Map-Improvements
by imcasper
Map-Improvements replaces vanilla's pixel-art maps with true-color cartography, rendering terrain at 512×512 cells per map where vanilla stops at 128×128.
What it does
Vanilla maps draw one flat pixel per block, which blurs edges and hides lakes and contours. Map-Improvements redraws the terrain with smooth biome tints, sun-aware slope shading and a finer texture for each block's shape and material, so a lake shows its bottom and trees and contours stay readable. The render radius is adjustable and per-block rules come with sensible defaults.
Cave layers are a separate view. Players can switch layers to see the surface and the cave system beneath it, with walls and cliffs drawn from true line-of-sight as a player would see them at that spot. Servers need the mod installed, since the environment is client and server, and players need it on their side as well. The mod requires Fabric Language Kotlin and runs on Fabric only, with files for 1.19.4, 1.20.1 – 1.20.6, 1.21.1 and 1.21.11. The source code is under the GNU General Public License v3.0 only and is open source.
Key features
True-color map rendering
Terrain is drawn in 32-bit color with smooth biome tints, replacing the pixel-art style of vanilla maps.
Larger map area
Each map covers 512×512 cells, four times the 128×128 that vanilla maps allow.
Slope and sun shading
Hills and valleys are shaded according to the position of the sun, so terrain relief reads at a glance.
Layered cave view
Players can switch to a layer that shows the cave system beneath the surface, drawn from true line-of-sight.
Gallery
Compatibility
Latest build for each game version and loader.
1.21.x2 of 2 versions with builds
1.20.x6 of 6 versions with builds
1.19.x1 of 1 version with builds
Only full game releases are shown. This mod publishes no snapshot builds.
Requirements
Dependencies declared by the latest file for each loader.
Required 1
Use cases
Terrain planning
Builders can read the shape of the land from a map and plan roads, bases or farms around lakes and slopes.
Exploration records
Explorers get a permanent, detailed record of the areas they have travelled through.
Who it’s for: Players who use maps for navigation or planning, builders who need an overview of the terrain, and server owners who want maps that are clearer for everyone on the server.
How it compares
Slime Map is open source under the MIT License, client and server, and covers 1.20.1 – 1.20.4. Map.png is client-side only, open source under the MIT License, and covers 1.20.1 – 26.3. Map-Improvements instead needs both sides and offers true-color rendering with cave layers, and is open source under the GNU General Public License v3.0 only.
| Mod | Loaders | Game versions | Environment | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Map-Improvements | Fabric | 1.19.4 – 1.21.11 | Client and server | 2026-10-03 |
| Slime Map | Fabric | 1.20.1 – 1.20.4 | Client and server | 2025-03-06 |
| Map.png | Fabric | 1.20.1 – 26.3 | Client-side only | 2026-09-15 |
Questions
Does Map-Improvements need Fabric Language Kotlin?
Does the server need Map-Improvements installed?
Which game versions have files for Map-Improvements?
In the catalog
Map-Improvements is one of 8,499 Technology mods on ModsFinder, and one of 4,201 Technology mods for Fabric. 19,862 mods support Minecraft 1.21.11.
More from imcasper
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What the author says
Vanilla maps flatten your world into a mosaic of mismatched pixels. Minimap mods trade that mosaic for a widget in the corner — fast, functional, and utterly forgettable. Map Improvements takes a different path. It rebuilds the map from the ground up as a high-resolution painting of your world, one you can hold in…
Official listing
- Modrinth page
- modrinth.com/mod/map-improvements
- Owner
- imcasper
- Published
- 2025-11-30
- Updated on Modrinth
- 2026-10-03
- Facts verified
- 2026-10-15