How to Capture 3D Gaussian Splats with KIRI Engine: Step-by-Step Guide

Quick Workflow: Capture a 3D Gaussian Splat in KIRI Engine

1. Choose a static subject or scene with consistent lighting.

2. Use soft, diffuse light — overcast daylight or a softbox. Avoid single strong sources.

3. Record a slow inward orbit video at three heights: eye level, from above, from below.

4. Open KIRI Engine, tap +, select 3DGS, and upload the video.

5. Enable 3DGS to Mesh before uploading if you need .OBJ, .FBX, or .GLTF output.

6. Wait for cloud processing — around 2 to 3 minutes.

7. Crop the splat using the Sphere, Plane, or Brush tools.

8. Export as .PLY for 3DGS viewers and Blender, or export the mesh for game engines, Unity, Unreal, Godot, or 3D printing.

To capture a 3D Gaussian Splat with KIRI Engine, keep your subject still, record a slow inward orbit at multiple heights, upload the video to 3DGS Scan, enable 3DGS to Mesh before processing if you need a standard mesh, then crop, edit, and export the result as .PLY or mesh formats for Blender, Unity, Unreal, or Godot.

Hand holding an iPhone running KIRI Engine 3DGS Scan mode, capturing a Godzilla figure against a red background

This guide focuses on the practical workflow: how to record, process, edit, and export a 3D Gaussian Splat in KIRI Engine. For the theory behind Gaussian Splatting, see our Technical Guide.

What Is 3D Gaussian Splatting Used For?

3D Gaussian Splatting (3DGS) turns short video clips into photorealistic 3D visualizations using machine learning — no mesh, no textures. It works by modeling how light behaves at every point in the scene rather than reconstructing geometry the traditional way.

The reason it matters is what it handles well. Reflective surfaces, transparent objects, featureless plastics — the things that reliably break photogrammetry. 3DGS doesn't care about feature points, so it gets results where other methods fall apart. It also works well for capturing entire rooms, outdoor environments, and large scenes.

KIRI Engine was the first app to bring 3DGS to Android. It runs on any iPhone or Android with no LiDAR sensor needed, and processing happens in the cloud.

KIRI Engine's 3DGS Scan works on any iPhone or Android — no LiDAR required.

When Should You Use 3DGS Instead of Photo Scan?

3DGS and photogrammetry are genuinely different tools, not just different quality levels. Use 3DGS when the surface is difficult (reflective, transparent, featureless) or when you want a photorealistic visualization of a full scene. Use Photo Scan when you need an editable mesh for a game engine, animation rig, or 3D printer.

Side-by-side comparison of a chess knight scanned with photogrammetry (left, showing artifacts and floating points) versus 3D Gaussian Splatting (right, showing clean photorealistic output) using KIRI Engine

One thing worth knowing: the two aren't mutually exclusive. If you enable 3DGS to Mesh during upload, KIRI generates both a splat and a polygon mesh from the same capture. You get the visual quality of 3DGS and the pipeline compatibility of a mesh in one go.

→ 3D Gaussian Splatting vs Photogrammetry vs LiDAR — full decision guide

Step 1: Prepare Your Subject for a Better 3DGS Scan

Lighting

Overcast daylight is the ideal. The flat, shadowless light that makes outdoor photography look boring is exactly what 3DGS needs. The problem with a single strong light source isn't the brightness. It's that your shadow moves with you as you orbit, and the algorithm reads that movement as part of the scene. Soft and consistent beats bright and directional every time.

Keep the object still

Don't use a turntable. It seems like it should work — rotate the object, keep the camera fixed — but the algorithm expects the opposite. It needs you to move around a stationary subject. A turntable produces bad data and a bad splat. Walk around the object; don't move the object itself.

Background

Whatever is in the frame during capture ends up in the splat. If you only want the object, a plain matte background saves you a lot of editing time afterward. Busy or reflective backgrounds aren't disqualifying, but you'll spend more time with the Brush tool cleaning up.

Surface type

3DGS handles reflective and featureless surfaces well — that's the whole point. The edge cases are extreme transparency (glass without visible content behind it) and fast-moving surfaces like water. Those are difficult regardless of how well you capture.

A static object on a stable surface with consistent indoor lighting — the ideal setup for a 3DGS scan. Keep the subject still and orbit the camera around it, not the other way around.

Step 2: Record Your Capture Video

Starting a scan

Tap the + icon at the bottom of the home screen, select 3DGS, then choose to capture directly in-app or upload an existing video or photo set. Both video and photos have worked since the v3.13 update.

The orbit

The single rule that matters most: orbit inward, keep the subject centered in your frame the whole time. This establishes the axis point the algorithm builds around, and it applies even when you're scanning a full scene rather than a single object.

Three orbits, three heights. Eye level gets the sides, tilting down from above gets the top, crouching low gets the underside. Skip any of these and you'll see it in the result — missing geometry or smearing where the algorithm had to guess. For objects sitting on a surface, get as low as you practically can to cover the lower half.

Pace and movement

Move slower than feels natural. The pace that seems slightly awkward is usually about right. Fast movement creates motion blur, and motion blur is the most common reason for bad splats. Keep a consistent distance from the subject as you orbit — drifting in and out introduces inconsistency in the point cloud. Hold the phone level and move your body rather than tilting your wrist.

Video vs. photos

Video is generally easier to get right. Photos work well too, but you need consistent overlap between frames and thorough angle coverage. Most people find video more forgiving for smooth, continuous movement.

Step 3: Upload Settings

Upload your video through the app or web interface. KIRI Engine automatically processes both a 3DGS splat and a polygon mesh from the same capture — you don't need to configure anything to get both. The .PLY splat is available for visualization, Blender rendering via the 3DGS Render Add-on, or any external 3DGS viewer. The mesh is stored separately in your Scans list and exports to .OBJ, .FBX, .GLTF, and more — no plugin needed in any engine.

→ What is 3DGS to Mesh? How Gaussian Splatting becomes real 3D models

3DGS to Mesh 3.0 output from KIRI Engine — a 3D Gaussian Splat converted into an editable polygon mesh, ready for import into Blender, Unity, Unreal Engine, or Godot without a plugin.

Step 4: Processing

Processing runs in the cloud and with the current v3.13 algorithm, roughly half what it used to take. Queue times vary with server load, so during busy periods it can be longer. Pro users get priority queue access.

You can close the app while it processes. You'll get a notification when it's done.

The v3.13 update also cut output file sizes by about 50% compared to earlier versions, which makes a real difference when you're working with the files in Blender or loading them in a viewer.

Step 5: Crop and Clean Your 3D Gaussian Splat

The processed splat includes everything the camera saw during capture — the subject and the background. The editor gives you three tools to clean it up.

Sphere tool

Crops inside or outside a sphere. Two modes: keep what's inside to isolate an object, or keep what's outside to cut out a central area. For most single-object scans this is the fastest way to get a clean result.

Plane tool

Slices along a flat plane. Good for removing floors, walls, or anything with a clean horizontal or vertical edge. Works well on architectural or scene captures where the background has clear geometry.

Brush tool

Manual selection for anything the other two can't handle cleanly. Adjustable brush size. Slower, but it's the right tool for irregular backgrounds or when you need to get close to an edge without clipping the subject.

Once you've cropped, you can reposition, rotate, and scale before saving.

KIRI Engine's 3DGS editor on iPhone — use the Sphere tool to isolate your subject, the Plane tool to remove floors and walls, or the Brush tool for manual cleanup. Reposition and rotate before exporting.

Step 6: Export Your 3DGS as .PLY or Mesh

.PLY — native 3DGS format

For visualization: the KIRI web viewer, KIRI's Blender Add-on, or any external 3DGS viewer like SuperSplat. Standard 3D software won't open a 3DGS .PLY without a dedicated plugin. It's not a normal point cloud file — it carries additional rendering data that requires an add-on to interpret.

Mesh (.OBJ and other formats)

Only available if 3DGS to Mesh was on during upload. The mesh lives separately in your Scans list and exports to .OBJ, .FBX, .GLTF, and more. No plugin needed in any engine — it's a standard 3D asset.

→ 3DGS Render Blender Add-on — download and documentation (for .PLY)
→ What is 3DGS to Mesh? (for mesh export)

Why Does My 3DGS Scan Look Bad? Common Fixes

Blurry result or floating artifacts

Almost always motion blur. Walk slower than you think you need to — the pace that feels slightly awkward is usually about right. If you're still getting blur, brace your elbows against your body rather than holding the phone out at arm's length.

Large areas of the object are missing

You missed angles during capture. The underside and the back are the most common gaps. Redo the capture with three deliberate orbits at different heights: eye level, from above, from below.

Looks right from some angles, wrong from others

Not enough coverage at certain heights. Add more height variation to your orbits and make sure you complete each one fully before moving to the next.

Background takes over, object looks small

You were too far from the subject during capture. Get closer, or use the Sphere or Brush tool in the editor to pull the object out of the background after processing.

Reflective object still has artifacts

3DGS handles reflections better than photogrammetry, but extreme specular highlights that shift dramatically between frames can still cause problems. The fix is usually lighting — softer and more diffuse, rather than a single bright source.

Turntable capture produced bad results

Won't work with 3DGS. The algorithm needs the camera to move around a stationary object, not the other way around. No workaround — recapture by orbiting the camera.

How to Use 3DGS in Blender, Unity, Unreal, and Godot

Blender

Install the KIRI Engine 3DGS Render Add-on (free, v4.1). Import your .PLY, clean it up with the crop tools, recolor, animate, and composite with standard mesh objects. Real-time viewport rendering and offline Eevee output. Works on Blender 4.2 and above.

→ 3DGS Render Add-on — download and full documentation

KIRI Engine's free 3DGS Render Add-on for Blender — import your .PLY, switch between 3DGS, Point Cloud, and Mesh modes, bake for rendering, and export from within Blender. Compatible with Blender 4.2 and above.

Unity, Unreal Engine, Godot

Two routes. For the splat itself: UnityGaussianSplatting for Unity, XV3DGS for Unreal, the gdgs compositor plugin for Godot 4. For a standard mesh with no plugin required, use the .OBJ or .GLTF from 3DGS to Mesh and import it like any other asset.

→ 3D Gaussian Splatting in Godot: beyond viewer demos

KIRI Engine's free 3DGS Render Add-on for Blender — import your .PLY, switch between 3DGS, Point Cloud, and Mesh modes, bake for rendering, and export from within Blender. Compatible with Blender 4.2 and above.

3D printing

Export the mesh (.OBJ), then clean it up in Blender or Meshmixer to make it watertight before sending to a slicer. The 3DGS to Mesh output usually needs some cleanup for printing — it's not production-ready straight out of the app.

FAQ

Does 3D Gaussian Splatting require LiDAR?
No. Any iPhone or Android works. Processing happens in the cloud, so the phone just needs to capture decent video — no depth sensor involved.

Can I enable 3DGS to Mesh after the scan is already processed?
Yes. KIRI Engine automatically generates both a 3D Gaussian Splat and a polygon mesh from every 3DGS scan — no extra settings required. The splat exports as .PLY for visualization and Blender rendering. The mesh exports as .OBJ, .FBX, .GLTF, and other formats for direct use in game engines, 3D printing, and standard 3D pipelines.

Why can't I open my .PLY in Blender?
A 3DGS .PLY isn't a normal point cloud. It carries rendering data that Blender doesn't know what to do with by default. Install the KIRI Engine 3DGS Render Add-on (free) and it opens fine.

What's the difference between 3DGS and Photo Scan in KIRI Engine?
Photo Scan gives you an editable polygon mesh, ready for game engines, 3D printing, and rigging straight out of the app. 3DGS gives you a photorealistic visualization that handles difficult surfaces better, but you either need a plugin to use it in an engine, or you convert it to mesh via 3DGS to Mesh first.

Can I scan a person?
Yes, but they need to stay completely still for the entire capture. 3DGS is built for static subjects — any movement during the orbit shows up in the result.

What devices support 3DGS in KIRI Engine?
KIRI Engine's 3DGS Scan mode works on iOS, Android, and web. No LiDAR or depth sensor is required on any platform. Processing happens in the cloud, so device compute power is not a limiting factor.

→ Try 3D Gaussian Splatting on KIRI Engine — free on iOS, Android and Web
→ See the full 3D Gaussian Splatting feature page