--- title: "VRayGaussianSplat" canonical: "https://documentation.chaos.com/space/VMAYA/111739097/VRayGaussianSplat" format: markdown --- This page provides information about the V-Ray Gaussian Splat in Maya. ## **Overview** --- 3D Gaussian Splatting is a method used to create a 3D scene from images or videos. It requires several pictures of an object, each taken from a different angle. With Gaussian Splatting, the images are blended to produce a detailed, three-dimensional representation of the object. Instead of depicting the scene as a collection of meshes, a Gaussian splat represents the scene as a type of point cloud, where each point is a 3D Gaussian. Gaussian splats help you create a realistic environment for your scenes.
UI Paths... **UI Path:** **V-Ray** menu >** V-Ray Gaussian Splat** ![image](media://42612bec-1c09-4d78-ab5f-c7b5112198f1) **V-Ray shelf** > **V-Ray Gaussian Splat** button ![image](media://02bfb1ac-594a-435a-abad-2af09dc461bf) **UI Path:** **V-Ray** menu >** V-Ray Gaussian Splat** ![image](media://42612bec-1c09-4d78-ab5f-c7b5112198f1) **V-Ray shelf** > **V-Ray Gaussian Splat** button ![image](media://02bfb1ac-594a-435a-abad-2af09dc461bf)
## **Gaussian Splat Usage** --- ### **Used as an 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 **Casts Shadows** option should usually be disabled. *See the **[example below](https://docs-chaos.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/VMAYA4EDIT/pages/111197153)** 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 Gaussian splats parameters. *See the **[example below](https://docs-chaos.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/VMAYA4EDIT/pages/111197153)** 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 **Casts 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 object; therefore, the scene lighting does not affect these objects. *See **[ the examples below ](https://docs-chaos.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/VMAYA4EDIT/pages/111197153)**for more information.* ## **Parameters** --- **Visible in Refractions** – Specifies whether the Gaussian splats should be visible in refractions. **Casts Shadows** – Enable so Gaussian splats block shadows from lights. When disabled, the Gaussian splats become transparent to shadow and GI rays. It is recommended that this option be turned off when using the Gaussian splats as the environment or individual objects. **Affect Matte Surfaces **– Enable so Gaussian splats appear as part of the background on matte surfaces. It is recommended to enable this for Gaussian splats used as an environment and disable it for Gaussian splats used as individual objects. **Intensity **– Increases or decreases the Color multiplier for the Gaussian splat. **Color **– Specifies a filter color for the splat. By default, the Color is white, which does not affect the splat. **RGB Primaries** – Specifies the color space of the data in the Gaussian splats file. **Default **– Takes the current color correction that is set in Maya. That means it does not change the colors. For the Gaussian Splat to be read as it was written, select the respective input color space - **sRGB, ACEScg, **or **Raw.** > Macro (anchor) --- ### **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. --- ### **Example: Primary Visibility** The Gaussian Splat object can be hidden from the camera, like any other geometry object in the scene, by using the Primary Visibility option. --- ### **Example: Visible in Reflections** The Visible in Reflections option controls whether the Gaussian Splat object is reflected in other objects in the scene. > Macro (anchor) --- ### **Example: Visible in Refractions** The Visible in Refractions option makes the Gaussian Splat object visible to other objects in the scene that exhibit refractive properties. > Macro (anchor) --- ### **Example: Casts Shadows** This example shows how the pink flamingo can produce shadows when the Casts Shadows option is enabled, and doesn't block light when it's not. > Macro (anchor) --- ### **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 background and receives shadows from the casting object. > Macro (anchor) --- ### **Example: Color** The Color shown on each render as a box is used as a filter for the original Gaussian Splat diffuse color. ## **Clipping** --- ### **Clipping Workflow** --- There are two ways to make use of Gaussian Splat Clipping - one is by using a 3D texture as a mask, usually the V-Ray Distance Tex. And the other is by using an object as a clipper. --- --- --- ### **Example: Clipping Masks ** This example shows how to blend a Gaussian splat with a modelled scene using a clipping mask to remove some unwanted objects from the render. ## **Animation Parameters** --- ## **Viewport** --- ## **Notes** --- - Gaussian splats work in V-Ray, assuming they are composed over a black background. For proper rendering, the scene background should be black, and any dome lights used for illumination should be set to invisible. - While you can load multiple Gaussian splat files and render them correctly with respect to one another, depending on their position in space, intersecting Gaussian splats might produce undefined or wrong results. It is not recommended to intersect them, as by design, they are optimized for a single point cloud. - Gaussian splats are not affected by the motion blur effect, yet. - Currently, Gaussian splats can’t act as holdout (matte) objects.