Funny this subject has come up like 50 times this last month. I have written many many tutorials and demo materials featuring the Blender node as the central feature, yet people have not learned its general usefulness.

Decals, tatoos, water on glass, hair, veins, rust on metal, stockings, underwear, skinsuits ... all these things are examples of dual materials I have posted recently, done as single materials featuring Blender nodes.

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Renderosity forum reply notifications are wonky. If I read a follow-up in a thread, but I don't myself reply, then notifications no longer happen AT ALL on that thread. So if I seem to be ignoring a question, that's why. (Updated September 23, 2019)