How to Use the Litematica Mod to Build Pixel Art

Complete guide to using Litematica mod for Minecraft pixel art. Learn to load .litematica files, place projections, and use material lists for survival building.

Jul 31, 2026Minecraft Pixel Art Team

If you've exported your pixel art as a .litematica file from our free generator, you're ready to build it block-by-block in survival. Litematica is a client-side mod that displays your creation as a "ghost projection" overlay, letting you place each block manually while seeing exactly where to go.

What is Litematica?

Litematica is a Minecraft mod that renders schematic files as transparent, ghost-like overlays in your world. Unlike WorldEdit, which instantly pastes structures, Litematica shows you where each block should go — you place them yourself. This makes it perfect for survival builders who want to craft and place every block manually while following a precise template.

The mod also includes a Material List feature that shows exactly how many of each block type you need, matching the CSV export from our generator.

Prerequisites: Install Litematica

Litematica requires a Fabric-based mod loader. Follow these steps:

1. Install Fabric Loader — Download from fabricmc.net and run the installer
2. Download MaLiLib — Litematica depends on this library mod; get it from Modrinth
3. Download Litematica — Get the latest version from Modrinth
4. Install the mods — Place both malilib and litematica .jar files in your .minecraft/mods/ folder

Launch the game and verify Litematica is loaded by pressing the M key to open its main menu.

Step 1: Place your .litematica file

Copy your exported .litematica file to the correct directory:

Windows: .minecraft/config/litematica/ macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/minecraft/config/litematica/ Linux: ~/.minecraft/config/litematica/

The file will now appear in Litematica's load menu.

Step 2: Load the schematic in-game

Enter your world and press M to open the Litematica main menu. Navigate to:

Load Schematic → Load Schematic from File

Select your .litematica file from the list. The schematic will load into Litematica's memory but won't appear yet — you need to place it first.

Step 3: Create a placement

A "placement" is where the schematic appears in your world. To create one:

1. In the main menu (M key), go to Placement Manager
2. Select your loaded schematic and choose Add Placement
3. Choose a rendering mode:
   • Ghost Block — Semi-transparent blocks you can see through
   • Green Redstone Blocks — Green blocks where you need to place, red where existing blocks are
4. The placement will appear at your current location

Use the movement tools (arrow keys or on-screen controls) to position the projection exactly where you want to build.

Step 4: Adjust rendering settings

Customize how your projection looks:

Opacity: Adjust how transparent the ghost blocks are. Lower opacity lets you see the terrain underneath better.

Layer Mode: Press Ctrl + Mouse Wheel to slice through the schematic layer by layer. This is essential for tall structures — build one layer at a time from bottom to top.

Render distance: Control how far away the projection remains visible.

Access these from the main menu under Render Settings.

Step 5: Use the Material List

The Material List shows exactly which blocks you need and in what quantity — the same data our generator exports as CSV. To view it:

1. Press M for the main menu
2. Go to Material List
3. Select your current placement

The list displays every block type sorted by total count. Use this as your shopping and crafting checklist before starting a survival build.

Pro tip: Export a CSV from our generator and compare it with the in-game Material List to verify you have everything you need.

Step 6: Build block by block

Now start placing blocks:

1. Follow the ghost projection visually
2. Place each real block where the ghost blocks appear
3. Use Layer Mode to work through tall structures systematically
4. Check off blocks from your Material List as you place them

The ghost blocks guide you perfectly — you'll never lose your place or misalign a row.

Litematica vs WorldEdit

Choose Litematica when:

• Building in survival mode
• You want to place every block manually
• You enjoy the process of crafting and building
• You're playing on a server without WorldEdit access

Choose WorldEdit when:

• Building in creative mode
• You want instant results
• You have server admin permissions
• Speed is your priority

Both file formats are available from our generator — pick the tool that fits your playstyle.

Tips for survival builders

1. Gather materials first — Use the Material List as your shopping list
2. Start small — Try a 16×16 or 32×32 pixel art before attempting larger ones
3. Build layer by layer — Use Ctrl + Mouse Wheel to focus on one horizontal slice at a time
4. Use scaffolding — Build temporary platforms to reach upper sections safely
5. Take screenshots — Document your progress and share your completed build

Start your survival build

Ready to build your pixel art block by block? Generate your creation with the free Minecraft pixel art generator, export it as a .litematica file, and follow this guide to bring it into your survival world.