LogInTo celebrate 80 Level's 10th birthday, we sat down with Jack Wang and Zion Wang from KIRI Innovations to discuss the studio's journey since its founding in 2018, key milestones, and how the digital art industry has evolved over the years.
The Birth of KIRI Innovations
Jack Wang, CEO & Co-Founder of KIRI Innovations: KIRI Innovations started as a capstone project back in college when we were studying engineering, as we noticed the high cost of 3D scanning and wanted to create something that democratizes this process. This was way before the KIRI Engine App, we initially set out to make affordable 3D scanning hardware. We were quite optimistic moving forward with this project as it was highly anticipated at first, but we ran into a problem shortly after.
When we finally started shipping out the hardware, we realized that the hardware based on the concurrent technology was not what the customers wanted. Realizing that the hardware route did not provide a desirable solution to our customers' needs, we learned from this mistake and made the pivot, shifting our emphasis from hardware to software, which would later become the KIRI Engine App.
The Digital Art Industry
Zion Wang, PR Manager at KIRI Innovations: The advancements in the digital art industry are nothing short of astounding. Even in 2015, with genre-defining works like The Witcher 3 and Inside Out, today’s tools and creative possibilities have reached unprecedented heights. When I first entered college, Maya was the gold standard – just two years later, I found myself learning virtual production with Unreal Engine for animation. Meanwhile, 3D scanning, once seen as inefficient due to its high equipment demands and steep learning curve, is now accessible right from a smartphone.
Nostalgia will always tie people to certain eras, whether through personal creative journeys or the industry’s evolving landscape. However, that sentiment shouldn’t overshadow the remarkable progress we’ve made together. Digital art has become more inclusive than ever, allowing ideas to be expressed more effortlessly and comprehensively across countless mediums.
KIRI's Early Days
Jack: Back in 2018, when we were still focused on hardware, we thought we had a clever solution – turning smartphones into part of a laser 3D scanner. But as it turned out, smartphone cameras simply couldn’t overcome the inherent limitations of laser scanning. Understandably, our first-gen hardware customers weren’t thrilled.
Our original hardware 3D scanner: Phiz 3D Scanner
That experience taught us a hard but valuable lesson: transparency is crucial for building trust. Even after discontinuing our hardware, that principle remained at the core of everything we do. It’s why we continue creating dedicated YouTube videos – to maintain transparency and stay connected with our users, not just through technology but through a shared sense of commitment.
Honestly, handling the situation back then was tough. We knew the product didn't meet expectations, and as a startup, those setbacks hit insurmountably hard. But in 2020, we began pivoting from hardware to software, which would later become KIRI Engine. When the metaverse boom took off, we suddenly had the funding to push forward. This influx of funding not only allowed us to issue the necessary refunds but also helped us reconnect with our early supporters and build trust with new customers moving forward.
KIRI's Highlights Over the Years
Zion: One of our proudest achievements has been the adoption of the 3D Gaussian Splatting (3DGS) technique. After integrating it into our software, we researched and created a method to transform gaussian splats into physical meshes (now known as “3DGS to Mesh”). We then refined and optimized 3DGS to boost resolution, speed up processing times, and shrink file sizes. In the spirit of collaboration and innovation, we’ve also open-sourced many of our developments, including free Blender add-ons, so fellow developers can benefit from our work and discoveries.
Looking ahead, we have high hopes and big plans for 2025! 3DGS is evolving rapidly, and we’re already anticipating a potential 4DGS variant – essentially the same groundbreaking tech but with added timelines and movement, which we find incredibly exciting. We’re also focusing on improved human scans that capture face and body shapes more accurately, which could be a true game-changer for VFX and beyond. Additionally, our machine-learning research aims to enhance existing LiDAR captures, making them far more versatile and high-quality.
It’s an exhilarating time for 3D reconstruction, and we’re thrilled to be at the forefront of these advancements. We can’t wait to share every breakthrough with you as we continue refining and exploring new possibilities!
Jack: Between 2018 and 2020, the hardware challenges we faced really stunted our growth. We felt a bit stuck, but in hindsight, it was a blessing in disguise. That challenging stretch pushed us to reflect on our missteps and refocus on what truly matters: staying transparent, embracing innovation, and delivering practical solutions that truly serve the digital arts community.
Looking back, it’s amazing to see how this learning experience became a continuous source of inspiration and pride for us. After all, we’re just a team of enthusiastic developers who want to make the best tool possible, and there’s nothing more rewarding than seeing our community grow and knowing people genuinely enjoy using our software.
Some of the highlighted reviews from our users:
Conclusion
Zion: KIRI wishes every digital artist great success and pride in their work. In this rapidly advancing industry – where new techniques and tools emerge every day – it’s essential to keep learning and refining individual workflows for better artistic expression. More importantly, despite the growing array of tools and platforms, it’s crucial to stay true to your core motive: creating art!
We also wish the 80 Level team a happy new year and many prosperous decades ahead! The industry is continuously expanding, and it’s you who remain at the forefront of our community, fostering togetherness in learning, appreciating, and growing in the ever-evolving world of digital arts.