Capturing photoreal 3D environments for virtual production has always been time-consuming and costly. Now, the Volinga & XGRIDS pipeline changes that, letting you scan a real location and bring it into Unreal Engine as a high-fidelity 3D Gaussian Splatting (3DGS) scene in just hours. Here’s a step-by-step guide to get started:
XGRIDS hardware: Lixel family scanners or the new PortalCam
A smartphone for easier live scanning preview and capture control, connected to the scanner
LCC Studio (XGRIDS’ processing software)
Volinga Plugin for Unreal Engine (supports UE 5.3–5.6)
A computer that meets Unreal Engine’s recommended specs for real-time rendering
The entire space was captured in a single continuous take, with the operator moving in a subtle zigzag to maximize parallax and gather detailed data from the reflective, glass-lined surfaces. At the far end, a wide turn was made to record the scene from the opposite angle, ensuring coverage in both directions. This section proved challenging as groups of people entered and exited, introducing Gaussian noise and “floaters” in the final model.
After completing the turn, the operator continued along the walkway with smaller zigzag passes. In the lower area, special attention was given to the face sculpture and the adjacent tree, circling them to capture finer details.
Use an XGRIDS Lixel scanner or PortalCam to scan your location. The SLAM LiDAR technology automatically records to-scale spatial data with minimal setup, so you can capture complex spaces without special training.
Tips:
Walk a smooth path and keep a steady pace.
For ensure the best results, capture/cover in multiple directions.
Cover all angles to avoid gaps in the dataset.
Avoid moving objects or people.
Hard lighting conditions could cause some weird shade artifacts (Transition from interior/exterior), plan your path before capture.
Spend more time on those areas of interest to retain more detail.
Check the capture analysis on the smartphone, it will help to discover areas with less data capture.
Import your scan into LCC Studio to create a 3D Gaussian Splat (3DGS) model.
As easy as selecting your XGRIDS scan folder on the PC, naming it, tweak settings and process.
Check the point density and clean up any unwanted artifacts.
When satisfied, export the finished model as a PLY file (the format currently supported by the Volinga plugin).
Export photogrammetry mesh/collision object.
Open your Unreal Engine project (version 5.3–5.6).
Install and enable the Volinga Plugin.
Use the plugin’s importer to bring in the PLY file directly. The 3DGS data will load as a fully navigable environment, ready for real-time rendering.
Inside Unreal, Volinga gives you advanced creative tools:
Re-lighting for any time of day or mood
Full ACES color management for cinematic accuracy
Depth of Field and VCam support
Seamless integration with nDisplay, Disguise, Aximmetry, or Pixera for LED-wall production
Make adjustments, add characters or props, and prep for virtual production, broadcast, or immersive experiences.
Once satisfied, send the scene directly to your VP stage or LED wall. The pipeline supports real-time playback, letting you move from scan to shoot-ready in record time.
Photo Credit: Teleportour and ATM Virtual
Speed: Hours from capture to Unreal, not days
Accuracy: SLAM LiDAR ensures true-to-scale results
Creative Freedom: Full Unreal Engine and Volinga feature set
Versatility: Ideal for film, broadcast, games, education, and heritage projects
The Volinga and XGRIDS integration is available now. If you’d like a guided demo or have questions about hardware or plugin setup, contact us HERE!
Credits
LiDAR Scanner: XGRIDS PortalCam
3D Artist: Marcos García Muñoz