VulkanPostFX v1.5.0

Overview

This release marks the transition from a runtime validation prototype to a practical authoring-ready VPFX pipeline.

The VPFX Native Pack format is now capable of:

• Loading textures from ZIP packs
• Binding them into PostFX passes
• Sampling them reliably inside shaders

This version introduces the first reference texture workflow, enabling authors to build real post-processing effects (LUT, grain, vignette) without relying on legacy shader pipelines.

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Key Features

1. VPFX Native Texture Binding (First Fully Working Version)

• pack.json now supports a textures section

• Declared textures are:

  • Extracted from ZIP packs
  • Materialized into runtime resource packs
  • Registered via vpfx/textures.json
  • Bound into PostChain as TextureInput

Supported features:

• Linear / nearest filtering
• Custom texture namespace isolation
• Stable runtime binding via logical texture names

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2. Runtime Texture Materialization Pipeline

A complete pipeline has been implemented:

pack.json (textures)
→ runtime textures.json
→ runtime asset generation
→ TextureInput injection
→ shader sampler binding

This ensures:

• No direct ZIP streaming during rendering
• Full compatibility with Minecraft resource system
• Deterministic reload behavior

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3. Reference Texture Pack (Authoring Baseline)

A new VPFX Reference Textures Pack v1 is introduced as a minimal working example.

It demonstrates:

• LUT-based color grading
• Film grain overlay
• Vignette masking

This pack is intended as:

• A starting point for shader authors
• A validation baseline for texture input behavior
• A canonical example for documentation

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4. Stable External ZIP PostChain Execution

• External PostFX chains can now be loaded from ZIP packs
• Fully integrated with runtime resource reload
• Safe switching via debug key (F8)

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5. Improved Debug & Logging

• Texture materialization logs now include:

  • Runtime path
  • Resolution
  • Filtering mode

• PostChain selection and activation clearly logged

• Runtime texture manifest generation is traceable

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Fixes

• Fixed invalid fullscreen vertex shader (removed dependency on external vertex attributes)
• Fixed missing texCoord varying between vertex and fragment shaders
• Fixed PostFX pipeline crashes caused by shader interface mismatch
• Fixed incorrect shader compatibility assumptions with Mojang PostPass system
• Fixed incorrect runtime capability expectations for shadow depth
• Improved safety of runtime texture binding path

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Known Limitations

• shadow_depth is currently a mirrored main depth buffer (not a true shadow map)
• No multi-pass graph optimization yet
• No compute shader support
• Texture sampling is limited to PostFX passes (no material pipeline integration)

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How to Use (Reference Texture Pack)

1. Install the Pack

Place the ZIP file into:

run/shaderpacks/

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2. Set Active Pack

Edit the config file:

run/config/vulkanpostfx.json

Set:

{
  "active_pack_id": "vpfx_reference_textures_v1"
}

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3. Launch & Toggle

• Start the game
• Press F8 to enable/disable the VPFX PostChain

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4. Expected Visual Result

• Slightly warmer color tone (LUT)
• Subtle film grain
• Mild vignette at screen edges

If you see:

• Strong color shift → LUT too aggressive
• Heavy dark corners → vignette too strong

→ Adjust shader parameters or replace textures.

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Authoring Notes

Texture Declaration (pack.json)

"textures": {
  "ColorLut": {
    "path": "textures/lut/day_grade.png",
    "filter": "linear"
  }
}

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Shader Usage

uniform sampler2D ColorLutSampler;

Sampler naming rule:

sampler_name + "Sampler"

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Post Effect Input

{
  "sampler_name": "ColorLut",
  "texture": "ColorLut"
}

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Breaking Changes

• Non-VPFX ZIP packs are no longer accepted
• pack.json with format_version is now required
• Old compatibility paths (Iris / OptiFine style) are fully removed

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Summary

v1.5.0 is the first version where:

• VPFX is no longer just a loader
• It becomes a usable authoring platform

This release establishes:

• A stable texture pipeline
• A reproducible runtime model
• A clear path toward advanced PostFX features

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Next focus:

• Multi-pass graph expansion
• Proper shadow map support
• Built-in uniform system
• Authoring documentation (Wiki)

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