Gaussian Splat Viewer Online: Open and Inspect Splat Files

Use Spatial Studio Splat Viewer to open Gaussian splat files in the browser, check controls and performance, and decide whether the scene is ready for a tour.

Short answer

Spatial Studio Splat Viewer lets you open a Gaussian splat file in the browser without signing in. Drop a local .ply, .compressed.ply, .splat, .ksplat, .sog, or .spz file, or paste a hosted lod-meta.json URL for a streaming LOD scene.

Use it when you need a quick visual check: does the file load, is the scene oriented correctly, do orbit and fly controls feel usable, and does performance mode make the scene workable on your device? If the answer is yes, the next step is publishing the splat as a guided tour with a stable link, embed, hotspots, CTAs, and analytics.

Open a splat file online

Open Spatial Studio Splat Viewer and import one file at a time. Local files stay in the browser for review.

The viewer accepts files up to 1 GB. Large files can still be slow on a laptop or phone, so test the same device class your audience will use.

How to open PLY, SOG, or SPZ files

Use the same simple workflow for most supported splat files:

1. Open Spatial Studio Splat Viewer.
2. Drop the .ply, .compressed.ply, .sog, .spz, .splat, or .ksplat file into the viewer.
3. Use orbit mode to inspect the scene from outside, or fly mode to move through it.
4. Switch between performance and retina modes to compare speed and detail.
5. Adjust position, rotation, or scale if the scene opens in an awkward orientation.

For a PLY file, check whether it is a Gaussian splat PLY rather than a mesh-only PLY. For a SOG file or SPZ file, test load time and visual quality on the same device class you expect visitors to use. If the file is part of an LOD package, host the full folder and paste the hosted lod-meta.json URL instead of dropping the metadata file alone.

What to check first

Use the viewer as a quality gate, not the final deliverable. A raw splat viewer is useful for production review. A public tour still needs context: a clean opening view, guided stops, labels, a shareable URL, embed settings, and a visible next action.

Viewer, editor, or tour platform

For a broader software breakdown, see Gaussian Splatting Software. If you are comparing editor-first work with tour publishing, read SuperSplat vs Spatial Studio.

When LOD works

LOD splats are usually a set of files, not one standalone file. The lod-meta.json file points to chunk files that must stay reachable from the hosted metadata URL.

That means the browser viewer can open a hosted LOD URL, but dropping a local lod-meta.json by itself is not enough. Upload or host the full LOD folder first, then paste the hosted metadata URL into the viewer.

When to publish instead of only viewing

Move from raw viewing to tour publishing when someone outside the production team needs to use the scene.

That usually means:

• Set a clear opening view.
• Add named stops or room labels.
• Add hotspots where context matters.
• Use a shareable browser link.
• Embed the tour on a listing, venue page, campaign page, or case study.
• Track opens, sources, hotspot clicks, waypoint use, and CTA clicks.

If the project is commercial, the finished link matters more than the raw file. Test the viewer for format and performance, then judge the workflow by the tour a visitor can actually use.

Common mistakes

• Sending a raw file when the audience needs a browser link.
• Treating local LOD metadata as a complete scene.
• Checking only retina mode and ignoring performance mode.
• Forgetting to test a normal phone before publishing.
• Sharing a scene with no clear first view or next step.

Related reading

• Spatial Studio Gaussian Splatting Software
• Gaussian Splatting Software
• SuperSplat vs Spatial Studio
• Gaussian Splatting File Formats Explained
• How to Embed a Gaussian Splat Viewer on Your Website
• Splat Virtual Tour Software

Frequently asked questions

Can I view a Gaussian splat online?

Yes. Open Spatial Studio Splat Viewer, drop a supported local file, or paste a hosted splat URL.

What file formats does the viewer open?

It opens .ply, .compressed.ply, .splat, .ksplat, .sog, and .spz files. Hosted lod-meta.json URLs are supported when the referenced chunk files are reachable.

How do I open a PLY file online?

Open the viewer, drop the .ply file, and wait for the scene to load. If it does not open, confirm the file is a Gaussian splat PLY rather than a standard mesh-only PLY.

How do I open a SOG file?

Drop the .sog file into the viewer or paste a hosted .sog URL. After it loads, check mobile performance because compact delivery files can still be heavy depending on scene size.

How do I open a SPZ file?

Drop the .spz file into the viewer or paste a hosted .spz URL. Use performance mode first if the file is large, then switch to retina mode for detail checks.

Can it open LOD splats?

Yes, when the LOD scene is hosted and the lod-meta.json URL can reach its chunk files. A local metadata file by itself is not enough because the viewer also needs the referenced chunk paths.

Do I need to log in?

No. The splat viewer page is available without sign-in for simple file inspection.

Is this the same as publishing a tour?

No. The viewer is for opening and checking a file. A published tour adds a stable link, guided views, hotspots, embeds, CTAs, and analytics around the scene.

What should I test before publishing?

Check load behavior, orientation, first view, controls, mobile performance, and whether the scene still looks clear after compression or hosting changes.

Next step

Open a real file in Spatial Studio Splat Viewer. If it loads cleanly, publish it as a guided tour or embed so the scene has a clear visitor path.