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✏️ Editing Splats with SuperSplat Integration

While StorySplat excels at arranging scenes and adding interactivity, editing the core geometry and properties of the Gaussian Splat data itself (like removing large sections, cropping, or fine-tuning individual splat attributes) is best done in a dedicated splat editor. StorySplat integrates with an embedded version of the open-source PlayCanvas SuperSplat editor for this purpose.

When to Use the SuperSplat Editor

Use the integrated SuperSplat editor when you need to:

  • Clean Up: Remove unwanted "floater" splats or large erroneous sections from your scan.
  • Crop: Isolate a specific region of interest within a larger splat file.
  • Optimize: Potentially reduce the number of splats (though external tools might offer more advanced optimization).
  • Transform Internals: Perform precise transformations within the splat data itself, rather than just moving the whole object in StorySplat.

❗ Important: Editing in SuperSplat modifies the source splat file stored in your account. Changes are destructive. It's often wise to duplicate your scene in the StorySplat dashboard before making major edits in SuperSplat if you might want to revert.

Launching the SuperSplat Editor

  1. Ensure the splat you want to edit is currently loaded in the StorySplat editor.
  2. Make sure the scene has been saved to your StorySplat account at least once (the "Edit Splat" button needs the saved context).
  3. In the User Dashboard (top right), find the entry for the currently loaded scene.
  4. Click the "Edit Splat" button (✏️ icon) associated with that scene.
    • Note: This button may be disabled or absent if the loaded splat is not in a format that can be easily converted for editing (currently primarily supports editing source .ply or .spz files saved in your account). It generally works best if the splat was originally uploaded or saved as .spz or .ply.

The Editing Workflow

  1. Preparation: When you click "Edit Splat", StorySplat performs some steps in the background:
    • Authentication: It securely prepares your Firebase authentication credentials.
    • Conversion (if needed): If your source file is .spz, StorySplat converts it to a temporary .ply file in your cloud storage. SuperSplat currently edits using the .ply format.
    • Launch: It opens the SuperSplat editor interface in a full-screen overlay or new tab, automatically loading the temporary .ply file.
  2. Editing in SuperSplat:
    • Use the tools within the SuperSplat interface (selection tools, delete, transform gizmos acting on selected splats) to modify the Gaussian Splat data.
    • Refer to the SuperSplat User Guide for details on its specific tools and features.
  3. Returning to StorySplat: You have two options in SuperSplat:
    • Save & Return to StorySplat:
      • SuperSplat saves your edits back to the temporary .ply file in your cloud storage.
      • It signals StorySplat that saving is complete.
      • StorySplat then:
        • Downloads the edited temporary .ply file.
        • Converts the edited .ply data back into the original format (usually .spz if it started that way, or potentially .ply if it started as .ply).
        • Overwrites the original splat file in your storage with the newly edited and converted data.
        • Closes the SuperSplat editor overlay/tab.
        • Reloads the scene in the StorySplat editor to show your changes.
    • Exit:
      • Closes the SuperSplat editor overlay/tab without saving your changes back to StorySplat.
      • StorySplat automatically cleans up the temporary .ply file from your storage.
      • Your original splat file remains unmodified.

Key Considerations

  • Destructive Edits: Saving in SuperSplat overwrites your original splat file in StorySplat's storage. Be sure of your changes!
  • File Format: The internal editing happens on a temporary .ply file, but saving converts it back to match the original file's format stored in your account (usually .spz or .ply).
  • Authentication: The process relies on securely passing authentication information between StorySplat and the embedded SuperSplat editor. Ensure you remain logged in.
  • Temporary Files: StorySplat creates and automatically cleans up temporary .ply files during the editing process.

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