Skin shader problems

[Michael65]

Hi Folks

I’m trying to come up with a decent skin material with Vray Next and Max 2019.
So far with no luck with either fast sss2 or the al shader. Achieving something like the attached image seems...well, simply not possible. (although the skin in the image may be a little over the top).

I’ve tried hundreds of settings, with/and without subdermal maps, radius, strenghts, colors, sss scale - you name it. Watched a bunch of tutorials, but most of them are for Maya. What’s the secret for skin with Vrays al shader? Anyone?

Thanks,
Mike

[Michael65]

To elaborate: Most tutorials recommend a semi-detailed map for the sss2 color. Hence, I have a reddish map with blue veins and flesh etc. No matter how I tweak the settings, the map stays completely invisible...

[vjaramillo]

Post what you're getting.

[Michael65]

Here we go...
Recap: I've literally tweaked everything: diffuse amount, sss mix, radius, bla bla bla....
My sss color map (shown in the viewport) remain 100% invisible...

Suggestions? Thanks...

[^Lele^]

Try the non diffusive mode, Directional, for the scatter (see attached: the only change was in SSS mode.).

[Michael65]

Thanks, Lele, but didn't do anything besides adding rendertime ( I know directional gives better sss details, but I'm obviously not there yet)...

[^Lele^]

I think it's working as intended, with the first layer diffusing also the ones below, and the fat layer bleeding through as well, making it impossible for you to see the thin detail.
Are you basing your expectations on some other result?
If so, would you share it?

[Michael65]

Don’t have any other results - tried the fast sss2 as well, but I don’t like the edges/fringing on the sss.
Something is just very wrong - it should even be possible to dial in parameters, that reveal too much of the sss/subdermal layers. I simply get nothing?