Extract an ambient occlusion map

You can extract an ambient occlusion map using different subdivision levels of the same mesh as the source and target mesh, or extract a map between multiple arbitrary objects, even if the source meshes have no UVs. See also Ambient occlusion maps overview.

When extracting an ambient occlusion map from a single object, you can select the same target and source models. If you have only one mesh in the scene, the object will automatically load in the Source Models and Target Models lists when you open the Extract Texture Maps window.

To extract an ambient occlusion map

1. Select UVs & Maps > Extract Texture Maps > New Operation.
2. Select Ambient Occlusion Map in the Maps to Generate section.

   The Extract Texture Maps window updates to display all Ambient Occlusion Map Extraction options.

3. Select your target model(s) in the 3D View, then click Add Selected in the Target Models section of the Extract Texture Maps window.
   Note

   Unless you are extracting the ambient occlusion map in Ptex format, the target model(s) must have UV co-ordinates.

4. Add the high resolution (source) model(s) you want to the Source Models list, ensuring that the subdivision level you want to use to produce the map is selected.

   Selecting the source model at the highest subdivision level provides the highest detailed ambient occlusion maps possible. You can extract an ambient occlusion map at lower subdivision levels, but fine detail will be lost and the appearance of facets may result because of the reduced resolution.

5. In the Output Options, set the Map Type you want to extract: Texture (image file) or Ptex.

   The other options available in the Extract Texture Maps window update dynamically depending on which type of file you want to extract.

6. Do either of the following, depending on which Map Type (Ptex or Texture) you selected:
   • For texture maps, specify the Image properties for output.

     The Image Size determines the resolution of the image map and the amount of surface sampling that occurs between the source and target models.

   • For Ptex, use the Ptex resolution options.

7. Set the other Output options you want.
   • For texture maps, click the browse icon beside Base File Name and enter a file name in the Save As window that appears.

     This name is used as a prefix for the file name of each output texture.

     In the Save As window, you can also select an appropriate file format from the Save as type drop-down menu, and click Save.

   • For Ptex, click the browse icon beside File Name to set the save options, and select the Data Format you want.
8. Set the other extraction properties as required.

   For example, to automatically bake a texture to the target model(s) as a diffuse paint layer (on top of any existing paint layers in the Diffuse channel), click next to Base File Name to select an image format in the Save As window), and turn on the Preview as Diffuse option.

   For descriptions of Shadow Map Resolution, Shadow Darkness, Shadow Contrast, and Filter see Ambient Occlusion Map Extraction options.

9. Click Extract.

A progress bar displays on the Status Line as Mudbox calculates and composites the shadow maps. If you have multiple target objects, the progress bar may repeat the process several times.

If the model contains UVs within multiple UV tile spaces, that is, outside the 0 to 1 range, Mudbox automatically creates separate ambient occlusion maps that correlate to each UV tile and saves them to the directory you specify.

 Except where otherwise noted, this work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License