Gaussian Splatting & 3D Scanning Workshop –
Review and outlook for the series
A blog post by Clarence Dadson, initiator and mentor of the workshop series
On June 6, 2025, the first Workshop our new six-part series on 3D scanning & Gaussian Splatting instead. As the initiator of this format, I am particularly pleased about the great response and the visible progress that the participants have made within just one day. The workshop series is funded by StartIntoMedia with 10,000 euros and enables us to make state-of-the-art scanning technology accessible to the community free of charge.
What is the goal of the workshop series?
Our goal is to democratize 3D spatial capture for immersive media productions. Thanks to new technologies, it is now possible for smaller studios and individual creators to transform real-world locations into high-quality 3D models – with tools that are sometimes available for free and hardware that is no longer exclusively reserved for high-end budgets.
The workshops are aimed at 3D artists, game designers, VR/AR developers, filmmakers, architects, as well as students and creatives with basic 3D knowledge. Together, we will explore how real-world locations can be efficiently transformed into visually impressive renderings – whether for real-time applications or pre-rendered films.
Workshop: Scanning around the Deutsches Museum
The introduction to the topic was practical: after a brief introduction to the basics of photogrammetry and the new Gaussian Splatting-Technology, the participants went directly outside.
Equipped with various tools – including iPhones with LiDAR, a Canon camera with a GPS module, and the professional Lixel KITY K1 3D scanner from XGRIDS – several objects around the Deutsches Museum were captured. Particularly popular were a historic rescue ship and a monumental ship's propeller, whose complex surface structure provided an ideal basis for modeling.
Subsequently, the captured data was transferred to RealityCapture and exported into COLMAP-compatible formats. In parallel, we used XGRIDS' proprietary LCC software for conversion into the standard PLY format.
While the data was being processed, there were expert inputs from three sides:
- Daniel Dinnes taught practical fundamentals from the 3D scan-Praxis,
- Colt Chen of XGRIDS presented the in-house scanner and software technology,
- and I myself – Clarence Dadson – gave an introduction to how Gaussian Splatting and the Supersplat and PostShot tools that we used in post-processing.
A highlight was the use of PostShot, which allowed for realistic camera movements through the generated models to be implemented in a short amount of time. This resulted in impressive short film scenes with real, historical motifs within a few hours – captured and visualized by the participants themselves.
What makes this workshop offer special?
In Bavaria, there are hardly any open formats that combine 3D scanning with modern methods such as Gaussian Splatting making it accessible to creatives. Many other courses are part of paid degree programs or require expensive hardware and software.
Our workshop is free, practice-oriented, and offers access to modern equipment as well as direct exchange with the developers of these technologies.
Partners like XR HUB Munich and Nuremberg support us – both with premises and with community marketing.
What happens next?
The workshop in Munich was just the beginning. In total, the series comprises six workshops, all offering the same practical, day-long program.
Five more dates are coming up: two more in Munich and three in Nuremberg. There too, you can expect another full day of practical application, technology, networking, and inspiration all about 3D scanning, real-time visualization, and Gaussian Splatting.
Anyone who wants to participate should have basic knowledge of 3D software – we will learn the rest together on-site.
I'm excited to meet the XR community in Nuremberg and at the upcoming events in Munich, and to explore the future of 3D scanning together.
