Overview

Now it's time to take the Ambient Occlusion (AO) Study to the third dimension! In this project, you'll take an existing image and shade it again, using only soft ambient sky light.

Materials Needed

• A reference image. You can use the image below, or select your own reference image. It can be a drawing, painting, sculpture, or photograph. WARNING: the more complex the subject is, the more time you will need to complete the study. When in doubt, choose a simpler subject.

• You can do the occlusion study in any medium, drawing or painting, digital or traditional. Choose the medium you are most comfortable with.

Steps

1. Select your own reference image or download the project image below.

2. Either A) print the image or B) open it in your preferred digital painting application.

3. Create an "ambient occlusion pass". This means you shade the subject as if it were lit only with ambient light, like an overcast sky. Shade your subject as if it were made of white plaster. Ignore all local value and material information of the original subject.

4. Upload your study alongside the original image.

Duration

This project should take 1–3 hours to complete. Go for high quality. 

Examples

Traditional Demonstration

Digital Demonstration

Project Images

Use the image below, or select your own reference image. It can be a drawing, painting, sculpture, or photograph. WARNING: the more complex the subject is, the more time you will need to complete the study. When in doubt, choose a simpler subject.

🧠 Learn more with feedback

Share your work in progress or finished images in our learning community.