SMAA Iris Shaders FAQ

10 questions players actually ask, answered.

How do I turn on SMAA after installing the mod?

Open your shader settings menu in-game (usually accessible through the Iris Shaders menu), locate the SMAA option, and enable it. The smoothing effect should apply immediately to block edges and distant objects.

What's the difference between SMAA 1x and other quality levels?

SMAA 1x is the standard setting that balances edge smoothing quality with performance. Higher quality modes process more pixels but demand more GPU power, while lower settings reduce smoothing intensity for faster framerates.

Why do my textures look blurry when I enable SMAA?

SMAA can over-smooth fine details if quality settings are too aggressive; try lowering the edge detection threshold or reducing the quality level to preserve texture sharpness while keeping jagged lines smooth.

Does SMAA work with other shader packs?

SMAA Iris Shaders is designed to work alongside Iris-compatible shader packs, but enabling multiple post-processing effects simultaneously may cause visual conflicts or performance drops—test your specific combination.

Will SMAA make my game run slower?

SMAA has minimal performance impact on modern systems since it only processes edges, but older computers may see a small framerate dip depending on render distance and other settings.

How do I know if SMAA is actually working?

Look at block edges and distant terrain—with SMAA enabled, jagged staircase patterns should appear smoother and cleaner compared to vanilla. Disable and re-enable it to see the difference side-by-side.

Can I adjust how much smoothing SMAA applies?

Yes, most SMAA implementations let you control edge detection sensitivity and smoothing strength through shader settings; experiment with these sliders to find the balance between smoothness and detail retention.

Does SMAA change lighting, shadows, or colors?

No, SMAA only smooths visual edges and does not alter the game's lighting system, shadow rendering, or color values—the vanilla appearance remains intact.

Why do some edges still look jagged even with SMAA on?

SMAA targets block borders and distant geometry; very thin lines or specific shader effects may not smooth as effectively, and adjusting edge detection settings can help catch more edges.

Is SMAA better than using higher render distance or better graphics settings?

SMAA serves a different purpose—it smooths existing edges without increasing draw distance or changing world detail, so it works best as a complement to your other graphics settings rather than a replacement.