The integration of 3D Gaussian Splatting (3DGS) scans into Blender is no longer a complex process. Kiri Innovations presents 3DGS Render, an open-source and free addon that allows importing, manipulating, and visualizing these files in real-time within the Blender environment. This tool brings a photogrammetry-based 3D reconstruction technology to a more accessible and straightforward workflow for artists.
Technical operation and workflow with Eevee ⚙️
The addon takes PLY files generated by Gaussian Splatting pipelines and converts the millions of points into camera-oriented planes (billboards) that are rendered in the 3D viewport. These scans are handled as conventional objects, allowing them to be moved, scaled, or animated. Visualization and final rendering are performed through the Eevee engine, leveraging its real-time rendering. Cycles compatibility is not available in this version, but the tool establishes a foundation for working with these assets.
Goodbye to point clouds that only your GPU understood 👋
Finally, you can treat those dense scans like any ordinary cube, without needing to whisper code in the console or perform export rituals. The addon turns the abstract magic of machine learning into something you can select and accidentally delete with the X key. It's a step toward a future where the most complex technology is reduced to finding a button in a sidebar tab, ideal for when your patience has less sample density than the scan itself.