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RenderKing Render Farm FAQ
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1. Who am I?
2. What is RenderKing? 3. When is RenderKing available? 4. Why am I doing this? 5. How does RenderKing work? 6. Plug-ins available on RenderKing? 7. Help using RenderKing? 8. Rules for using RenderKing 9. Discounts, Special Prices and Favors? 10. Setup and Payment information 1. Who I am an ex-3D Animator who for the past 12 years was the Systems Designer for a division of a global entertainment company located in Central Florida. Having been a professional 3D animator, and also having run the computer systems for a billion dollar creative art department; uniquely helps me configure RenderKing for the needs of professional 3D artists. I know what it takes - because I've been in your shoes - on both sides, the creative and the technical; and understand working with both, demanding clients and "techy" IT departments that don't comprehend the real needs to get the job done - there is much more to a render farm then plugging in a bunch of computers and an internet connection. In my spare time I continue to freelance 3D projects and am slowly making progress on my own animated short film. 2. What This render farm offers 330+ ghz 64 bit processing rated at 353,000+ Cinebench (Cinebench R10 64bit) of render power supporting Maxon Cinema 4D R11.026, R11.530, and VRAY (via VRAYforC4D) software. It consists of 30 quad core, fully dedicated Render Stations - with Intel Core2Quad (2.4 ghz each core overclocked to 3.0 ghz) processors, each with 8GB of fast dual channel DDR2-800 ram and large, fast SATA hard drives, all run Windows 7 Professional 64bit OS. Dedicated Quad-core Intel OSX, Dual CPU Windows XP Professional and Dual CPU Linux servers run the processes on the render farm. A separate MacPro Quad 8-core acts as the intelligent "control" system and is continuously monitoring the farm for proper running programs and processes - reporting detailed feedback to me via multiple email accounts and text messaging 24 hours a day. All systems are running on a segmented Gigabit switched network with large UPS battery back up systems on every CPU for optimum speed and stability. These are not "borrowed" corporate, industrial or university computers that I am repurposing to use as a render farm, and there are no security or ethical issues in their full time use as render clients. 25 Day Subscriptions Cinema 4D 48 CPU - (R11 32 bit, R11.5 64 bit) Access up to 48 cpu with 24/7 full user NET Server control over projects and renders with finished render output to your private FTP folder. $589. Cinema 4D 120 CPU-VRAY - (R11 32 bit, R11 64 bit, R11.5 64 bit) Access up to 120 cpu, using C4D or VRAY with 24/7 full user NET Server control over projects and renders with finished render output to your private FTP folder. $1189. Large Format / Single Frame Rendering Large Format Render C4D - render using tiled camera in C4D or VRAY with access up to 120 cpu for 1 render for up to 24 hours processing. Administrator controlled render with finished render output to your private FTP folder. $99 Per Frame Render Options C4D Per Frame Animation - render below HD resolution (1024 or less pixels on one side) using C4D or VRAY with access up to 120 cpu. Administrator controlled render with finished render output to your private FTP folder. 50 cents per frame - 200 frame minimum frame charge per each render project, no frame stacking from multiple separate renders. If average frame render time over 2 hours each - will bump up to HD rates. C4D Per Frame Animation HD - render HD resolution or above (larger then 1024 pixels on one side) using C4D or VRAY with access up to 120 cpu. Administrator controlled render with finished render output to your private FTP folder. 95 cents per frame - 200 frame minimum frame charge per each render project, no frame stacking from multiple separate renders. If average frame render time over 4 hours each - will bump up to multiples, so an 8 hour frame render time counts as two frames rendered. Additional Options Subscription Upgrade C4D 48 to 120 CPU - this option allows you to upgrade your existing 25 day subscription from the 48 CPU option to the 120 CPU option. Great for those last minute rush renders that need extra render power. Existing subscription dates stay the same. $649 Custom Payment - this option allows an easy way to pay for a Special Request payment situation or other special arrangements if needed. Simply click this buy now button and it will allow you to enter the desired amount for payment. There are up to 72,000 cpu render hours available per 25 day subscription (30 dedicated render farm computers X 4 cpu X 24 hours in a day X 25 day usage period). 3. When This is a completely dedicated professional render farm - available 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Like all render farms I can't make guarantees about uptime or throughput performance at possible peak usage times which will vary based on number of subscribed users and jobs in queue to render. Jobs are processed in a FIFO (first in first out) order, your deadlines or time frame of your project are ultimately your final responsibility. I cannot predict peak usage and cannot make special favors for priority access. I do make sure that balance is kept between users and render jobs, so throughput is as smooth and fair as possible. Technical support will be offered for render problems that directly relate to the render farm only. You have 24 hour FTP access to upload, render and download your files and rendered frames as needed. 4. Why Server and high end graphic workstation administration is what I do in my day job now. Years ago, when I worked as a professional 3d animator, I started building a few cpu's as a personal render farm to render out my freelance or personal projects, or in my spare time to run linux and test different system setup performance configurations. Due to various other work obligations, I don't get to use it as much personally as I would like and rather then have the CPU's sit unused much of the time I created RenderKing.com as a way to share the use of the render farm to other independent, or small studio users who may need additional render "help" at a low cost, far below even one additional PC. It is offered to users that may not have the full time need, capacity, or budget for dedicated render machines, or the time and expense of administering them. It is a way for independents or small shops to get a job done while leaving money in their budget for a profit - basically I always wished a service like RK was available when I worked 3D full time, so I developed a render farm that I always wanted to use. The software supported by RenderKing is the software I use myself, that is why I do not have every 3D software ever created as a render option. The costs I charge go towards operating expenses, electricity costs and general maintenance needs on the render farm. 5. How Email me at setup@RenderKing.com indicating you would like to set up an account. Include your name, company name (if applicable), mailing address, desired LOGIN NAME and PASSWORD (minimum of 4 characters please) and what version of C4D you would like to use to render in the email. I cannot setup a new account without this information. To change your PASSWORD on a current account, just email me or indicate the change in your next PAYPAL payment email. Once you have an account on RenderKing at any time you have the ability to upload or download your files. Simply upload your complete project folder with all your settings set as needed. Make sure to set relative pathnames for textures. All users should be sure to remove any files and rendered frames when completely finished with your job so as not to waste server space. Files left on the server may be deleted immediately when the user subscription has expired. INSTRUCTIONS for auto ZIP and UNZIP folders In each ACTIVE user account folder there is a zip_username and an unzip_username Upload a .zip file into your user folder and when it is finished uploading - move it into the unzip_username folder and it will uncompress itself and put it in a Done folder - Some FTP programs let you drag using a GUI or multiple windows to move folders. if not, then just use the MOVE command in your FTP program on the new uncompressed folder and put in the MOVE path /username (read as"slash and your user account name") that will move the new project folder to the root of your user directory ready to render. NOTE: please do not upload directly into the zip or unzip folder - the server will keep trying to process the files before they are completely uploaded. To compress the results of a render - i suggest renaming the finished rendered images folder to something like PROJECTNAME_RESULTS where project name is the name of the project folder that was rendered - then drag using the FTP application GUI or use the MOVE command of the FTP program and use /username (read as "slash and your user account name") and that will move the renamed results folder to the root of your project folder. Next, drag the renamed folder using the FTP application GUI or use the MOVE command of the FTP program and use /username/zip_username (read as "slash username slash zip_username") once moved into that folder it will compress as a .zip archive and be ready to download from the DONE folder You can also use these folders to duplicate your texture folders for multiple projects by unzipping an uploaded archive multiple times (move it in and out to repeatedly unzip the archive file) this can be another time saver for uploading multiple scenes of your renders that use the same texture files. 6. Plug-ins Plug-ins for rendering will be added, updated and supported on an as-needed, and as-requested basis. Stability of the render farm machines for ALL users is first priority. Bake any plug-ins you can before rendering, this in most cases relieves the need for the plug-in to be on the render farm - many plug-ins may not function normally when distributed between multiple processors. Check your plug-in documentation for any concerns or compatibility with network rendering before you submit a job with a plug-in. For Cinema 4D R11.026 32 bit users (48CPU and 120CPU) the currently installed plug-ins are: quicktime 7.6, MSA 4.00, helix 4.00, stormtracer 1.37.02, DeGamma .32, pathdeformer R11 1.5, nota R11 1.5, fast & fur 2.06b, meshdeformer 1.1d, vreel skin 1.5b, translucent pro 1.5b, colorchanger R11, steadycam pro 3.03.11, distance falloff, WFCam4D, CD Morph 1.515, CD Joints & Skin 1.537, CD IK Tools 1.529, CD Constraints 1.527, SplineSpread 1.129, SurfaceSpread 1.00.19, RefShader 1.02, Xfrog 4.3, endofin 1.0.2, enlighter, zblur 2.00.306 R11, lumen 2.00.165, Height2Normals 1.06.015, scoobycamtools 4.10.11, add the sea reloaded R3, interposer pro 1.9.5, edgeshade 1.0.1.019, reeper 1.0.1, splineonspline 1.3, silverbullet4d .073, roll_it v1.0, VRAYforC4D 1.1, bodypaint, advanced render, thinking particles, pyrocluster, mocca, dynamics, sketch & toon, hair, mograph, cineman, and any factory included plug ins from the C4D Studio bundle. For Cinema 4D R11.026 64bit users (120CPU only) the currently installed plug-ins are: quicktime 7.6, helix 4.00, MSA 4.00, stormtracer 1.37.02, DeGamma .34, pathdeformer R11 1.5, nota R11 1.5, fast & fur 2.06b, meshdeformer 1.1d, vreel skin 1.5b, translucent pro 1.5b, colorchanger R11, steadycam pro 3.03.11, distance falloff, WFCam4D, CD Morph 1.515, CD Joints & Skin 1.537, CD IK Tools 1.529, CD Constraints 1.527, SplineSpread 1.129, SurfaceSpread 1.00.23, RefShader 1.02, Xfrog 4.3, endofin 1.0.2, enlighter, zblur 2.00.306 R11, lumen 2.00.165, Height2Normals 1.06.015, scoobycamtools 4.10.11, add the sea reloaded R3, interposer pro 1.9.5, edgeshade 1.0.1.019, reeper 1.0.1, splineonspline 1.3, silverbullet4d .073, roll_it v1.0, VRAYforC4D 1.2, bodypaint, advanced render, thinking particles, pyrocluster, mocca, dynamics, sketch & toon, hair, mograph, cineman, and any factory included plug ins from the C4D Studio bundle. For Cinema 4D R11.528 64bit users the currently installed plug-ins are: quicktime 7.6, CD Morph 1.515, CD Joints & Skin 1.537, CD IK Tools 1.529, CD Constraints 1.527, SplineSpread 1.129, SurfaceSpread 1.00.23, Sidewalk 1.00.01, GearBuilder, Stormtracer 1.38, DeGamma .34, ColorChanger R11.5, Real Fresnel R11.5, Edgeshade 1.0.1.019, Lumen 2.00.165, Interposer pro 1.9.5, SteadyCam pro 3.03.11, Scoobycamtools 4.10.13, Add the Sea Reloaded R3, TranslucentPro 11.5, VreelSkin 11.5, VRAYforC4D 1.2 (120CPU only), Xfrog 4.45, Zblur 2.00.312 R11.5, bodypaint, advanced render, thinking particles, pyrocluster, mocca, dynamics, sketch & toon, hair, mograph, cineman, and any factory included plug ins from the C4D Studio bundle. 7. Help For render farm user account status, access or rendering issues, or any other RenderKing related questions email to help@RenderKing.com the response time will be as soon as possible. 8. Rules Please render a couple test frames on your own computer FIRST. Please make sure you have tried at least ONE frame on your own machine to make sure it actually WILL render and not crash the render clients with an out of memory error. Make sure you check your save and texture path names and have included all your textures before you start. Abuse of the FTP server (i.e. usage unrelated to RenderKing) or unreasonable or "overkill" high render settings may cause administrator intervention - up to, or including the immediate termination of your account - forfeiting any credit balance. I reserve the administrative right to ensure the render farm is processing all projects, for all users as efficiently as possible.
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