Gaussian splats have revolutionized the visual quality of photogrammetry models, but there’s still something missing. Looking at a 3D object on a 2D screen is practical, but unsatisfying. VR headsets are an improvement, but expensive. What if you could hold a 3D Gaussian Splat (3DGS) in your hand? Wyatt Roy has published an innovative project using 3D Gaussian Splats for 3D printing. Roy calls the output, “splatcubes.”
Splatcubes are clear resin cubes that encapsulate a scene built using Gaussian splats. Instead of remaining a digital model, the result becomes a tangible, physical 3D photo that you can pick up and view from any angle. Roy’s process involves scanning a real-world object using photogrammetry, converting that scan into a 3DGS dataset, filtering and transforming the splats, and then printing the result as a resin cube. This project brings together two rapidly evolving technologies — 3D Gaussian Splatting and 3D printing — to produce something that simply wasn’t possible just a few years ago.
Roy provides a YouTube video, a detailed tutorial, and open-source code so others can follow along. Even if you don’t plan to 3D print a splatcube yourself, the video offers a clear and visual explanation of 3D Gaussian Splatting and how it translates into real-world output. This is an excellent educational examples of Gaussian splat 3D printing available today.
For those interested in learning more about Gaussian splatting, I recommend reading our post about Macro Gaussian Splatting — digital artist and photographer Dany Bittel exposes the power of 3DGS to reveal the microscopic world of insects in a way not previously possible.
