# Support Colmap Export

**URL:** <https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/support-colmap-export/1277698>\
**Category:** Feedback & Requests\
**Tags:** FeatureRequest, realityscan\
**Created:** [August 30, 2023, 2:15pm UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/support-colmap-export/1277698 "2023-08-30T14:15:59Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![jochemla](https://d1ap1mz92jnks1.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/forums.unrealengine.com/jochemla/32/745958_2.png) [@jochemla](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/jochemla)\
**Post date:** [August 30, 2023, 2:16pm UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/support-colmap-export/1277698/1 "2023-08-30T14:16:00Z")

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Hi there,  
It would be great for RC to support the [Colmap file format](https://colmap.github.io/format.html) as an Export option. Would be very helpful to play with RC aligned components with NERFs/3d-gaussian-splatting.

This was requested ~1 year ago [here](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/is-it-possible-to-export-camera-positions-aligment-into-colmap-compatible-format/712421) but no update since, hence re-opening a feature request ticket.

Best,

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![OndrejTrhan](https://d1ap1mz92jnks1.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/forums.unrealengine.com/ondrejtrhan/32/906565_2.png) [@OndrejTrhan](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/OndrejTrhan)\
**Post date:** [August 30, 2023, 3:12pm UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/support-colmap-export/1277698/2 "2023-08-30T15:12:12Z")

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Thank you for the idea, I added this to our feature request database.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![jochemla](https://d1ap1mz92jnks1.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/forums.unrealengine.com/jochemla/32/745958_2.png) [@jochemla](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/jochemla)\
**Post date:** [August 31, 2023, 8:00am UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/support-colmap-export/1277698/3 "2023-08-31T08:00:35Z")

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Thanks for getting back so quickly.  
Out of curiosity, do you plan to open access to some of these feature/bugfixes requests on a public board somewhere?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![OndrejTrhan](https://d1ap1mz92jnks1.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/forums.unrealengine.com/ondrejtrhan/32/906565_2.png) [@OndrejTrhan](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/OndrejTrhan)\
**Post date:** [August 31, 2023, 10:50am UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/support-colmap-export/1277698/4 "2023-08-31T10:50:36Z")

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There is no answer for that question. I informed my colleagues about it and they will decide.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![jochemla](https://d1ap1mz92jnks1.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/forums.unrealengine.com/jochemla/32/745958_2.png) [@jochemla](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/jochemla)\
**Post date:** [September 5, 2023, 9:08am UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/support-colmap-export/1277698/5 "2023-09-05T09:08:34Z")

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Workflow described here in the meantime:

```bash
# Install Kapture
pip install kapture

# Bundler -> Kapture
py C:\Python310\Scripts\kapture_import_bundler.py -v debug -i dataset-bundler\bundle.out -l dataset-bundler\imagelist-local.lst -im dataset-bundler\images --image_transfer link_absolute -o dataset-kapture --add-reconstruction

# Kapture -> Colmap
py C:\Python310\Scripts\kapture_export_colmap.py -v debug -f -i dataset-kapture -db dataset-colmap\colmap.db --reconstruction dataset-colmap\reconstruction-txt

# Colmap txt to bin conversion
mkdir dataset-colmap\sparse\0
COLMAP.bat model_converter --input_path dataset-colmap\reconstruction-txt --output_path dataset-colmap\sparse\0 --output_type BIN

```

> <https://twitter.com/jo_chemla/status/1698985750367281499>

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Bennyman33](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/2/8/5/28502927f1d97ba1051b3b47ccfe17233bf41ef0.png) [@Bennyman33](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/Bennyman33)\
**Post date:** [October 30, 2023, 9:47pm UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/support-colmap-export/1277698/6 "2023-10-30T21:47:16Z")

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Hello,  
I also vote for this export option. Or may be we could have directly gaussian splatting within RC 😉 ?

@Jonathan, thank you for this request and the detailed process.

Thanks  
Ben

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Bennyman33](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/2/8/5/28502927f1d97ba1051b3b47ccfe17233bf41ef0.png) [@Bennyman33](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/Bennyman33)\
**Post date:** [October 31, 2023, 8:12pm UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/support-colmap-export/1277698/7 "2023-10-31T20:12:46Z")

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Hello,

@jochemla . I tried to use your scripts but I get errors (I’m not a python guy…).

I have some questions :

- I assume that we need to export the image list from RC too and then rename the file imagelist.lst. Is it correct ?
- Should all the images be stored in a subfolder (relative to the out file) called image ?
- Should we use index.py in first sept then use the index.sh ?

Thanks for any precisions !

Ben

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![OndrejTrhan](https://d1ap1mz92jnks1.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/forums.unrealengine.com/ondrejtrhan/32/906565_2.png) [@OndrejTrhan](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/OndrejTrhan)\
**Post date:** [November 2, 2023, 9:02am UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/support-colmap-export/1277698/8 "2023-11-02T09:02:22Z")

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Hi Benny, your vote was added.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![mar.lor](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/2/8/5/28502927f1d97ba1051b3b47ccfe17233bf41ef0.png) [@mar.lor](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/mar.lor)\
**Post date:** [November 5, 2023, 5:04pm UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/support-colmap-export/1277698/9 "2023-11-05T17:04:43Z")

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- 1

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![OndrejTrhan](https://d1ap1mz92jnks1.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/forums.unrealengine.com/ondrejtrhan/32/906565_2.png) [@OndrejTrhan](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/OndrejTrhan)\
**Post date:** [November 6, 2023, 8:54am UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/support-colmap-export/1277698/10 "2023-11-06T08:54:28Z")

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[mar.lor](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/mar.lor), your vote was added

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![mar.lor](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/2/8/5/28502927f1d97ba1051b3b47ccfe17233bf41ef0.png) [@mar.lor](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/mar.lor)\
**Post date:** [November 7, 2023, 5:30pm UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/support-colmap-export/1277698/11 "2023-11-07T17:30:11Z")

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Please take into consideration that a lot of users that have been working with Gaussian Splatting, are switching to Metashape. They listened to their user requests, and provided an export solution in a short amount of time:

> <https://github.com/agisoft-llc/metashape-scripts/blob/master/src/export_for_gaussian_splatting.py>

So far we have two problems, if we want to keep on working with Reality Capture:  
(-) export camera positions (alignment) into Colmap compatible format  
(-) export images as cropped without black bars:

> [@Full instructions for exporting cropped undistorted images and cameras to work in blender](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/full-instructions-for-exporting-cropped-undistorted-images-and-cameras-to-work-in-blender/1271110/7):
>
> To me it clearly is a RC bug that these black strips are present with Fit: Inner Region parameter during undistortion. If you want to remove these black strips, you can do so with the below kapture utility - based on a kapture project. (with the kapture library, a bit verbose, but seem to do the job). Please follow the [full workflow](https://twitter.com/jo_chemla/status/1698985750367281499) for first converting bundle to kapture, then kapture to colmap.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![OndrejTrhan](https://d1ap1mz92jnks1.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/forums.unrealengine.com/ondrejtrhan/32/906565_2.png) [@OndrejTrhan](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/OndrejTrhan)\
**Post date:** [November 8, 2023, 7:47am UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/support-colmap-export/1277698/12 "2023-11-08T07:47:40Z")

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[mar.lor](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/mar.lor), forwarded this to my colleagues.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![seta5](https://d1ap1mz92jnks1.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/forums.unrealengine.com/seta5/32/781078_2.png) [@seta5](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/seta5)\
**Post date:** [November 24, 2023, 2:57pm UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/support-colmap-export/1277698/13 "2023-11-24T14:57:58Z")

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> [@OndrejTrhan](#):
>
> Thank you for the idea, I added this to our feature request database.

“Your creative suggestion has sparked our imagination, and we’re thrilled to add it to our feature request database. Your input is invaluable to us.”

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![seta5](https://d1ap1mz92jnks1.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/forums.unrealengine.com/seta5/32/781078_2.png) [@seta5](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/seta5)\
**Post date:** [December 21, 2023, 8:05am UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/support-colmap-export/1277698/14 "2023-12-21T08:05:24Z")

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I fully endorse adding Colmap export to RC! It’s crucial for NERF/3D-Gaussian-splatting workflows. Please prioritize this feature request. [🙃](https://whatsgbpro.org/)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![OndrejTrhan](https://d1ap1mz92jnks1.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/forums.unrealengine.com/ondrejtrhan/32/906565_2.png) [@OndrejTrhan](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/OndrejTrhan)\
**Post date:** [December 21, 2023, 8:20am UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/support-colmap-export/1277698/15 "2023-12-21T08:20:33Z")

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Your vote was added to the request.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Bennyman33](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/2/8/5/28502927f1d97ba1051b3b47ccfe17233bf41ef0.png) [@Bennyman33](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/Bennyman33)\
**Post date:** [January 29, 2024, 7:50pm UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/support-colmap-export/1277698/16 "2024-01-29T19:50:30Z")

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Hello Otrhan,

Any news about this request ?  
As gaussian splatting and nerf are getting more interest, do you intend to implement colmap export?  
The user community needs feebacks.  
Thanks

Ben

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Rafa\_J](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/2/8/5/28502927f1d97ba1051b3b47ccfe17233bf41ef0.png) [@Rafa\_J](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/Rafa_J)\
**Post date:** [January 30, 2024, 4:24pm UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/support-colmap-export/1277698/18 "2024-01-30T16:24:00Z")

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- 1 it would be great to have this feature.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Relven](https://d1ap1mz92jnks1.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/forums.unrealengine.com/relven/32/558251_2.png) [@Relven](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/Relven)\
**Post date:** [March 7, 2024, 3:25pm UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/support-colmap-export/1277698/19 "2024-03-07T15:25:34Z")

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That would be great feature ! +1

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![cpk](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/2/8/5/28502927f1d97ba1051b3b47ccfe17233bf41ef0.png) [@cpk](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/cpk)\
**Post date:** [March 12, 2024, 1:58pm UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/support-colmap-export/1277698/20 "2024-03-12T13:58:29Z")

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+1 This would be great

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![saemranian](https://d1ap1mz92jnks1.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/forums.unrealengine.com/saemranian/32/487774_2.png) [@saemranian](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/saemranian)\
**Post date:** [March 16, 2024, 4:08am UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/support-colmap-export/1277698/21 "2024-03-16T04:08:53Z")

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Seeking Colmap Export support in RealityCapture to import image alignment data into Jawset software for splat generation. Any updates on this integration? Thanks!

[Next page](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/support-colmap-export/1277698.md?page=2)