Polycam Gaussian Splatting is a cloud-based and cross-platform solution for creating photorealistic 3D reconstructions from sets of images or video. The tool uses a novel rasterization technique called Gaussian Splatting, which represents a 3D scene as millions of ellipsoid-shaped particles (3D gaussians) with unique parameters for position, orientation, scale, opacity, and color. Users upload image sets or video, and the system processes these inputs to generate a 3D point cloud that can be rendered in real time. The approach excels at capturing fine details, reflections, and translucent surfaces, and is accessible via both desktop and mobile devices. Polycam supports exporting splats for use in other 3D software and offers editing features such as cropping, measurement, and video creation.

Key Features

Real-time 3D Reconstruction

• Converts 20–2000 images or video into a photorealistic 3D scene using Gaussian Splatting.
• Supports both desktop and mobile uploads for flexible capture workflows.

High-Fidelity Rendering

• Captures shiny, reflective, and translucent surfaces, as well as fine details and expansive spaces.
• Produces visually accurate point clouds that excel where traditional photogrammetry struggles.

Editing and Measurement Tools

• Crop, rotate, scale, and customize background color of 3D captures.
• Add measurement annotations directly within the 3D scene (unique among radiance field platforms.

Export and Integration

• Export Gaussian Splats as PLY files for use in Blender, Unreal Engine, Unity, and other 3D software.
• Supports reprocessing of previous Polycam captures for Gaussian Splatting.

Collaboration and Sharing

• Share 3D models with comments and annotations for collaborative review.
• Create and share custom videos of 3D scenes (mobile app feature).

Web-based Splat Viewer

• Drag-and-drop interface for viewing and sharing Gaussian Splat files directly in the browser.

Benefits

Fast, Accessible 3D Capture

• No need for expensive hardware; works with standard smartphones and cameras.
• Rapid processing—3D models are ready in minutes, not hours or days.

Superior Visual Realism

• Handles complex lighting, reflections, and fine geometry better than mesh-based photogrammetry.
• Produces immersive 3D scenes suitable for spatial storytelling and visualization.

Flexible Integration

• Easily bring 3D models into CAD, BIM, and visualization pipelines.
• Ready-made plugins and export formats for popular 3D platforms.

Enhanced Editing and Measurement

• First radiance field platform to support direct measurement within 3D Gaussian Splat scenes.
• Editing tools streamline content preparation for presentations and social media