Skin Design

Players and administrators can apply custom skins with SkinsRestorer. A skin is a 64x64 PNG image on the Minecraft CDN.

Mojang signs each skin with its Yggdrasil private key. You do not need to understand this process to create a skin.

This guide explains the skin format and shows how to get or create a skin.

Technical info

Minecraft skins use a specific image format.

Skin format

Skins are 64x64 pixel .png images. Each skin has an inner layer and an outer layer.

The inner layer must be opaque. The outer layer can use transparent pixels for hats, glasses, and other details.

The Minecraft client can hide parts of the outer layer. This option also works with SkinsRestorer skins.

Open the skin settings in Minecraft. Then select the outer-layer body parts that you want to show.

This video by @Jonas_Jones shows the option.

The file stores the head, body, arms, and legs in fixed locations. Some parts of the image are unused.

Classic and slim skins

Minecraft supports two player models:

• Classic or Steve: The arms are four pixels wide.
• Slim or Alex: The arms are three pixels wide.

If you select the wrong model, black lines can appear on the arms.

More information

You can read more about skins on the Minecraft Wiki and the official Minecraft website.

Both sites provide classic and slim skin templates.

Get or make a custom skin

Download an existing skin or create a new one.

Premade skins

Find existing skins on sites such as NameMC or The Skindex.

Make your own skin

You can use a skin editor or a general image editor.

Use a skin editor

Use a skin editor such as Novaskin. You can draw on a 3D model or use an existing skin as a template.

Design your skin

You can also use GIMP, Adobe Photoshop, Paint.net, or Pixlr.

Save the skin as a 64x64 pixel .png file. The Minecraft website provides templates.

Skin problems

Use these steps to correct common skin problems.

Your skin looks blurry

An image viewer can make a small skin look blurry when it enlarges the image. Open the skin in GIMP or Photoshop to inspect the pixels.

Your skin has black lines

Black lines usually mean that the selected player model is wrong.

Select the correct model in the launcher or SkinsRestorer command. You can also edit the image for the correct model.

An HD skin does not work

The standard Minecraft client supports only 64x64 skins. It does not support HD skins. Therefore, SkinsRestorer cannot apply them.