Custom Textures

Citra Emulator allows its users to customize their game with custom texture packs, giving full control over how the game looks and feels. You can dump, edit, and replace game textures to enhance visuals and create unique designs for your favorite Nintendo 3DS games.

How it Works

Citra is a free and open-source 3DS emulator available for Windows, Mac, Linux, and Android devices. It allows its users to play their favorite 3DS games on other platforms with better graphics, higher resolutions, and smoother performance than the original console.

How to Dump Game Textures

  1. Open Emulation → Configure → Graphics → Enhancements in the Citra menu.
  2. Enable Dump Textures, then click OK.
  3. Start any game you want to play. After starting the game, Citra automatically saves textures as .png files.
  4. Right-click the game in your list and select Open Texture Dump Location to view the dump folder.
  5. Copy the included pack.json file into the texture load folder for configuration.

How to Replace Game Textures

  1. Right-click your game and select Open Custom Texture Location.
  2. Add your custom texture files (.png, .dds, or .ktx).
  3. Go to Emulation → Configure → Graphics → Enhancements and enable Use Custom Textures.
  4. (Optional) Enable Preload Custom Textures for faster performance, but note that it increases memory usage.

Advanced Options

Citra supports custom normal maps, adding extra detail and lighting effects to objects. For normal maps, use the same filename as the main texture but add “.norm” before the extension, for example: texture.png → texture.norm.png

Texture Pack Configuration

Each texture pack includes a pack.json file, which stores details like the pack name, author, and hash settings. Citra supports both old and new hashing methods for compatibility, with the newer one being faster and more accurate across different graphics APIs.

Tips for Creating Custom Texture Packs

Want your texture packs to run smoothly and look great? Follow these quick tips:

  • Keep file sizes small: Large textures increase load times and memory usage.
  • Use the right formats: Stick to .png for standard textures and .dds or .ktx for better compression.
  • Maintain consistent resolution: Avoid mixing very high and low-resolution textures in one pack.
  • Test often: Load your textures in-game to make sure they display correctly and don’t affect performance.
  • Name smartly: Use clear filenames or add hash mappings in pack.json for easy management.

Common Issues and Fixes

Even experienced creators face small issues, so here are some easy solutions:

  • Textures not loading: Check if “Use Custom Textures” is enabled in settings.
  • Game crashes or glitches: Disable “Preload Custom Textures” to reduce memory usage.
  • Missing textures: Make sure the pack.json file is in the correct folder.
  • Old hash format errors: Regenerate textures using the new hash option for faster and stable performance.

Conclusion

Custom Textures in Citra Emulator unlock endless possibilities for creativity. Whether you want to give your game a unique style, enhance visuals, or completely redesign the look of your favorite 3DS titles, Citra makes it simple and accessible for everyone.