Retrieve object dimensions in material node tree?

Support Materials and Textures
#1

Hi all,

I’m currently trying to set up a node group that involves subsurface scattering (Christensen-Burley, to be exact). Ideally I would like to set up a kind of “strength” input that works for all kind of objects, no matter what size. However, as the SS shader relies on the scale of the object, I guess I would need to retrieve the object dimensions in the node tree to be able to scale the values accordingly. I know that there’s an Object Info node, but unfortunately that node only contains the location…

So, is this possible at all? Am I missing something?

Thanks in advance.

#2

If the scale of your objects is applied (ctrl+a), then the shader will work the same to every object independently of their size, and the sss will use the scene scale.

#3

Thanks for the quick reply.
I’m not sure, if I’m understanding you correctly… I’m assuming you mean that the SSS uses the global scale to determine, how far the light will be scattered within an object? If so, that is not what I want to achieve. Basically, I would like to scale the effect of the SSS to the size of the object, so that, say, a human hand looks identical no matter if it’s the correct size or just 1cm small.

Normally, I would use the “scale” input in the SSS node, but to do this automatically I would need the object dimensions, I guess… Is this possible at all?

#4

AHhhh…

then you can use the Vector transform, but you cannot apply the scale to the object.

screen.png879×328 49.5 KB

:wink:

#5

Ah, thank you very much! That’s more or less exactly what I was hoping for. (What a shame, though, that I can’t apply the scale.)

Much appreciated. :slight_smile: