SketchRender
by RogoShum
SketchRender is a Forge library for Minecraft 1.20.1 that culls invisible chunks and entities on the GPU before draw calls are submitted.
What it does
SketchRender works as a lightweight rendering utility library, and its visibility checks use the depth buffer to decide which entities are visually visible. Only entities that pass the test are drawn, which reduces the work the renderer does each frame.
The library integrates its chunk visibility checks with the Embeddium rendering pipeline, where GPU-driven culling skips invisible chunks before their draw calls are submitted. Requirements are OpenGL 4.6 and Embeddium installed, and the mod is aimed at players whose CPUs are relatively weak. It is also usable as a utility library in Minecraft mod development.
SketchRender is published for Forge only, for 1.20.1 only, with the alpha build released 2025-09-01 as the latest file. It is client-side only, so servers do not need it. The code is open source under the GNU General Public License v3.0 or later.
Key features
Depth buffer entity culling
Entities are tested against the depth buffer, so only those visually visible are rendered.
GPU-driven chunk culling
Invisible chunks are removed on the GPU before their draw calls are submitted to the renderer.
Embeddium integration
The chunk visibility checks plug into the Embeddium rendering pipeline instead of replacing it.
Library for mod development
The rendering utilities can be used by other developers building their own mods on Forge.
Compatibility
Latest build for each game version and loader.
Only full game releases are shown. This mod publishes no snapshot builds.
Use cases
Who it’s for: Players who run Embeddium on a Forge client for 1.20.1 and have a GPU that supports OpenGL 4.6, and developers who want a small rendering utility library for Forge mods.
How it compares
Colorful Lighting: Sodium/Embeddium Edition is open source under the MIT License, client-side only and built for 1.20.1 on Forge, so it covers the same version but adds lighting rather than culling. Entity Culling is client-side only for Forge, but its files cover 1.12.2 – 1.16.5 and it is released under All rights reserved, so it does not target 1.20.1. No Embeddium Menu runs on Forge and NeoForge across 1.20.1 – 1.21.1 under the MIT License, and it is a client-side menu rather than a culling library.
| Mod | Loaders | Game versions | Environment | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SketchRender | Forge | 1.20.1 | Client-side only | 2025-09-01 |
| Colorful Lighting: Sodium/Embeddium Edition | Forge | 1.20.1 | Client-side only | 2026-08-05 |
| Entity Culling | Forge | 1.12.2 – 1.16.5 | Client-side only | 2025-08-27 |
| No Embeddium Menu | Forge and NeoForge | 1.20.1 – 1.21.1 | Client-side only | 2025-12-31 |
Questions
Does SketchRender need Embeddium installed?
Does SketchRender have to be installed on the server?
Which OpenGL version is needed?
In the catalog
SketchRender is one of 3,545 Optimization mods on ModsFinder, and one of 1,441 Optimization mods for Forge. 34,764 mods support Minecraft 1.20.1.
More from RogoShum
Similar mods
What the author says
A lightweight rendering utility library for Minecraft mod development.
Official listing
- Modrinth page
- modrinth.com/mod/sketchrender
- Owner
- RogoShum
- Published
- 2025-09-01
- Updated on Modrinth
- 2025-09-01
- Facts verified
- 2026-10-15