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07-848 2005

V-Ray for Maya

SSS

The Subsurface Scattering Render Element stores subsurface information calculated from VRayFastSSS2 materials.

Last updated 18 September 2025

The Subsurface Scattering Render Element stores subsurface information calculated from VRayFastSSS2 materials.

Overview

The Subsurface Scattering Render Element stores subsurface information from VRaySSS2 materials as an image. This render element can then be used to enhance or color-correct just the subsurface scattering component of the image during the compositing process.

UI Path: ||Display Render Settings button|| > Render Elements tab > SSS

Attributes

Enabled – When enabled, the render element appears in the V-Ray Virtual Frame Buffer.

Deep output – Specifies whether to include this render element in deep images.

Filename suffix – The text added to the end of the rendered file, when saved as a separate file (e.g. myrender.SSS.vrimg).

Apply color mapping – Applies the color mapping options specified in the Color Management rollout of the VRay tab in the Render Settings window to this render element. This option is enabled by default.

Denoise – Enables the render element's denoising, provided the Denoiser render element is present.

Common Uses

The Subsurface Scattering Render Element is useful for changing the appearance of SSS items after rendering in a compositing or image editing software. Below is an example of its use.

Subsurface Scattering Render Element

Original Beauty Composite

Subsurface Scattering Render Element with the color of Subsurface Scattering changed

Color of Subsurface Scattering changed

Compositing Formula

vrayRE_SSS + Beauty = Final Image