Make Object emit light & be reconizable

Question

i want an object to emit light, but still be recognizable as the object, like in this picture.

i tried using Luts in the colour management and tried to make only a second, weaker emitter be visible to the camera.

The problem is, that as soon as the object is emitting light, doesnt matter how strong, its not recognizable as 3D-object anymore. I also tried to plug the node into volume and not surface, but then, it gets transparent.

please halp much thanks

Answer 1

Here's a variation on Jens Clar's answer. You can connect the output of the Emission shader node to the Volume input of the Material Output node. Here's an example using the Translucent BSDF node connected to the Surface input of the Material Output node:

Here's the node setup:

Answer 2

Final:

Overview:

This method is based on Ray Length and Translucent shader. It's basically fake SSS shader. You can think of it as "light edge detect".

Exaggerated result:

Node setup:

1. Math > Add node control edge width.
2. White Emission shader control edge color.
3. Greenish Emission shader control light and mesh color.
4. Translucent shader is needed to calculate Ray Length, also could influence light color.

Answer 3

have you tried to mix emit shader with a regular one, perhaps?

Here is a very basic example:

Answer 4

If its possible to put a lamp inside the object, you can also put a lamp into it and use translucent shader.