Version 1.1.6

Not too many changes in this release. The most important thing is fixing a discovery issue that prevented Blender 4.0+ to show up.
Some code was written for a possible MacOS ARM64 build, but since I don't own an M1+ apple device, testing it is quite tedious.
This might change in the near future, in which case it will be easier to add a release.
If you're not using your Apple device for actual rendering, it should be no issue to keep using the x64 version for now, as BlendFarm without rendering is not too compute heavy.

Changelog:

• Blender 4.0+ discovery fix

(Server update is required if you want to use Blender 4.0+ on render nodes)

Version 1.1.5

This has been one of the updates long in the waiting. Due to a business trip and a busy schedule in general it has been postponed a few times.
It still does not contain everything I planned, but at least adds various minor improvements all round.

Changes:

• Files 3gb+ will now work fine (also less memory usage during syncing)
• Blender installation progress indicator in both app console & node progress
• Basic security password (not recommended, but requested)
• Networked Path (Sync) is now saved by blendfile path automatically. No need to re-enter every time for same file.
• You can now fetch settings from Blendfile using Import Settings/Scenes
• Camera/Scene selection (after Import Settings/Scenes)
• Render node console redirection. See render node terminal from the main client.
• Various useful checkboxes on startup that immediately sync your project on local etc.
• More reconnections attempts
• UI Improvements
• Start on some systems for asset sync (hopefully 1.1.6)

Version 1.1.4

This update adds a textfield allowing you to specify which Scene to render, if left empty, it will behave as previously, and use the scene you had selected when saving the blendfile.

This also adds fixes for Linux Blender >3.4, where symlinks werent generated.
You can also now specify a specific node to render OPTIX, instead of just globally using the Engine dropdown. (I still recommend that one as it allows you to quickly switch between CUDA and OPTIX)

Changes:

• You can now select the scene to render (by entering its name)
• You can now specify specific nodes to use OPTIX
• Fix Blender >3.4 Linux servers
• Icon for Windows

Version 1.1.3 - HIP, Metal, OneAPI, Reconnection

This update adds support for HIP, Metal, and OneAPI. It also adds basic reconnection logic during renders, meaning that if a connection is dropped, it will try to recover said connection (up to 5-10 seconds).

NOTE: As I do not have hardware setup for all these render systems, its mostly untested, but logic is almost identical so should work.

Changes:

• HIP Rendering support
• Metal Rendering support (MacOS)
• OneAPI Rendering support
• Reconnection during rendering

Version 1.1.2 - Animation File Formats, OpenSSL3.x support, Runtime upgrade

This update adds support for rendering animations to specific file formats (eg. EXR). It updates the runtime to .NET 6 which should add support for OpenSSL3.x that some Linux distros updated to.

Changes:

• Animation file format supports
• .NET 6 Runtime upgrade for OpenSSL3.x support
• Compatibility fixes for .NET 6 on Linux/MacOS
• Some code restructuring

Render nodes will need to be updated.

Version 1.1.1 - Animation Performance

One of the downsides of rendering with BlendFarm is that renders against the exact same file had some overhead because it was rendered in a new Blend Process.
This update fixes this by running sequential renders for the exact same file (but different parameters such as frame) shortly after each other will now run against the same Blender process, this can increase the speed at which animations are rendered significantly (20% faster against the simple BlendFarm test file at 1080p and 4k using CUDA/OPTIX)

Changes:

• Sequential renders against same file will re-use process
• Save last selected Blender version
• Default tab for options is Image/Render again

To make use of the improvements you will need to update your Render Nodes. (Does not break compatibility, but you will want to do it)

Version 1.1.0 - OptiX support & Progress fix

This update adds OptiX support. It also removes the Eevee checkbox and replaces it with a dropdown for "Engine" allowing you to select Cycles/Eevee/OptiX.
It also fixes progress bar for Blender 3.0, though to a limited capacity as Blender 3.0 prints out less logs.

Changes:

• Support OptiX rendering
• Properly parses progress logs in Blender >3.0

This update requires you to update your Render Nodes as well.

Version 1.0.9 - Network Share & Eevee

This update adds an Eevee checkbox under the System tab, this will cause all nodes to use Eevee instead of cycles. Note that Eevee does not always run headless and may require a display attached.
It also adds Network share configuration allowing you to setup paths for each platform (Windows, Linux, MacOS) that point to the same Blender file. Instead of Syncing, the nodes will read the file straight from the network share. This allows you to use shared resources without embedding them and various other things. But it will require you to set up the network shares (and mounts on nodes) to do this.

Changes:

• Use Eevee engine (limited with display attached due to Blender)
• Network Share location instead of syncing

This update requires you to update your Render Nodes as well.

Version 1.0.8.1 - Blender 3.0 GPU Rendering Hotfix

Hotfix for GPU rendering on Blender >= 3.0

Version 1.0.8 - Blender 3.0 Support & Save Settings as Default

Minor update that provides support for Blender 3.0 after breaking api changes. Also adds a Save Settings as Default button to save the current project settings as default when opening projects (and on startup).

Changes:

• Blender versions >3.0.0 now work
• Save Settings As Default button

To have support for Blender 3.0, the server/render nodes need this update too.