Following the release of their updated Blender plugin, many assumed that this was Kiri Engine's final major update for the year. However, just three days later, Kiri unveiled a major update aimed at lowering the barrier to entry for the larger 3D modeling community. This update includes the introduction of Version 3.12 and 3DGS to Mesh 2.0.

Nearly one year after adding Gaussian Splatting to their offerings, Kiri Engine has released this newest version. These updates aim to address some of the limitations of previous iterations and enhance usability for both professional and hobbyist 3D creators.

The original 3DGS to Mesh tool, launched in January 2024, represented an innovative attempt to convert Gaussian splatting into a format compatible with widely-used rendering engines, enabling the PLY point cloud files to be reconstructed into surface meshes. However, the first version of the tool often struggled with complex objects, leading to inconsistent results. The newly launched 3DGS to Mesh 2.0 seeks to solve these issues by incorporating sophisticated normal prediction and reflection removal techniques inspired by professional 3D scanners. The improvements make the tool significantly better at handling challenging surfaces like reflective and transparent materials, which were problematic for its predecessor.

KIRI Engine has shared comparative model viewers on GitHub to clearly show the advancements made with version 2.0. These synchronized viewers highlight the significant improvements in surface detail and accuracy, demonstrating how the new algorithm processes light and depth data with much greater fidelity. For those familiar with 3D scanning workflows, 3DGS-to-Mesh 2.0 also promises a more seamless experience, with processed models easily integrated into the app's "Scans" list.

This pipeline was done in partnership with my friend CJ Ye, who you might recognize from some of his work, like Gaustudio, Instant-Angelo, and StableNormal. As part of this release, Ye will also be open sourcing the codebase for 3DGS to Mesh 2.0 by the end of this year!

In addition to the major feature updates, KIRI Engine 3.12 introduces a host of quality-of-life changes. One of the most notable is the addition of masking functionality for 3DGS models. Similar to the Photo Scan feature, the new 3DGS Masking feature automatically removes the background from models, giving users the option to generate cleaner outputs. This will be available for both conventional Gaussian splats and the updated 3DGS-to-Mesh conversion, making it easier for creators to work with isolated objects without extraneous noise.

Since its initial release, 3D Gaussian Splatting has been embraced by artists and technologists alike for its promise of high-fidelity 3D visualization without the limitations of traditional photogrammetry. KIRI Engine has been continually improving this "too-good-to-be-true" technology by adding new tools, optimizations, and quality-of-life features that have made it more practical and accessible.

Users are required to have a Kiri Engine Pro account to process their captures through this pipeline. Currently, the Kiri Engine team is offering a special Black Friday discount. Right now an annual subscription costs $36.

There's certainly a lot to be thankful for in the world of Radiance Fields this week! As 2025 approaches, Radiance Field and 3D creators can look forward to even more innovations in what is proving to be a revolutionary method for capturing and visualizing reality.