About Network Rendering

Network rendering uses multiple workstations on the same network to share in the task of rendering projects. Even a small network of three or four systems can significantly reduce render time.

There are two network rendering options available in combustion:

• backburner, a client-server based system
• The Watch Folder feature in the stand-alone Render Queue

The Render Queue application will automatically process any workspace files that are saved in or copied to the watched folder. Other workstations on the network that are running the Render Queue application assist in the render. For more information, see Network and Batch Rendering.

In the client-server based system, rendering is controlled and monitored through a central system. This system uses network resources more efficiently and gives you a more "hands-off" experience when network rendering.

Note: backburner is only available on Windows systems. Macintosh and Windows users can use the Watch Folder feature with the stand-alone Render Queue.

For both network rendering options, you identify which operator outputs you want to render. With a watched folder, the workspace file itself is submitted, so all outputs that are enabled (and set up properly) are rendered. With backburner, you open the workspace file in combustion or the stand-alone Render Queue, and submit the enabled outputs as jobs.