Custom Item Textures (Minecraft 1.13 - 1.21.3)

This comprehensive guide will teach you how to create custom textures for items in Minecraft versions 1.13 through 1.21.3 using Custom Model Data and resource packs.

Armor Textures

This tutorial does not cover armor retexturing. For armor, you'll need to use OptiFine CIT (Custom Item Textures). Search for "OptiFine armor retexturing" for tutorials on that method.

Important Naming Rules

ALL file and folder names MUST be lowercase only.

Using uppercase characters will cause textures to fail loading. Always use custom_sword instead of CustomSword.

Video Tutorial

If you prefer video format, this tutorial is based on the following video:

Prerequisites

• Text Editor: Use Notepad++, VS Code, or similar (NOT regular Notepad)
• Image Editor: Photoshop, Paint.NET, GIMP, or Paint 3D
• Compression Tool: WinRAR, 7-Zip, or built-in OS compression
• Basic JSON knowledge (helpful but not required)

File Extensions

None of the files you create are .txt files. Make sure your editor can save specific file types like .json, .mcmeta, and .png.

Part 1: Setting Up Your ExecutableItem

Step 1: Create Your Item

First, create the ExecutableItem that will use the custom texture:

/ei create my_custom_pickaxe

Step 2: Configure Basic Properties

Set up the item's display name, lore, and any other features you want:

/ei edit my_custom_pickaxe

Example configuration:

• Name: &b&lCustom Pickaxe
• Material: DIAMOND_PICKAXE
• Lore: Add any descriptive text

Part 2: Creating Your Texture

Step 3: Design Your Texture Image

Create your custom texture using an image editor:

Requirements:

• Format: PNG with transparency support
• Resolution: 16x16 pixels (or power of 2: 32x32, 64x64, 128x128, etc.)
• File name: Use lowercase with underscores (e.g., custom_pickaxe.png)

Image Resolution

While 16x16 is standard, you can use higher resolutions like 32x32 or 64x64 for more detailed textures. Just keep it as a power of 2.

Save your texture file - you'll need it in the next section.

Part 3: Building the Resource Pack

Step 4: Create Folder Structure

Create the following folder structure:

ExecutableItemsTexturePack/
├── pack.mcmeta
├── pack.png (optional)
└── assets/
    └── minecraft/
        ├── textures/
        │   └── item/
        │       └── custom_textures/
        │           └── custom_pickaxe.png
        └── models/
            └── item/
                ├── diamond_pickaxe/
                │   └── 1.json
                └── diamond_pickaxe.json

Step 5: Create pack.mcmeta

In the root folder, create pack.mcmeta:

{
  "pack": {
    "pack_format": 15,
    "description": "§eExecutableItems Custom Textures"
  }
}

Pack Format by Version

Choose the correct pack_format for your Minecraft version:

• 15 = 1.20.5 - 1.21.1
• 34 = 1.20.2 - 1.20.4
• 18 = 1.20 - 1.20.1
• 15 = 1.19.4
• 13 = 1.19.3
• 12 = 1.19 - 1.19.2
• 9 = 1.18 - 1.18.2
• 8 = 1.17 - 1.17.1
• 6 = 1.16.2 - 1.16.5

See the full pack format list for all versions.

Step 6: Add Your Texture File

1. Navigate to assets/minecraft/textures/item/custom_textures/
2. Place your texture PNG file here (e.g., custom_pickaxe.png)

Step 7: Identify the Base Item Material

You need to know the Minecraft ID of the base item:

1. Press F3 + H in Minecraft to enable Advanced Tooltips
2. Hover over the item to see its ID (e.g., minecraft:diamond_pickaxe)
3. Use the part after the colon for file names (e.g., diamond_pickaxe)

Critical: Use the Minecraft ID

The file name MUST match the Minecraft item ID, not:

• ❌ Your item's display name
• ❌ Your texture file name
• ❌ Your ExecutableItem ID
• ✅ The Minecraft material ID (e.g., diamond_pickaxe)

Step 8: Create the Base Model File

In assets/minecraft/models/item/, create diamond_pickaxe.json:

{
    "parent": "minecraft:item/generated",
    "textures": {
        "layer0": "minecraft:item/diamond_pickaxe"
    },
    "overrides": [
        {
            "predicate": {
                "custom_model_data": 1
            },
            "model": "item/diamond_pickaxe/1"
        }
    ]
}

Understanding the fields:

• "parent": Base model type
  • Use "generated" for most items
  • Use "handheld" if item looks wrong when held
• "layer0": Default vanilla texture
• "overrides": Array of custom model data mappings
• "custom_model_data": The number you'll set in ExecutableItems
• "model": Path to your custom model file

Multiple Custom Textures

To add more custom textures for the same item, add more override entries:

"overrides": [
    {
        "predicate": {
            "custom_model_data": 1
        },
        "model": "item/diamond_pickaxe/1"
    },
    {
        "predicate": {
            "custom_model_data": 2
        },
        "model": "item/diamond_pickaxe/2"
    },
    {
        "predicate": {
            "custom_model_data": 3
        },
        "model": "item/diamond_pickaxe/3"
    }
]

Step 9: Create the Custom Model File

1. Create folder: assets/minecraft/models/item/diamond_pickaxe/
2. Create file: 1.json inside that folder

Content of 1.json:

{
    "parent": "item/handheld",
    "textures": {
        "layer0": "item/custom_textures/custom_pickaxe"
    }
}

Understanding the texture path:

The "layer0" value is a path relative to assets/minecraft/textures/:

• Path: item/custom_textures/custom_pickaxe
• Full path: assets/minecraft/textures/item/custom_textures/custom_pickaxe.png

Common Error: Incorrect Texture Path

The most common mistake is setting the wrong path in layer0. Double-check that:

1. The path matches your folder structure
2. You don't include .png extension
3. The path starts from inside the textures/ folder

Step 10: Package the Resource Pack

For Windows (WinRAR/7-Zip):

1. Select pack.mcmeta and assets folder
2. Right-click → Add to archive / Compress
3. Choose .zip format
4. Name it ExecutableItemsTexturePack.zip

For Mac/Linux:

1. Select pack.mcmeta and assets folder
2. Compress to ZIP using built-in compression
3. Or place in a folder and use as-is for local testing

Step 11: Install the Resource Pack

1. Place the .zip file in .minecraft/resourcepacks/
2. Launch Minecraft
3. Go to Options → Resource Packs
4. Enable your pack by clicking the arrow

Part 4: Connecting ExecutableItems to the Texture

Step 12: Set Custom Model Data

Edit your ExecutableItem:

/ei edit my_custom_pickaxe

Navigate to the customModelData configuration and set it to match your override:

Set the value to 1 (or whatever number you used in the override):

In the config file, it looks like:

customModelData: 1

Step 13: Test Your Custom Texture

Give yourself the item:

/ei give my_custom_pickaxe

You should now see your custom texture!

Troubleshooting

Problem	Solution
Texture not showing	Check that file names are all lowercase
Purple/black texture	Verify the layer0 path matches your texture location
Pack not loading	Check pack_format matches your Minecraft version
Wrong item appearance	Change "generated" to "handheld" in the model parent
Item looks vanilla	Verify customModelData in EI matches your override number

Advanced Tips

Organizing Multiple Textures

Create subfolders for different item types:

custom_textures/
├── weapons/
│   ├── sword_fire.png
│   └── sword_ice.png
├── tools/
│   └── pickaxe_emerald.png
└── misc/
    └── wand_magic.png

Update your paths accordingly:

"layer0": "item/custom_textures/weapons/sword_fire"

Using 3D Models

For 3D models created in Blockbench:

1. Create your model in Blockbench
2. Export as "Java Block/Item"
3. Replace the content of your 1.json with the exported model
4. Make sure texture paths match your pack structure

Server Deployment

To use custom textures on a server, you'll need to host the resource pack online. See our Uploading Texture Pack Guide for instructions.

Download Example Pack

If you're having trouble following the steps, download this example pack to see the correct structure:

Download ExecutableItemsTexturePackExample.zip

Additional Resources

• Minecraft Wiki: Resource Pack
• Minecraft Wiki: Model Format
• Pack Format Version History
• Blockbench - Free 3D Model Editor

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