3DGS Render 3.0 lets you paint 3D Gaussian Splats in Blender
3D scanning tools developer Kiri Innovations has released 3DGS Render 3.0, the latest version of its open-source tool for visualizing 3D Gaussian Splats inside Blender.
The add-on makes it possible to import 3DGS scans of real-world objects in PLY format and manipulate them in real time inside Blender, rendering them with the Eevee renderer.
Version 3.0 makes it possible to paint 3D Gaussian Splats as if they were standard meshes, including by painting through image textures, and to convert polygonal meshes to 3DGS.
A new technique for generating 3D scans from images of real-world objects
Based on research published in 2023, 3D Gaussian Splatting is a new 3D scanning method.
Like photogrammetry, it begins by generating a point cloud of a 3D object or scene from a set of source photos, but rather than converting the point cloud to a textured mesh, it converts it to gaussians, using machine learning to determined the correct color for each.
The result is a high-quality and potentially fast-rendering 3D representation of the object or scene being scanned.
An increasing number of 3D scanning tools now support 3D Gaussian Splatting, one obvious example being Kiri Innovations’ own Kiri Engine.
However, native support for 3DGS data in CG applications is currently limited, although it has recently been implemented in both V-Ray and D5 Render.
Manipulate and render 3DGS data directly inside Blender with 3DGS Render
3DGS Render is intended to address some of the “pain points” with existing workflows, making it possible to manipulate 3DGS scan data inside Blender like a standard 3D object.
The add-on converts 3DGS data imported on PLY format into an object that can be transformed, scaled, rotated or duplicated like conventional geometry.
The scan can then be lit and rendered inside Blender, although currently only using Eevee, Blender’s real-time renderer, not Cycles, the main production renderer.
3DGS Render Addon for Blender is out!
New features include:
– Paint and use image textures to edit colour
– Mesh to 3DGS conversion
– Transformations and edits are exportable
– Lot's of other boosts and little features!Link for the addon and a Quick Guide tutorial below#b3d… pic.twitter.com/vcLpcunXhT
— KIRI Engine – 3D Scanner App (@KIRI_Engine_App) March 27, 2025
3DGS Render 3.0: paint directly onto 3DGS scans
3DGS Render 3.0 makes it possible to retexture 3DGS scans by painting onto them directly, as well as by editing shader properties.
You can see the workflow briefly in the video at the top of the story: as well as painting solid colors, it it is possible to paint through an image texture.
3DGS Render also now automatically generates UV maps when importing 3DGS data, making it easier to texture using standard Blender workflows.
Other changes: convert polygonal meshes to 3DGS and export transformations
The update also lets you convert standard polygonal meshes to 3DGS – the reverse of what most people will currently be doing, we imagine, but it may open up new workflows in future.
In addition, it is now possible to export face edits and transformations, like changes of scale and rotation, made inside Blender when exporting 3DGS data to other DCC applications.
There is also an experimental new feature for baking modifier effects to improve performance, the option to apply animated effects to 3DGS data having been added in 3DGS Render 2.0.
Pricing and system requirements
3DGS Render 3.0 is compatible with Blender 4.2+. It’s a free download. The source code is available under an Apache 2.0 license.
Read an overview of the new features in 3DGS Render 3.0 for Blender
Download 3DGS Render from Kiri Innovations’ GitHub repository
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