Shaders in Horizon: .hshader, not OptiFine

What an .hshader is

An .hshader is a shader pack written against Horizon's native shader API. It is not a Java shaderpack and it does not depend on OptiFine.

Shader files are not part of an .hpack. A pack carries mods; the shader is chosen per profile in the launcher's Shader Packs screen.

Install one

Open the launcher, choose a profile, then Shader Packs. Pick a pack from the registry or import an .hshader you already have. The launcher keeps the choice per profile.

If the shader was built for a different API version, the launcher will say so instead of silently showing a black screen.

The frame cost

Shaders are the most expensive thing you can add to a scene. Shadows, volumetric clouds and water reflections all cost frame time; a shader that looks calm can still be heavier than a busy one.

Test with the pack you actually play. A 60 FPS screenshot pack is not the same as a 60 FPS survival base with 300 entities.

Three to try

• Daybreak: sun shadows, reflective water, waving plants, sun rays.
• Lumina: high performance with real-time shadows and physical water.
• Lumen: a cosy Photon-style look with soft shadows and warm sunsets.

When it looks wrong

• Black screen: the shader and the game API version do not match; try another entry.
• Huge FPS drop: lower shadow resolution or clouds first, not render distance.
• Water is opaque: the pack expects a different water mode; check its page.
• A crash on load: remove the shader from the profile, then read the log.