---
title: "Basic Properties"
url: "https://help.maxon.net/c4d/en-us/Content/html/VPAMBIENTOCCLUSION-ID_VIDEOPOSTPROPERTIES.html"
section_path: "Render Menu > Render Setting > Post Effects > Ambient Occlusion > Basic Properties"
element_id: "VPAMBIENTOCCLUSION"
group_id: "ID_VIDEOPOSTPROPERTIES"
description: "Lets you enable Ambient Occlusion without having to worry about creating/modifying materials (see also Ambient Occlusion shader). Please note that:"
---

## Basic Properties

### Apply to Project

Parameter ID: `VPAMBIENTOCCLUSION_APPLYTOSCENE`

Lets you enable Ambient Occlusion without having to worry about creating/modifying materials (see also [Ambient Occlusion shader](https://help.maxon.net/c4d/en-us/Content/html/XAMBIENTOCCLUSION.html.md)). Please note that:

- Ambient Occlusion can be removed from individual objects using the Compositing tag
- A separate Ambient Occlusion Multi-Pass can be defined in the Render Settings’ Multi-Pass menu

If you define Ambient Occlusion globally, note that objects with materials that have an Ambient Occlusion shader will be calculated twice with regard to Ambient Occlusion. The Ambient Occlusion effect will be amplified for these objects.

### Color

Parameter ID: `VPAMBIENTOCCLUSION_GRADIENT`

See [Color](https://help.maxon.net/c4d/en-us/Content/html/XAMBIENTOCCLUSION-ID_SHADERPROPERTIES.html.md).

### Minimum Ray Length

Parameter ID: `VPAMBIENTOCCLUSION_MINLENGTH` · Range: [0..+∞m]

See [Minimum Ray Length](https://help.maxon.net/c4d/en-us/Content/html/XAMBIENTOCCLUSION-ID_SHADERPROPERTIES.html.md).

### Maximum Ray Length

Parameter ID: `VPAMBIENTOCCLUSION_MAXLENGTH` · Range: [0..+∞m]

See [Maximum Ray Length](https://help.maxon.net/c4d/en-us/Content/html/XAMBIENTOCCLUSION-ID_SHADERPROPERTIES.html.md).

### Dispersion

Parameter ID: `VPAMBIENTOCCLUSION_DISPERSION` · Range: [0..100%]

See [Dispersion](https://help.maxon.net/c4d/en-us/Content/html/XAMBIENTOCCLUSION-ID_SHADERPROPERTIES.html.md).

### Accuracy

Parameter ID: `VPAMBIENTOCCLUSION_ACCURACY` · Range: [0..100%]

See [Accuracy](https://help.maxon.net/c4d/en-us/Content/html/XAMBIENTOCCLUSION-ID_SHADERPROPERTIES.html.md).

This and the following 2 functions have no effect when used in conjunction with AO cache (see [Enable Cache](https://help.maxon.net/c4d/en-us/Content/html/VPAMBIENTOCCLUSION-VPAMBIENTOCCLUSION_GROUP_CACHE.html.md)).

### Minimum Samples

Parameter ID: `VPAMBIENTOCCLUSION_MINSAMPLES` · Range: [1..10000]

See [Minimum Samples](https://help.maxon.net/c4d/en-us/Content/html/XAMBIENTOCCLUSION-ID_SHADERPROPERTIES.html.md).

### Maximum Samples

Parameter ID: `VPAMBIENTOCCLUSION_MAXSAMPLES` · Range: [1..10000]

See [Maximum Samples](https://help.maxon.net/c4d/en-us/Content/html/XAMBIENTOCCLUSION-ID_SHADERPROPERTIES.html.md).

### Contrast

Parameter ID: `VPAMBIENTOCCLUSION_CONTRAST` · Range: [-100..100%]

See [Contrast](https://help.maxon.net/c4d/en-us/Content/html/XAMBIENTOCCLUSION-ID_SHADERPROPERTIES.html.md).

### Use Sky Environment

Parameter ID: `VPAMBIENTOCCLUSION_ENVIRONMENT`

See [Use Sky Environment](https://help.maxon.net/c4d/en-us/Content/html/XAMBIENTOCCLUSION-ID_SHADERPROPERTIES.html.md).

### Evaluate Transparency

Parameter ID: `VPAMBIENTOCCLUSION_TRANSPARENCY`

See [Evaluate Transparency](https://help.maxon.net/c4d/en-us/Content/html/XAMBIENTOCCLUSION-ID_SHADERPROPERTIES.html.md).

### Self Shadowing Only

Parameter ID: `VPAMBIENTOCCLUSION_SELFTEST`

See [Self Shadowing Only](https://help.maxon.net/c4d/en-us/Content/html/XAMBIENTOCCLUSION-ID_SHADERPROPERTIES.html.md).

### Invert Direction

Parameter ID: `VPAMBIENTOCCLUSION_REVERSE`

See [Invert Direction](https://help.maxon.net/c4d/en-us/Content/html/XAMBIENTOCCLUSION-ID_SHADERPROPERTIES.html.md). However, the function defined here is less useful than if applied using a shader. Only simple coloration of exposed regions can be rendered.