Ambient Occlusion

1. Ambient Occlusion

2.  Ambient occlusion is a shading and rendering technique used in computer
graphics to simulate the soft shadows that occur in areas where surfaces
are close to each other. It adds depth and realism to rendered images by
approximating the occlusion, or blocking, of ambient light in the corners,
crevices, and intersections of 3D objects. The term "ambient" refers to the
indirect, uniformly distributed light in a scene.


3.  In practical terms, ambient occlusion darkens areas that are more likely to
be occluded or hidden from ambient light, creating subtle shadowing
effects. This technique is particularly effective in conveying depth and
enhancing the visual realism of computer-generated images. While it
doesn't simulate direct shadows or specific light sources, ambient
occlusion contributes to a more natural and visually appealing
representation of scenes, especially in gaming graphics, architectural
visualization, and CGI production.


4.  There are various methods of implementing ambient occlusion, including
screen-space ambient occlusion (SSAO) and ray-traced ambient
occlusion. The former is a real-time technique commonly used in video
games, while the latter is more computationally intensive and is often
employed in offline rendering for high-quality visual effects.


5.  In summary, ambient occlusion is a valuable tool in computer graphics
that adds depth and realism to rendered images by simulating the subtle
shadows that naturally occur in the corners and crevices of 3D scenes,
contributing to a more immersive and visually pleasing experience.