Scripts for convert `.ply` file into `.splat` file

[Srameo]

Hello, thank you for your excellent work!

However, I would like to know if there is a Python or shell script that can quickly convert .ply files to .splat files?

[oseiskar]

You could try our Python tools https://github.com/SpectacularAI/point-cloud-tools (disclaimer: I represent Spectacular AI and we are not connected to this repository in any way):

# --- Install
git clone https://github.com/SpectacularAI/point-cloud-tools
cd point-cloud-tools
# optional but recommended: activate a virtual environment at this point
pip install -r requirements.txt

# --- Convert
python convert.py \
    /PATH/TO/bonsai/point_cloud/iteration_30000/point_cloud.ply \
    /OUT/PATH/bonsai.splat \
   --ply_input_format=inria

Note that the Gaussian Splatting community is yet to agree how the color data is stored in the PLY file. Therefore you need to specify that manually. See the README for more info.

Extra tip / advertisement: You can also our tools to create the PLY files using your phone and Nerfstudio, without uploading your data to a cloud of any kind. See here for more info.

[Srameo]

Thank you for your reply, this script is very effective!

[kungfooman]

Anyone knows how to go the opposite way, splat to ply? E.g. this tool only outputs splat: https://huggingface.co/spaces/VAST-AI/TriplaneGaussian

[dylanebert]

I can add that!

[kungfooman]

I can add that!

That would be a great relief! There are so many formats and every tool wants something else... compressed, uncompressed, special-this, special-that, ply, splat etc. :see_no_evil:

[oseiskar]

Note that the PLY files created by Inria code or Nerfstudio typically contain more information than .splat, in particular, the full spherical harmonic coefficients that capture the direction dependencies in lighting. The current .splat format only has flat colors. So the conversion PLY -> splat -> PLY loses information (which may or may not be relevant to your use case)

[showpixelVR]

What if i do import a ply first, wouldnt it keep the sh on plyexport?

[dylanebert]

Done! #52