Trial Shaders Wiki › FAQ
Trial Shaders FAQ
10 questions players actually ask, answered.
How do I turn on Trial Shaders?
Open Options, go to Video Settings, then Shader Packs. Select Trial Shaders from the list and click Apply or Done. The world will briefly reload with the new lighting.
How can I tell if Trial Shaders is actually working?
Stand outside in daylight and look for soft shading on block faces and clear shadows cast by the sun. Water should show gentle wave movement and reflections, and torches indoors should give off a warm glow. If everything looks like plain vanilla, the pack isn't active.
Trial Shaders doesn't show up in my shader list, what did I do wrong?
The most common mistake is putting the pack in the mods folder. Shader packs go in the shaderpacks folder, which you can open with the button on the Shader Packs screen. After you move it there, the pack should appear in the list.
Do I need OptiFine or Iris for Trial Shaders?
Yes. Trial Shaders is a shader pack, so it needs a shader loader such as Iris or OptiFine. Without a loader, there is no Shader Packs menu and the pack can't run.
Does Trial Shaders need to be installed on the server?
No. Shaders are purely visual and run only on your own game. You can use Trial Shaders on any server, and other players won't see your shaders unless they run them too.
Why does my water look flat or not reflect anything?
First check that the pack is actually enabled. Then look at open water from a low angle in daylight, because that's where the reflections and wave movement are easiest to see. Reflections can only show terrain that is loaded, so a very low render distance means less shows up on the surface.
Do shadows still work at night?
Yes. Trial Shaders casts shadows from the moon as well as the sun, so nighttime scenes keep some depth. Moonlight is dimmer, so expect softer, less dramatic shadows than at midday.
Why do my torches and lanterns look more orange than vanilla?
That's intended. Trial Shaders adjusts indoor light levels so torches and lanterns cast a warm, natural light. Spacing light sources around a room spreads that glow more evenly.
Will Trial Shaders lag my computer?
It's built to keep frame rates stable on many standard computer setups during regular gameplay. If you do see stutters, lower your render distance first and close heavy background programs.
Does Trial Shaders change the sky and clouds too?
Yes. It refreshes sky colors and cloud layers through the whole day and night cycle. Sunrises, sunsets and night skies look different from vanilla.