In the world of 3D design, the drive towards more photorealistic and immersive visualisations has led to the development of numerous techniques that push the boundaries of what’s possible. One such technique, 3D Gaussian Splatting (3DGS), is transforming how we approach 3D rendering. Unlike traditional methods such as photogrammetry, which builds solid meshes from polygons, 3D Gaussian Splatting uses point clouds and Gaussian functions to create highly detailed, realistic 3D scenes. In this blog, we’ll explore how 3DGS works, its benefits, and how it’s reshaping the future of 3D design and digital fabric visualisation—particularly in the context of Twinbru’s 3D fabric textures.
At its core, 3D Gaussian Splatting is a technique that turns images or videos into 3D scenes with photorealistic qualities. Unlike photogrammetry, which constructs a 3D model based on a mesh of polygons, 3DGS creates a 3D point cloud made up of "splats". These splats are individual points defined by Gaussian functions, essentially 2D discs, each assigned to a specific point in 3D space. Each disc has attributes such as orientation, size, transparency, and colour. When viewed as a collective, these points form a detailed 3D representation of an object, scene, or environment.
This approach opens up new possibilities for rendering, offering more nuanced representations of reflections, transparency, light qualities, and fine details—elements that are often challenging to capture with traditional 3D modelling methods.
While photogrammetry and 3D Gaussian Splatting are both used to create 3D models, they do so in fundamentally different ways.
Photogrammetry uses multiple 2D images to generate a mesh—a series of polygons that form a solid 3D object. This method is highly effective for creating accurate 3D models of real-world objects and environments but can be limited when it comes to representing the finer details, such as transparency, fine lighting effects, and subtle textures.
3D Gaussian Splatting, on the other hand, generates a point cloud rather than a mesh. Each point in the cloud is represented as a Gaussian function that encapsulates various attributes, such as light and texture. This means 3DGS can capture not only the structure of an object but also the fine details of light interaction, material transparency, and texture qualities.
This distinction makes 3D Gaussian Splatting especially useful for projects where realism is key, such as creating highly detailed virtual scenes for e-commerce or virtual reality (VR) experiences.
At Twinbru, we have been experimenting with 3DGS to see how it can enhance the digital visualisation of our fabric textures. One of the key benefits we’ve found is that 3DGS enables us to create highly detailed and realistic fabric visualisations that capture the subtleties of different materials.
Despite the advanced technology behind 3D Gaussian Splatting, the great thing about this technique is that it’s not confined to high-end VR systems or specialist hardware. The splats created by 3DGS can be viewed and embedded on standard web pages, making it accessible for a wide range of use cases.
This feature opens up significant opportunities for industries like e-commerce, where customers can view products in 3D on websites. For example, retailers could display fabrics, such as Twinbru’s 3D textures, in photorealistic quality on their platforms. Buyers could rotate the fabric swatches, zoom in on the material details, and get a true sense of the product’s look and feel—all without leaving their computer or phone.
In the realm of VR, 3DGS becomes even more powerful. Virtual environments with realistic fabric textures can be explored in full immersion, allowing users to interact with the designs as if they were physically present in the space. This opens up possibilities for virtual fashion shows, interior design tours, and more.
While 3D Gaussian Splatting holds immense potential, it’s not without its challenges. The data required to create detailed 3D splats can be massive. For instance, a 15-second animated splat can take up to 5-10 GB of data, which can present storage and bandwidth concerns.
However, significant strides are being made to optimise and compress this data. As this technology becomes more refined, it’s likely that we’ll see even greater efficiency and ease of use.
3D Gaussian Splatting is an exciting new frontier in the world of 3D graphics, offering enhanced realism and unprecedented levels of detail in 3D scenes. When applied to fabric textures, this technology unlocks new opportunities for designers to create digital representations that are more lifelike and immersive than ever before.
As we continue to experiment with 3DGS at Twinbru, we are confident that this technology will play a pivotal role in the future of digital fabric visualisation, transforming the way designers, architects, and retailers approach 3D design. With its potential for real-time, photorealistic renderings, 3D Gaussian Splatting is truly a technology to watch.