diff --git a/src/main/java/com/seibel/lod/builders/LodBuilder.java b/src/main/java/com/seibel/lod/builders/LodBuilder.java
index acde5afa7..2422883b1 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/seibel/lod/builders/LodBuilder.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/seibel/lod/builders/LodBuilder.java
@@ -18,6 +18,8 @@
 package com.seibel.lod.builders;
 
 import java.awt.Color;
+import java.util.concurrent.ConcurrentHashMap;
+import java.util.concurrent.ConcurrentMap;
 import java.util.concurrent.ExecutorService;
 import java.util.concurrent.Executors;
 
@@ -33,13 +35,13 @@ import com.seibel.lod.wrappers.MinecraftWrapper;
 
 import net.minecraft.block.*;
 import net.minecraft.block.material.MaterialColor;
-import net.minecraft.util.math.AxisAlignedBB;
+import net.minecraft.client.renderer.texture.TextureAtlasSprite;
 import net.minecraft.util.math.BlockPos;
 import net.minecraft.util.math.ChunkPos;
-import net.minecraft.util.math.shapes.VoxelShape;
 import net.minecraft.world.DimensionType;
 import net.minecraft.world.IWorld;
 import net.minecraft.world.LightType;
+import net.minecraft.world.World;
 import net.minecraft.world.biome.Biome;
 import net.minecraft.world.chunk.ChunkSection;
 import net.minecraft.world.chunk.IChunk;
@@ -60,6 +62,7 @@ public class LodBuilder
 	public static final int CHUNK_DATA_WIDTH = LodUtil.CHUNK_WIDTH;
 	public static final int CHUNK_SECTION_HEIGHT = CHUNK_DATA_WIDTH;
 	public static final Heightmap.Type DEFAULT_HEIGHTMAP = Heightmap.Type.WORLD_SURFACE_WG;
+	public static final ConcurrentMap<Block, Integer> colorMap = new ConcurrentHashMap<>();
 
 	/**
 	 * If no blocks are found in the area in determineBottomPointForArea return this
@@ -286,7 +289,7 @@ public class LodBuilder
 
 				yAbs = height - 1;
 				// We search light on above air block
-				color = generateLodColor(chunk, config, xRel, yAbs, zRel);
+				color = generateLodColor(chunk, config, xRel, yAbs, zRel, blockPos);
 				depth = determineBottomPointFrom(chunk, config, xRel, zRel, yAbs, blockPos);
 				blockPos.set(xAbs, yAbs + 1, zAbs);
 				light = getLightValue(chunk, blockPos);
@@ -420,7 +423,7 @@ public class LodBuilder
 			yAbs = height - 1;
 			// We search light on above air block
 
-			color = generateLodColor(chunk, config, xRel, yAbs, zRel);
+			color = generateLodColor(chunk, config, xRel, yAbs, zRel, blockPos);
 			depth = determineBottomPoint(chunk, config, xRel, zRel, blockPos);
 
 			blockPos.set(xAbs, yAbs + 1, zAbs);
@@ -508,7 +511,7 @@ public class LodBuilder
 	 * Generate the color for the given chunk using biome water color, foliage
 	 * color, and grass color.
 	 */
-	private int generateLodColor(IChunk chunk, LodBuilderConfig config, int xRel, int yAbs, int zRel)
+	private int generateLodColor(IChunk chunk, LodBuilderConfig config, int xRel, int yAbs, int zRel, BlockPos.Mutable blockPos)
 	{
 		ChunkSection[] chunkSections = chunk.getSections();
 		int colorInt = 0;
@@ -524,17 +527,16 @@ public class LodBuilder
 			int yRel = Math.floorMod(yAbs, CHUNK_SECTION_HEIGHT);
 			if (chunkSections[sectionIndex] != null)
 			{
-				BlockState blockState = chunkSections[sectionIndex].getBlockState(xRel, yRel, zRel);
-
 				// the bit shift is equivalent to dividing by 4
-				Biome biome = chunk.getBiomes().getNoiseBiome(xRel >> 2, yAbs >> 2, zRel >> 2);
 
-				colorInt = getColorForBlock(xRel, zRel, blockState, biome);
+				blockPos.set(chunk.getPos().getMinBlockX() + xRel, sectionIndex * CHUNK_DATA_WIDTH + yRel, chunk.getPos().getMinBlockZ() + zRel);
+				//colorInt = getColorTextureForBlock(blockState, blockPos);
+				colorInt = getColorForBlock(chunk, blockPos);
 			}
 			if (colorInt == 0 && yAbs > 0)
 			{
 				//invisible case
-				colorInt = generateLodColor(chunk, config, xRel, yAbs - 1, zRel);
+				colorInt = generateLodColor(chunk, config, xRel, yAbs - 1, zRel, blockPos);
 			}
 		}
 		return colorInt;
@@ -559,13 +561,79 @@ public class LodBuilder
 		return light;
 	}
 
+	private int getColorTextureForBlock(BlockState blockState, BlockPos blockPos)
+	{
+		if (colorMap.containsKey(blockState.getBlock()))
+			return colorMap.get(blockState.getBlock());
+		World world = MinecraftWrapper.INSTANCE.getPlayer().level;
+		TextureAtlasSprite texture = MinecraftWrapper.INSTANCE.getModelManager().getBlockModelShaper().getTexture(blockState, world, blockPos);
+		int count = 0;
+		int alpha = 0;
+		int red = 0;
+		int green = 0;
+		int blue = 0;
+		;
+		int color = 0;
+		for (int k = 0; k < texture.getFrameCount(); k++)
+		{
+			for (int i = 0; i < texture.getHeight(); i++)
+			{
+				for (int j = 0; j < texture.getWidth(); j++)
+				{
+					if (texture.isTransparent(k, i, j))
+					{
+						if (blockState.getBlock() instanceof LeavesBlock)
+							color = 0;
+						else
+							continue;
+					} else
+					{
+						color = texture.getPixelRGBA(k, i, j);
+					}
+					count++;
+					alpha += ColorUtil.getAlpha(color);
+					red += ColorUtil.getBlue(color);
+					green += ColorUtil.getGreen(color);
+					blue += ColorUtil.getRed(color);
+				}
+			}
+		}
+		if (count == 0)
+		{
+			color = 0;
+		} else
+		{
+			alpha /= count;
+			red /= count;
+			green /= count;
+			blue /= count;
+			color = ColorUtil.rgbToInt(alpha, red, green, blue);
+		}
+		colorMap.put(blockState.getBlock(), color);
+		return color;
+	}
+
 	/**
 	 * Returns a color int for the given block.
 	 */
-	private int getColorForBlock(int x, int z, BlockState blockState, Biome biome)
+	private int getColorForBlock(IChunk chunk, BlockPos blockPos)
 	{
+
+		int xRel = blockPos.getX() - chunk.getPos().getMinBlockX();
+		int zRel = blockPos.getZ() - chunk.getPos().getMinBlockZ();
+		int x = blockPos.getX();
+		int y = blockPos.getY();
+		int z = blockPos.getZ();
+		Biome biome = chunk.getBiomes().getNoiseBiome(xRel >> 2, y >> 2, zRel >> 2);
+		int brightness;
+		int red = 0;
+		int green = 0;
+		int blue = 0;
+
+		BlockState blockState = chunk.getBlockState(blockPos);
 		int colorInt = 0;
 
+
 		// block special cases
 		if (blockState == Blocks.AIR.defaultBlockState()
 				    || blockState == Blocks.CAVE_AIR.defaultBlockState()
@@ -574,9 +642,6 @@ public class LodBuilder
 			Color tmp = LodUtil.intToColor(biome.getGrassColor(x, z));
 			tmp = tmp.darker();
 			colorInt = LodUtil.colorToInt(tmp);
-		} else if (blockState == Blocks.STONE.defaultBlockState())
-		{
-			colorInt = LodUtil.STONE_COLOR_INT;
 		} else if (blockState == Blocks.NETHERRACK.defaultBlockState())
 		{
 			colorInt = LodUtil.NETHERRACK_COLOR_INT;
@@ -587,63 +652,47 @@ public class LodBuilder
 		{
 			colorInt = LodUtil.CRIMSON_NYLIUM_COLOR_INT;
 		} else if (blockState == Blocks.WEEPING_VINES.defaultBlockState()
-						   || blockState == Blocks.WEEPING_VINES_PLANT.defaultBlockState()
+				           || blockState == Blocks.WEEPING_VINES_PLANT.defaultBlockState()
 				           || blockState == Blocks.CRIMSON_FUNGUS.defaultBlockState()
 				           || blockState == Blocks.CRIMSON_ROOTS.defaultBlockState())
 		{
 			colorInt = Blocks.NETHER_WART_BLOCK.defaultMaterialColor().col;
-		} else if (blockState == Blocks.TWISTING_VINES.defaultBlockState()
-				           || blockState == Blocks.TWISTING_VINES_PLANT.defaultBlockState()
-				           || blockState == Blocks.CRIMSON_FUNGUS.defaultBlockState()
-				           || blockState == Blocks.CRIMSON_ROOTS.defaultBlockState())
+		} else if (blockState.getBlock().equals(Blocks.TWISTING_VINES)
+				           || blockState.equals(Blocks.TWISTING_VINES_PLANT)
+				           || blockState == Blocks.WARPED_ROOTS.defaultBlockState()
+				           || blockState == Blocks.WARPED_FUNGUS.defaultBlockState())
 		{
-			colorInt = Blocks.WARPED_WART_BLOCK.defaultMaterialColor().col;
-		} else if (blockState == Blocks.BEDROCK.defaultBlockState())
-		{
-			colorInt = getColorForBiome(x, z, biome);
-		} else if (blockState == Blocks.MYCELIUM.defaultBlockState())
-		{
-			colorInt = LodUtil.MYCELIUM_COLOR_INT;
-		} else if (blockState == Blocks.SOUL_TORCH.defaultBlockState()
-				           || blockState == Blocks.SOUL_WALL_TORCH.defaultBlockState())
-		{
-			colorInt = Blocks.WARPED_PLANKS.defaultMaterialColor().col;
-		} else if (blockState == Blocks.TORCH.defaultBlockState()
-				           || blockState == Blocks.WALL_TORCH.defaultBlockState())
-		{
-			colorInt = Blocks.OAK_PLANKS.defaultMaterialColor().col;
-		} else if (blockState == Blocks.REDSTONE_TORCH.defaultBlockState()
-				           || blockState == Blocks.REDSTONE_WALL_TORCH.defaultBlockState())
-		{
-			colorInt = Blocks.CRIMSON_PLANKS.defaultMaterialColor().col;
+			colorInt = Blocks.WARPED_NYLIUM.defaultMaterialColor().col;
 		}
 
 
 		// plant life
 		else if (blockState.getBlock() instanceof LeavesBlock || blockState.getBlock() == Blocks.VINE)
 		{
-			Color leafColor = LodUtil.intToColor(biome.getFoliageColor()).darker();
-			leafColor = leafColor.darker();
-			colorInt = LodUtil.colorToInt(leafColor);
+			brightness = getColorTextureForBlock(blockState, blockPos);
+			colorInt = ColorUtil.changeBrightnessValue(biome.getFoliageColor(), brightness);
 		} else if ((blockState.getBlock() instanceof GrassBlock || blockState.getBlock() instanceof AbstractPlantBlock
 				            || blockState.getBlock() instanceof BushBlock || blockState.getBlock() instanceof IGrowable)
 				           && !(blockState.getBlock() == Blocks.BROWN_MUSHROOM || blockState.getBlock() == Blocks.RED_MUSHROOM))
 		{
-			Color plantColor = LodUtil.intToColor(biome.getGrassColor(x, z));
-			plantColor = plantColor.darker();
-			colorInt = LodUtil.colorToInt(plantColor);
+			brightness = getColorTextureForBlock(blockState, blockPos);
+			//colorInt = ColorUtil.changeBrightnessValue(biome.getGrassColor(x, z), brightness);
+			colorInt = ColorUtil.applySaturationAndBrightnessMultipliers(biome.getGrassColor(x, z),1f,0.65f);
 		}
-
 		// water
 		else if (blockState.getBlock() == Blocks.WATER)
 		{
-			colorInt = biome.getWaterColor();
+			brightness = getColorTextureForBlock(blockState, blockPos);
+			//colorInt = ColorUtil.changeBrightnessValue(biome.getWaterColor(), brightness);
+			colorInt = ColorUtil.applySaturationAndBrightnessMultipliers(biome.getWaterColor(),1f,0.75f);
 		}
 
 		// everything else
 		else
 		{
-			colorInt = blockState.getBlock().defaultMaterialColor().col;
+			colorInt = getColorTextureForBlock(blockState, blockPos);
+			//colorInt = blockState.materialColor.col;
+			//colorInt = blockState.getBlock().defaultMaterialColor().col;
 		}
 
 		return colorInt;
@@ -751,26 +800,4 @@ public class LodBuilder
 
 		return false;
 	}
-
-	private boolean isLayerValidLodPoint(ChunkSection[] chunkSections, int sectionIndex, int y, int x, int z)
-	{
-		if (chunkSections[sectionIndex] == null)
-		{
-			// this section doesn't have any blocks,
-			// it is not a valid section
-			return false;
-		} else
-		{
-			if (chunkSections[sectionIndex].getBlockState(x, y, z) != null
-					    && chunkSections[sectionIndex].getBlockState(x, y, z).getBlock() != Blocks.AIR
-					    && chunkSections[sectionIndex].getBlockState(x, y, z).getBlock() != Blocks.CAVE_AIR
-					    && chunkSections[sectionIndex].getBlockState(x, y, z).getBlock() != Blocks.BARRIER)
-			{
-				return true;
-			}
-		}
-
-		return false;
-	}
-
 }
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/seibel/lod/handlers/LodDimensionFileHandler.java b/src/main/java/com/seibel/lod/handlers/LodDimensionFileHandler.java
index bab05d836..95536420c 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/seibel/lod/handlers/LodDimensionFileHandler.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/seibel/lod/handlers/LodDimensionFileHandler.java
@@ -17,11 +17,7 @@
  */
 package com.seibel.lod.handlers;
 
-import java.io.BufferedReader;
-import java.io.File;
-import java.io.FileReader;
-import java.io.FileWriter;
-import java.io.IOException;
+import java.io.*;
 import java.nio.file.Files;
 import java.nio.file.StandardCopyOption;
 import java.util.concurrent.ExecutorService;
@@ -57,7 +53,7 @@ public class LodDimensionFileHandler
 	/**
 	 * .txt
 	 */
-	private static final String FILE_EXTENSION = ".txt";
+	private static final String FILE_EXTENSION = ".dat";
 	/**
 	 * detail-#
 	 */
@@ -79,11 +75,6 @@ public class LodDimensionFileHandler
 	 */
 	public static final int LOD_SAVE_FILE_VERSION = 6;
 
-	/**
-	 * This is the string written before the file version
-	 */
-	private static final String LOD_FILE_VERSION_PREFIX = "lod_save_file_version";
-
 	/**
 	 * Allow saving asynchronously, but never try to save multiple regions
 	 * at a time
@@ -140,66 +131,50 @@ public class LodDimensionFileHandler
 					// return anything
 					continue;
 				}
-				String data = "";
-				BufferedReader bufferedReader = new BufferedReader(new FileReader(f));
-				data = bufferedReader.readLine();
-				int fileVersion = -1;
+				byte data[] = {0};
+				long dataSize = f.length();
+				dataSize -= 1;
+				if (dataSize > 0) {
+					try (InputStream inputStream = new BufferedInputStream(new FileInputStream(f))) {
+						int fileVersion = -1;
+						fileVersion = inputStream.read();
+						// check if this file can be read by this file handler
+						if (fileVersion < LOD_SAVE_FILE_VERSION) {
+							// the file we are reading is an older version,
+							// close the reader and delete the file.
+							inputStream.close();
+							f.delete();
+							ClientProxy.LOGGER.info("Outdated LOD region file for region: (" + regionX + "," + regionZ + ") version found: " + fileVersion +
+									", version requested: " + LOD_SAVE_FILE_VERSION +
+									" File was been deleted.");
 
-				if (data != null && !data.isEmpty())
-				{
-					// try to get the file version
-					try
-					{
-						fileVersion = Integer.parseInt(data.substring(data.indexOf(' ')).trim());
-					} catch (NumberFormatException | StringIndexOutOfBoundsException e)
-					{
-						// this file doesn't have a version
-						// keep the version as -1
-						fileVersion = -1;
+							break;
+						} else if (fileVersion > LOD_SAVE_FILE_VERSION) {
+							// the file we are reading is a newer version,
+							// close the reader and ignore the file, we don't
+							// want to accidently delete anything the user may want.
+							inputStream.close();
+							ClientProxy.LOGGER.info("Newer LOD region file for region: (" + regionX + "," + regionZ + ") version found: " + fileVersion +
+									", version requested: " + LOD_SAVE_FILE_VERSION +
+									" this region will not be written to in order to protect the newer file.");
+
+							break;
+						}
+						// this file is a readable version, begin reading the file
+						data = new byte[(int) dataSize];
+						inputStream.read(data);
+						inputStream.close();
+					} catch (IOException ex) {
+						ex.printStackTrace();
 					}
-
-					// check if this file can be read by this file handler
-					if (fileVersion < LOD_SAVE_FILE_VERSION)
-					{
-						// the file we are reading is an older version,
-						// close the reader and delete the file.
-						bufferedReader.close();
-						f.delete();
-						ClientProxy.LOGGER.info("Outdated LOD region file for region: (" + regionX + "," + regionZ + ") version found: " + fileVersion +
-								                        ", version requested: " + LOD_SAVE_FILE_VERSION +
-								                        " File was been deleted.");
-
-						break;
-					} else if (fileVersion > LOD_SAVE_FILE_VERSION)
-					{
-						// the file we are reading is a newer version,
-						// close the reader and ignore the file, we don't
-						// want to accidently delete anything the user may want.
-						bufferedReader.close();
-						ClientProxy.LOGGER.info("Newer LOD region file for region: (" + regionX + "," + regionZ + ") version found: " + fileVersion +
-								                        ", version requested: " + LOD_SAVE_FILE_VERSION +
-								                        " this region will not be written to in order to protect the newer file.");
-
-						break;
-					}
-				} else
-				{
-					// there is no data in this file
-					bufferedReader.close();
-					break;
 				}
-
-				// this file is a readable version, begin reading the file
-				data = bufferedReader.readLine();
-
-				bufferedReader.close();
 				switch (region.getLodQualityMode()){
 					default:
 					case HEIGHTMAP:
 						region.addLevel(new SingleLevelContainer(data));
 						break;
 					case MULTI_LOD:
-						region.addLevel(new VerticalLevelContainer(data));
+						//region.addLevel(new VerticalLevelContainer(data));
 						break;
 				}
 				//region.addLevel(new SingleLevelContainer(data));
@@ -293,25 +268,13 @@ public class LodDimensionFileHandler
 					// is the correct version.
 					// (to make sure we don't overwrite a newer
 					// version file if it exists)
-
-					BufferedReader br = new BufferedReader(new FileReader(oldFile));
-					String s = br.readLine();
 					int fileVersion = LOD_SAVE_FILE_VERSION;
-
-					if (s != null && !s.isEmpty())
-					{
-						// try to get the file version
-						try
-						{
-							fileVersion = Integer.parseInt(s.substring(s.indexOf(' ')).trim());
-						} catch (NumberFormatException | StringIndexOutOfBoundsException e)
-						{
-							// this file doesn't have a correctly formated version
-							// just overwrite the file
-						}
+					try (InputStream inputStream = new BufferedInputStream(new FileInputStream(oldFile))) {
+						fileVersion = inputStream.read();
+						inputStream.close();
+					} catch (IOException ex) {
+						ex.printStackTrace();
 					}
-					br.close();
-
 					// check if this file can be written to by the file handler
 					if (fileVersion <= LOD_SAVE_FILE_VERSION)
 					{
@@ -327,17 +290,20 @@ public class LodDimensionFileHandler
 
 				// the old file is good, now create a new save file
 				File newFile = new File(fileName + TMP_FILE_EXTENSION);
-				FileWriter fw = new FileWriter(newFile);
+				try (OutputStream outputStream = new BufferedOutputStream(new FileOutputStream(newFile));) {
 
-				// add the version of this file
-				fw.write(LOD_FILE_VERSION_PREFIX + " " + LOD_SAVE_FILE_VERSION + "\n");
+					// add the version of this file
+					outputStream.write(LOD_SAVE_FILE_VERSION);
 
-				// add each LodChunk to the file
-				fw.write(region.getLevel(detailLevel).toDataString());
-				fw.close();
+					// add each LodChunk to the file
+					outputStream.write(region.getLevel(detailLevel).toDataString());
+					outputStream.close();
 
-				// overwrite the old file with the new one
-				Files.move(newFile.toPath(), oldFile.toPath(), StandardCopyOption.ATOMIC_MOVE, StandardCopyOption.REPLACE_EXISTING);
+					// overwrite the old file with the new one
+					Files.move(newFile.toPath(), oldFile.toPath(), StandardCopyOption.ATOMIC_MOVE, StandardCopyOption.REPLACE_EXISTING);
+				}catch (IOException ex) {
+					ex.printStackTrace();
+				}
 			} catch (Exception e)
 			{
 				ClientProxy.LOGGER.error("LOD file write error. Unable to write to [" + fileName + "] error [" + e.getMessage() + "]: ");
@@ -370,10 +336,10 @@ public class LodDimensionFileHandler
 			// or
 			// ".\Super Flat\data"
 			return dimensionDataSaveFolder.getCanonicalPath() + File.separatorChar +
-					       lodQualityMode + File.separatorChar +
-					       generationMode.toString() + File.separatorChar +
-					       DETAIL_FOLDER_NAME_PREFIX + detailLevel + File.separatorChar +
-					       FILE_NAME_PREFIX + "." + regionX + "." + regionZ + FILE_EXTENSION;
+					lodQualityMode + File.separatorChar +
+					generationMode.toString() + File.separatorChar +
+					DETAIL_FOLDER_NAME_PREFIX + detailLevel + File.separatorChar +
+					FILE_NAME_PREFIX + "." + regionX + "." + regionZ + FILE_EXTENSION;
 		} catch (IOException | SecurityException e)
 		{
 			ClientProxy.LOGGER.warn("Unable to get the filename for the region [" + regionX + ", " + regionZ + "], error: [" + e.getMessage() + "], stacktrace: ");
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/seibel/lod/objects/LevelContainer.java b/src/main/java/com/seibel/lod/objects/LevelContainer.java
index 75a1c28e9..b03a293e7 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/seibel/lod/objects/LevelContainer.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/seibel/lod/objects/LevelContainer.java
@@ -1,11 +1,5 @@
 package com.seibel.lod.objects;
 
-import com.seibel.lod.util.LevelPosUtil;
-import com.seibel.lod.util.LodUtil;
-
-import java.util.concurrent.ConcurrentHashMap;
-import java.util.concurrent.ConcurrentMap;
-
 public interface LevelContainer
 {
 	public static final char VERTICAL_DATA_DELIMITER = '\t';
@@ -74,5 +68,5 @@ public interface LevelContainer
 	 * This will give the data to save in the file
 	 * @return data as a String
 	 */
-	public String toDataString();
+	public byte[] toDataString();
 }
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/seibel/lod/objects/SingleLevelContainer.java b/src/main/java/com/seibel/lod/objects/SingleLevelContainer.java
index e85405f09..9fc1a2390 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/seibel/lod/objects/SingleLevelContainer.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/seibel/lod/objects/SingleLevelContainer.java
@@ -1,8 +1,7 @@
 package com.seibel.lod.objects;
 
-import com.seibel.lod.builders.LodBuilder;
-import com.seibel.lod.enums.DistanceGenerationMode;
 import com.seibel.lod.util.*;
+import java.util.Arrays;
 
 public class SingleLevelContainer implements LevelContainer
 {
@@ -57,17 +56,13 @@ public class SingleLevelContainer implements LevelContainer
 		return new SingleLevelContainer((byte) (getDetailLevel() - 1));
 	}
 
-	public SingleLevelContainer(String inputString)
+	public SingleLevelContainer(byte inputData[])
 	{
 		int tempIndex;
-		int shift = 0;
 		int index = 0;
-		int digit;
-		char currentChar;
 		long newData;
-		currentChar = inputString.charAt(index);
-		digit = Character.digit(currentChar,16);
-		detailLevel = (byte) digit;
+		detailLevel = inputData[index];
+		index++;
 		size = (int) Math.pow(2, LodUtil.REGION_DETAIL_LEVEL - detailLevel);
 		this.data = new long[size][size];
 		for (int x = 0; x < size; x++)
@@ -75,21 +70,17 @@ public class SingleLevelContainer implements LevelContainer
 			for (int z = 0; z < size; z++)
 			{
 				newData = 0;
-				for(tempIndex = 0; tempIndex < 16; tempIndex++)
-				{
-					if(index+tempIndex >= inputString.length())
-						break;
-					currentChar = inputString.charAt(index+tempIndex);
-					if(currentChar == DATA_DELIMITER){
-						break;
-					}
-					shift = (15-tempIndex)*4;
-					digit = Character.digit(currentChar,16);
-					newData += ((((long) digit & 0xf)) << shift);
-				}
-				newData = newData >>> (shift);
+				if(inputData[index] == 0)
+					index++;
+				else if(index + 7 >= inputData.length)
+				break;
+			else {
+				for (tempIndex = 0; tempIndex < 8; tempIndex++)
+					newData += (((long) inputData[index + tempIndex]) & 0xff) << (8 * tempIndex);
+				index = index + 8;
+			}
 				data[x][z] = newData;
-				index = index + tempIndex;
+
 			}
 		}
 	}
@@ -125,22 +116,28 @@ public class SingleLevelContainer implements LevelContainer
 		return DataPointUtil.doesItExist(getSingleData(posX, posZ));
 	}
 
-	public String toDataString()
+	public byte[] toDataString()
 	{
-		StringBuilder stringBuilder = new StringBuilder();
-		int size = (int) Math.pow(2, LodUtil.REGION_DETAIL_LEVEL - detailLevel);
-		stringBuilder.append(detailLevel);
-		stringBuilder.append(DATA_DELIMITER);
+		int index = 0;
+		int tempIndex;
+		byte[] tempData = new byte[1 + (size * size * 8)];
+		tempData[index] = detailLevel;
+		index++;
 		for (int x = 0; x < size; x++)
 		{
 			for (int z = 0; z < size; z++)
 			{
-				//Converting the dataToHex
-				stringBuilder.append(Long.toHexString(data[x][z]));
-				stringBuilder.append(DATA_DELIMITER);
+				if(data[x][z] == 0){
+					tempData[index] = 0;
+					index++;
+				} else {
+				for (tempIndex = 0; tempIndex < 8; tempIndex++)
+					tempData[index + tempIndex] = (byte) (data[x][z] >>> (8 * tempIndex));
+				index += 8;
+			}
 			}
 		}
-		return stringBuilder.toString();
+		return Arrays.copyOfRange(tempData, 0, index);
 	}
 
 	@Override
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/seibel/lod/objects/VerticalLevelContainer.java b/src/main/java/com/seibel/lod/objects/VerticalLevelContainer.java
index 9a845780d..6c91f1dcc 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/seibel/lod/objects/VerticalLevelContainer.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/seibel/lod/objects/VerticalLevelContainer.java
@@ -114,9 +114,10 @@ public class VerticalLevelContainer implements LevelContainer
 		addData(data,posX,posZ);
 	}
 
-	public String toDataString()
+	public byte[] toDataString()
 	{
-		return toString();
+		byte[] temp = {};
+		return temp;
 	}
 
 	@Override
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/seibel/lod/render/LodRenderer.java b/src/main/java/com/seibel/lod/render/LodRenderer.java
index 8241283f6..eb7899c29 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/seibel/lod/render/LodRenderer.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/seibel/lod/render/LodRenderer.java
@@ -575,10 +575,13 @@ public class LodRenderer
 
 		float sunBrightness = lodDimension.dimension.hasSkyLight() ? mc.getSkyDarken(partialTicks) : 0.2f;
 		sunBrightness = playerHasNightVision ? 1.0f : sunBrightness;
-		float gammaMultiplyer = (float) mc.getOptions().gamma - 0.5f;
-		float lightStrength = ((sunBrightness / 2f) - 0.2f) + (gammaMultiplyer * 0.3f);
+		float gamma = (float) mc.getOptions().gamma - 0.0f;
+		float dayEffect = (sunBrightness - 0.2f) * 1.25f;
+		float lightStrength = (gamma * 0.34f - 0.01f) * (1.0f - dayEffect) + dayEffect - 0.20f; //gamma * 0.2980392157f + 0.1647058824f
+		float blueLightStrength = (gamma * 0.44f + 0.12f) * (1.0f - dayEffect) + dayEffect - 0.20f; //gamma * 0.4235294118f + 0.2784313725f
+
+		float lightAmbient[] = {lightStrength, lightStrength, blueLightStrength, 1.0f};
 
-		float lightAmbient[] = {lightStrength, lightStrength, lightStrength, 1.0f};
 
 		// can be used for debugging
 		//		if (partialTicks < 0.005)
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/seibel/lod/util/ColorUtil.java b/src/main/java/com/seibel/lod/util/ColorUtil.java
index e49f9e215..3b1806b3a 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/seibel/lod/util/ColorUtil.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/seibel/lod/util/ColorUtil.java
@@ -79,4 +79,17 @@ public class ColorUtil
 				hsv[1],
 				brightness).getRGB();
 	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Edit the given color as a HSV (Hue Saturation Value) color.
+	 */
+	public static int changeBrightnessValue(int color, int brightnessColor)
+	{
+		float[] hsv = Color.RGBtoHSB(getRed(color), getGreen(color), getBlue(color), null);
+		float brightness = Color.RGBtoHSB(getRed(brightnessColor), getGreen(brightnessColor), getBlue(brightnessColor), null)[2];
+		return Color.getHSBColor(
+				hsv[0], // hue
+				hsv[1],
+				brightness).getRGB();
+	}
 }
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/seibel/lod/wrappers/MinecraftWrapper.java b/src/main/java/com/seibel/lod/wrappers/MinecraftWrapper.java
index dd31dda9b..7791ce00e 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/seibel/lod/wrappers/MinecraftWrapper.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/seibel/lod/wrappers/MinecraftWrapper.java
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ import net.minecraft.client.renderer.GameRenderer;
 import net.minecraft.client.renderer.LightTexture;
 import net.minecraft.client.renderer.WorldRenderer;
 import net.minecraft.client.renderer.texture.NativeImage;
+import net.minecraft.client.renderer.model.ModelManager;
 import net.minecraft.entity.Entity;
 import net.minecraft.profiler.IProfiler;
 import net.minecraft.server.integrated.IntegratedServer;
@@ -45,9 +46,9 @@ public class MinecraftWrapper
 	
 	
 	
-	//=======================//
-	// non-minecraft methods //
-	//=======================//
+	//================//
+	// helper methods //
+	//================//
 	
 	/**
 	 * This should be called at the beginning of every frame to
@@ -165,7 +166,12 @@ public class MinecraftWrapper
 	{
 		return mc.options;
 	}
-	
+
+	public ModelManager getModelManager()
+	{
+		return mc.getModelManager();
+	}
+
 	/** Measured in chunks */
 	public int getRenderDistance()
 	{