SmoothMaps
ModProvides smooth lighting for framed maps, paintings and rails.
Why gradeA
How grades workStrengths
Points lost
- Some modpacks removed it−3 points
- Under 5 million downloads−1 point
All 11 criteria
Maintenance
Full points27 / 27Last releaseHow long ago the newest file came out, or an existing file was marked as working on a new Minecraft version.3 months ago (26 Jul 2026) 12 / 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.26.2 on NeoForge and Fabric, 26.1.2 on Quilt. 15% or more of the popular mods updated in the last 6 months also have files for 26.2. Latest Minecraft: 26.3. 9 / 9Regular releasesIn how many of the last 24 months a new file came out. Full points at 8 months.Releases in 9 of the last 24 months 6 / 6Stability
3 points lost19 / 22Removed 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.3 of the 16 modpacks with two or more versions removed it in a later one (19%) See the 3 modpacks7 / 10Quick fixesHow often a release needed a quick fix: a new release within 3 days to fix a problem in it.No quick fix in 2 years 7 / 7Known 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.None of the 2 known conflicts count in the grade See the 2 known conflicts5 / 5Transparency
Full points10 / 10Source codeWhether the project page links to its source code, so anyone can read what it does.GitHub · barnabwhy/SmoothMaps 7 / 7Place to report problemsWhether the project page links to a place where players can report problems: an issue tracker.GitHub issues · barnabwhy/SmoothMaps 3 / 3Popularity
1 point lost3 / 4DownloadsDownloads on Modrinth and CurseForge. Full points from 5 million.19,316 3 / 4Track record
Full points8 / 8AgeHow long the project has existed. It counts less when no new file came out recently.18 months, 26 releases 8 / 8Security
PassedFile checksThis check adds no points. It can only take points away.Our checks found nothing harmful in all 9 latest files for recent Minecraft versions. See Security
66.7 of the 71 points that apply = 94 out of 100. The points above are rounded to whole numbers.
Images
About
SmoothMaps adds fast smooth lighting to framed maps and paintings, enables smooth block lighting for rails, and respects Minecraft’s smooth-lighting setting. It also improves painting performance by removing interior faces, speeds up server-side map rendering by up to 60%, and reduces GPU bandwidth overhead through partial texture updates.
Written from Modrinth . How we write it
In-game changes
Changes the game's code in 8 areas: Rendering and graphicsChanges 7 game code files in this area: drawing mobs, items, particles and textures on screen., Networking and multiplayerChanges 2 game code files in this area: connections, the server list and what is sent between your game and a server., Mobs and their behaviorChanges 2 game code files in this area: mobs, animals, villagers, projectiles and how they move and act., User interfaceChanges 1 game code file in this area: menus, screens, tooltips, the chat window and the in-game overlay., Inventory and itemsChanges 1 game code file in this area: items, chests and other containers, crafting and enchanting., Game data and resourcesChanges 1 game code file in this area: recipes, tags, advancements, language files and other game data., Game coreChanges 1 game code file in this area: the main loop, lighting and other code the whole game uses. and World renderingChanges 1 game code file in this area: drawing the terrain, sky, clouds and weather..
Adds no new blocks, items or other content.
Replaces 4 of vanilla Minecraft's models.
Details
- Creator
- Barnaby
- License
- MIT License
- Downloads
- 19K
- Created
- 2 May 2025
- Official page
- Modrinth
- Links
- Source code , Issues
Security
No harmful code found
We checked its files and read their code, without running it.
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.9 latest files: the newest file for each Minecraft version and loader. All 9 are for recent versions. 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.The internet, 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 all 9 files, 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 found20 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 found1 image 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 file31 code files read
Compatibility
See all 26 filesPoint at or tap a version to see its loaders.
Known conflicts
These projects do not work together with SmoothMaps: their authors or SmoothMaps' 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 SmoothMaps, so you only need one.
Modpacks using this project
Find modpacks with itModpacks that include SmoothMaps in at least one of their versions, most downloaded first.
Legacies52K downloadslast version with it 13 Apr 2026
Ultimately Optimized - Vanilla but Better28K downloadslast version with it 4 Dec 2025
OptiPrime9.4K downloadslast version with it 28 Sep 2026
Lumen Pack8.6K downloadslast version with it 15 Mar 2026
Matcha & Honey7.2K downloadslast version with it 24 Mar 2026
Starlev's Optimized | Hypixel Skyblock4.3K downloadslast version with it 24 Jun 2025
PepeBright3.3K downloadslast version with it 3 Sep 2026
Minecraft: Sticks n' Stones3.1K downloadslast version with it 29 Oct 2025
Simple Vanilla Overhaul2.4K downloadslast version with it 11 Jun 2026
Strixun: Trials of the Wild1.9K downloadslast version with it 18 Dec 2025Latest 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.