Stratum
512xUltra-high resolution pack designed for use with Continuum shaders. Delivers cinema-quality visuals with extreme texture detail on every surface.

Details
- Creator
- ContinuumGraphics
- Resolution
- 512x
- Category
- Realistic
- Compatibility
- Java Edition
- Performance Impact
- High
- File Size
- 450 MB
- Last Updated
- 2024-11-10
Features
- 512x resolution
- Full PBR pipeline
- Parallax occlusion
- Lab-PBR format
- Metallic workflow
Supported Versions
Tags
About Stratum
ContinuumGraphics released Stratum as 512x realistic artwork for Minecraft. Stratum replaces the game's default art with photo-referenced surfaces with believable grain, depth, and material wear, giving worlds a grounded, true-to-life atmosphere. Stratum's pixel budget is enormous, which is exactly why shaders and a dedicated graphics card are part of the recommendation.
The details that mark it out: it pushes ultra-HD detail far beyond the vanilla grid, is built with cinematic screenshots and recordings in mind, ships PBR material maps for use with compatible shaders, and supports parallax occlusion for genuinely recessed stone and brick. Across terrain and buildings alike, Stratum stone, ores, planks, foliage, and metal each get hand-detailed grime, scratches, and surface variation, which is why Stratum reads as a whole rather than a patch.
Stratum needs Java Edition. ContinuumGraphics's Stratum covers Minecraft releases between 1.18 and 1.20. Stratum weighs 450 MB with high impact, so it lands best with screenshot-takers and builders with capable hardware.
That resolution puts 262144 pixels on a single block face, about 1024 times what vanilla gives an artist. We have 3 versions of Stratum on file, last refreshed 2024-11-10.
What Stratum changes
With Stratum active the game draws from a very large 512x sheet. In detail:
- Textures arrive at 512x rather than 16x, so close-up surfaces hold detail the default art cannot.
- Full PBR pipeline: adds material maps that only render with a compatible shader pack, driving realistic reflections and depth.
- Parallax occlusion: fakes real surface relief so stone and brick look recessed and three-dimensional under shaders.
- Lab-PBR format: adds material maps that only render with a compatible shader pack, driving realistic reflections and depth.
- Metallic workflow: adds material maps that only render with a compatible shader pack, driving realistic reflections and depth.
- Overall direction: stone, ores, planks, foliage, and metal each get hand-detailed grime, scratches, and surface variation.
How to install Stratum (Java Edition)
- 1Drop the Stratum .zip (450 MB) from above into your resource packs folder (Options, Resource Packs, Open Pack Folder) and move it into the selected column.
- 2Its reflections and depth only show up with shaders on; add Iris or OptiFine for the look Stratum at 512x was built around.
Want every step spelled out in full for Stratum? See our complete install guide.
Performance & requirements
Stratum is a high-resolution pack, so it leans on your GPU and video memory. It shines on dedicated graphics cards with several gigabytes of VRAM, and it is best enjoyed alongside shaders rather than on entry-level hardware.
Officially it supports Minecraft 1.18 through 1.20; on Java the newest listed version is the safest bet, and older saves usually load it without issue.
Stratum is built to be seen through shaders, and running both together roughly doubles the GPU load, so plan on 4 GB of VRAM or more.
Stratum FAQ
Is Stratum free to download?
Yes, Stratum is free, plus ContinuumGraphics charges nothing for it. 450 MB is the whole Stratum download. 512x textures are what Stratum delivers, and November 2024 is the Stratum revision behind that button.
Which Minecraft versions does Stratum support?
ContinuumGraphics names 3 for Stratum: 1.18, 1.19, 1.20. 1.20 is where Stratum stops. 1.18 is the oldest Stratum names. November 2024 is when ContinuumGraphics last stamped the Stratum list.
How much detail does Stratum add?
262144 pixels fill one Stratum face, against 256 in vanilla. 512x is ContinuumGraphics's shorthand for 262144 exactly, plus 450 MB is what Stratum weighs on disk.
What hardware does Stratum want?
Stratum wants a discrete card, 4 GB of video memory before Stratum is comfortable. ContinuumGraphics puts Stratum at high impact. 450 MB lands on disk before Stratum loads, plus a shader pack over Stratum raises that again.
What does Stratum actually include?
ContinuumGraphics lists 5 things for Stratum: 512x resolution, full PBR pipeline, parallax occlusion, lab-PBR format and metallic workflow. ContinuumGraphics calls Stratum realistic, tagged ultra-hd, cinema, pbr.
Does Stratum need shaders?
Stratum runs without them, plus ContinuumGraphics ships maps that only a shader reads. Iris or OptiFine lights Stratum properly. Unshaded, Stratum stays flat but complete.
How do I install Stratum?
Drop the Stratum zip into resourcepacks, unchanged, plus 512x art from Stratum wins the moment Stratum sits above Default. 450 MB loads exactly as ContinuumGraphics packed it. 1.20 is the newest Stratum build ContinuumGraphics names.
How big is the Stratum download?
450 MB, the way ContinuumGraphics packages Stratum, plus 512x artwork fills the Stratum archive. 262144 pixels per Stratum face explain the rest: November 2024 is when Stratum last grew larger.
Who makes Stratum?
ContinuumGraphics does: every 512x texture in Stratum is theirs alone, and November 2024 is ContinuumGraphics's latest pass over Stratum, plus 1.18 through 1.20, 3 Stratum versions in all.
What is Stratum best at?
Stratum is realistic, tagged ultra-hd, cinema, pbr by ContinuumGraphics. 5 Stratum features are named, 512x resolution first, plus ContinuumGraphics holds Stratum from 1.18 to 1.20. 262144 pixels keep Stratum sharp up close.
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