---
description: Spatial denoiser settings for GTAO and RTAO
---

# Spatial Denoiser Settings

## Pixel Radius

Controls the spatial denoiser radius in pixels. The wider the radius, the better the noise reduction at the cost of additional blur and performance.

* **Radius 0**: Spatial denoiser is disabled.
* **Radius 1**:  3x3 neighborhood (9 samples).
* **Radius 2**: 5x5 neighborhood (25 samples).
* **Radius 3**: 7x7 neighborhood (49 samples).
* **Radius 4**: 9x9 neighborhood (81 samples).

_Performance impact: variable, depends on the radius and render resolution_

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="Radius 0 [GTAO]" %}
<figure><img src="https://3017530748-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FszttYoG53IivMF9CpimF%2Fuploads%2FUtCv43TAxKkIbSGRNpUG%2F1.png?alt=media&#x26;token=f5464be1-4e79-49d9-8df4-d8fc079d7b2c" alt=""><figcaption><p>X3 zoom, temporal denoiser for GTAO is disabled</p></figcaption></figure>
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="Radius 4 [GTAO]" %}
<figure><img src="https://3017530748-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FszttYoG53IivMF9CpimF%2Fuploads%2FUt5uaJa2LicOInWBvjQt%2F2.png?alt=media&#x26;token=dc5a6ed8-2926-402b-b557-5cd71d90fef6" alt=""><figcaption><p>X3 zoom, temporal denoiser for GTAO is disabled</p></figcaption></figure>
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="Radius 0 [RTAO]" %}
<figure><img src="https://3017530748-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FszttYoG53IivMF9CpimF%2Fuploads%2FwwlQDixRexSNeIwLsMxv%2F3.png?alt=media&#x26;token=89df397e-05b9-4066-99cb-492df912caf5" alt=""><figcaption><p>X3 zoom, temporal denoiser for RTAO set to 12 samples</p></figcaption></figure>
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="Radius 4 [RTAO]" %}
<figure><img src="https://3017530748-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FszttYoG53IivMF9CpimF%2Fuploads%2FkiqdLBMGBVMU2GfF4vUL%2F4.png?alt=media&#x26;token=215eb9dc-7898-4ef7-baf3-b894c50ba290" alt=""><figcaption><p>X3 zoom, temporal denoiser for RTAO set to 12 samples</p></figcaption></figure>
{% endtab %}
{% endtabs %}



## Filter Strength

Controls the strictness of spatial neighbors' rejection. Higher values better preserve details, while lower values reduce noise more efficiently. Check the first two screenshots in the comparison below to see the difference between the 0 and 1 values of this parameter.

_Performance impact: none_



## Normal Rejection

Specifies whether the difference in surface normals should be considered for spatial neighbors' rejection. Enabling this option further enhances detail preservation at the cost of performance

_Performance impact: variable, depends on the pixel radius and render resolution_



In these screenshots, you can see how **Filter Strength** and **Normal Rejection** work together. In the first screenshot, neither is applied. In the second screenshot, **Filter Strength** is set to 1.0. In the third screenshot, **Normal Rejection** is also enabled to achieve maximum detail preservation.

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="0, OFF [RTAO]" %}
<figure><img src="https://3017530748-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FszttYoG53IivMF9CpimF%2Fuploads%2FRCCDgiDCwx2onu0nMPwr%2F5.png?alt=media&#x26;token=ee19dcba-6e06-4732-a790-a980e0c7405c" alt=""><figcaption><p>X2 zoom, Filter Strength = 0, Normal Rejection = OFF,  Pixel Radius = 4</p></figcaption></figure>
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="1, OFF [RTAO]" %}
<figure><img src="https://3017530748-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FszttYoG53IivMF9CpimF%2Fuploads%2FAESmLijal5npSuDt4vi2%2F6.png?alt=media&#x26;token=7156d7e0-b5b9-468f-a317-1eef1a1684a1" alt=""><figcaption><p>X2 zoom, Filter Strength = 1, Normal Rejection = OFF,  Pixel Radius = 4</p></figcaption></figure>
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="1, ON  [RTAO]" %}
<figure><img src="https://3017530748-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FszttYoG53IivMF9CpimF%2Fuploads%2FKRyP3FTKhgLshGyLfHPn%2F7.png?alt=media&#x26;token=7832770f-2985-46e6-9f91-44d1445f89ff" alt=""><figcaption><p>X2 zoom, Filter Strength = 1, Normal Rejection = ON, Pixel Radius = 4</p></figcaption></figure>
{% endtab %}
{% endtabs %}
