3DGS Export Router

Map a downstream target to the right 3DGS file format. Saves hours of "it does not load" debugging.

When to use

• After training a 3DGS scene, before sharing it with a content pipeline.
• Choosing between research-grade (.ply) and production-grade (glTF / USD) formats.
• Pipeline handoff: capture team -> 3DGS engineer -> game designer / VFX artist / web developer.

Inputs

• target_engine: unreal | unity | omniverse | blender | vision_pro | three_js | babylon_js | cesium | playcanvas | supersplat
• priority: portability | file_size | quality_preservation
• include_sh_degree: 0 | 1 | 2 | 3

Format decision

Target	Recommended format	Why
Unreal Engine (virtual production)	Volinga plugin or glTF KHR_gaussian_splatting	Native Unreal SDK path
Unity (XR / game)	.ply via Aras-P Unity-GaussianSplatting plugin	Community-standard Unity pipeline
NVIDIA Omniverse, Pixar tools	OpenUSD 26.03 (UsdVolParticleField3DGaussianSplat)	Native USD prim type
Apple Vision Pro	OpenUSD 26.03	Native to visionOS 2.x
Blender	.ply + KIRI Engine add-on	Community add-on reads raw splats
Three.js web viewer	glTF KHR_gaussian_splatting or .splat	Browser-standard, works with GaussianSplats3D
Babylon.js V9+	glTF KHR_gaussian_splatting	V9 added native support
Cesium (CesiumJS 1.139+, Cesium for Unreal 2.23+)	glTF KHR_gaussian_splatting	Shipped explicit support
PlayCanvas	.splat	PlayCanvas native quantised format
SuperSplat (editor)	.ply or .splat	Import + export

Quantisation trade-offs

• .ply full-precision: largest file, lossless, any viewer.
• .splat: 4x-8x smaller, slight quality loss on SH3 coefficients, PlayCanvas-ecosystem standard.
• glTF KHR: configurable via EXT_meshopt_compression; smallest with highest compatibility.
• USD: compressed by USDZ packaging; smallest for Apple pipelines.

Output report

[export plan]
  target:         <engine>
  format:         <name>
  sh degree:      <0|1|2|3>
  compression:    <none|meshopt|quantisation|usdz>
  expected size:  <MB>
  compatible with: <list of viewers>

[pipeline]
  1. source: <.ply from training>
  2. optional: SuperSplat cleanup pass
  3. convert: <tool + CLI or API call>
  4. package: <.gltf / .glb / .usd / .usdz / .splat / .ply>
  5. validate: <viewer sanity check>

Rules

• Never strip SH3 coefficients silently — it visibly changes specular reflections.
• If priority == file_size, recommend .splat or glTF with meshopt; warn about quality loss.
• For Apple platforms, prefer USD / USDZ over glTF in 2026; USDZ has first-class visionOS support.
• If the target viewer's 3DGS support is pre-standard (pre-Feb 2026), recommend .ply and the viewer's custom loader; Khronos-standard glTF will not yet be recognised.
• Always validate the exported file in at least one viewer before handing off; silent corruption happens during quantisation.