Getting Started with 3D Gaussian Splatting: A Beginner's Guide

Tutorial · 2025-05-20 · 8 min read · by SplatMart Team

Learn how 3D Gaussian Splatting works, how it differs from NeRF and traditional photogrammetry, and what tools you need to create your first splat.

3D Gaussian Splatting (3DGS) is a rendering technique that represents a scene as a collection of millions of semi-transparent 3D Gaussians rather than triangles or voxels. The result is photorealistic quality that can render at real-time frame rates on modern GPUs.

How 3DGS differs from NeRF

Neural Radiance Fields (NeRF) train a neural network to model volumetric lighting. They produce stunning results but are slow to render. 3DGS skips the neural network entirely: after a Structure-from-Motion (SfM) initialisation pass, it directly optimises a set of Gaussian primitives. Rendering a 3DGS scene on a modern GPU takes just a few milliseconds per frame.

What you need to get started

The easiest way is to use a capture app. Polycam and Luma AI both produce 3DGS exports directly from video. For higher-fidelity results, you can capture a photo set with a DSLR and run it through COLMAP for SfM, then train with the original 3DGS codebase or one of its forks (e.g. Nerfstudio, gsplat).

Buying vs. capturing

Capturing your own splat requires time, equipment, and post-processing. For many use cases — game environments, VR backgrounds, architectural references — buying a professionally captured splat from SplatMart is faster and cheaper. Browse our library of splats across architecture, nature, interiors, vehicles, and more.

Frequently asked questions

What do I need to get started with 3D Gaussian splatting?

A capture (phone photos or video) and a tool to process it. Beginners can use a cloud app like Luma AI or Polycam; advanced users can train locally with tools like Postshot or open-source code on a GPU. Then export a .ply or .splat file.

Is Gaussian splatting hard to learn?

The basics are easy — a phone video plus a cloud app can produce a usable splat. Getting clean, professional results takes practice with capture technique and lighting.

Can I buy Gaussian splats instead of making them?

Yes. SplatMart is a marketplace of ready-made, professionally captured splats you can download and use right away, which is often faster and cheaper than capturing your own.