Subsurface Scattering

Subsurface scattering is the way light penetrates the surface of a material, like skin or marble, and spreads beneath it before exiting. This process helps materials look realistic by capturing the soft glow and natural translucency seen in objects such as human skin, wax figures, or certain stones. Instead of bouncing directly off the surface, light interacts with internal layers, creating smooth, diffused highlights and subtle color shifts. This effect is essential in computer graphics and photography to produce lifelike textures and appearances, conveying depth and authenticity in rendering and imaging.