Bringing Gaussian Splats Into Blender's Viewport: A Look at 3DGS Render

You've probably seen the buzz around 3D Gaussian Splatting—it's a fast way to capture and render real-world scenes that looks stunning. But if you're a Blender user, you might have hit the same wall I did: getting those .ply splat files into your actual workflow feels clunky, and editing them is a nightmare. That's where 3DGS Render steps in. It's a free, open-source Blender add-on that pulls Gaussian Splats directly into the native viewport, giving you a familiar set of tools to manipulate them like any other object.

What It Does

3DGS Render is an add-on created by KIRI Engine, the folks behind the photogrammetry app. The project is now moving toward community-led maintenance, with KIRI Engine staying on as the owner and steward. The core idea is simple: make Gaussian Splatting content behave like a native part of Blender instead of an external format you have to wrestle with.

The add-on lets you import and view 3DGS .ply files directly in Blender. From there, you can edit splats using Blender's own selections, modifiers, cropping tools, and color controls. It offers two distinct workflows: an editable mesh-based mode for when you need to make changes, and a faster render mode for when you just want to push pixels. You can also composite your splats with regular Blender scene elements, which opens up some interesting mixed-reality possibilities.

Beyond the basics, 3DGS Render includes several experimental features. You can create sampled Eevee shadow proxies so splats can cast approximate shadows onto Blender meshes, set up proxy-based animation with baked rigged splat sequences, bake lighting information directly into the splats, and export both edited files and animated .ply sequences. The add-on can even convert supported mesh data into 3DGS output.

Why It's Cool

What makes this project stand out is that it treats Gaussian Splats as a first-class citizen in Blender rather than forcing you into a separate pipeline.

• Native editing tools. You don't need to learn a new interface. If you already know how to use Blender's edit mode, modifiers, and selection tools, you can apply those same skills to splats. That's a huge time-saver.
• Two modes for two jobs. The split between an editable mesh workflow and a faster render workflow is a clever design decision. You edit when you need precision, then flip to render mode for speed. It acknowledges that editing and rendering have different performance requirements.
• Compositing with real scenes. The ability to render splats alongside native Blender elements means you can drop a captured real-world object into a 3D scene and have it interact with your existing assets. That's a practical bridge between photogrammetry and traditional 3D work.
• Experimental features with real utility. Even though they're marked experimental, the shadow proxies, animation baking, and lighting bakes point toward a future where splats aren't just static captures—they're dynamic elements you can animate and relight.
• Honest about limitations. The README is refreshingly upfront that experimental features may behave differently across scenes, GPUs, operating systems, and Blender versions. It also advises backing up project files before testing releases. That kind of transparency builds trust.

The project is also moving to community-led development, which means contributions merged into main might not always be packaged immediately as releases. For most users, waiting for stable releases is the right call—but for developers who want to help shape the project, the door is open.

How to Try It

Getting started is straightforward, though you'll want to grab the right release for your setup.

1. Head over to the GitHub Releases page.
2. Find the release that matches your Blender version and operating system.
3. Download the packaged add-on .zip from the Assets section. Don't extract it—Blender needs the zip as-is.
4. Open Blender and go to Edit → Preferences → Get Extensions.
5. Open the menu in the upper-right corner and select Install from Disk.
6. Choose the downloaded ZIP and confirm the installation.
7. Open the 3D Viewport, press N, and look for the 3DGS Render tab.

For a basic import, open the add-on from the N-panel, set the active mode to Edit, and use the Import menu to bring in a supported 3DGS .ply file. From there you can switch between Edit mode for selections and modifiers, or Render mode for rendering workflows.

If you prefer a mirror, the add-on is also available on Superhive, though GitHub tends to get new community betas first. The README points to a written guide and video tutorials on YouTube for the full workflow.

Final Thoughts

3DGS Render is best suited for Blender artists and developers who want to incorporate real-world captures into their projects without abandoning their existing toolset. The experimental features are worth poking at, but treat them as exactly that—experimental. Since the project is transitioning to community maintenance, documentation may lag behind the actual code, so check release notes and ask around if something behaves unexpectedly. It's an honest tool with a practical purpose, and as the community takes the reins, it'll be interesting to see where the splat workflow goes next.

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