ToonHair

ToonHair

Type: Shaders

Updated: June 10, 2009

Availability: Unreleased

Compatibility

Host Applications: mental ray

Operating Systems: Linux, Mac OS X and Windows

Architecture: 64-bit and 32-bit

Overview

The latest addition to my Toonkit shader library deals squarely with rendering anime-style hair.
Rendering anime or mange style hair in 3D is deceptively simple — one might think that any old toon shader would do the trick…

But unfortunately it is in fact incredibly difficult to render believable anime hair using conventional shaders. This is mainly due to the unorthodox type of specular highlight used, which usually stretches around the entire head, often runs in wild zig-zag patterns or tapers towards the end. This non-photorealistic effect has no equivalent in conventional shaders.

However, the ToonHair shader gives the artist full control over simulating these unconventional highlights by offering almost half a dozen different ramps with visual graphs and direct feedback to control the shading effect in detail. Parameters include ramp color, profile, direction, tapering, offset and size.

Usage

This shader is specifically designed to solve the common problem of rendering believable anime hair with 3D models. It is quite simple to setup but at the same time offers all the control one could want.

In combination with the ToonHoldout shader it is also possible to simulate the common effect of rendering eyes and eye-brows above the hair – regardless of physical plausibility.