AIR can efficiently simulate the effects of subsurface scattering essential to accurate rendering of translucent materials such as skin, marble, and milk. Subsurface scattering information can be saved to a file for re-use on subsequent renders. AIR also exposes the underlying surface sampling and query capabilities used by the subsurface scattering function to facilitate implementation of custom SS solutions as well as other exotic effects.
In the image below subsurface scattering distinguishes the milk samples on the left and in the middle from the matte shaded block on the right, and more subtly different scattering parameters distinguish the skim milk on the left from whole milk in the center.
