Block Components Documentation - minecraft:material_instances

The material instances for a block. Maps face or material_instance names in a geometry file to an actual material instance. You can assign a material instance object to any of these faces: "up", "down", "north", "south", "east", "west", or "*". You can also give an instance the name of your choosing such as "my_instance", and then assign it to a face by doing "north":"my_instance".

Note

From 1.21.80 onward, when using a minecraft:geometry component or minecraft:material_instances component, you must include both.

Material Instances Properties

Name	Default Value	Type	Description
* (Material Instance Face)	not set	* item
* (as String)	not set	String
down (Material Instance Face)	not set	Down item
down (as String)	not set	String
east (Material Instance Face)	not set	East item
east (as String)	not set	String
north (Material Instance Face)	not set	North item
north (as String)	not set	String
south (Material Instance Face)	not set	South item
south (as String)	not set	String
up (Material Instance Face)	not set	Up item
up (as String)	not set	String
west (Material Instance Face)	not set	West item
west (as String)	not set	String

Material Instance Face

Configures how a block face renders its texture, including transparency, culling, and lighting. Set the texture reference, choose render method (opaque, alpha_test, blend, or double_sided), control face culling, and configure ambient occlusion. Enables glass-like transparency, leaf rendering, and custom visual effects.

Material Instance Face Properties

JSON path: *

Name	Default Value	Type	Description	Example Values
ambient_occlusion	not set	Decimal number	If this material has ambient occlusion applied when lighting, shadows will be created around and underneath the block. Decimal value controls exponent applied to a value after lighting.
face_dimming	not set	String	This material should be dimmed by the direction its facing.	Blue Bubble Fish: true
isotropic	false	Boolean true/false	Should the faces that this material is applied to randomize their UVs? This item requires a format version of at least 1.21.80.
render_method	not set	Render Method choices	The render method to use.	Blue Bubble Fish: "blend", Block Orange Ore: "opaque", Block Frond Top: "alpha_test"
texture	not set	String	Texture name for the material.	Blue Bubble Fish: "bubble_fish_blue", California Roll: "sushi_wrap", Green Bubble Fish: "bubble_fish_green"
tint_method	false	Boolean true/false	Tint multiplied to the color.

tint_method

Tint multiplied to the color. Tint method logic varies, but often refers to the "rain" and "temperature" of the biome the block is placed in to compute the tint. Supported tint methods are "none", "default_foliage", "birch_foliage", "evergreen_foliage", "dry_foliage", "grass" and "water" This item requires a format version of at least 1.21.80.

Render Method choices

Value	Title	Description
opaque	Opaque	Used for a regular block texture without an alpha layer. Does not allow for transparency or translucency
double_sided	Double Sided	Used for completely disabling backface culling.
blend	Blend	Used for a block like stained glass. Allows for transparency and translucency (slightly transparent textures).
alpha_test	Alpha Test	Used for a block like the monster spawner. Does not allow for translucency, only fully opaque or fully transparent textures. Also disabled backface culling.
alpha_test_single_sided	Alpha Test (Single Sided)	Used for a block like the (unstained) glass. Does not allow for translucency, only fully opaque or fully transparent textures. Also enables backface culling.
blend_to_opaque	Blend to Opaque	Will blend like stained glass in the near render and turn opaque on the far render.
alpha_test_to_opaque	Alpha Test to Opaque	Used for a block like the leaves. Does not allow for translucency, only fully opaque or fully transparent textures in the near render and turn only opaque on the far render. Also disabled backface culling.
alpha_test_single_sided_to_opaque	Alpha Test (Single Sided) to Opaque	Used for a block like the sugar cane. Does not allow for translucency, only fully opaque or fully transparent textures in the near render and turn only opaque on the far render. Also enables backface culling.

Samples

Block Fabricator

"minecraft:material_instances": {
  "*": {
    "texture": "mikeamm_gwve_fabricator",
    "render_method": "alpha_test",
    "ambient_occlusion": 1
  }
}

Block Gray Ore

"minecraft:material_instances": {
  "*": {
    "texture": "mikeamm_gwve_gray_ore",
    "render_method": "alpha_test",
    "face_dimming": false
  }
}

Block Frond Top

"minecraft:material_instances": {
  "*": {
    "texture": "frond_top",
    "render_method": "alpha_test"
  }
}

Block Palm Leave

"minecraft:material_instances": {
  "*": {
    "texture": "palm_leave",
    "render_method": "alpha_test"
  }
}

Block White Sand

"minecraft:material_instances": {
  "*": {
    "texture": "white_sand",
    "render_method": "alpha_test"
  }
}

Block Leaf Pile

"minecraft:material_instances": {
  "*": {
    "texture": "leaf_pile",
    "render_method": "alpha_test",
    "tint_method": "default_foliage"
  }
}

Tuna Roll

"minecraft:material_instances": {
  "north": "sushi_side",
  "south": "sushi_side",
  "*": {
    "texture": "sushi_wrap"
  },
  "sushi_side": {
    "texture": "tuna_roll"
  }
}

Blue Bubble Fish

"minecraft:material_instances": {
  "*": {
    "texture": "bubble_fish_blue",
    "render_method": "blend",
    "face_dimming": true,
    "ambient_occlusion": 1
  }
}