MapCanvas

Display images and animated GIFs on maps in item frames directly from a URL.

MapCanvas lets you turn any image or GIF from the internet into a Minecraft map display. Whether you want a single map or a massive multi-frame mural, MapCanvas handles it all with one simple command.

Features

• Image support — display any image from a URL on a grid of item frames
• Animated GIF support — full animation with per-frame timing, optimized for performance
• Poster map system — place and collect entire grids with a single item
• Dithering - optional dithering mode that smooths out colors and gradients to work within Minecraft's limited color palette
• Named image library — save, reload, and give images by name
• Economy system — costs empty maps to create canvases (free in creative mode)
• Convert — turn individual maps into a single poster map item

How It Works

Poster Mode

Run /canvas add poster 3 3 <url> and you'll get 1 poster map item. Right click any corner of a 3x3 item frame grid and it auto-fills every frame instantly. Punch any map in the grid to collect them all back into 1 item — frames stay intact.

Single Mode

Run /canvas add single 3 3 <url> and you'll get individual map items, one per grid cell. Place them manually or use /canvas convert <name> to combine them into a poster map later.

HD Mode

Add -hd to any subcommand (e.g. /canvas add poster-hd) to enable dithering. This works best for photos, illustrations, and images with smooth gradients. For text, logos, or pixel art the regular mode is recommended.

GIF Support

Just paste a .gif URL — MapCanvas automatically detects it and processes it as an animated poster. Animations play at up to 10fps and only update for players within 32 blocks, keeping performance smooth.

Commands

Cost

Creating a canvas costs empty maps equal to the grid size (W × H). Players in creative mode are not charged. Maps are refunded if the download fails.

Requirements

• Minecraft 1.21.1
• Fabric Loader
• Fabric API

Required on both client and server.

Performance: Running many animated GIFs simultaneously on a server can cause lag, especially with large grids. It is recommended to keep the number of active animated posters reasonable.

Note: This project was made with the help of AI. I wasn't aware of Image2Map when making this mod credit to them for the original concept. MapCanvas expands on the idea with animated GIF support.