Phoxel PT Shaders Wiki › FAQ
Phoxel PT Shaders FAQ
10 questions players actually ask, answered.
How do I enable path-traced lighting?
Path-traced lighting is enabled by default when you load Phoxel PT Shaders. If you don't see the effect, check that your shader pack is actually selected in Video Settings > Shaders and that your GPU supports the required rendering features.
Why are my shadows so colorful and weird looking?
Colored shadows are a core feature of this shader—they pick up colors from nearby light sources and surfaces, creating realistic indirect lighting. If they look too extreme, you can adjust shadow intensity in the shader settings to find a balance you prefer.
Can I use this shader with resource packs?
Yes, Phoxel PT Shaders works with most resource packs, but PBR-compatible packs will give you the best results since the shader is designed to use PBR texture data for realistic material properties.
My FPS is really low. How do I make it run faster?
Reduce path-tracing quality or sample count in the shader options, lower your render distance, disable reflections on water, or turn off PBR processing if your GPU is struggling. See the performance optimization guide for more detailed tweaks.
How do I get clear reflections on water?
Reflections are built into the shader and should appear on water and wet surfaces automatically. Make sure reflection quality is enabled in your shader settings, and note that reflections are more visible during daytime and in areas with bright light sources.
Does this shader work in the Nether and End?
Yes, the shader works in all dimensions, though the path-traced lighting and colored shadows will look different due to the unique light sources and environments in those areas.
What's the difference between this and other shaders?
Phoxel PT Shaders uses path-traced lighting instead of traditional screen-space techniques, which means light bounces more realistically off blocks. It also maintains Minecraft's vanilla blocky aesthetic rather than making everything look hyper-realistic.
Can I use this for multiplayer servers?
Yes, shaders are client-side only, so you can use Phoxel PT Shaders on any server without affecting other players or requiring server-side changes.
Why do some blocks look shiny and others don't?
This depends on the PBR texture data in your resource pack—blocks with metallic or wet properties will reflect light, while rough or matte blocks won't. Vanilla textures have limited PBR data, so switching to a PBR-compatible pack will show more variation.
Does this shader affect my world files or saves?
No, shaders are purely visual and don't modify your world data. You can enable or disable Phoxel PT Shaders anytime without affecting your save file.