# Move Over, Lithopane: 3D Printed 3D Photos with Gaussian Splats

As a journalist, I often find myself wondering about the latest advancements in technology and art. Recently, I came across an innovative project that has left me in awe – 3D printed 3D photos using Gaussian splats, rendered in resin. Meet Wyatt Roy, a talented artist, hacker, and individual with a soothing voice who has taken this technique to new heights.

When asked how one can 3D print a photo, most of us would respond by mentioning lithophanes – a well-known technique that involves creating images using layered glass or acrylic sheets. However, Wyatt's approach is far more impressive. He uses a complex process involving photogrammetry and Gaussian splats to create photorealistic 3D environments.

Gaussian splats are a 3D scanning technique designed to replicate visual representations rather than geometric shapes. This method utilizes point clouds generated through photogrammetry, accompanied by 3D Gaussian functions that describe the color at specific points. By blending these together, Wyatt is able to create stunning photorealistic environments.

However, printing a Gaussian smear of color isn't an easy task. That's where hacking comes in. Wyatt begins by generating Gaussian splats with the Polycam app, which outputs binary .ply files that require further processing. He uses AI assistance to decompile this data into ASCII files, which are then fed into Rhino scripts to create geometry for printing.

Rather than replicating the Gaussian splat at each point perfectly – a task that would have melted his computer – Wyatt uses 14-face isospheres to approximate the 3D Gaussian functions. These shapes undergo additional post-processing to produce a printable mesh.

Wyatt's printing process involves a multi-color DLP resin printer, where the main body is clear resin and black or white resin is used for the space defined by the isospheres created from the Gaussian splat. When the interior color is white, the effect resembles those acrylic cubes with laser-etched bubbles – an intriguing possibility for making this technique more accessible.

It's impressive to see how far the technology has come since its initial announcement. Our team had previously explored a hack involving multicolor resin prints last year, but Wyatt's approach is significantly more advanced and automated than those efforts.

A special thanks to Hari Wiguna for bringing this innovative project to our attention.