAT plugins for Blender, Unity, and Daz3D by allowing you to directly import any animation from the HEAT motion marketplace.

* Installing HEAT Bridge
  1. Navigate to <https://heat.tech/downloads>
  2. Click the link that reads **'DOWNLOAD HEAT BRIDGE'**
  3. Once download is complete extract the file **HEAT-Bridge.ZIP**
  4. Upon extracting you will have a folder containing the executable file **HEATBridge\_Installer.exe**. Open that file to install HEAT Bridge.
  5. At the final page of the installation you have the option to **'Launch HEATBridge'**, leave that box checked so that HEAT Bridge starts up now.
  6. HEAT Bridge installation is now complete, and the program should start automatically.

<figure><img src="https://3615087246-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FayEAytwtGUY9ZVsFfLoQ%2Fuploads%2FAVc5QMUp1m6yU0TPukLK%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=1710a638-9354-40f7-9072-0066d9cd88e0" alt="" width="563"><figcaption><p>HEAT Bridge</p></figcaption></figure>

{% hint style="danger" %}
When installing HEAT Bridge you may receive a warning from Windows that looks like the image below.  We are a new team that is currently building reputation with [SmartScreen](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/security/operating-system-security/virus-and-threat-protection/microsoft-defender-smartscreen/).  In the meantime if you encounter this warning please click **'More Info'** followed by **'Run Anyway'** to safely install HEAT Bridge.
{% endhint %}

<figure><img src="https://3615087246-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FayEAytwtGUY9ZVsFfLoQ%2Fuploads%2FnNQMeLvRXOaN9E9nURPb%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=4ad28644-f384-46d9-a759-b0c6a8584a5a" alt="" width="395"><figcaption><p>possible windows warning on Bridge installation</p></figcaption></figure>

* Signing into HEAT Bridge
  1. Click the **'Sign In'** button (<img src="https://3615087246-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FayEAytwtGUY9ZVsFfLoQ%2Fuploads%2Fb7Xx3Hg0wu9m4sCpeVxq%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=70adb3cd-f27e-4a7d-8fbb-2774db12c5e2" alt="" data-size="line">) in the top right corner of the window.
  2. This will bring up the log in/sign up portal.
  3. Either log in with your email and password OR, if you haven't signed up yet, at the top of the portal click **'Sign Up'** and create your account.
  4. The HEAT Bridge is now running.  You can see in the lower left hand corner the connection indicator.  If you see the green circle (<img src="https://3615087246-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FayEAytwtGUY9ZVsFfLoQ%2Fuploads%2FCe7I936xGFJDoY1tOG1G%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=c1cd4475-b0bf-49d1-9134-bc2844c67387" alt="" data-size="line">) then the bridge is connected to the HEAT servers and is ready to interact with our various plugins.

{% hint style="warning" %}
If you close the HEAT Bridge it will continue to run in the background in the system tray.  If you want to fully quit out of the HEAT Bridge right click on the HEAT icon (<img src="https://3615087246-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FayEAytwtGUY9ZVsFfLoQ%2Fuploads%2FgdtizwhQPyDky4I90g1g%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=fe28598d-6a1c-46ed-b4b3-9b6e5079df37" alt="" data-size="line">) in the system tray and click **'Quit'**.
{% endhint %}

Next we will go over using the HEAT Bridge to interface with the HEAT marketplace.