How to have subsurface scattering and not have it interfere with makeup or tattoos?

[Bagleyalex80]

I am using AI standard Material and I have tried having two different maps one for the base color including makeup and one with the just skin texture and the sss will still just cover all of the makeup detail on the face. What's the correct workflow to have makeup and also use sss?

[Kahylan · Accepted solution]

Hi!

If you want parts of your mesh to not be influenced by the sss, you need to give the subsurface weight an influence map.

You create a texture in grayscale. Parts you want to be fully affected by sss you make white, parts you want no sss on you make black. Everything that you want partially effected you make gray (the darker the less it gets effected).

Then you load that texture into maya, using a file or ai image node and link its "outColorR" into the "Subsurface" Attribute.

Here's an example using a two checker maps, 1 "tattoed" with black and skincolor, 2 black and white.

 

 

 

I hope this helps!

[hannahmorison012]

Achieving realistic subsurface scattering (SSS) while preserving makeup and tattoo details can be a challenging task, but there are several techniques you can try to balance both aspects effectively. Here's a workflow to consider:

1. Separate Texture Maps: You're on the right track with using separate texture maps. Have one texture map for the base skin color, makeup, and tattoos, and another one specifically for the skin texture. This will allow you to control how SSS affects the skin separately from the makeup and tattoos.

2. Masking: Create a mask that defines the areas where makeup and tattoos are applied. This mask should be black in areas with no makeup or tattoos and white where they are present. Use this mask to control the influence of SSS. You can multiply this mask with the SSS texture to reduce its effect on makeup and tattoos.

3. SSS Settings: Adjust the SSS parameters in your AI standard material. Lower the SSS intensity in areas covered by makeup and tattoos, and increase it in areas with bare skin. This will ensure that the scattering effect is more prominent on exposed skin while preserving the intricate details of makeup and tattoos.

4. Layered Materials: Depending on your rendering software, consider using layered materials. Apply SSS to the skin layer and a separate layer for makeup and tattoos without SSS. This way, you have precise control over how each layer reacts to lighting and scattering.

5. Specular and Glossiness: Makeup and tattoos might have different specular and glossiness properties compared to bare skin. Adjust these parameters to differentiate between them and to maintain their distinct appearance.

6. Testing and Iteration: Achieving the desired result often involves testing and iterating. Continuously adjust your texture maps, masks, SSS settings, and material properties while observing how they interact in different lighting conditions.

7. Shader Overrides: Some rendering engines allow you to override shader settings on a per-material basis. This can be handy if you need different SSS behaviors for different parts of your model.

8. Realism vs. Artistic Interpretation: Consider the level of realism you're aiming for. Sometimes, a touch of artistic interpretation can enhance the final look. If achieving perfect realism compromises the overall aesthetic, you might need to make compromises between SSS accuracy and makeup/tattoo visibility.

Remember that the specific steps and terminology might vary depending on the software and rendering engine you're using. It's also worth consulting with other artists or resources related to your specific software to get more targeted advice.

[hannahmorison012]

Achieving subsurface scattering (SSS) without interfering with makeup or tattoos in your 3D rendering can be a bit tricky, but there are workflows you can follow to get the desired result. Here's a step-by-step approach that should help:

1. Separate Material Channels: It's a good start that you've already tried using two different maps. Continue with this approach. Create separate material channels for the skin, makeup, and tattoos.

2. Skin Material for SSS: Assign the skin texture map to a dedicated material channel for the skin, and enable SSS for this material. Adjust the SSS parameters like scattering radius and density to achieve the desired subsurface scattering effect for the skin. This will give the skin a more realistic appearance.

3. Makeup Material: Create a separate material channel for the makeup. For this material, disable SSS completely. This ensures that makeup won't be affected by subsurface scattering.

4. Tattoo Material: Similar to the makeup, create a distinct material channel for the tattoos. Again, disable SSS for this material. This will keep the tattoo details intact without being affected by SSS.

5. Layering and Blending: Depending on your 3D software, use a shader or material layering system to blend these materials on the character's face. Make sure the makeup and tattoo materials are layered on top of the skin material. Ensure that you're using appropriate blending modes to combine these materials.

6. Masking: Create masks or alpha maps to precisely define where the makeup and tattoos should appear on the skin. This will allow you to control their placement accurately.

7. Fine-Tuning: Spend time adjusting the opacity and blending settings of the makeup and tattoo materials. You may need to experiment with these settings to achieve the perfect balance between SSS and the appearance of makeup and tattoos.

8. Render Settings: Finally, make sure your rendering settings are optimized for SSS. Ensure that you have a sufficient number of SSS samples and that your lighting setup complements the SSS effect.

By following these steps, you should be able to achieve subsurface scattering while preserving the details of makeup and tattoos on your 3D character's face. Remember that fine-tuning and experimentation are often necessary to get the exact look you want, so don't hesitate to adjust settings until you achieve the desired result. you can try this out on tattoo skin  and than try on real skin.