Digital Tutors - mental ray Workflows in Maya Subsurface Scattering (T0130)

Gain a deeper understanding of Subsurface Scattering, how to accurately simulate light behavior, and learn a time-saving approach to lighting and rendering translucent surfaces with mental ray. Provides over 3 hours of project-driven training for artists learning how to achieve more realistic results with Subsurface Scattering.

Popular highlights include:

* Overview of essential subsurface scattering attributes
* Connecting lightmaps to subsurface shaders
* Understanding forward and backward scattering
* Using bump and normal maps with subsurface shaders
* Properly controlling light interaction with translucent surfaces
* Controlling scatter bias
* Adjusting lightmap's Diffuse Gamma Curve
* Adding separate specular/reflection attributes to SSS shaders
* Using SSS with final gather
* Using textures to drive SSS attributes
* Using the Physical SSS shader
* Controlling photon interactions with Physical SSS
* Absorption and scattering coefficients

Lesson Outline:

1. Connecting lightmap nodes into SSS shaders 10:15
2. Exploring SSS diffuse lighting attributes 7:28
3. Understanding properties of forward light scattering 8:43
4. Using back light scattering and proper light placement 7:49
5. Fine-tuning front scatter, back scatter and diffuse shading results 8:42
6. Adjusting SSS algorithm control 10:02
7. Modifying Diffuse Gamma Curve and Scatter Bias 8:53
8. Connecting bump maps to various SSS shaders 6:29
9. Setting up lights and shaders for glacier lighting scenario 6:56
10. Making initial adjustments to glacier SSS shader 7:57
11. Using textures to control scatter weight 6:40
12. Using normal maps together with SSS shaders 6:51
13. Using the fast skin shader to mimic realistic skin 7:17
14. Utilizing textures to add greater realism to the skin shader 10:21
15. Using components of different SSS shaders together 8:22
16. Tuning back scatter, forward scatter and diffuse attributes 7:24
17. Adding soft reflectivity to SSS shaders 8:28
18. Adding final gather and refining render quality 14:49
19. Unique characteristics of the Physical SSS shader 6:55
20. Controlling photon interactions with Physical SSS shader 8:20
21. Achieving accurate scattering results with Physical SSS 9:11
22. Adding final adjustments to Physical SSS shader 4:31
23. Bonus lesson: Fixing SSS bump glitch in Maya 2008 3:16
24. Bonus lesson: Repairing fast skin shader glitch in Maya 2008 2:35

Total Run Time:
3:10:27