Frequently Asked Questions - Render Plus Software

Render Plus Software Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions to assist you in finding quick answers

RPS Cloud

How do I buy tokens?

Click the Cloud icon on the IRender nXt toolbar
Click the “Purchase Tokens” button.
Complete the information requested and submit (you will be emailed an invoice/receipt).
Once your order has been processed, click the “Refresh” button to the right of “Remaining Tokens”. This will refresh the total to reflect the number you just purchased.

Please read important information about tokens (including tips, refunds, token life, etc.) on the IRender nXt Cloud Rendering Advanced Help page.

Do I have to pay for the Cloud Service?

Yes. While RPS Cloud is a function built into IRender nXt, you need to purchase one of the token blocks we offer (25, 250, 500) and spend those tokens when you submit a scene or animation to the Cloud to be rendered.

Can I use the Cloud Rendering Service without an IRender nXt license?

No. RPS Cloud is an integrated function of IRender nXt. It merely allows you to utilize a remote computer to process your rendering rather than your computer.

How do I submit a job to the Cloud for rendering?

Prepare the model/scene you want to render in the normal manner using SketchUp and IRender nXt.

The default settings for rendering your scene or animation are 15 minutes on an 8-core machine. Change any of the following settings before you start your job:

Machine Type
Maximum Minutes
Maximum Passes (optional)
Job Description (Name (optional), Project Group (optional), Email Address)

Experiment on small scenes when you first start using the Cloud service! We highly recommend you experiment with the number of minutes and size of machine (8 or 16 core) available to you once you open the Cloud dialog box. This will help you determine the time or number of passes (optional) you want to render for when you start rendering a job on the Cloud.

You will notice that you will spend more Tokens if you increase the amount of rendering time and or you use the 16-core machine vs. the 8-core. The 16-core machine will render faster (more passes, but not necessarily double that of the 8-core machine), and quality of your image will improve the longer you render.

How do I know the number of tokens I am going to be charged for a job I want to render on the Cloud?

As you setup a job to be rendered on the Cloud the Required Tokens total will adjust according to the machine (8 or 16 core), maximum minutes and maximum passes (optional) you define.

I need to have several scenes rendered to meet a deadline, can I submit multiple jobs to the Cloud to render at the same time?

Yes. You can setup and submit as many jobs as you want to the Cloud one after the other.

Once submitted, a job goes through a loading and queueing processes before the job actually starts rendering. This process is not instantaneous and may take several minutes depending on the load on Microsoft’s Azure Cloud service at any particular point in time.

Why didn’t the job I submitted to the Cloud start rendering immediately?

Do my tokens ever expire?

Tokens are time sensitive and not refundable! Tokens not used within any 1 year window are forfeited and the remaining value of the unused tokens is not refunded. However, if you have purchased tokens and, as an example, used some but not the remainder for 8 months, if you purchase another block of tokens, ALL tokens would be valid for 1 year, i.e., even those you did not use for the 8 months prior to the purchase of the latest block.

Can I shutdown my computer once I’ve sent my job to the Cloud?

Yes. Once you have submitted the job to the Cloud you could shutdown your computer and when you restart you can open the job monitor in the application and see the status of your rendering jobs.

Can I access a completed Cloud rendering while I’m on the road visiting clients?

Yes. As long as you have Internet access you will be able to download completed renderings.

I need to render an animation on the Cloud, how long should I render it for?

It can be challenging estimating the time it may take for an animation to render. Experiment on small animations when you first start using the Cloud service, or even experiment on your local machine first as a lot depends on how you configure your animation (number of scenes, frames, delays, etc).

Will rendering on the Cloud significantly reduce the time it takes to render my work?

Not necessarily. If you do your local renderings on an 8 core machine, your rendering will take less time if you choose to render on a 16 core machine on the Cloud. If you have a comparable spec computer it will probably take about the same length of time, but will provide your computer back to you to work on other projects.

How can I determine how long it will take to render my job on the Cloud?

You should be able to make a reasonable effort. Experiment on small scenes when you first start using the Cloud service. We highly recommend you experiment with the number of minutes and size of machine (8 or 16 core) available to you once you open the Cloud dialog box. This will help you determine the time or number of passes (optional) you want to render for when you start rendering a job on the Cloud.

Can I restart my rendering after it finishes if I need it to render longer?

No. You will NOT be able to restart the job from the point at which you stopped it, and you will NOT receive a refund for the tokens spent. If you decide to re-render you will need to change the settings for your job (machine size, time, and passes (optional)) to ensure you achieve the rendered image quality you want.