PostShot: The Easiest Way to Train 3D Gaussian Splatting
A guide to PostShot - a user-friendly desktop app for creating high-quality 3DGS scenes from photos or video.
What is PostShot?
PostShot is a desktop application designed to make 3D Gaussian Splatting accessible to everyone. Unlike command-line tools that require technical expertise, PostShot provides a clean, intuitive interface for training 3DGS models from your photos or video.
Don’t know what 3DGS is? Read my introduction to 3D Gaussian Splatting first.
Key Features
Smart Image Selection
One of PostShot’s standout features is Select Best - an AI-powered tool that automatically filters your input images:
- Removes blurry or motion-affected frames
- Eliminates redundant/duplicate views
- Keeps only the most useful images for training
In my Nankunshen Temple project, this reduced 2000+ frames down to ~300 optimal images automatically.
Real-time Training Preview
Watch your 3DGS scene come to life as it trains. PostShot shows:
- Current training step
- Live 3D preview of the scene
- Quality metrics
- Estimated time remaining
Pause & Resume
Training can be paused and resumed at any time. This is incredibly useful for:
- Checking intermediate results
- Adjusting parameters mid-training
- Extending training if quality isn’t sufficient
Simply increase the Stop Step or Max Splat count and continue training.
Multi-format Export
Export your trained models in various formats:
- .ply - Standard format, works with most viewers
- .splat - Compressed format for web viewing
- .pshv - PostShot’s native format (includes Unreal Engine plugin support)
Training Parameters
Here are the key parameters you’ll work with:
| Parameter | Description | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Image Size | Max resolution for training | 1920 for quality, 1080 for speed |
| Max Splat | Maximum number of Gaussians | 3-6 million for detailed scenes |
| Stop Step | Training iterations | 30,000-40,000 for good results |
| Select Best | Auto image filtering | Always enable |
My Typical Settings
For a detailed indoor scene like the Nankunshen Temple:
Image Size: 1920
Max Splat: 6,000,000
Stop Step: 40,000
Select Best: EnabledTraining time: ~45 minutes on RTX 4080 Laptop
Workflow Tips
1. Start Small, Then Extend
Begin with conservative settings:
- Max Splat: 2,000,000
- Stop Step: 20,000
Review the result. If it looks promising, increase the values and continue training.
2. Quality vs Speed Trade-off
| Priority | Image Size | Max Splat | Stop Step | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quick preview | 1080 | 2M | 15,000 | ~10 min |
| Balanced | 1920 | 4M | 30,000 | ~30 min |
| Maximum quality | 1920 | 6M+ | 40,000+ | ~60 min |
3. Input Image Quality Matters
PostShot can only work with what you give it:
- Avoid motion blur
- Ensure consistent lighting
- Capture from multiple angles
- Overlap between views is important
Unreal Engine Integration
PostShot includes a free Unreal Engine plugin that allows you to:
- Import .pshv files directly into UE5
- View 3DGS scenes in real-time
- Combine with VR for immersive experiences
This is what I used for the VR experience in my Nankunshen project.
Pricing
PostShot offers:
- Free trial - Limited exports
- One-time purchase - Full features, no subscription
Check the official website for current pricing.
Alternatives
While PostShot is my go-to for local training, here are some alternatives:
| Tool | Type | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| PostShot | Desktop | Best UX, UE integration |
| Luma AI | Cloud | Quick results, no GPU needed |
| Nerfstudio | Open source | Customization, research |
| Polycam | Mobile | On-device capture & processing |
Conclusion
PostShot strikes an excellent balance between ease of use and professional results. If you’re serious about 3DGS but don’t want to deal with command-line tools, it’s the best option available.
The combination of smart image selection, real-time preview, and Unreal Engine integration makes it particularly valuable for VR/XR applications.
Related Articles
- What is 3D Gaussian Splatting? - Background on the technology
- RealityScan: Free Photogrammetry - Camera alignment for 3DGS
- SuperSplat: Edit 3DGS in Your Browser - Post-processing and sharing
- Nankunshen Temple Project - Real-world example using PostShot
Sources
- PostShot Official Website - Desktop 3DGS training app
- Luma AI - Cloud-based alternative
- Nerfstudio - Open-source framework for neural rendering
Get in Touch
Have questions or want to collaborate? Feel free to reach out!