What is Ambient Occlusion?

Ambient Occlusion is a shading technique used in 3D visualization to improve the realism of rendered scenes. It helps to add depth and realism by calculating the amount of shadowing that would be cast by an object, even when that object is not directly visible to the viewer. This makes objects appear more solid and realistic, and can help to eliminate “halo” effects around objects that are brightly lit against a dark background.