How do I actually turn Aerie on?
Aerie is a pipeline for the Canvas renderer, so Canvas must be installed and running first. Enable Aerie the same way you would any other pipeline pack, then open Canvas's settings and choose Aerie as the active pipeline.
Does Aerie work with OptiFine or Iris?
No. Aerie is built as a custom pipeline for Canvas, so it does not load as an OptiFine or Iris shader pack. You need Canvas as your renderer for it to do anything.
I installed Aerie but my world looks exactly the same, what's wrong?
Usually Canvas isn't installed, or Aerie isn't selected as the active pipeline in Canvas's settings, so Canvas is still using its default look. Check that Canvas loads, make sure the Aerie pack is enabled, then switch the pipeline to Aerie. Aerie's changes are also deliberately subtle, so look at light sources in the dark, where the bloom is easiest to see.
Will Aerie make my game look like a realistic shader pack?
No. Aerie keeps the classic vanilla style and the blocky look intact. It adds small upgrades instead, mainly soft bloom lighting and more unified lighting between blocks and items.
Is Aerie good for a low-end or older PC?
Yes, that is one of its main goals. It is designed to run well on older or weaker computers, so you get nicer lighting while keeping frame rates playable.
What does the bloom in Aerie actually do?
It makes bright objects give off a soft glow, which shows up most clearly in dark areas and at night. Light sources in your builds will look like they are naturally glowing instead of being flat bright pixels.
How can I show off the bloom effect in my builds?
Place bright light sources against dark surroundings, like lit interiors seen from outside at night, lanterns along dark paths, or glowing blocks in caves. The contrast makes Aerie's soft glow stand out the most.
Why do blocks and items look more consistent with Aerie on?
Aerie unifies the base game's lighting, so blocks and held or dropped items are lit in a more matching way. This removes some of the mismatched shading you sometimes see in vanilla.
Do I need to put Aerie on the server too?
No. Aerie is a visual pipeline that runs inside the Canvas renderer on your own client. Other players and the server don't need it, and anyone who wants the look has to install it on their own client.
My frame rate is still low with Aerie, what can I do?
Aerie is already lightweight, so most of the cost usually comes from your other video settings. Try lowering render distance and other heavy options first. You can also briefly switch Canvas back to its default pipeline to see whether Aerie is really the cause.