OK, here's a render using SKIN-BASE (skin-over-blood simulation). SKIN-BASE is an advanced material which is a method in itself. Because each is a seperate method, I've had to make refinements in order to get SKIN-BASE to INTERGRATE correctly with PRO-RENDER-XTREME. Luckily, it worked! Having the effect of SKIN-BASE inside a PRX render is really quite a big deal, honest it is!

Normally, a figure's skin colour is defined by using a texture map. This gives you control over the colour of the skin, but what it does NOT do, is give you a virtual simulation of skin/environment interaction. The best way to describe the difference between a texture map and SKIN-BASE would be: LIFELESS and LIFE!

So, if texture maps are not to be used to define skin colour, what is?

Well, you will have four major virtual parameters to do this:

1: SKIN COLOUR
2: BLOOD COLOUR
3: SKIN THICKNESS
4: BLOOD THICKNESS

...I did say that this is SKIN-OVER-BLOOD simulation ;-)

So, what about things like tattoos, lip colour and makeup?

These can be done with combination maps. These maps however, will look quite different to what you would have to produce for a standard map. Guidelines of how to create such maps will be given in the SKIN-BASE user manual (they're no harder than standard maps, just different).

Also, combination maps can be used to define wrinkles and blemishes etc, and the result is that SKIN-BASE will, by it's very nature, automatically generate the colouring effect of tight, loose, smooth, and creased skin. In short, you supply the detail, and SKIN-BASE will do the rest! There will no longer be any need to PAINT this effect onto texture maps!

Skin thickness can be controlled by a texture map. This is just as well really, because in real life, skin thickness varies greatly from head to toe. For example, compare the VERY thin skin of your lips, to the thikness of the skin on the bottom of your feet. Whether you just want to capture that GLOW you get when skin is backlit, or you want eyelids and lips that look ALIVE, it's possible using SKIN-BASE. It doesn't matter what you want from the skin, you ought to be able to simulate it with SKIN-BASE and a bit of practice.

Please know that the above image demonstrates SKIN-BASE without using any maps whatsoever, and as such, it's not a demonstration of SKIN-BASE's true potential. The skin you see above is a demonstration of SKIN-BASE in a VERY basic state.

There will be many -skin type- presets included in the package. For example, the skin type above shows what will eventually become the base pigmentation for a redhead. Imagine some long curly locks of ginger hair draping over that body, and you'll understand what I'm getting at regarding skin types and pigmentation. A redhead usually has thinner skin than say a brunette, and this is why her body looks pinkish, her skin is quite thin, so the underlying effect of blood is more visible.

I hope you like what you see.

Len.

Message edited on: 08/05/2004 14:25

The wait can be horrific, but the outcome can be worse - pumeco 2006