Hi all,
Everyone approaches a sample or an assignment differently. I was recapping my own personal workflow when I start a job. The "soap car" look lets me look at vehicle placement in an environment in a unique way. Camera lens choices, draw on the vehicle. Perspective choices. Twist and even different placements within the same background as in examples A and B. I am not distracted by reflections or material correctness....you can get off track too easy at this early point. It also forces the eye and your customer to look at the flattering design of the car itself as well as the content, tangents and scale. Once you are happy or get approvals at this "comp" point you are in the ballpark, proceed to finish and you can tweek it till the cows come home.
Sorry you got focused on the term " ambient occlusion" . I believe that was a Maya term maybe...but you get my point. Hope this helps .
Doug
