Freedom251 › Minecraft Resource Packs
Stratum
What Stratum is
Stratum is a Minecraft resource pack from Continuum Graphics LLC, a small team of graphics developers and artists who mod games. It focuses on realistic visuals and shader support for Minecraft Java Edition. The pack provides physically based rendering materials, allowing compatible shaders to calculate how light interacts with textures. It also supports Parallax Occlusion Mapping, which uses height information to simulate surface depth, plus normal and specular maps for added texture detail and reflectivity when compatible shaders are used. Stratum is designed with Continuum shaders in mind, and its maker says it takes steps to work with other popular Minecraft shaders. Official game-version support runs from Minecraft 1.12.2 through 1.21.11, with the matching pack version required. OptiFine is required for textures to load properly; Iris may work but is not fully verified. A free 128×128 edition is described as up to date with the paid higher-resolution options. Paid one-time tiers include future updates, covering 256x through packages that reach 2048x. Stratum remains an Early Access project, so some textures may still be missing. Requirements rise by resolution, from 4 GB VRAM and 8 GB RAM at 128x to more than 48 GB VRAM and 96 GB RAM for the latest 2048x build.
Who it suits
Stratum suits Minecraft Java Edition players seeking realistic textures with physically based rendering, parallax depth and shader support. It is also for players who can use OptiFine and whose hardware matches the selected texture resolution.
What it does well
- Free 128×128 version available
- Supports physically based rendering materials
- Includes parallax occlusion mapping
- Provides normal and specular maps
- Paid tiers include future updates
What to know first
- Works only with Minecraft Java Edition
- OptiFine is required for proper texture loading
- Early Access means some textures may be missing
- Highest resolution requires more than 48 GB VRAM and 96 GB RAM
Limits
The free version is limited to 128×128 resolution. Paid one-time tiers provide 256x, 512x, 1024x and 2048x options, while hardware requirements increase sharply at higher resolutions; the project is still in Early Access and some textures may be missing.
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Stratum Tier 2 | One-time purchase; includes future updates. · 256x · 512x | $15, paid once |
| Stratum Tier 3 | One-time purchase; includes future updates. · 256x · 512x · 1024x · 2048x | $25, paid once |
| Stratum Tier 1 | One-time purchase; includes future updates. · 256x version | $5, paid once |
| Tier 1 | One-time purchase; lifetime access and updates · 256x version | On request |
| Tier 2 | One-time purchase; lifetime access and updates · 256x · 512x versions | On request |
| Tier 3 | One-time purchase; lifetime access and updates · 256x · 512x · 1024x · 2048x versions | On request |
As continuum.graphics lists them, read 8 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Getting started
- Open the Stratum resource-pack website
- Choose the free 128×128 version or a paid resolution tier
- Use Minecraft Java Edition version 1.12.2 through 1.21.11
- Install OptiFine so textures load properly
- Select the pack version matching your Minecraft version
- Pair the pack with Continuum or another compatible shader
Verdict
Choose Stratum if you play supported Java Edition versions and want shader-oriented, realistic materials with several resolution options. Consider another pack if you use Windows 10 or Pocket Edition, cannot run OptiFine, or need a finished set of textures rather than an Early Access project.
Questions
Is there a free version of Stratum?
Yes. A free 128×128 version is available and is described as up to date with the paid higher-resolution options.
How much do paid tiers cost?
Stratum Tier 1 is $5, paid once for 256x. Tier 2 is $15, paid once for 256x and 512x, and Tier 3 is $25, paid once for 256x through 2048x; each includes future updates.
Which Minecraft editions and versions are supported?
Stratum supports Minecraft Java Edition only, officially from version 1.12.2 through 1.21.11. Windows 10 and Pocket versions are not supported.
Do I need OptiFine or a shader?
OptiFine is required for textures to load properly. Compatible shaders are needed for PBR, POM, normal and specular effects; Iris may work but is not fully verified.
Is Stratum open source?
The listed facts describe Stratum as a resource pack from Continuum Graphics LLC and do not identify it as open source.
Facts from Stratum's own pages
- Compatibility
- Stratum is compatible only with Minecraft Java Edition; the maker says OptiFine is required for textures to load properly, while Iris may work but is not fully verified. · continuum.graphics, 7 Oct 2026
- Depth effects
- It supports Parallax Occlusion Mapping (POM) when used with a compatible shader pack. · continuum.graphics, 7 Oct 2026
- Development status
- Stratum is an Early Access pack still in development, so some textures may be missing. · continuum.graphics, 8 Oct 2026
- Free version
- A free 128×128 version is available and is described as up to date with the paid higher-resolution versions. · continuum.graphics, 8 Oct 2026
- Game compatibility
- Stratum is compatible only with Minecraft Java Edition; Windows 10 and Pocket versions are not supported. · continuum.graphics, 8 Oct 2026
- Game versions
- The FAQ says Stratum officially supports Minecraft 1.12.2 through 1.21.11. · continuum.graphics, 7 Oct 2026
- Maker
- Continuum Graphics LLC describes itself as a small team of graphics developers and artists who mod games. · continuum.graphics, 7 Oct 2026
- Maps
- The pack includes normal and specular maps for texture detail and reflectivity when used with compatible shaders. · continuum.graphics, 8 Oct 2026
- PBR textures
- The pack supports physically based rendering, which lets compatible shaders render light interacting with its textures. · continuum.graphics, 8 Oct 2026
- POM support
- Stratum includes parallax occlusion mapping, which uses height-map information to simulate 3D texture details with compatible shaders. · continuum.graphics, 8 Oct 2026
- Privacy and payment security
- The privacy policy says sensitive credit information is encrypted via SSL and transactions are processed through a gateway provider rather than stored or processed on the maker’s servers. · continuum.graphics, 8 Oct 2026
- Privacy and security
- The privacy policy says sensitive payment information is encrypted via SSL and transactions are processed through a gateway provider rather than stored or processed on the maker's servers. · continuum.graphics, 7 Oct 2026
- Product
- Stratum is a high-quality Minecraft resource pack focused on realism and shader support. · continuum.graphics, 7 Oct 2026
- Refunds
- The maker states that all sales are final because the products are digital and may be copied after download. · continuum.graphics, 8 Oct 2026
- Rendering
- The pack supports physically based rendering (PBR) materials. · continuum.graphics, 7 Oct 2026
- Required software
- Optifine is required for textures to load properly, while Iris may work but has not been fully tested or verified. · continuum.graphics, 8 Oct 2026
- Shader compatibility
- Stratum is designed with Continuum shaders in mind, and the maker says it also takes steps to work with other popular Minecraft shaders. · continuum.graphics, 7 Oct 2026
- Support
- The maker offers help by email or Discord for questions about projects, installation, and configuration. · continuum.graphics, 8 Oct 2026
- Surface maps
- It includes normal and specular maps for texture detail and reflectivity when used with compatible shaders. · continuum.graphics, 7 Oct 2026
- System requirements
- Requirements vary by resolution; the page lists 4GB VRAM and 8GB RAM for 128x, and more than 48GB VRAM and 96GB RAM for the latest 2048x build. · continuum.graphics, 8 Oct 2026
- Version support
- The FAQ says Stratum officially supports Minecraft 1.12.2 through 1.21.11 and requires selecting the appropriate pack version for the game version. · continuum.graphics, 8 Oct 2026
- What it is
- Stratum is a Minecraft resource pack focused on realism and shader support. · continuum.graphics, 8 Oct 2026
Where Stratum stands on Freedom251
- Minecraft Resource Packs#15 of 17