Last updated on: 10 May 2025

COMMON QUESTIONS

What are the recommended video settings?

• Graphics : Fancy
• Render Distance : 8 or above
• Smooth Lighting : Maximum
• Smooth Lighting Level : 100%
• Dynamic Lights : Fast / Fancy
• Sky : On

I got a config (shader options file). How do I install it?

• Put the config inside .minecraft\shaderpacks
• Rename the config to the shaderpack's name (extension included, ended with .txt)
  Example:
  BSL vX.Y.zip uses a config named BSL vX.Y.zip.txt.
  BSL vX.Y uses a config named BSL vX.Y.txt.
• Choose BSL Shaders

Can I run this in Minecraft 1.x.x?

Latest version of BSL Shaders can run on from 1.8.9 to the latest version of Minecraft which is supported by Optifine/Iris. Keep in mind that some features are not availale and there may be unfixable issue on older versions.

• 1.16.4 and below:
- Multi-colored blocklight is unavailable.
- Entity/block entity shadows toggle are unavailable.
- Skybox opacity, sun intensity, and moon intensity sliders are unavailable.
- Round sun & moon doesn't automatically disable vanilla sun & moon.

• 1.15 to 1.16.4 :
- Normal mapping and POM (Advanced Materials) might be broken on certain objects.
• 1.14
- Campfire smoke may render behind clouds.
• 1.12.2 and below :
- Beacon beam casts shadows.
• 1.7.10 :
- Requires Angelica since v8.4.

There is only one zip (per version). Where can I get lower / higher quality of it?

You can change it through Shader Options. It allowed me to set up multiple quality "Profiles" in one zip, which allows easier distribution.

When I download the shaderpack, I got "shaders" folder and putting it inside the shaderpacks folder doesn't work

Disable auto unzipping from your browser to get the pack in its proper format, or zip the extracted shaders folder yourself.

Should I change render quality and shadow quality in Shaders menu?

• Render quality, you can lower it for sure. However, I'd recommend using the built in anti-aliasing (FXAA or TAA) instead of higher render quality since it's cheaper.
• Shadow quality, don't. You can change it through shader options.
  Shadows > change Shadowmap Resolution and/or Shadow Distance.

I already put the shaderpack to the shaderpacks folder but it doesn't appear.

Make sure to put the shaderpack in its zip form as is, extracting it is not required.
If your browser automatically extracted the shaderpack, put the files under this structure .minecraft/shaderpacks/BSL [version number]/shaders/[multiple folders and .properties file here]

Can you make a version of BSL with path traced global illumination, reflection, etc.?

Nope, it's very complicated to make for me and it's hard to run on lower end GPUs.

Will you make BSL for Bedrock Edition?

Nope, Bedrock's shader capability is far lower compared to Optifine's and a large portion of Bedrock's shader community is infamously known for their poor practices.

Hi, I make BSL for Bedrock Edition, cool huh?

Please use an original name instead, it's not that hard to get one.

EXCLUSIVE VERSIONS

What is BSL Shaders Gold Edition?

BSL Shaders Gold Edition is BSL Shaders with premium label for supporters on Patreon.
Gold Edition also serves as an early access for supporters (1 week) and dedicated supporters (2 weeks).

What is BSL Shaders Legacy Edition?

BSL Shaders Legacy Collection is a shaderpack collection from BSL v1.0 to BSL v7.2 for supporters on Patreon.
This collection is available to use for historical purposes and filling in your curiosity with the older versions.
I highly recommend using the latest version for general or frequent use.
I have no plan on improving or fixing these older versions so far, so any suggestions or bug reports won't be accepted. Non patrons may download the older versions individually via CurseForge.

VIDEO SETTINGS

My top half of the sky is solid white.

Video Settings > Details > enable Sky.
This is one of the more common issue ignored by some people. If you see someone else having this issue, please tell this part to them.

I turned on Round Sun & Moon and I still see vanilla sun & moon.

Optifine doesn't support vanilla sun & moon toggle based on shader options, you need to disable it manually.
Video Settings > Details > Disable Sun & Moon.

Why my fast leaves aren't solid?

The shader doesn't do lighting on transparent surfaces to improve performance. However the transparent part of fast leaves still counts as transparent, leaving those parts unshaded. This is why I decided to force disable fast leaves.
Video Settings > set Graphics to Fancy,
Video Settings > Details > set Trees to Default / Fancy.

SHADER OPTIONS

What does an option do?

You can hover your mouse to show the option's description.

The shader is blurry. I don't like it.

BSL is intended to have strong bloom for a soft dreamy feel.
Now that i said it, you can reduce it through shader options.
Shader Options > Post Effects > reduce Bloom Strength/Radius, or increase Bloom Contrast.
Alternatively you can turn it off by doing any of the following:
- Open your shader config file (shaderpack name.zip), then add BLOOM_STRENGTH=0.00 (Iris only).
- Edit shaders/lib/settings.glsl, adding 0.00 after #define BLOOM_STRENGTH 1.00 //[, then change Bloom Strength in shader options to 0.00
- Edit shaders/lib/settings.glsl, removing double slash (//) in //#define DISABLE_BLOOM.

The shader is too blue / bright / anything else related to color and brightness.

Shader Options > Color > change the settings as you see fit.
You can also try Shader Options > Color Grading & Tonemap.

Why everything looks dull at night/when raining?

I tinted everything to give a more atmospheric feel. Again, you can disable it through shader options.
Shader Options > Lighting > disable Desaturation.

I use a resource pack with specular and normal map, but nothing happened.

Due to performance cost, extra effects which can be achieved with specular and normal map are disabled by default, you can enable it through shader options.
Shader Options > Material > enable Advanced Materials.

I enabled rain reflection, but nothing happened.

Rain reflection is implemented as an extension to specular reflection, so Advanced Materials need to be enabled first.

I enabled Black Outline and I see patterned outlines on water and lava. It's disturbing.

Shader Options > Animations > disable Water and Lava.

My screenshot is bright for no reason. It's fine ingame though.

You have both Screenshot Size and Auto Exposure enabled. Disable Auto Exposure, you can change the expsure manually.
Shader Options > Color Grading & Tonemap > change Exposure

The shaderpack is supposed to run smooth, but some stuffs are choppy

You might have World Time Animation enabled, disable it. Due to Minecraft's tick system, animating things using world time is fixed at 20 frames per second.

I enabled Aurora and nothing happened.

Auroras are only visible in cold biomes with Per Biome Weather enabled.
If it's still not showing, update your Optifine.
As the last resort, Shader Options > Atmospherics > Disable Per Biome Weather

I don't like the visible chunk edges.

Shader Options > Atmospherics > Fog > set Far Vanilla Fog to Full

I'm in a large cave with a low render distance and I can see a very bright sky.

Shader Options > Atmospherics > Sky > Underground Sky Fix

MODS

Common issue caused by mods with its solution are listed here.