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Anyone have a real-word explanation as to how an object would absorb the visible spectrum the way a defel does?

What its not that difficult, the colour black absorbs all the light spectrum.

Absorb it as in not reflecting light or as in sucking it out of the surrounding enviroment?
As I recall, Defel use the former method, it might be explained by them absorbing visible light in a fashion similiar to that of flowers, combined with a highly non reflective skin and a very efficient system capable of using the light and heat (Defel's are cold blooded) as an energy source.
I am guessing on this, can anyone quote info on the Defel from the Ultimate races book or any sources other than the brief mention in Han Solo: The paradise snare?

As in not reflecting light, I believe. Defels look like vague shadows. They're mammallian, too, which implies endothermy.

I checked the UAA, and although it doesn't give any mechanism for their ability, is says that "in darkness Defel are invisible even to beings with dark vision" and under normal light Defel "appear as a mysterious bipedal shadow." Sources like the Thrawn Trilogy describe defel as having a fuzzy, vague outline and being able to move around essentially undetected due to looking like a shadow.

What exactly is "darkvision"? Is it properly defined? This would go a long way toward figuring out possible mechanisms behind a defel's appearance.

DEATH wrote:Absorb it as in not reflecting light or as in sucking it out of the surrounding enviroment?
As I recall, Defel use the former method, it might be explained by them absorbing visible light in a fashion similiar to that of flowers, combined with a highly non reflective skin and a very efficient system capable of using the light and heat (Defel's are cold blooded) as an energy source.
I am guessing on this, can anyone quote info on the Defel from the Ultimate races book or any sources other than the brief mention in Han Solo: The paradise snare?

It seems to be the former. Its body is its own cloaking device from its description in UAA of being able to only see their shadows during the day and how animals can't see it with their vision at night. Which means it doesn't radiate energy back into the environment if it were to do that.

Hrm.. if they didn't radiate the heat that their muscles and other organs generate (they can't be perfectly efficient), wouldn't they increase in temperature? They should radiate infrared.. at least enough to see them in a cold environment, anyway.

Edit: Hrm, Wookiepedia says that defels are visible under ultraviolet light. So they'd be visible in sunlight, but most indoor lighting leaves them "cloaked".

Cykeisme wrote:What exactly is "darkvision"? Is it properly defined? This would go a long way toward figuring out possible mechanisms behind a defel's appearance.

Darkvision is a rpg type of vision that allows one to see in the dark in black and white up to a certain distance, beyond which it's useless.
There might be a more detailed description in the D&D 3e players (Or DM's) handbook, I'll check when I can.

They should radiate infrared.. at least enough to see them in a cold environment, anyway.

I think that there was a mention of Han solo spotting a Defel by the gleam of it's eyes not sure about that though.