If any of you were familiar with the Autodesk Project Neon, then you are aware that Autodesk was experimenting with Cloud Rendering Services. First it was only for ACAD users, but due to a large amount of feedback from trial users, it was expanded to include Revit 2012 via a plugin. The capabilities and speed of rendering in the cloud far exceed what is possible using local machines.
Just some stats about cloud rendering to render one image:
64-core render service: 10 sec.
16-core render farm: 40 sec.
2-core Desktop Workstation: 26.7 min
You can watch a video about cloud rendering here: http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/pc/index?siteID=123112&id=17570228 and watching the first movie.
Oh yea, it also does 360 degree panoramas... something achievable only in MAX.
Here are some basic samples of a Revit project turned cloud render: (note: these are an Autodesk provided model, not one of our own). These were done as a High quality, 2000px image.
Just like Revit, it appears that interior renders are a higher quality than exteriors, but that is probably due to the materials than the actual render engine. Just like in revit, you are able to place a background image (look through the windows to the field beyond) and the native sky is much more... realistic than the native sky in Revit.
