Get automated multicore rendering in After Effects using BG Renderer MAX.
Multicore rendering was taken out of After Effects in 2014, and it's a super hot request from the community. There are arguments both for it and against it, ever since GPU accelerated programs started to become popular. The After Effects team has been working on getting the native effects switched over to rendering on the GPU.
While they are diligently working on it, Extrabite has revamped their Background renderer, and have released BG Renderer MAX. This time there are a few new bells and whistles; like a very welcomed notification system.
So we thought it'd be fun to dig into why you should be using BG Renderer MAX, and how it can help speed up your workflow.
Oh, and before we forget, we'll be giving away a copy of BG Renderer MAX! Stick around, and information for the giveaway will be at the bottom of the article.
What is BG Renderer MAX?
BG Renderer MAX is an extension for After Effects that allows you to use more than one core for rendering out your scenes. This is an updated version of what used to be known as just BG Renderer. However, They didn't just polish up the old one though, this tool has been completely rewritten and revamped.
Just in case you didn't know, BG stands for background. That's important to understand for one simple reason: Once you start to render using the extension, you can continue working inside of After Effects!
Even though you can send renders to Media Encoder with a native Creative Cloud workflow, they're still not using multiple cores to get the job done. This is what makes BGRender Max so special.
Now you can use all of your machine!
The tool works like magic. And while we're normally scared of witchcraft, BG Renderer Max gets a pass because it has significantly reduced our render times.
Exciting Features in BG Renderer MAX
On top of getting out your renders faster, BG Renderer MAX is full of some really cool features. One of the biggest, is the ability to send yourself a notification once your renders are done!
Here's a list of integrations you can set up in BG Renderer MAX:
Something that's very worth mentioning is the Message Composer. Once your renders are done, you can have a customized message sent over detailing your render. This could be how long it took, what the file name is, and even a file path for you to access your renders quickly.
In a way BG Renderer MAX can serve as an automated render bot that can create animations without lifting a hand. If you want to learn more about the automation process check out our After Effects Automation tutorial here on School of Motion.
If you can't tell we're total automation nerds at SOM.
Have more questions about BG Renderer MAX?
Extrabite has created a web page full of helpful information regarding each feature available in BG Renderer MAX, and you can check it out here.
There, you can learn how to install, set up Slack integrations, trouble shoot, and even see version history. If you're a power user this is a gold mine of knowledge, and this tool will definitely boost your productivity.
Win a Copy of BG Renderer MAX!
Want to get you paws on a copy of BG Renderer MAX? We liked the product so much that we figured we should get it in the hands of other motion designers! We're going to giveaway a license code to one lucky motion designer.
To enter for a chance to win, just fill out the form below. You can enter the contest between Friday, July 12th - Thursday, July 18th of 2019.
Sorry, this contest reached its deadline, and the winner has been announced. For more chances to win, sign up for our weekly Motion Mondays e-newsletter and/or join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter.
Want to Master Animation?
Being efficient at rendering is one thing, but really knowing how to animate is going to make you more productive! School of Motion has built courses hyper-focused on making you an efficient motion master.
We have courses for all skill levels, ranging from complete beginner to those looking for advanced animation lessons. Check out our virtual campus tour to see if School of Motion might be right for you1
