Using a render farm for 5-6 high quality still images

[dantrodgers]

In the next few weeks I am going to need some high quality renders that would take around 4-6 hours to complete on my home PC. Ideally I could do with keeping my computing power during that time and getting the final images quicker.

 

I have read that if you only require still images then you dont really get much of the benefits of using a render farm, which doesn't really make sense to me but meh...

 

So, is it actually worth the initial setup faff and money for 5/6 images rendered at either 1080 or 4K? I've looked around google and forums and rebusfarm seems to be one of the most referred to, so i was thinking about using them.

 

Any thoughts on this subject for a render farm virgin???

[Scott Schroeder]

You will tend to pay more for still images than you would for animations, when you look at the number of images you get for what you pay out. If these are frames that you need quickly, using an online farm is a great option.

 

However, I'm not sold on using an online farm as a long term every project process for just still images. Still images seem to get more changes thrown at them and to shell out $30-$60 bucks (depending on your render times) each time you need to render 6 images can get expensive over time. It would be easier to save that money and put it towards your own render farm. The IKEA render box that a CGA user posted is a great example for what a relative minimal investment can get you for home computing costs.

[dantrodgers]

thanks for your advice, I should have mentioned that these are for my final year show university portfolio so once they are done there wont be (m)any changes. And money is pretty much non-existent at the min so investing in any sort of workstation or 'render box' is out of the question.

 

If i can get 6 images for around £50 id be happy with that.

[Scott Schroeder]

I think it's a viable option for you then. Most online render farms have cost estimators so that can give you a closer idea to what you are going to pay. Just make sure your render is 100% accurate and ready to go. There is no worse feeling that the, "Oh crap, I forgot to turn that thing on/off." when you get your images back from the online farm.

[angiliaduan1]

If you want to get high quality renders,render farm is the best and shortest time-consuming choice as I think.A cheaper one would be more worthy for your still images.

[notamondayfan]

check out rendernow.co.uk and give them a call.

 

btw what course are you doing? I graduated from Huddersfield a few years back!

[dantrodgers]

thanks for the link Dean, they do seem pretty cheap.

 

I am studying Architectural Technology

[notamondayfan]

Yea I've never used them yet, but spoke to them and they do appear cheaper than others. They do get busy though so best to call them.

[danb4026]

If you go the renderfarm route, MAKE SURE that you tell them about any plugins used in your scene. I used a Multi-Material plugin for flooring I had in my scene and forgot to tell the render farm. All of my floors rendered out Black. Costly mistake.

[angiliaduan1]

Tell render farm more details of your rendering needs will greatly helpful,customer service of Fox render is friendly.They will help to test firstly,good way to solve problems in the formal rendering progress.