---
title: "V-Ray Gaussians"
canonical: "https://documentation.chaos.com/space/VC4D/116855206/V-Ray%20Gaussians"
format: markdown
---
This page provides information about the Gaussian splats geometry in V-Ray for Cinema 4D.


## **Overview**

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## **Gaussian Splats Usage**

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### **Used as Extended Environment**

One use of Gaussian splats is to represent an environment, typically generated from photos or videos of the scene.

There are advantages over the traditional environment maps, including proper parallax and view-dependent effects and the ability for Gaussian splats to occlude other objects in the scene.

For Gaussian splats to work as environments in V-Ray, the **Affect Matte Surfaces** option should be enabled, and the **Affect Shadows** option should usually be disabled.

*See the **[example](#Matte)** for more information.*


### **On Other Matte Surfaces**

To make the Gaussian splats rendered as part of the background, i.e., visible on other matte objects even if they are behind them. This is achieved by enabling the **Affect Matte Surfaces** option from the parameters.

*See the **[example](#Matte)** for more information.*


### **Used as Individual Objects**

Gaussian splats can also be used to represent smaller individual objects in the scene. In that case, the **Affect Matte Surfaces** option typically is turned off, and the **Affect Shadows** option is enabled. The latter is needed so that the Gaussian splats can cast proper shadows on other objects in the scene.

Note that the lighting and reflections are baked into the Gaussian splats objects, and therefore these objects are not affected by the scene lighting.

*See the **[example ](#scaleExample)**for more information.*


## **General**

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## **Preview**

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### **Example: Scale**


This example shows Gaussian Splat used as an individual object - the pink flamingo floatable in this scene. Using the Scale parameter, it can be scaled as any other object in the scene.



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### **Example: Affect Camera**


The Gaussian Splats object can be hidden from the camera, like any other geometry object in the scene, by using the Affect Camera option.



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### **Example: Affect Reflections**


The Affect Reflections option controls if the Gaussian splats object is reflected in other objects in the scene.



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### **Example: Affect Refractions**


The Affect Refractions option makes the Gaussian splats object seen by other objects in the scene that exhibit refractive properties.



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### **Example: Affect Shadows**


This example shows how the pink flamingo can produce shadows when the Affect Shadows option is enabled, and doesn't block light when it's not.



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### **Example: Affect Matte Surfaces**


In this example, the Gaussian splat is used as an environment. The left building in the rendering that casts shadows over the plane, is a Cosmos asset (mesh).

When the Affect Matte Surfaces option is enabled, the Gaussian splat is considered as background and receives shadows from the casting object.



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### **Example: Color**


The Color shown on each render as a box is used as a filter for the original Gaussian splat diffuse color.