How to film a video for Gaussian splatting

To film a video for Gaussian splatting, walk slowly around a still subject in one continuous take, with exposure and focus locked. Any recent phone or drone works.

5 steps to a clean splat

Lock exposure and focus. Use the main 1x lens, press and hold on the subject to lock exposure and focus, and don't zoom.
Walk slowly around the subject. Film one continuous take: two loops, the second one higher, ending where you started.
Keep the same distance. The subject should fill about half the frame the whole time.
Film a still scene. No moving people, cars or pets. Avoid mirrors, glass and changing light.
Keep it short. 30 to 60 seconds for an object. Upload the original MP4 or MOV, up to 500 MB.

Already filmed? Make your first splat free.

Phone settings for iPhone and Android

The built-in camera app is all you need.

4K at 30 fps. 1080p also works, with less detail.
Plain Video mode. No Cinematic, portrait, time-lapse, filters or beauty modes.
Normal stabilization. Turn off Action mode, Super Steady and similar.
HDR is fine. Log profiles such as Apple Log or D-Log are not.
Portrait or landscape. Both work.
The original file. Transfer it by cable or AirDrop, not through a messaging app.

iPhone

Settings > Camera > Record Video: choose 4K at 30 fps and turn on Lock Camera.
Pro models: turn on Settings > Camera > Macro Control, then tap the flower icon in the Camera app so it doesn't switch to macro up close.
Press and hold on the subject until AE/AF LOCK appears.

Android

Choose 4K (UHD) at 30 fps in the video settings, or 1080p if 4K isn't offered.

How to move around the subject

Don't stand in one spot and turn.

Small objects

Put it on a patterned cloth or rug, with room to walk all the way around.
First loop slightly above it, tilted down. Second loop higher, looking down at the top.
Walk around it instead of using a turntable.

Statues, cars and large objects

Step back until the whole object fits, with a little margin.
One loop at mid-height, one higher looking down. For a car: headlight height, then above the roof.
Film glossy paint on an overcast day or in open shade to soften reflections.

Rooms and interiors

Walk slowly along the walls, facing into the room, in one loop that ends where you started.
Add a second loop with the phone held higher.
Keep furniture, corners or doorways in every shot.
Turn the lights on and lock exposure on the room, not on a window.

Buildings and outdoor scenes

Walk a steady arc or full loop at the same distance, camera on the building.
Make a second pass from farther back or at a different height.
Film on an overcast day and wait for people and cars to clear.
Only the sides you film end up in the splat.

Drone footage

Use orbit (point of interest) mode for a smooth circle at constant speed.
Fly two orbits: gimbal 20 to 30 degrees down, then higher at 45 to 60 degrees down.
Go slow: about a minute per circle.
Record in the normal color profile, not D-Log.
Record in 1080p and trim the clip to the orbits to stay under 500 MB.

How long should the video be?

Small object: 30 to 60 seconds
Statue, car or large object: 45 to 90 seconds
Room, building or drone orbit: 60 to 120 seconds

Keep a steady pace. Frames are taken evenly across the whole clip, so lingering on one side leaves gaps elsewhere.

Using the API? Raise num_frames for longer clips. See the API docs.

What ruins a Gaussian splat

Low light. Dim scenes give blurry, noisy frames. Turn the lights on or film in daylight.
Reflections. Mirrors, glass, water and chrome change with every angle. Cover mirrors and film glass at an angle.
Plain surfaces. White walls and empty floors give nothing to track. Keep detail in every shot.

A failed scan costs nothing: your credits are refunded automatically.

Filmed something? Turn it into a splat.

Upload your video and see it in 3D in about 10 minutes. No card needed.

Building an app? Use the Gaussian splatting API.