in the game
is there a way to change the icons(minerals, gas, units) in the top right corner?

They are in game/icons.grp

all it shows it a black preview

If you're using RetroGRP, it won't work. Try SF's converter.

http://shadowflare.samods.org/dwnload.html#SFGrpConv

Its an uncompressed GRP (unlike most other grp's like units), so as KK said try a different GRP editor (SFGrpConv, GRPEdit, or PyGRP) since the one you use might not support that type.

perfect
thanks

ya there are quite a few .grp's that are uncompressed. Funny, it wasn't that long ago that none of these types of .grp's were able to be modified. Necessity is the mother of invention!
... what?

I do have a question tho for the "question" topic:
How is "cast" defensive matrix tied to the science vessel? Every mod I've investigated that uses "dmatrix" has that overlay and the iscript for the unit that is casting this is ignored? what gives? Units seem to ignore their iscript casting script when using this spell?

Its hardcoded, but can be changed in FireGraft, there is an exe edit called "Defensive Matrix > Caster Images.dat Overlay"

i didnt know about the compressed grps, ive noticed that when you try to decompile some they just have crazy colors and all that. cool!

FGraft exe edits never crossed my mind for this one. Thnx. I checked it out, and see the casterimages.dat overlay. Unfortunately, it doesn't appear that it can be turned off? I was hoping that the spell could be made to use the unit's casting animation instead of some set overlay. I have a couple of different units that use the same spell and any overlay will look odd on the other. I guess the overlay could always be iscripted to just end without playing any animation. At least I know what and where the overlay is coming from now.

Are you talking about transparency palette graphics? These've been modded for a long time now. ;P