I meant that Poser's AO sux in comparison to Poser 8's IDL. The fact that AO only works over a short distance is the big issue. Look at the underside of the plane. There is little or no occlusion shadow on the top of the fuel tank, despite the fact that the entire fuselage blocks the sun there.

As for the quote, I think you're misinterpreting what I said. I'm having trouble explaining this without math.

Look, the IBL supplies a certain amount of illumination. Call that X. The AO decrease that illumination for that light only, Call that factor K. K varies from 0 to 1. A directional light, for example from an infinite for sun light, also contributes light. Call that Y. A directional shadow can decrease that illumination for that light only. Call that factor J.

So the luminance from the environment, simulated by the IBL should be KX. The luminance from the sun light, simulated by the infinite, should be JY. The total luminance is KX + JY. There is no reason that the KX term should change just because the JY term is strong.

AO is usppoed to be used to block the IBL. Right - I said that and I still stand behind it.

The same spot may also have a directional shadow. Right - nothing I've said lately contradicts that.

The directional shadow should correspond to the blocking of directional light. Right - that's the JY term.

And the AO shadow should correspond to the blocking of ambient light - usually implemented as IBL. Right, that's the KX term.

What you were arguing above is that K should go away if JY is strong. That is not what I said anywhere, and I'm disagreeing with that.

---

Renderosity forum reply notifications are wonky. If I read a follow-up in a thread, but I don't myself reply, then notifications no longer happen AT ALL on that thread. So if I seem to be ignoring a question, that's why. (Updated September 23, 2019)