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Cartographer
What it is
Cartographer is a free, open-source web tool for turning images into Minecraft map art and producing schematics that guide construction. Image generation runs entirely in the browser, with a live preview, interactive crop box, and saturation and brightness controls for preparing the source image. Its color palette lets users choose multiple blocks and balance their use while generating a build. The interface shown on the live homepage displays Minecraft version 1.21.4. Cartographer offers several staircasing algorithms and includes a material-list view. Exports include schematic, JSON, and NBT files without third-party conversion, plus Litematica-compatible schematics such as .litematic files. JSON output contains block positions and properties for building tools or converters for formats Cartographer does not provide directly. The project lists custom palette uploads, manual editing, and handling grass or nylium as planned features. Julien Vincent and Nicholas Robinson are credited authors, and the repository uses GPL-3.0.
For and against
For
- Runs map-art generation in the browser
- Exports schematic, JSON, and NBT files
- Supports Litematica-compatible .litematic schematics
- Includes preview, crop, saturation, and brightness controls
- Provides staircasing algorithms and material lists
Against
- Custom palette uploads are still planned
- Manual map-art editing is still planned
- Grass and nylium handling is still planned
- Palette control is fixed
The verdict
Cartographer combines browser-based image preparation with Minecraft-focused palette, staircasing, material, and export tools. Its planned features and fixed palette control matter if you need more manual customization.
Who it suits
Cartographer suits Minecraft players who want to convert an image into map art and use a schematic as a building blueprint. It also fits users creating tools or format converters from JSON block data.
On the record
- Audience
- The project describes generated schematics as blueprints for building map art in Minecraft.github.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- Block palette
- Users can select multiple blocks in the color palette and balance between them when generating the build.github.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- Blueprints
- Generated schematics can be used as blueprints for building map art in Minecraft.github.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Browser generation
- The project says all map-art generation runs entirely in the browser.github.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- Browser processing
- The project says image generation runs entirely in the browser.github.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Export formats
- It supports schematic, JSON, and NBT output, including Litematica-compatible schematics.github.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Extensibility
- JSON export provides block positions and properties for users building tools or translations for output formats Cartographer does not natively support.github.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- Generation options
- The tool includes multiple staircasing algorithms and a material list view.github.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Image editing
- Features include a live preview, an interactive crop box, and saturation and brightness controls.github.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- Image tools
- The interface includes a live preview, an interactive crop box, and saturation and brightness controls.github.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- JSON output
- The JSON output contains block data that users can use to build tools or format converters for targets Cartographer does not natively support.github.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Known roadmap limits
- The project lists custom block-palette uploads, manual map-art editing, and handling infection blocks such as grass or nylium as planned features.github.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- License
- The public GitHub repository is licensed under GPL-3.0.github.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Litematica
- Cartographer supports generating Litematica-compatible schematics, including .litematic files.github.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- Makers
- The repository credits Julien Vincent and Nicholas Robinson as authors.github.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Materials
- A material list view is included.github.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- Palette controls
- Users can select multiple blocks in the color palette and balance between them during generation.github.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Planned features
- The project lists custom block palette uploads, manual editing, and handling blocks such as grass or nylium as roadmap features.github.com · read 8 Oct 2026
