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Subsurface Scattering vs Subsurface Absorption?

DrowElfMorwenDrowElfMorwen Posts: 538
edited October 2015 in Technical Help (nuts n bolts)

Hello everyone,

I was reading up the other day on the technology and programs used to create James Cameron's Avatar. As anyone who has seen the movie or stills can attest, the skin (and over-all realness) of the Na'vi is the most impressive CG ever created. Now, a commenter from the production staff was speaking of how instead of using the Subsurface Scattering on the skin, which is so common to 3D art, they used something called Subsurface Absorption.

Is this Subsurface Absorption something available in DAZ Studio, and if not, will it be in the future? Are there any shaders which employ it?

Post edited by DrowElfMorwen on

Comments

  • ToborTobor Posts: 2,300

    I don't know about 3Delight, but in Iray there's both subsurface absorption and scattering. (Actually, I imagine 3DL supports it, too.)

  • mjc1016mjc1016 Posts: 15,001
    Tobor said:

    I don't know about 3Delight, but in Iray there's both subsurface absorption and scattering. (Actually, I imagine 3DL supports it, too.)

    Yes, 3DL does, but the shaders in Studio don't really...

  • DrowElfMorwenDrowElfMorwen Posts: 538

    Oh I shall have to look closer in the Iray settings then. Thanks!

  • ToborTobor Posts: 2,300

    You won't see the settings directly. Scattering and absorption coefficients are part of the math used when adjusting the SSS controls. These become visible when you turn off Thin Walled. There are numerous recent threads about how Iray handles these calculations when doing volumes and skin. Some of the discussion has been quite technical. Check out the long 'Fiddling with Iray skin settings' thread in The Commons,

  • DrowElfMorwenDrowElfMorwen Posts: 538

    Thank you for the information :)

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