DocumentationSubstance 3DSubstance 3D Painter

Ambient Occlusion

Last update: August 11, 2026

In: mask, generator, grayscale, blend
Description
The Ambient Occlusion generator creates a mask based on the baked Ambient Occlusion map with the option to blend a texture or micro details into the mask.

If using the Ambient Occlusion generator to create a layer mask, you may need to invert the Ambient Occlusion output. By default, the generator outputs occluded areas as dark and non-occluded areas as light. If used as a mask, the masked layer is visible only in non-occluded areas. Inverting the output will ensure the masked layer only appears in occluded areas.

Baked position, ambient occlusion, and world space normal maps are required as image inputs. Learn more about baking here.

Inputs

Input name
Description
Texture Color
Use a custom texture or an anchor point.
Micro Normal Color
Use a custom normal texture or an anchor point.
Micro Height Color
Use a custom texture or an anchor point.
Ambient Occlusion Grayscale
Use the baked Ambient Occlusion map.
World Space Normals Color
Use the baked World Space Normals map.
Position Gradient Color
Use the baked Position map.

Parameters

Parameter name
Description
Global Invert
Invert the final result after all effects are combined.
Global Blur
Smooth the final mask uniformly after all effects are combined.
Global Balance
Shift the balance of the final mask after all effects are combined between black or white, like a brightness adjustment.
Global Contrast
Adjust the contrast of the final mask after all effects are combined.
Use Texture
Toggle usage of a custom texture map on or off.
Use Micro Details
Toggle usage of custom micro details on or off.

Ambient Occlusion

Parameter name
Description
Invert
Invert just Ambient Occlusion and micro details.
Blur
Smooth just Ambient Occlusion and micro details.
Balance
Adjust the balance of just the Ambient Occlusion and micro details, shifting midpoint toward black or white like a brightness control.
Contrast
Adjust the contrast/falloff of just the Ambient Occlusion and micro details.

Texture

Parameter name
Description
Texture Opacity
Adjust the visibility of the custom texture.
Invert
Invert just the custom texture.
Grayscale Conversion
Set the method used to convert from full color into grayscale. The Grayscale Conversion generator has more information about how each method works.
Blending Mode
Select which blending mode to use for the current layer.
Scale
Adjust the size of the custom texture.
Contrast
Adjust the contrast/falloff of the custom texture.
Brightness
Adjust the luminosity of the custom texture.
Triplanar

When Triplanar is enabled, the texture is projected from three directions (X, Y, Z axes) instead of relying only on UVs.

  • Without triplanar, the texture follows the UV layout.
  • With triplanar, the texture is projected from multiple angles and blended.
Triplanar Contrast
Control how smoothly a texture blends when projected using triplanar mapping. This setting adjusts the softness of the blending between the projections from each direction.

Micro Details

Parameter name
Description
Micro Height
Toggle usage of a custom Micro Height map on or off.
Micro Normal
Toggle usage of a custom Micro Normal map on or off.
AO Radius
Adjust the radius (range) of the Ambient Occlusion in micro details.
AO Depth
Adjust the depth (intensity) of the Ambient Occlusion in micro details.
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