# Ambient Occlusion (SSAO)

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<figure><img src="https://2307539615-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FVXPIT6wWK7VeTYMAHNYe%2Fuploads%2FD3pmMIZtZOyinQTaaQue%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=7f9ac8c9-aec1-4a00-a535-278cdcf98727" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

Ambient Occlusion is used to simulate soft shading without casting shadows. Controlling the radius and intensity will help you achieve a specific look, but there are many advanced settings for refining the shading.

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#### AO MULTISAMPLING NOTE:

AO Multisampling requires a Recommended supported graphics card. Please look at our [supported GPU list here](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1kqQP_Okzn_PEJsn0_CstMJUKyXw3VUJPz9-zX85dDag/pub).
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### Parameters

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**Enable**\
Turns on/off Ambient Occlusion by checkbox.\
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**Color**\
Stylize the color of the Ambient Occlusion with the popup color box or by using the color picker.\
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**Intensity**\
Increase or decrease the overall amount intensity of Ambient Occlusion on your model\
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**Samples**\
Controls how many samples are calculated per pixel.\
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**Radius**\
Controls the search distance to calculate the shading and makes the shading tighter or broader.\
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**Gamma**\
Controls the overall brightness of the Ambient Occlusion.\
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**Depth Influence**\
The ambient occlusion works in screen space, but the depth influence varies the shading radius so that objects far away that get smaller do not get lost.\
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**Fog Influence**\
This controls how intense the ambient occlusion is when fog is enabled.\
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**Illumination Influences**\
This controls how much the ambient occlusion affects illuminated materials.\
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**Adaptive Blur**\
The adaptive blur settings allow you to smooth out the samples based on the direction of polygons in order to keep the shading consistent.

{% hint style="info" %}
[![](https://www.videocopilot.net/assets/public/images/v6/products/element/tutorials/metropolitan_templates.jpg)](https://www.videocopilot.net/help/element/tutorial/basic/metropolitan_templates/)

**Metropolitan Templates**\
• Overview of the Metropolitian template project\
• Learn how to manage the render modes in Element 1.5\
• Learn how smooth out jagged edges\
\
[**WATCH NOW!**](https://www.videocopilot.net/help/element/tutorial/basic/metropolitan_templates/)
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### Advanced Options

<div align="left"><figure><img src="https://2307539615-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FVXPIT6wWK7VeTYMAHNYe%2Fuploads%2FwZNzB90w5Qbo800jWoGb%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=f5e7407a-b053-47d3-892c-973abb492ced" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

**FXAA AO**: On or Off
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**Multisampling**: Increase quality of AO, helps with jagged edges.
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**Cut-off**: Limit render radius of AO.
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**Matte Intensity**: Control the edge of the AO

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#### TIPS FOR EDGE FLICKERING WITH AO

To reduce flickering when AO is on, select Multisampling under the Ambient Occlusions advanced settings. This will render the AO pass large and resample it down to frame size, allowing more detail to be smooth. You can also adjust the adaptive blur settings to fine tune your AO.
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