Another Cloud Rendering Issue

I posted about an ongoing cloud rendering issue back in February.  Well, here is another one that has bothered me and negatively affected some of my renderings...

If you use a material with self-illumination (such as "Light Bulb - On") and you rendering it in the cloud you may get an unwanted result.  I tested this a with a couple different settings and haven't been able to find a reason for it.  Here are the results...

The Cost of the Cloud - Part 2

I just posted about an email by Autodesk informing subscription users about the new implementation of cloud units and their cost.

Well, the FAQ document linked in the email was not clear on the amount of units a Cloud Rendering would use.  So I decided to break it down for you...  The Crop Region size in the Revit view used was set to 11"x7".  The only factors that seem to effect the "price" of a rendering were the "Render Quality" and "Image Size".  I told you the size of the crop region because the larger the crop region the more cloud units it would require to render at the same settings as a smaller crop region view.  Below are a series of screen shots with different settings and their respective cloud "costs".  (If you click one image you should be able to scroll through them).

One thing I noticed is that the "Maximum" image size setting is much higher than it was before (it was capped at 2000 pixels).  But, it is the most expensive at 10 cloud credits (which would equate to $10.00).  Therefore, with your 100 cloud units you can get a total of 10 Maximum, Final quality renderings....

Revit 2012 Cloud Rendering Update

Thanks to Luke for being the first to post this...

Cloud Rendering... Use your 25!

I got very excited when this email came in....

The trial you are currently using was made available—for a limited period of time—as a token of appreciation to those who tested Project Neon on Autodesk Labs. This exclusive trial ends December 31, 2011. However, because we are so pleased with the feedback we continue to receive from users like you, Autodesk has decided to offer a new trial! The new trial -- which will be open to anyone beginning January 3, 2012 -- offers 15 cloud units at no cost.*

Sweet!  15 more free cloud renderings to use!!!  .... But wait... there is more...

On January 3, the number of cloud units available to you will re-set to 15. Any unused cloud units from your previous trial will expire and will no longer be available.

WTF?? So if I still have 20 cloud renderings left I will lose 5 of them come January 3rd?  You're kidding right?  All this time I thought my 20 cloud renderings I have been saving for next semester would spike up to 35!

Damn.... This better mean  a new, less exclusive, version of The Cloud Rendering Service will be coming out soon...

Tell Autodesk how you feel about this...

Autodesk Cloud Rendering Hotfix

How convenient that a Hotfix for Cloud Rendering is released while all this discussion about the future of cloud rendering takes place... Cool. 

Click here for a list of the updates and fixes...

Sign into the Cloud Rendering Website and Re-Download/Re-Install the Add-in.

Phil Bernstein's Blog - Cloud and BIM

Uncle Phil, aka Phil Bernstein, published two great posts last week that might have slipped through some of your radars.  These are must see/read posts about BIM and the Cloud.

Check out Phil's first post titled:

Redefining BIM (Video)

Check out Phil's second post titled:

Partly Cloudy, Chance of BIM

Oh, and... FOLLOW HIS BLOG!

Revit Cloud Rendering: Pay-Per-Render?

Autodesk's release of Cloud based services has caused a bit of a buzz across the blogosphere.  I have been reluctant to speak about it until I found out how this will/could affect us students.  Through my contacts at Autodesk I have a bit of sad news for those of us on a student license. All of the great new cloud features are only available to use as trials.  

With Autodesk Cloud Documents allowing us to use 1GB of space (not bad at all...) and Autodesk Cloud Rendering only allowing us to use 25 free renderings.  So don't do what I did and render up a storm because it is so much fun!

Personally, I think the Cloud Rendering service is awesome.  I use Revit to create renderings both professionally and academically and this service is a gift from God.  One positive note is that Autodesk claims they will make it available to schools that are on Subscription.  The only problem there is that most students have no idea how to find out if they are on subscription and all the schools will have to make preferred user names for the students wanting to utilize these tools.   

Autodesk, WHY?  Why make such a feature like Autodesk Cloud Rendering only available to "premium" and  "ultimate" subscribers?!

I would like to put forward a motion to allow users a monthly subscription or "pay-per-rendering" plan for Autodesk Cloud Rendering.  Why not?!  I am not afraid to speak for the 2,000,000+ users in the Autodesk Education Community (I think there are something like 400,000 using Revit).  

For all of us pulling "all nighters" simply because we waited 8 hours for a rendering to finish this service is absolutely incredible.

Revit Proud & SurRendering...  Please?

Click here to try out Autodesk Cloud Rendering and Cloud Services.  (Remember, use those 25 free renderings wisely).

Click here to write to Autodesk and tell them how much you love it and WANT to use it.

What do you guys think?

(Image above of "rainy cloud" courtesy of...http://deceduescience.wikispaces.com/Calcutta)