ModsFinder

Glowtone: Shaderless Shaders

by Lunade

With Glowtone: Shaderless Shaders installed, resource packs can drive coloured lighting, emissives, ambient occlusion and edge highlights on blocks without a full shader pack.

FabricNeoForgeQuiltClient required, server optionalCustom license1.21 – 26.2

What it does

Glowtone runs lighting and block effects through resource packs rather than replacing the renderer. Its example assets show how a pack can define coloured light sources, emissive textures, ambient occlusion and edge highlighting, so resource-pack makers can set up the same features for their own mods. Default lighting visuals ship with the mod, and the documentation covers how to build packs that use them.

The author points out that full shaderpacks can strain low-end hardware and work quite differently from this approach. Older builds exist for players who prefer an earlier, more stable feature set with emissives. Snapshot builds are published, and the author notes that new features are still planned. Glowtone needs Fabric API and is published for Fabric, NeoForge and Quilt, with releases covering 1.21 – 26.2 under a custom license. Only the client needs it, so servers can run without it.

Key features

  1. Coloured resource-pack lighting

    Resource packs define coloured light sources that the game draws on blocks, with the mod supplying the rendering.

  2. Emissive textures

    Textures can be marked as emissive so parts of a block glow without affecting nearby surfaces.

  3. Ambient occlusion and edge highlights

    Block shading adds soft occlusion in corners and highlighted edges, all controlled from the resource pack.

  4. Example assets

    Sample lighting assets show the setup used by the default visuals, for creators who want to reuse them.

Compatibility

Latest build for each game version and loader.

26.x4 of 4 versions with builds
26.22.0.0-alpha2-mc26.2-FabricNot availableNot available
26.1.21.0.2-mc26.1Not available1.0.2-mc26.1
26.1.11.0.2-mc26.1Not available1.0.2-mc26.1
26.11.0.2-mc26.1Not available1.0.2-mc26.1
1.21.x9 of 9 versions with builds
1.21.111.0.2-mc1.21.11Not available1.0.2-mc1.21.11
1.21.101.0.2-mc1.21.9Not available1.0.2-mc1.21.9
1.21.91.0.2-mc1.21.9Not available1.0.2-mc1.21.9
1.21.81.0.2-mc1.21.8Not available1.0.2-mc1.21.8
1.21.71.0.2-mc1.21.8Not available1.0.2-mc1.21.8
1.21.61.0.2-mc1.21.8Not available1.0.2-mc1.21.8
1.21.51.0.2-mc1.21.5Not available1.0.2-mc1.21.5
1.21.11.0.3-beta1-mc1.21.1-Fabric1.0.3-beta1-mc1.21.1-NeoForgeNot available
1.211.0.3-beta1-mc1.21.1-Fabric1.0.3-beta1-mc1.21.1-NeoForgeNot available
ReleaseBetaAlphaNot available

This mod also publishes snapshot builds. Snapshots are not shown in the matrix.

Requirements

Dependencies declared by the latest file for each loader.

Required 1

Fabric APILightweight and modular API providing common hooks and intercompatibility measures utilized by mods using the Fabric toolchain.
Required

How it compares

Full comparison

MaterialMaps is a Fabric-only client mod for 26.2, released under the MIT License, so it covers a single loader and a single version. lumaLight is released under the MIT License as well, with Fabric and Forge files for 1.20.1 – 26.3, while Glowtone is licensed under a custom license and targets Fabric, NeoForge and Quilt. Glowtone's lighting is driven by resource packs, which is a different route from these mods.

ModLoadersGame versionsEnvironmentUpdated
Glowtone: Shaderless ShadersFabric, NeoForge and Quilt1.21 – 26.2Client required, server optional2026-09-11
MaterialMapsFabric26.2Client-side only2026-09-19
lumaLightFabric and Forge1.20.1 – 26.3Client-side only2026-10-05

Questions

Does Glowtone need Fabric API?

Yes. Fabric API is a required dependency, so it must be installed alongside Glowtone on Fabric.

Does a server need Glowtone installed?

No. Players need the mod for the lighting effects, while the server can run without it and may add it optionally.

Which loader should be chosen for Glowtone?

Files exist for Fabric, NeoForge and Quilt. The newest Fabric file targets 26.2, the NeoForge file targets 1.21.1, and the Quilt file targets 26.1.2.

Does Glowtone work with Sodium?

The author notes a Sodium 0.9.X compatibility line, so the Sodium version used should be checked against the release notes before installing.

In the catalog

Glowtone: Shaderless Shaders is one of 12,078 Decoration mods on ModsFinder, and one of 6,982 Decoration mods for Fabric. 13,894 mods support Minecraft 26.2.

Decoration mods12,078Fabric modsMods for 26.213,894

More from Lunade

All projects
FastAnim1.19 – 1.20.1Simple Copper Pipes1.18.1 – 26.3Particle Tweaks1.19.4 – 26.3Luna Slimes1.19.1 – 26.3Trim Patcher1.21.9 – 26.3The Copperier Age: Copperier Copper1.21.9 – 26.3

Similar mods

Not Enough Animations1.16.5 – 26.3Continuity1.17.1 – 26.3LambDynamicLights - Dynamic Lights1.16.2 – 26.3Presence Footsteps1.7.10 – 26.3AmbientSounds1.12.2 – 26.3BetterF31.16 – 26.3

What the author says

Use the default provided lights, or our resource-pack for extra fancy shader driven visuals, or bring your own! Take a look at our assets for example useage if you want to set up compatability for your own mods or want to make resource-packs. Docs on new features coming soon. ... yeah, technically this has shaders…
Lunade, on the Modrinth page

Official listing

Owner
Lunade
Published
2025-08-31
Updated on Modrinth
2026-09-11
Facts verified
2026-10-15

Tags

DecorationUtility
Open on ModrinthCompare