I meant that AO is usually done as a separate texture or texture channel. Because you shouldn't see any AO on pixels illuminated by direct sun light for example , only in shades . So it's not included into base color texture usually. Cycles , same as any ray tracer in general doesn't need AO because same effect occurs by…
First of all, the height map should be in the pattern of how wallpaper peels off a plaster wall. So search for examples of peeling wallpaper to use as inspiration. Think about what parts of the paper peel away first, those will be the darkest parts in your height map. What are the parts that are the last to peel, those are…