Minecraft wiki entry for Map_item_format, associated text: People have used the map to create pixel art. The default map has an image size of 128×128 and reads each block as a specific color. By placing blocks in a specific arrangement, it is possible to create pixel art images. Constructing the image will cover an square area 8 chunks on a side, and require 16,384 blocks (256 stacks worth) not counting any support blocks.