I see it a lot with the teams I work with, rendering is one of the most compute-intensive and time-consuming stages in any VFX, animation, or gaming workflow. As the complexity and scale of scenes grow, you’re no longer just pushing polygons, you’re managing dense simulations, ultra-high-res textures, and massive datasets that demand serious horsepower. Add tighter deadlines into the mix, and even the most experienced teams start to feel the strain when relying solely on local rendering.
When production peaks and systems are pushed to the limit, cloud burst rendering can be a great way to scale compute power exactly when it’s needed. But that flexibility comes with its own set of challenges. I’ve seen firsthand how poorly planned bursting can lead to spiralling costs, fractured workflows, and storage systems that just can’t keep up. As scene sizes balloon, the ability to move and access data quickly becomes just as important as compute itself.
Getting it right isn’t just about spinning up more nodes – it’s about making sure the entire pipeline, from asset management to final frame, works in sync. Without that, speed becomes friction. So it’s critical to think holistically from the start.
What is cloud burst rendering?
Put simply, cloud burst rendering gives teams instant access to extra compute power in the cloud during busy periods. When demand spikes, workloads can be offloaded to scalable cloud resources, giving teams the elasticity and flexibility to deliver on time, at high quality, without the need for permanent infrastructure upgrades.
It sounds straightforward in theory, but it’s not without its risks. Without careful planning, cloud costs can quickly escalate, and poorly integrated storage or data movement can disrupt workflows and delay production. The real key to success is making sure storage, data orchestration, and rendering workflows are tightly connected from the start. When these elements work in sync, teams can avoid surprise costs, prevent data duplication or loss, and stay focused on creativity instead of fighting with infrastructure.
Real-world success: Nexus Studios and the Las Vegas Sphere
A recent project I worked on really showed the value of getting things right. Nexus Studios took on one of the most ambitious creative challenges ever attempted for the Las Vegas Sphere. With its 16K wraparound screen delivering an eye-popping 144 million pixels, the team needed massive rendering power and storage throughput to bring the immersive short film series For Mexico, For All Time to life.
By combining high-performance on-prem storage with burst cloud compute, they were able to scale seamlessly – tapping into over 200 GPU instances and more than 30TB of VRAM when needed. This gave them the headroom to meet tight deadlines, manage enormous data volumes, and deliver five ultra-high-resolution films for the world’s largest high-definition screen.
Because storage and workflow orchestration were tightly integrated from the outset, the cloud felt like a natural extension of the pipeline, not a bolt-on or a disruption. It gave the team the freedom to stay focused on creativity and quality, without being constrained by infrastructure limitations.
For organizations facing ever-growing content and compute demands, cloud burst rendering can be a true game-changer. When storage, orchestration, and compute are seamlessly integrated, teams gain the flexibility to scale on demand, keep costs under control, and deliver on time, without compromising on quality.
But ultimately, it’s not just about throwing more power at the problem. It’s about making that power available in the right way, at the right moment. I’ve seen first-hand how this approach can unlock creative freedom and deliver exceptional results. If your team is starting to feel the limits of your current setup, now might be the right time to explore how a well-planned cloud burst strategy could transform your pipeline.
