---
title: "Preview AO"
url: "https://help.maxon.net/zbr/en-us/Content/html/user-guide/materials-lights-rendering/rendering/preview-ao/preview-ao.html"
section_path: "User Guide > Materials, Lights & Rendering > Rendering > Preview AO"
description: "On the left, without Preview AO; on the right, Preview AO enabled – ZBrush artist: Joseph Drust"
---

# Preview AO

*Preview It!*

![Alt image text](https://help.maxon.net/zbr/en-us/Content/Resources/Images/Preview-AO-1.jpg)\
*On the left, without Preview AO; on the right, Preview AO enabled – ZBrush artist: Joseph Drust*

Sculpt with real-time render accuracy that shows every stroke applied to your mesh in detail. The real-time ambient occlusion feature gives you the ability to quickly visualize what portions of the model need that extra touch. Bring your creations to life in real-time with the Preview AO (Ambient Occlusion) feature.\
Preview AO works with any material. You can adjust the effect by changing the settings such as Quality, Intensity and Radius.

---

## Preview AO functions

![Alt image text](https://help.maxon.net/zbr/en-us/Content/Resources/Images/preview_AO.png)\
*The functions are in the Render >> Preview AO sub-palette.*

### Occlusion

Turn on to activate Preview Ambient Occlusion. Turn off to disable.

### Quality

Adjust the slider to change the accuracy of the ambient occlusion. Higher values give greater accuracy. The default setting of 3 is good for normal sculpting.

### Intensity

Adjust the slider to change how strongly the ambient occlusion is rendered. Higher values will tend to produce a darker effect.

### Main Radius

Adjust to change how far the ambient occlusion effect extends from the model’s larger features. Higher values extend the ambient occlusion shading further.

### Radius Secondary

Adjust to change how far the ambient occlusion effect extends from the model’s smaller features. Higher values extend the ambient occlusion shading further.

### Blur

Used to adjust the amount of blur in the ambient occlusion. Higher values will result in more blur, softening the effect.