Canvas Renderer
ModAdds richer visuals to modded blocks and lets creators change their look.
Why gradeE
How grades workStrengths
Points lost
- No release in 2.8 years−26 points
- Many modpacks removed it−10 points
- Some projects say they do not work with it−5 points
- Under 5 million downloads−1 point
All 11 criteria
Maintenance
18 points lost9 / 27Last releaseHow long ago the newest file came out, or an existing file was marked as working on a new Minecraft version.2.8 years ago (21 Jan 2024) 0 / 12Supports popular versionsWhether the project has a file for a Minecraft version that 15% or more of the popular mods updated in the last 6 months also support. A version many modpacks use, like 1.20.1 or 1.21.1, also counts after a release in the last 12 months.1.20.2 on Fabric and Quilt. 15% or more of the popular mods updated in the last 6 months also have files for 1.20.1. Latest Minecraft: 26.3. 9 / 9Regular releasesIn how many of the last 24 months a new file came out. Full points at 8 months.No release in the last 24 months 0 / 6Stability
15 points lost0 / 15Removed from modpacksHow many modpacks removed it in a later version of the pack. We can only see this in modpacks with two or more versions. A pack that swaps it for another edition of the same project, or that is rebuilt from scratch, does not count.17 of the 29 modpacks with two or more versions removed it in a later one (59%) See the 17 modpacks0 / 10Quick fixesHow often a release needed a quick fix: a new release within 3 days to fix a problem in it.Not measured yet.Known conflictsHow many projects say they do not work with it, compared with how widely it is used. Packs, small projects, forks, ports, add-ons, alternatives and old versions do not count.13 of 37 known conflicts count in the grade See the 37 known conflicts0 / 5Transparency
Full points10 / 10Source codeWhether the project page links to its source code, so anyone can read what it does.GitHub · grondag/canvas 7 / 7Place to report problemsWhether the project page links to a place where players can report problems: an issue tracker.GitHub issues · vram-guild/canvas 3 / 3Popularity
1 point lost3 / 4DownloadsDownloads on Modrinth and CurseForge. Full points from 5 million.293,814 3 / 4Track record
8 points lost0 / 8AgeHow long the project has existed. It counts less when no new file came out recently.7.5 years, 140 releases 0 / 8Security
PassedFile checksThis check adds no points. It can only take points away.Our checks found nothing harmful in the latest file for recent Minecraft versions. See Security
22.3 of the 64 points that apply = 35 out of 100. The points above are rounded to whole numbers.
Images
About
Canvas is a shader-based renderer for Fabric that enhances Minecraft’s world rendering, with its main purpose being to give mod authors and content creators finer control over how modded blocks and other rendered content look. Through the FREX rendering extensions, creators can use dynamic block and item models, custom materials for effects such as emissive and layered rendering, and shader code for animation or procedural effects. Materials and shaders can be assigned using Java or JSON material maps, letting creators customize existing models without writing Java and allowing resource packs or mods to contribute compatible shader pieces. For players, Canvas includes a default shader pack with bloom on many emissive blocks and wavy foliage, while separate Canvas shader packs can be combined through multiple resource packs. Canvas is designed to make these rendering features practical rather than serve as a general-purpose performance mod, and it may use more hardware than a lightweight renderer.
Written from Modrinth , CurseForge and the GitHub README . How we write it
In-game changes
Changes the game's code in 8 areas, as a library other mods build on: Rendering and graphicsChanges 25 game code files in this area: drawing mobs, items, particles and textures on screen., World renderingChanges 7 game code files in this area: drawing the terrain, sky, clouds and weather., User interfaceChanges 6 game code files in this area: menus, screens, tooltips, the chat window and the in-game overlay., Chunk loading and storageChanges 2 game code files in this area: how the game loads, tracks, saves and unloads chunks., Game coreChanges 2 game code files in this area: the main loop, lighting and other code the whole game uses., World generationChanges 1 game code file in this area: terrain, biomes and structures made when new land is created., Game optionsChanges 1 game code file in this area: settings, key bindings and the option screens. and Game data and resourcesChanges 1 game code file in this area: recipes, tags, advancements, language files and other game data..
Libraries packed inside it change 46 more game code files: parts of 
Fabric API, 
FREX and JSON Model Extensions.
Adds 6 key bindings: Debug Next Image, Debug Previous Image, Toggle Debug View, Toggle Flawless Frames, Toggle Render Profiler and Recompile Shaders.
Counted from the names and data files in the mod, so the list may not be complete.
Keeps all of vanilla Minecraft's textures, models and sounds.
Often used with it
See all 30Details
- Creators
- grondag and spiralhalo
- License
- GNU Lesser General Public License v3.0 only
- Downloads
- 294K
- Created
- 13 Apr 2019
- Official pages
- Modrinth , CurseForge
- Links
- Source code , Issues , Discord
Security
No harmful code found
We checked its files and read their code, without running it.
What it can do on your computer
- Connects to the internet
- It has code that can go online, for example to check for updates, load skins or send crash reports. Found in jcpp, a library it includes. See Privacy
- Creates settings files
- The mod keeps its settings in the config folder of your game, where you can change or delete them. 3 files in your config folder.
Why we show this: a mod runs on your computer like any program, so harmful code in it can take your accounts or files. Our checks look for known signs of harm. They cannot prove that a file is harmless. In the grade: malware means no grade, and a Warning in a latest file for a recent Minecraft version lowers it.
How we checked
- FilesWe download the files from Modrinth or CurseForge and look at what is inside them and what their code can do, without running them. Fixed rules tell what is harmful.20 latest files: the newest file for each Minecraft version and loader. The answer above is about the one for a recent version. Recent versions: those released in the last 2 years, plus 1.20.1 and 1.21.1, among the most played in modpacks. See each file in Releases
- Their codeWe turn the code of the files back into readable code and follow what it does, without running it. This shows what it downloads, what it sends and where your login goes.Read without running it
- Author on ModrinthThe disclosure form on Modrinth, where the author declares that the project reads or edits things on your system outside the game. Since 13 Aug 2026, Modrinth's rules require it when this applies.Nothing declared about your system outside the game.
- Looked for, not foundWe looked for these in the file and did not find them.Folders outside the game, other programs, updating itself, the webcam or microphone, an AI service.
Privacy
We found nothing it sends
We read its code without running it: it contacts no web address while you play.
Why we show this: a mod can send things about you over the internet, like your player name or your login. Contacting an address to check for updates or download files sends nothing about you. Not in the grade: sending data can be normal for what a mod does.
How we checked
- Files readWe read the code without running it. We list each web address the code contacts while you play, and what it sends. Code that is never used is left out.The code of its one file, for recent Minecraft versions. See each file in Releases
- Author on ModrinthThe disclosure form on Modrinth, where the author declares crash reports, usage data and advertisements. Since 13 Aug 2026, Modrinth's rules require it when a project collects data on its users or shows advertisements.Nothing declared about crash reports, usage data or advertisements.
AI
No sign so far that AI was used to make it
We looked for AI tools in its texts, files and images and found none.
We have not read its code history yet.
No sign of AI in the game
We found no AI service, AI library or AI model file in its code.
Why we show this: some players and servers avoid projects made with AI, and AI in the game can send what you write to an online service. Not in the grade: using AI does not tell whether a project works well or is kept up to date.
How we checked
- Author on ModrinthThe disclosure form on Modrinth. Since 13 Aug 2026, Modrinth's rules require it when a substantial part of the code is AI output, when an asset is mainly AI output, or when the project or its page relies on generative AI.No AI content or AI features declared.
- Code historyThe public code on GitHub: who made each change, credit lines such as "Co-authored-by", and its files.Not read yet
- Description and changelogsThe description, project page and newest changelogs: sentences saying an AI tool was used, and text pasted from an AI chat.Nothing found2 of 40 changelogs read
- Its filesFiles that AI coding tools leave behind (like AGENTS.md), and the texts inside the files you download.Nothing found
- Images in its filesHidden data in the images of the files you download, where AI image tools write their name and settings.Nothing found6 images read
- Code of the modThe code and files of the mod, read without running it: addresses of AI services, AI libraries, AI model files and a place for your own AI key.No AI service, AI library or AI model file1,001 code files read
Compatibility
See all 140 filesPoint at or tap a version to see its loaders.
Known conflicts
These projects do not work together with Canvas Renderer: their authors or Canvas Renderer's author say so. If you install both, the game can crash or some features can stop working. Some of them do the same job as Canvas Renderer, so you only need one.
SodiumMod412.7M downloadsdeclared by Both
Iris ShadersMod337.4M downloadsdeclared by Both
CIT ResewnMod59M downloadsdeclared by CIT Resewn
Advancement Plaques [Fabric]Mod21.9M downloadsdeclared by Advancement Plaques [Fabric]
Immersive PortalsMod9.7M downloadsdeclared by Immersive Portals
Steve's Realistic SleepMod1.6M downloadsdeclared by Canvas RendererCITResewnBackwardsCompatMod1.2M downloadsdeclared by CITResewnBackwardsCompat
DreamshiftMod864K downloadsdeclared by Dreamshift
HalogenMod696K downloadsdeclared by Canvas Renderer
CIT Resewn ContinuationMod326K downloadsdeclared by CIT Resewn ContinuationRelated projects
Projects that need Canvas Renderer to work.
Modpacks using this project
Find modpacks with it38 modpacks include Canvas Renderer in at least one of their versions. Here are the 30 most downloaded.
Fabulously Optimized27.4M downloadslast version with it 8 Sep 2020
[FABRIC] Adventure Pack173K downloadslast version with it 20 Oct 2020
Euphoric Curiosity162K downloadslast version with it 28 Sep 2021
DayOfMind86K downloadslast version with it 17 Jun 2021
Essential - Fabric68K downloadslast version with it 21 Mar 2021
Performance+39K downloadslast version with it 27 Jun 2021
Overly Optimized20K downloadslast version with it 22 Mar 2022
Textile's Continuum [FABRIC-1.16x]15K downloadslast version with it 9 Jul 2020
Origin Adventures13K downloadslast version with it 15 Apr 2021
Ninety-Nice (99) Mods on the Wall - Fabric Edition6.3K downloadslast version with it 3 Dec 2021Often in the same modpacks
Mods that modpacks often add together with Canvas Renderer. Share: how many of the modpacks with Canvas Renderer also have that mod.
Mod MenuAModin 87% of the modpacks with Canvas Renderer
LithiumAModin 79% of the modpacks with Canvas Renderer
LambDynamicLights - Dynamic LightsAModin 55% of the modpacks with Canvas Renderer
AdornAModin 50% of the modpacks with Canvas Renderer
OriginsAModin 50% of the modpacks with Canvas Renderer
Jumploader-Modin 47% of the modpacks with Canvas Renderer
Phosphor-Modin 47% of the modpacks with Canvas Renderer
Repurposed Structures - FabricAModin 47% of the modpacks with Canvas Renderer
Dynamic FPSAModin 47% of the modpacks with Canvas Renderer
Controlling for Fabric-Modin 45% of the modpacks with Canvas RendererLatest files
The newest file for each Minecraft version and loader. The files for recent versions come first. Recent versions: those released in the last 2 years, plus 1.20.1 and 1.21.1, among the most played in modpacks.