Uploaded November 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago

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Last tutorial I asked you what Diffraction Grating use-cases you liked and a lot of you opted for the Opal Material 🪨
As last time, this will be a tut full of OSL shaders interesting tricks and workarounds and a lot of nodes to finally get it working.
So buckle up and join me on the twisted path to the creation of a black opal.


Opal Scene Assets (OSL Scripts & Textures)
drive.google.com/drive/folders/1NY5XZKxB-FQT81fWWMXbf1r4xJQismfy?usp=sharing

OSL Shaders Library:
drive.google.com/open?id=1CbD3nsT9-JpZEtW9DSKrQCdgb2rSYqjy&usp=drive_fs


PATREON:
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You can support me and the community by becoming a PATREON.
This helps me to keep all my content free and accessible to everyone.
patreon.com/silverwingvfx

Thank you so much for all my existing PATREONs for your generosity 🙏


FOLLOW ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA:
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Twitter: twitter.com/RaphaelRau
BluSky: @raphaelrau.bsky.social
Instagram: instagram.com/silverwingvfx
Behance: behance.net/silverwing-vfx
Cara: https://cara.app/silverwing-vfx
Mastodon: https://mastodon.social/@silverwing


TRAINING:
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If you want to learn Shading / OSL, I also offer 1:1 training. Contact me, if you are interested.


VIDEO RELATED LINKS:
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Maxons Official Website:
maxon.net
Octane C4D Otoy Official Website:
render.otoy.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=85
Blender Foundations Official Website:
blender.org/download
Blender Octane Otoy Official Website:
render.otoy.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=113
BlackMagic Official Website:
blackmagicdesign.com


CHAPTERS:
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00:00 Intro
00:38 Scene Overview and Tips how to best start
03:01 Chapter 1: Diffraction Grating
06:07 Chapter 2.1: Structure - Voronoi OSL Node
10:43 Chapter 2.2 Structure - Implementation
13:09 Chapter 3.1 What is Opalescence / Shiller / Adularescence
14:50 Chapter 3.2 Opalescence Implementation
18:05 Chapter 3.3 Opalescence Bringing it home
19:33 Chapter 4 Organic Detail - Distortion
23:57 Chapter 5 Coating / Layering
26:00 Bonus: Tweaking the shader to look good!
31:45 Final look of the Shader
32:46 Conclusion
33:25 Patreon Thanks
24:40 Famous Last Words