A texture pack is a file that is used to change the in-game textures of blocks, items, mobs and other things. They are usually zip files that have various PNG images in them and a pack.txt. The default resolution for packs is 16×16 (measured pixels in block height and width). Anything larger is called ‘HD’ and requires a patcher to run. Official support for texture packs was added in Alpha 1.2.2.
Default vs PainterlyPack (Painterly in the center)
Installation
To install a texture pack, the file must first be obtained in a ZIP format. Without decompressing the file, place the ZIP file in:
- Windows XP/Vista/7:
%AppData%\.mincraft\texturepacks - Linux:
~/.minecraft/texturepacks - Mac OS X:
~/Library/Application Support/minecraft/texturepacks
This path can be opened by using the Open Texture Pack Folder button from the game client.
Once a texture pack is installed, it can be selected in the Mods and Texture Packs screen accessible from the main menu (but not in-game). The texture pack list can be scrolled by dragging it up or down.
The Zipped Folder must contain the Files themselves, not another folder that contains the Files. If the Zipped does contain another folder, extract the files from the folder and place them into the Zipped folder. Once you have completed this the Texture Pack will work in the game.
Texture Pack Creation
To create a custom pack, the files you wish to modify must be extracted from minecraft.jar with an archiving or decompression program such as WinRAR or 7-zip. Both programs are free, but 7-zip's full version is free while with WinRAR you must pay for the full version. They can then be edited with any image editing program that can read/write the PNG file format and handle transparency. A good starter choice is the free Paint.net. Edit each PNG file as desired, using the alpha layer to trim away transparent parts. Save the PNGs as 32 bits, to preserve this transparency layer. When the images are zipped back into archive, names and folder structure must be maintained (with WinRAR, just drag and drop into the right places). For a complete list of files, go to this thread.
Video on how to make a 16px Texture Pack by RandomMac5
All the blocks in terrain.png with their names.
List of Modifiable Files
| File | Description |
|---|---|
| terrain.png | All blocks |
| particles.png | All Particles |
| pack.png | Thumbnail of pack |
| pack.txt | Description of pack |
| title\ | Client intro title and splash screen |
| environment\ | Snow, rain and clouds |
| font\ | In-game font |
| terrain\ | Sun and Moon |
| item\ | In-game models for items such as signs, carts, boats, arrows and doors |
| gui\ | GUI, item thumbnails, logo and menu background |
| art\ | All paintings in game |
| mob\ | All mobs in game |
| armor\ | All Armor in game |
| achievement\ | The Achievements screen GUI |
| misc\ | Biome grass/foliage color, Pumpkin blur and Clock dial1 |
1 Due to a bug, changes to the clock dial and grass/foliage files do not affect their respective items/blocks when installed using the Texture Pack/Mod Menu. Direct installation into the minecraft.jar file can be done instead: open minecraft.jar and the texture pack with WinRAR, then drag and drop the contents of the pack into minecraft.jar. If you mess up, just delete .minecraft/bin and it will reload once you start up Minecraft.exe. After any update, you’ll need to reinstall the pack this way.
List of Texture Packs
Native Resolution (16px)
ALL PACKS ARE TO BE SORTED BY ALPHABETICAL ORDER, AND ANY EDITS NOT TO UPDATE A PACK WILL BE REVERTED
| Name of Pack | Description of Pack | Version of Pack | Link to Pack | Compatibility | File Size of Pack |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aleph Setei - Alien World | A fun and bizarre alien world texture pack! | v1.6 | Website | 684 KB | |
| AlternaCraft | A texture pack that keeps close with the default textures but also adding some interesting and unique changes such as new tools, armor, blocks, etc | v1.4 | Forum | 598 KB | |
| Alyxandor's Zelda Texture Pack | Legend of Zelda themed texture pack. | 0.18 | Website | 2.2 MB | |
| Arabesque Pack | A clean and very detailed middle east inspired pack. | 1.7.2 | Website | 2.34 MB | |
| Bitcraft UFE | Low quality, low resolution, VNC compatible textures for VNC and nostalgic players. Some users report minor framerate increases due to the decreased video memory requirements | 1.3_01 | Forum thread | 73 KB | |
| BlockCraft | BlockCraft is a simple texture pack for Minecraft 1.5 which acts as a design replacement for beginners | v1.1 | Website |
319 KB | |
| Cartooncraft Sadepack | A cartoony childish pack with a whole load of textures remade. | V3 | Forum | 747 KB | |
| CombatCraft 16x | A texture pack focused on making Minecraft look much smoother and interesting than the vanilla textures, and although incomplete at the moment, future versions will have 16 bit blocks and items and 32 bit GUIs and interfaces. | V0.8a | Forum | 545 KB | |
| CrusaCraft 16 Bit | A texturepack based on nothing. It is still in the process of creation (the b means beta). | 1.3 b | [1] | 1 MB | |
| Eldpack | “This is a 16x16 pack, and has full compatibility with minecraft, no patching required.” | v3.5 | Website |
270.0 KB | |
| Frenden | “Made by Frenden” | v9.14 | Forum | 477 KB | |
| JokeCraft | “A texturepack which has a theme of humor inculding Skeletons wearing a Santa Suit! A texturepack made by YaYaBinksMinecraft.” | v2.3 | Forum | 1.35 MB | |
| JoliCraft | “Minecraft is a game about crafting the world around you. What better way to craft the world than to craft the very stuff the world is made of?” This pack transforms the game into a fairy tale. | 3.1 | Forum | 906 KB | |
| Kakariko Village Texture Pack | “The Kakariko Village Texture Pack is a Legend of Zelda themed texture pack. It has full texture replacement, including mobs.” | 2.8 | Website | 1.44MB | |
| Krazy's contemporary construction | This texture pack attempts to create a set of textures that are a more subtle replacement of the original textures, while providing new and good looking textures for building a large variety of structures. The pack aims to satisfy a more contemporary look for the game | ? | Forum | 595 KB | |
| LAR Games Texture Pack | “The LAR Games texture pack is centered around improving the look of Minecraft without taking away from the overall experience. The entire texture pack is 100% original. This is not an edit of the vanilla Minecraft textures.” | v1.2 | Forum | 205 KB | |
| Legolord331's Redwood Texture Pack | A pack that makes the armor look more like armor of that type, glass usable, resources easier, and a few minor tweaks to the doors, workbench, Chests, and furnaces. | V 6.3 | Forum & Download | 590 KB | |
| NorseCraft | A viking themed 16x16 texture pack | 1.2 | Forum | 406.54 KB | |
| Minecraft Simple Coloured | “A very simple homemade texture pack created by HAP3E” | V1 | Description | 118.54 KB | |
| Moontrain's Lucid Pack | The Lucid Pack is a work-in-progress total Minecraft conversion intended to tame the rough & unpolished default graphics and create a cleaner & brighter atmosphere. | v0.1.7 | [2] | 702 kb | |
| MoviePack [Minecrafter17's Idea] | A pack with custom Green wool and more fun! download to see that! Good for movies! | v 1.0.3 | Dutch Forum/Download | 1.08 MB | |
| Nath’s SuperSimple Pack | “Nath’s SuperSimple Pack is substantially the simplest pack ever created. For those who still love to play Minecraft in a ‘Blocky’ and ‘2bit’ Texture.” | V0.4b | Forum | 186.0kb | |
| Painterly Pack | “Painterly pack is a complete, native-resolution graphics package for Minecraft which attempts to improve the graphics of the game drastically, while still keeping the native texture resolution, and overall spirit and humor of the game, intact.” ‒ Official site. Also allows customization of Texture Pack to over 1000 different textures. | Unknown | Website | 3.6 MB | |
| PixelPack | A simple, smooth and a great texturepack for those with slow computers. A texturepack made by YaYaBinksMinecraft. | v1.0 | Forum | 1.19 MB | |
| Pixeludi Pack | Winner of the official texture pack competition held by Webhallen and announced by Notch. It replaces original look of the game with one that is smoother, more natural, deep and vivid, but doesn’t temper with the game's setting. | "Spider" version | Website | 414 KB | |
| Projekt Custom | A pack that changes the look of minecraft to somthing else. | v1 | [3] | 728.23 KB | |
| Ruston | An overhaul of Minecraft textures that keeps the feel of the game, yet greatly improves it visually. | v1.0 | Forum | 1.67 MB | |
| Simpl | A simpler, smoother minecraft- looks great with full shadows. | v1.1 | Forum | 320 KB | |
| StugAce's Romecraft! | This texture pack attempts adds a new theme to Minecraft, a Ancient Rome theme to Minecraft with 3 flavors. | 4.3 | Forum | 897.1 KB | |
| Squirma pack | A very simple texture pack with more color added to make it nicer. | V4 | YouTube | 165 KB | |
| The Red Creeper Pack | “A Painterly based compilation of painterly, Sinecraft, the default textures and brand new ones, designed to bring you your favourite mods and addons without losing your beloved texture pack. Compatible with a variety of mods, including Wildgrass and Icemod.” | v1.5.4 | Forum | 1.11 MB | |
| TheRed Pack | This Pack takes on the nice look of the Painterly Pack and adds in some custom textures, such as T-Shirt pig saddle a rainbow chip cookie. By TheRedwolf11(And Rhodox) | 1.0 | Website | 1.04 MB | |
| The Voxel Box Offical - Creative Texture Pack | The VoxelBox's Creative texture pack is a complete Minecraft makeover full of extra blocks and containing several re-purposed blocks, most notably the ore textures. This gives creative builders access to new and different materials! An exciting collection of new and practical items for tools, and role play are included to replace the defaults. DataValue Chart | 4.4.2011a | Wiki | 3.93 MB | |
| Xaiwaker | "A modification of Frenden's Cartoon Pack, this pack is based on the visual style of Animal Crossing and the Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker." | v1.7 | Forum | 1.9 MB |
High Resolution (32px or more)
| Name | Description | Version | Link | Latest Compatible Release | Size | Resolution | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adrion's BÁsico | A nice clean and smooth Texture pack. | ? | Forum | 128×128:13.8 MB
64×64:6.15 MB |
128×128-64×64 | ||
| The Tibian Pack! | A texture pack inspired by the MMORPG Tibia, can be used as an RPG pack. | 1.1 | Forum | 1.56 MB | 32×32 | ||
| WolfCraft | A 32x32 HD pack made by TheMadWolf. | 2.5 | Forum | 319 KB | 32×32 | ||
| Faithful 32x32 | A double resolution texture pack that stays faithful to the original Minecraft textures | 1.6.4 | Forum | 783 KB | 32×32 | ||
| DokuCraft | The Official Doku Texture pack. Back after a long break, Doku has created an old school rpg theme which comes in 3 flavors : Dark, High, and Light. | 1.9 | Forum | 3.1 MB | 32×32 | ||
| GameDoku | A successor to Doku's original pack , this pack boasts lush colour, total reskins and custom mod compatibility | 3.0 | Forum | 610 KB | 32×32 | ||
| High Detailed Photo-Realistic Texture Pack | This high detailed texture pack aims to push minecraft textures to the limit making the game not only look nice but as a high detailed version of the original textures of Minecraft. By KDStudios | 2.02 | Forum | 22.54 MB | 256×256, 128x128, 64x64 | ||
| LB Photo realism | High Detailed Photo-Realistic Texture Pack
This high detailed texture pack is made to let minecraft look as realistic as possible. Compatible with bumpmapping (not yet) and Wild Grass. By Scuttles |
4.0 | Forum | 41,1 MB | 256×256, 128×128 and 64×64 | ||
| Misa’s 64×64 Realistic | Made by Misa | 2.0.1 | Forum | 18.47 MB | 64×64 | ||
| Mixcraft HD Semi-Realistic Texture Pack | This is a high definition skin pack for Minecraft. | 30 | Forum | 18.47 MB | 32×32 | ||
| The Ghost2 HD Pack | Custom terrain and menus; Includes full support for GLSL Shaders. Work in progress. | 4.1 | Forum | 15.6 MB | 128×128 | ||
| JohnSmith Texture Pack. | A texture pack made by JohnSmith, and it comes with a customizer. | 7.2 | Forum | 1.35 MB | 32×32 | ||
| soartex | Made by soar49 | 1.0.1 | Forum | 1.18 MB | 64×64 | ||
| Dusty Textures | A 32×32 texture pack that, instead of going for realistic “high def.” images, uses a more simplistic style, reminiscent of SNES graphics | 1.5 | Forum | 18.47 MB | 32×32 | ||
| Brown & Bloom | “Made by DVan” | 1.2_02 | Forum | 342.59 KB | 32x32 | ||
| AaGeOn’s BumpMaft | “First of all let me say: I Love Minecraft and as a Digital Art designer it’s a game where the mind can be challenged. So I started thinking of creating my own 128×128 HD Texture Pack by creating pre-rendered textures using. Bump Mapping and Normal Mapping: Therefore: Bumpmaft.” | 1.5.9 | Forum | 18.47 MB | 128×128 | ||
| Albion | Loosely based on the video game Albion (hence the name). This texture pack is not so much of a themed texture pack but more of an interesting and nice looking Hi-def alternative to other 16x16 texture packs. | 2.18 | Forum | 9.43 MB | 64×64 | ||
| Tronic | Tronic is a texture pack for Minecraft that aims for a virtual or (elec)tronic feel. The biggest inspirations are probably the Metal Gear Solid VR Missions and every textureless test render ever made. | 8 | Website | 180 kB | 32×32 |
For a tutorial on installing high resolution texture packs go here
For a more complete list of texture packs, see the Texture Pack Central on minecraftforum.net.
Trivia
- Prior to the Alpha 1.2.2 update, users would need to manually change the texture packs by overwriting their minecraft.jar files. This is still required for HD texture packs, unless you use a patcher, such as the one found with the mixcraft HD pack.
- The selected texture pack is saved to the options.txt file in the .minecraft folder, so you can also manually change the "skin:" value to the name of the .zip
Resources
- Vote for your favourite Texture Pack here.
- [4] The official, unofficial list of texture packs on the Minecraft Forum (over 150 textures)
- [5] How to make a texture pack at the default size of 16px
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