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By Gonzago Montoya
So you want to start a render farm? With how much 3D animation and VFX are used these days, it seems like a smart play. But is now really the right time? In this post, we'll break down if and when launching an online render farm makes sense.
First, what exactly is a render farm? Essentially it's a bunch of connected computers that produce 3D renders. We're talking server farms with hundreds or thousands of individual machines working together to crank out stunning 3D animations and effects. Traditionally, studios would build these locally to meet their own rendering needs. But maintaining all that hardware is a headache and massively expensive. That's where online render farms came in. They allowed studios to tap into all that rendering power in the cloud and avoid huge upfront investments. It revolutionized the industry. But is there still a need with technologies like real-time rendering on the rise? Let's explore the key factors at play...
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Here's the thing – 3D is absolutely everywhere now. Blockbuster movies like Avatar are filled with it. Architects rely on 3D visualizations. Game developers are pushing new frontiers in real-time 3D environments. Virtual and augmented reality requires 3D models. The list goes on. And with each passing year, the complexity and realism of 3D content increases dramatically. Photoreal CG humans? Yep, that's a thing now thanks to shows like The Mandalorian. To generate assets and animations like that requires a ridiculous amount of rendering horsepower.
So while 3D is more ubiquitous than ever, the rendering demands are also greater than ever. That trend doesn't appear to be slowing down either. If you build an online render farm, there will be no shortage of demand from studios and creators.
Here's the reality - launching a competitive online render farm requires some serious infrastructure. We're talking hundreds of high-powered servers at the very least. In the past, this would have required major capital investments upfront. But with readily available cloud services like AWS and Google Cloud, that barrier to entry is drastically lower these days. Rather than investing in physical hardware, you can spin up virtual servers and storage on demand. And as your customer base grows, your cloud infrastructure scales with it easily. You only pay for the resources you need. This makes it possible for scrappy startups and smaller players to compete in the space.
The market is certainly competitive, but cloud economics have leveled the playing field. Of course, you still need rock-solid software and smart workflows to get the most out of that cloud infrastructure. But the point is that launching a new online render farm is more achievable now than ever before.
If you've been following 3D graphics, you've likely heard about real-time rendering engines like Unreal Engine. These allow 3D scenes to be rendered interactively rather than needing time-intensive offline rendering. For some use cases like virtual production and video games, real-time engines are displacing the need for offline rendering.
However, most experts agree that high-end VFX and animated films will rely on offline rendering for many years to come. The image quality from real-time still isn't advanced enough. This means real-time is more of an opportunity than a threat for online render farms focused on TV, film, and advertising content. Those studios will continue relying on high-quality offline rendering powered by cloud render farms.
And the rise of metaverse experiences and AR/VR also play right into the strengths of offline rendering. To create truly immersive 3D environments, you need incredibly detailed assets and effects. Online render farms make generating that content scalable and cost-effective.
Phew, that was a lot to digest! Let's recap the key points:
With all that in mind, now seems like a prime time to launch an online render farm IF you can execute it well. You'll need rock-solid software, workflows, and customer support. Focus on your niche and do it better than competitors.
If you're still gung-ho about starting an online render farm, here are some pointers:
Do:
Don't:
Overall, the market trends look positive for online render farms in the years ahead. But it will remain a highly competitive landscape that rewards smart, efficient operators.
If you're on the other side - a 3D artist looking for great online rendering services - We recommend you check out GarageFarm.NET. I've used them for years and been blown away by their fast speeds, reliability and 24/7 customer support. They've really nailed the customer experience by hiring 3D artists themselves to run the farm. Tell them I sent you!
So in summary, starting an online render farm is certainly viable today and has a bright future. Just know that you'll be contending with fierce competition. But for those willing to obsess over every detail and inefficiency, there are plenty of 3D rendering dollars up for grabs in the decade ahead.
For most individuals, investing in an existing provider like GarageFarm.NET may be less risky. They have over a decade of experience refining their service for high-end 3D studios. And with their pay-as-you-go model, you can scale rendering power up and down as needed.
No matter how you access it, what's certain is that offline rendering and online render farms will remain essential infrastructure for creating cutting-edge 3D content. We've only scratched the surface of the amazing virtual worlds, experiences and markets yet to come!
