**SSS and the Sub-dermal Maps** *that came with SimOne*

(edited to add some comments and images)

I know that many of you have ZERO-idea what the subdermal maps are for and how they work. That's fine...

What: subdermal maps are suppose to show what's immediately under the skin; veins, fatty tissue, healed scar tissue, and almost...muscle/bone(seriously, its not even worth painting for a number of reasons) that alters the hue of the maps. For instance, there's a lot of blood in the buttocks(lots of reds) but not so much in the forehead(light red and some yellows where bone is closes to the skin).

Study the subdermal maps on Victoria 4. Do a few quick renders using only the subdermal maps - nothing fancy.

How: Turn out all the lights and hide in a dark place. Turn on a light source like a flash light and put your hand in front of that light source. You'll notice that light penetrates your skin and exits in all directions making your fingers glow. That's SubSurface Scattering. Anyway...there's no veins visible when you do this. To see some vein work, trying using that light source on your ears while you look into a mirror. You might see a few veins shilloutted in your ear when it glows. Bingo! This is what the Subdermal maps will do! Those maps will show - not just the Poser-default SSS effect - but the actual tissue and vein underneath.

Granted, you'll want to paint your own veins into your maps. I've painted blue arteries and red veins all over the SimOne subdermal maps for this example.

Anywho, here is how to properly setup SSS and vein-work effect in Poser 9+...
I'm going simple on this one, so adjust as necessary. Anything "off screen" is not important for this example.

Really, what's been done is that the subdermal map is applied as "1" in Diffuse_Color and a Blinn effect has been applied to control the amount that the subdermal map shows through. You can also use an edge blend node for more profound effect. Heck you can use fresnal blend if you know how to set it up!

The usual SSS feature in Poser 9+ is applied, as usual, in the Alt_Diffuse channel.

The main thing here is controlling how that light enters/exits through the skin on the Diffuse_Color amount. Play with that - its your real SSS helper.

About my render and setup: you'll notice that where there is more light...more of the subdermal map is exposed. Where less light is, less of the subdermal map is exposed. Keep in mind that MY subdermal map has veins and arteries painted on it - WAY more than what is with default SimOne.

My render versus "SSS Pro" render. Notice the difference? JOY! Imagine: a new layer of skin to work with!! Imagine scales, but undernearth...vein work! Or toad skin...but under it: zebra stripes! The useses are endless. Get to working, people!