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Block Orientation

easy
Block Orientation

FORMAT VERSION 1.26.0

This tutorial assumes a basic understanding of blocks, including block states and block traits. Check out the blocks guide before starting.

Types of Orientation ​

Axis Alignment ​

Block rotation identical to how vanilla logs rotate.

Trait ​

To set the state which determines the block's attachment, we will use the minecraft:placement_position block trait with the minecraft:block_face state enabled.

The state contains more values than we need for log rotation, so some permutations will look identical.

minecraft:block
json
"description": {
    "identifier": "wiki:log_rotation_example",
    // Block traits are defined here
    "traits": {
        "minecraft:placement_position": {
            "enabled_states": ["minecraft:block_face"] // Can be used in queries e.g. `q.block_state('minecraft:block_face') == 'north'`
        }
    }
}

Permutations ​

Rotation makes use of block permutations. Each permutation contains the minecraft:transformation component, which allows for cardinal rotation by checking the minecraft:block_face state and applying an appropriate rotation.

minecraft:block
json
"permutations": [
    // X axis
    {
        "condition": "q.block_state('minecraft:block_face') == 'west' || q.block_state('minecraft:block_face') == 'east'",
        "components": {
            "minecraft:transformation": { "rotation": [0, 0, 90] }
        }
    },
    // Y axis
    {
        "condition": "q.block_state('minecraft:block_face') == 'down' || q.block_state('minecraft:block_face') == 'up'",
        "components": {
            "minecraft:transformation": { "rotation": [0, 0, 0] }
        }
    },
    // Z axis
    {
        "condition": "q.block_state('minecraft:block_face') == 'north' || q.block_state('minecraft:block_face') == 'south'",
        "components": {
            "minecraft:transformation": { "rotation": [90, 0, 0] }
        }
    }
]

Cardinal Orientation ​

Trait ​

To set the state which determines the block's direction, we will use the minecraft:placement_direction block trait with the minecraft:cardinal_direction state enabled.

minecraft:block
json
"description": {
    "identifier": "wiki:cardinal_direction_example",
    // Block traits are defined here
    "traits": {
        "minecraft:placement_direction": {
            "enabled_states": ["minecraft:cardinal_direction"], // Can be used in queries e.g. `q.block_state('minecraft:cardinal_direction') == 'north'`
            "y_rotation_offset": 180 // Face towards player
        }
    }
}

Permutations ​

Rotation makes use of block permutations. Each permutation contains the minecraft:transformation component, which allows for cardinal rotation by checking the minecraft:cardinal_direction state and applying an appropriate rotation.

The below rotation values assume that the front of your model is facing north.

minecraft:block
json
"permutations": [
    // Facing north
    {
        "condition": "q.block_state('minecraft:cardinal_direction') == 'north'",
        "components": {
            "minecraft:transformation": { "rotation": [0, 0, 0] }
        }
    },
    // Facing west
    {
        "condition": "q.block_state('minecraft:cardinal_direction') == 'west'",
        "components": {
            "minecraft:transformation": { "rotation": [0, 90, 0] }
        }
    },
    // Facing south
    {
        "condition": "q.block_state('minecraft:cardinal_direction') == 'south'",
        "components": {
            "minecraft:transformation": { "rotation": [0, 180, 0] }
        }
    },
    // Facing east
    {
        "condition": "q.block_state('minecraft:cardinal_direction') == 'east'",
        "components": {
            "minecraft:transformation": { "rotation": [0, -90, 0] }
        }
    }
]

Facing Orientation ​

Trait ​

To set the state which determines the block's direction, we will use the minecraft:placement_direction block trait with the minecraft:facing_direction state enabled.

minecraft:block
json
"description": {
    "identifier": "wiki:facing_direction_example",
    // Block traits are defined here
    "traits": {
        "minecraft:placement_direction": {
            "y_rotation_offset": 180,
            "enabled_states": ["minecraft:facing_direction"] // Can be used in queries e.g. `q.block_state('minecraft:facing_direction') == 'north'`
        }
    }
}

Permutations ​

Rotation makes use of block permutations. Each permutation contains the minecraft:transformation component, which allows for cardinal rotation by checking the minecraft:facing_direction state and applying an appropriate rotation.

The below rotation values assume that the front of your model is facing north.

minecraft:block
json
"permutations": [
    // Facing down
    {
        "condition": "q.block_state('minecraft:facing_direction') == 'down'",
        "components": {
            "minecraft:transformation": { "rotation": [90, 0, 0] }
        }
    },
    // Facing up
    {
        "condition": "q.block_state('minecraft:facing_direction') == 'up'",
        "components": {
            "minecraft:transformation": { "rotation": [-90, 0, 0] }
        }
    },
    // Facing north
    {
        "condition": "q.block_state('minecraft:facing_direction') == 'north'",
        "components": {
            "minecraft:transformation": { "rotation": [0, 0, 0] }
        }
    },
    // Facing west
    {
        "condition": "q.block_state('minecraft:facing_direction') == 'west'",
        "components": {
            "minecraft:transformation": { "rotation": [0, 90, 0] }
        }
    },
    // Facing south
    {
        "condition": "q.block_state('minecraft:facing_direction') == 'south'",
        "components": {
            "minecraft:transformation": { "rotation": [0, 180, 0] }
        }
    },
    // Facing east
    {
        "condition": "q.block_state('minecraft:facing_direction') == 'east'",
        "components": {
            "minecraft:transformation": { "rotation": [0, -90, 0] }
        }
    }
]

Block Face Attachment ​

Trait ​

To set the state which determines the block's attachment, we will use the minecraft:placement_position block trait with the minecraft:block_face state enabled.

minecraft:block
json
"description": {
    "identifier": "wiki:facing_direction_example",
    // Block traits are defined here
    "traits": {
        "minecraft:placement_position": {
            "enabled_states": ["minecraft:block_face"] // Can be used in queries e.g. `q.block_state('minecraft:block_face') == 'north'`
        }
    }
}

Permutations ​

Rotation makes use of block permutations. Each permutation contains the minecraft:transformation component, which allows for cardinal rotation by checking the minecraft:block_face state and applying an appropriate rotation.

The below rotation values assume that the front of your model is facing north.

minecraft:block
json
"permutations": [
    // Facing down
    {
        "condition": "q.block_state('minecraft:block_face') == 'down'",
        "components": {
            "minecraft:transformation": { "rotation": [-90, 0, 0] }
        }
    },
    // Facing up
    {
        "condition": "q.block_state('minecraft:block_face') == 'up'",
        "components": {
            "minecraft:transformation": { "rotation": [90, 0, 0] }
        }
    },
    // Facing north
    {
        "condition": "q.block_state('minecraft:block_face') == 'north'",
        "components": {
            "minecraft:transformation": { "rotation": [0, 0, 0] }
        }
    },
    // Facing west
    {
        "condition": "q.block_state('minecraft:block_face') == 'west'",
        "components": {
            "minecraft:transformation": { "rotation": [0, 90, 0] }
        }
    },
    // Facing south
    {
        "condition": "q.block_state('minecraft:block_face') == 'south'",
        "components": {
            "minecraft:transformation": { "rotation": [0, 180, 0] }
        }
    },
    // Facing east
    {
        "condition": "q.block_state('minecraft:block_face') == 'east'",
        "components": {
            "minecraft:transformation": { "rotation": [0, -90, 0] }
        }
    }
]

Contributors

Edit Block Orientation on GitHub

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