For those technically inclined, the algorithm often used in rendering engines for SketchUp (like V-Ray or Kerkythea) relies on .
A significant evolution occurred with SketchUp 2021. The introduction of a new graphics engine and the (later integrated as the Ambient Occlusion style ) gave users a real-time, non-photorealistic AO effect directly in the viewport. This feature, found under the “Styles” tray, allows designers to toggle an AO pass that darkens edges and crevices based on geometric proximity. The effect is instantaneous, adjustable in intensity and radius, and—crucially—does not require rendering. sketchup ambient occlusion
Ambient Occlusion is not a light; it is a shadowing technique. It calculates how exposed each point in a scene is to ambient lighting. It creates contact shadows—the darkening that occurs in corners, crevices, and where objects meet surfaces. For those technically inclined, the algorithm often used