HOW TO CREATE A GHOST SHADER
 In
this lesson, you will learn how to create a shading network that has a
soft, fuzzy look.
You will be using the SamplerInfo utility node and a Ramp texture to
achieve a transparent drop-off effect.
STEP ONE
In the Hypershade Create the following nodes:
Lambert Surface Material (With Shading Group turned on)
SamplerInfo utility node
Ramp texture (With New Texture Placement turned off)
STEP TWO
You will be connecting the Facing Ratio attribute of the samplerInfo
to the V Coord of the Ramp. The Facing Ratio produces a value that ranges
between 0 and 1 depending on the normal of the surface to the camera eye
(normal facing Camera Eye = 1; perpendicular to Camera Eye = 0).
In the Hypershade, with the MMB drag the samplerInfo node onto the ramp
texture. This will open the Connection Editor with the samplerInfo in
the Outputs column and the ramp texture in the inputs column.
Expand the UV Coord in the Inputs column. Click on the Facing Ratio attribute
in the Outputs column and then click on V Coord. This Connects the samplerInfo's
FacingRatio to the Ramp's V Coord. Close the Connection Editor.
STEP THREE
Double click on the Lambert Shading Group to open the Attribute Editor.
Change the Color to a light gray, green, or blue for the ghost's color.
You will now map the ramp to the Transparency. Drag and Drop with MMB
the Ramp texture to the Transparency slider of the Lambert Shading Group.
 STEP
FOUR
Double click on the Ramp Texture to open the Attribute Editor.
Change the ramp colors to a dark grey and white as show in this figure.
Also change the Interpolation to Smooth.
For a more ghostly result, make the material node's Incandescence a dark
blue and add a glow by opening the Special Effects section and increasing
the Glow to .6.
Do a test render and experiment with different ramp settings.
CONCLUSION
You have now constructed a Shading Network that creates some interesting
transparent effects. This technique could also be used for other attributes
(Incandescence, Specular Color, Diffusion, etc...). The ramp colors could
also be mapped with a Fractal or a file texture (image) for a broken,
cloudy effect. Try changing the colors for a different look. This works
well for glass (like a jelly jar).
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