Refraction Color vs. Fog Color

[mike_verta]

Why use Fog Color instead of Refraction Color for tinted transparencies? What's the use case for either?

Thanks!

[damaggio]

Refraction color just tints the glass, fog has additional
properties to achieve water effects like ocean , puddles or wine for example and other surfaces but you could use either one for coloring glass.The documentation is very detailed on this.

[mike_verta]

The documentation is where I learned about fog in the first place, but I do not see a discussion of pros vs cons with refraction color, nor any use cases. In fact, tinting the refraction color isn't even mentioned.

[damaggio]

It is written right there under refraction Color, color is color any color you choose. there's no pros or cons, the vray material is versatile because of that.
You should run tests with the fog parameter to understand how it works, try an ocean or swimming pool and you will see how cool it is.

[mike_verta]

I have no doubt it's great; I just don't have any data regarding what looks like a redundancy or possible drawback to using either method. As you say, I can do a bunch of tests... I thought perhaps someone else had done so already and might be able to offer some insight.

[damaggio]

Test for what surface effect? How would anyone know, you didn't say.You are not being clear at all of what you are trying to recreate.

[mike_verta]

I'm not trying to create a particular surface at this point; I'm trying to understand how the parameters work together or against each other; use cases; examples. I understand you don't have anything to offer other than "test it yourself," so I'll go with that until something more useful appears. Thanks!

[hermit.crab]

I'm not sure if there is a particular difference, except that with Fog color you have more control through the Depth parameter. I'll ask around and see if there's something else.

EDIT: Checked with devs. - that's the only difference.

[mike_verta]

Exactly what I wanted to know. Thank you!

[seandunderdale]

It has huge visual differences if you have glass with varying thickness. Its way more realistic, but if you just have some simple thin glass that needs colour, you dont need it. I tend to use it by default, and if I find the geometry is being fiddly and not giving the results I want, I switch to the more simple refraction colour.