NEPHELE

NEPHELE is a 3D reconstruction module developed within the TEXTaiLES toolbox as a dedicated 3D reconstruction component. It serves as the central bridge between SAM2 segmentation and SuGaR-based surface alignment. NEPHELE transforms segmented multi-view images into a structured 3D Gaussian representation. Named after the mythological figure Nephele, symbolizing cloud and formation, the module embodies the core principle of Gaussian Splatting: representing geometry as a continuous density cloud rather than discrete points. Using SAM2-filtered masks and COLMAP camera parameters, NEPHELE constructs an initial Gaussian field where each splat encodes localized surface attributes such as position, covariance, opacity, and anisotropy. This cloud-based representation provides a smooth and differentiable foundation for SuGaR optimization, enhancing reconstruction stability, improving surface consistency across views, and enabling efficient convergence toward high-quality 3D models.