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RenderCue

by UsamaSQ·Rendering

Images © UsamaSQ. Used for product review; image policy.

Why we like it

RenderCue stands out in the Blender extensions library for pairing a validated render queue with background execution and a pause/resume that survives closing Blender.

What is RenderCue?

RenderCue is a batch rendering add-on for Blender that centralizes scene rendering into a single queue. You can add scenes from anywhere in your .blend file to a reorderable queue, then execute the renders in a separate background process that keeps Blender's interface responsive while jobs run.

Each job supports per-job overrides without altering your scene data, organized into collapsible sections. These cover output path, camera, transparent background and a compositor toggle; frame range, frame step and resolution scale; file format such as PNG, EXR or JPEG; a render engine choice between Cycles, Eevee and Workbench; and quality settings including samples and Cycles-specific options. A Queue Health System validates the queue for issues like missing cameras or invalid paths before rendering begins.

RenderCue can pause and resume renders, and you can close Blender and resume the queue later from where it stopped. Queue configurations save to a JSON file for reuse or sharing between files, and completion notifications arrive through Windows desktop toasts or webhooks to Discord and Slack, alongside a detailed summary of render times, frames and errors.

Who is RenderCue best for?

RenderCue is best for blender users rendering several scenes in batches who want to keep working while jobs run in the background.

How much does RenderCue cost?

RenderCue is completely free to download and use.

Key features

  • Global render queue that adds scenes from anywhere in the .blend file into a centralized, reorderable list
  • True background rendering in a separate process, keeping Blender responsive while jobs run
  • Queue Health System that validates for missing cameras and invalid paths before rendering starts
  • Per-job overrides for output path, camera, transparency, compositor, frame range, resolution scale, file format (PNG, EXR, JPEG), render engine (Cycles, Eevee, Workbench) and samples
  • Pause and resume, including closing Blender and resuming the queue later from where it left off
  • Presets system that saves the entire queue configuration to a JSON file to load or share between files
  • Notifications via Windows desktop toasts and webhooks to Discord or Slack, plus a detailed completion summary

Tags

#batch rendering#render queue#background rendering#blender addon#render management#cycles#eevee#pipeline

Frequently asked questions

Which Blender versions does RenderCue support?

RenderCue supports Blender 4.2 LTS and newer, covering the 4.2 LTS release through 5.0 and later. The add-on is built for modern Blender pipelines, so a current version should install and enable without version conflicts. Compatibility is listed on the developer's GitHub page, which is the best place to confirm the exact range against your specific build before adding it to a production setup. Checking there first helps avoid surprises when you move between Blender releases.

How do I install RenderCue in Blender?

RenderCue installs like a standard Blender add-on. Download the latest release zip, open Blender, and go to Edit > Preferences > Add-ons. Click Install, select the zip file, then enable the add-on by checking the box next to Render: RenderCue. You can also drag and drop the file directly into Blender or install it from disk. Once enabled, open the RenderCue panel from the Render Properties tab or the N-panel to start building your queue.

Can I close Blender while RenderCue is rendering and resume later?

RenderCue lets you pause renders at any time, and you can close Blender and resume the render queue later from where it left off. Progress is tracked through a Rendering in Progress panel that shows job progress, estimated time remaining, a live thumbnail of the last rendered frame, and a mini-view of upcoming jobs. This makes it possible to interrupt a long batch, shut down, and pick the sequence back up without restarting the whole queue.

What notifications does RenderCue send when renders finish?

RenderCue can notify you when jobs finish in a couple of ways. It sends native Windows desktop toast notifications when a job completes, and it can post completion reports to Discord or Slack channels through webhooks. After a batch finishes, RenderCue also produces a detailed summary covering render times, successful frames, and any errors. Sending webhook notifications requires network permission, which the add-on requests so it can reach your chosen channels.

Is RenderCue free to use?

RenderCue is listed as free in this catalog and is released under the GNU General Public License v3.0 or later. That license governs how you can use, modify, and share the add-on. If you want to confirm current licensing terms, support options, or download the latest release, the developer's GitHub page is the place to check. The developer also notes that support through voluntary contributions is welcome for anyone who finds the tool useful.

Alternatives to RenderCue

Also in Rendering for Blender.

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