Accessibility is a key issue to any service looking to gain acceptance. For this reason, we've created a python script that makes it possible for a user to upload render sessions to Renderfarm.fi directly from an instance of Blender. This has now been included to a special distribution of Blender, available both on a limited edition DVD and here. The script also checks that the scene settings are correct in order for the render to succeed. Note that in order to send work to Renderfarm.fi through the uploader, you still need to own an account on the service. You will find the simple instructions for using the uploader from here. New to Blender 2.5? Don't worry - we'll be hosting a blog for tutorials on using Blender 2.5 soon.

Please keep in mind that Blender 2.5 is still very much in Alpha (ie. changes happen daily) and that the uploader script is in Beta. Also note that although support for the new Blender 2.5 internal render engine is coming online during the next few days, until that time you can use the uploader to upload animations and stills done with Blender 2.48a.

First of all, Don't Panic. Let me assure you, your time and input is most valued.

Ok. Seriously speaking, Renderfarm.fi is a publicly distributed rendering service that offers anybody the chance to either render or participate in the rendering of resource intensive 3D graphics. You do not have to be an expert to be of value to the community - quite the contrary actually. In fact, in order to become an important member of our community, you need to only follow these three simple steps:

1. Create your account on Renderfarm.fi
2. Download and install BOINC
3. Attach your BOINC client to http://www.renderfarm.fi

Welcome! If you don't want or can't join your computer currently, you are more than welcome contribute through other means, for example by reviewing and commenting the videos in The Gallery. We're more than glad to have you aboard.

Remember when we projected a story to your head that Renderfarm.fi enables anybody to create high quality renders? You might wonder where are those high quality images, all I see is a bunch of streamed video outputs. The answers is that in order to get to the actual high quality images, you will need to download CATS. CATS is a utility that lets you download the individual frames rendered by the service. You can use the utility to download frames from any rendered project - even ones that have not finished rendering.

Perhaps most interestingly you can use Renderfarm.fi and all the attached clients in order to give your Blender animations and stills an edge of image quality over those rendered on other rendering engines on home machines. Renderfarm.fi is made immensily powerful by people like yourself who have attached their computers to the project. With the rendering power behind it, Renderfarm.fi lets you yank the resolution up and image quality up to a par that you might have thought only commercial renderfarms could do.

Renderfarm.fi and with it Blender are being represented at AltParty 2009: Man Meets Machine on the weekend of 23.-26.10.2009. The event is being held for the ninth time and this year's theme is Cyberpunk. We'll be posting photos and some news about the happening during and after the weekend.

Apart from coming to meet us and many other Blender and BOINC enthusiasts out the Renderfarm.fi stand at AltParty, you can enjoy some very interesting seminars. Some of the most notable speakers this year include Sophie Wilson and Jeri Ellisworth.