I saw on Blender website that is possible to reproduce really realistic ceramic and marble effects using SSS.
The Tea Pot example image viewable in SSS page of Release Logs of Blender 2.44 is basically the result I would like to achieve.
So I started some test with a simple model of mine. The model is a cup made with curves.
To begin, I tried to apply one of the template settings, available in the little popup menu of the SSS panel: marble. This is the result.
By uklennugtag at 2008-10-13
In the image there are all the Object informations, so you can see the dimensions. I think they are usefull for the Scale value of SSS panel.
This is the screenshot of my Material Buttons view.
By uklennugtag at 2008-10-13
I also placed a Back Light source to see better the SSS effect, but, as you can see my cup, renders black.
If I disable the SSS in SSS panel, of course, the cup correctly renders with its material color.