Item textures and names

A custom item lives in two packs. The behavior pack says what it does. The resource pack says what it looks like and what it is called. This page covers the resource pack side.

The files

RP/
  textures/
    item_texture.json
    items/
      ruby.png
  texts/
    en_US.lang

Step 1: the picture

Save a square PNG, usually 16x16, in RP/textures/items/. Keep the background transparent.

Step 2: give it a short name

item_texture.json maps a short name to the PNG. The item file only ever uses the short name.

{
  "resource_pack_name": "My Ruby Add-on",
  "texture_name": "atlas.items",
  "texture_data": {
    "ruby": {
      "textures": "textures/items/ruby"
    }
  }
}

Leave out the .png at the end of the path. Add one entry per item to the same file.

Step 3: point the item at it

In the behavior pack item, the minecraft:icon component uses the short name:

"minecraft:icon": "ruby"

Step 4: the name

The game shows the item's id until you give it a name. Add a line to the language file:

item.wiki:ruby=Ruby

You can also skip the language file and set minecraft:display_name in the item itself. The language file is better if you want to translate the add-on later.

3D held items

A flat icon is enough for most items. To hold a 3D model in hand or wear one, the resource pack also needs an attachable.