IMPORTANT: Canvas requires Minecraft 1.14.4 and Fabric API 0.3.0 build 200 or higher.
If you cannot use versions that recent, then earlier versions should still work, however they will not have many of the newer features and bug fixes.
Known Issues
- Shader support for item rendering is work-in-progress and disabled by default. It mostly works except for directional in-world lighting. This will eventually be fixed.
- Frame rate can drop significantly with HD Lightmap enabled in scenes with mixed translucency (snow, ice, water.)
- For all other issues, see the issues log.
What is Canvas?
Canvas is a rendering library for Fabric mods that offers visual improvements for players, and also implements an API mod authors can use to implement rendering effects that would not be possible with the vanilla renderer.
Hardware Requirements and Performance
Canvas targets moderate to high-end hardware but should work on any PC that supports OpenGL 2.1 and GLSL shaders.
Canvas will almost certainly improve chunk-loading performance vs Vanilla Minecraft. Frame rates may be better or slightly worse, depending on what is being rendered.
Current Stable Features for Players
- Faster chunk loading
- Improved lighting
- Hardcore darkness (terrain only)
- Less foggy fog
Current Stable Features for Mod Authors
- Block models are dynamic when chunks are rebuilt - not necessary to pre-bake all variants
- Item models are dynamic - not necessary to pre-bake all variants
- Emissive materials
- Improved lighting for models with non-cubic geometry
- Multi-sprite materials for borders and blended/composite texturing effects
- Per-quad control over render layer, lighting, shaders and conditions (see below)
Experimental Features (breaking changes are likely)
- Material Shaders - mod authors can define custom shaders for model materials
- Conditional Materials - materials that are only rendered when a global condition is true
- Apply shaders and emissive effects during item rendering
Finding Bugs
I test Canvas on OSX, Windows 10 and Ubuntu 18.04.2. I do not have the means to test on many hardware/OS combinations so bug reports are appreciated. Please include full logs.
Do you know where 1.15 and 1.16's download links are? I feel like I'm just being a noob here, but I can't see them.
In reply to Sparijack:
1.16 is in progress. Going to skip 1.15.
In reply to grondagthebarbarian:
ok
can it improve FPS？
In reply to ddddddsb_:
The 1.14 version not so much. The 1.15 version (still in progress) yes.
In reply to grondagthebarbarian:
Any idea when this will be out? Would love to try it in comparison to Optifine (with OptiFabric) on 1.15.2.
If I were to add this mod to the server only, and use optifabric on the client, would I still get the benefits of faster chunk loading?
In reply to futurenp:
No, it only benefits client-side chunk baking - which is often called "chunk loading." Server-side chunk-loading - generating chunks or reloading them into memory - does have some performance issues but Canvas doesn't touch that.
does this work with OptiFabric?
In reply to TimTamTim_:
Nope. Canvas and OptiFine will get along like a wet bag of angry cats. Can't be helped.
In reply to grondagthebarbarian:
will the player be able to apply opacity to solid blocks?
It's really annoying not being able to apply transparency to most of in-game blocks
In reply to powerful_piggies:
Not sure what you mean. Are you asking about some kind of X-ray feature?
Forge?
In reply to pinkrabbitsaysshoot:
Canvas's predecessor was a forge mod. I made the switch because 1) Fabric has first-class support for "core mods" via Mixins. You can do core mods with Forge but it is generally frowned upon by the Forge team. 2) Forge includes many code patches related to rendering that tend to get in the way. Fabric exposes an interface for renderers to implement but has very few changes out of the box.
So, short answer: probably not. It is Apache license, tho, so if someone is crazy enough to attempt it they are welcome.
I have a couple of questions:
Is there any chance that Hardcore Darkness will ever affect entities?
Since I'm too stupid to understand some of the roadmap, do you expect that the "flash" and hitch that occurs when lighting is updated will be improved over time? Improved chunk loading and a lack of lighting errors is great but it hardly matters if my eyes hurt every time I place a torch in a cave.
In reply to Mummelpuffin:
Great questions.
1) Yes, I expect hardcore darkness will eventually affect entities. I'm sort of waiting to see what Mojang does for 1.15 but it may come earlier. It would not actually be very difficult to do it now. I may also ship it as a separate mod.
2) Yes, the annoying flash currently seen with HD lightmaps will be removed - somehow.
Right now I'm working on some content that brings new shapes, textures and other fancy rendering that shows off what Canvas can do. After that, I will be making some major improvement in Canvas.
In reply to Mummelpuffin:
FYI, I've released a standalone hardcore darkness mod that affects entities and does not require Canvas: True Darkness
In reply to grondagthebarbarian:
Ooh, nice, thanks for that. I'll probably just use that for now.
This mod really forced me to sign-up and had to comment this.
Finally I found a mod that has hardcore darkness. And I’m looking forward for this mod as a new rendering mod for Fabric like Optifine to Forge.
Tried to couple this with OptiFine and saw interesting results: Only entities are rendered, while others remain unrendered and look like void. Funny experiment and I see some potential on collaborating... But yeah, over all, this is good, this mod is kinda amazing at the moment.