diff --git a/config/fxdata/lua/classes/Thing.lua b/config/fxdata/lua/classes/Thing.lua
index 290c098fa3..faeac3ff01 100644
--- a/config/fxdata/lua/classes/Thing.lua
+++ b/config/fxdata/lua/classes/Thing.lua
@@ -59,3 +59,12 @@ function Thing:delete() end
 ---@param orientation? integer 0-2047, the angle to move in the X/Y plane.
 ---@param pitch? integer 0-2047, the angle to move in the Z plane
 function Thing:set_velocity(speed,orientation,pitch) end
+
+---tints the thing with a color
+---@param R integer Red tint value, 0-255
+---@param G integer Green tint value, 0-255
+---@param B integer Blue tint value, 0-255
+function Thing:set_tint(R, G, B) end
+
+---clears the tint set by set_tint
+function Thing:unset_tint() end
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/creature_graphics.c b/src/creature_graphics.c
index a6c59f7cc9..5604bef2b8 100644
--- a/src/creature_graphics.c
+++ b/src/creature_graphics.c
@@ -582,6 +582,12 @@ void update_creature_graphic_anim(struct Thing *thing)
 void update_creature_graphic_tint(struct Thing *thing)
 {
     struct CreatureControl* cctrl = creature_control_get_from_thing(thing);
+
+    if (thing->tint_override)
+    {
+        return;
+    }
+
     if (creature_under_spell_effect(thing, CSAfF_Freeze))
     {
         tint_thing(thing, colours[4][4][15], 1);
diff --git a/src/creature_graphics.h b/src/creature_graphics.h
index 535519215c..bff6ae79c1 100644
--- a/src/creature_graphics.h
+++ b/src/creature_graphics.h
@@ -126,6 +126,9 @@ void update_creature_rendering_flags(struct Thing *thing);
 
 size_t creature_table_load_get_size(size_t disk_size);
 void creature_table_load_unpack(unsigned char *src, size_t disk_size);
+
+void untint_thing(struct Thing *thing);
+void tint_thing(struct Thing *thing, TbPixel colour, unsigned char tint);
 /******************************************************************************/
 #ifdef __cplusplus
 }
diff --git a/src/globals.h b/src/globals.h
index 1089dac40e..1b50d118ca 100644
--- a/src/globals.h
+++ b/src/globals.h
@@ -324,7 +324,7 @@ typedef int16_t FuncIdx;
 typedef uint32_t TbMapLocation;
 /** Controller buttons state. flags field, each bit represents a button */
 typedef uint64_t TbControllerButtons; 
-
+typedef uint8_t TbPixel;
 /**
  * Stores a 2d coordinate (x,y).
  *
diff --git a/src/lua_api_things.c b/src/lua_api_things.c
index 797ef7ec66..0b212bec31 100644
--- a/src/lua_api_things.c
+++ b/src/lua_api_things.c
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@
 #include "magic_powers.h"
 #include "config_crtrstates.h"
 #include "creature_states_mood.h"
+#include "vidfade.h"
 
 #include "lua_base.h"
 #include "lua_params.h"
@@ -589,6 +590,30 @@ static int lua_is_in_enemy_custody(lua_State *L) {
     return 1; 
 }
 
+static int lua_set_tint(lua_State *L) {
+    struct Thing* thing = luaL_checkThing(L, 1);
+
+    int32_t R = luaL_checkinteger(L, 2);
+    int32_t G = luaL_checkinteger(L, 3);
+    int32_t B = luaL_checkinteger(L, 4);
+    if (R < 0 || R > 255 || G < 0 || G > 255 || B < 0 || B > 255) {
+        return luaL_error(L, "RGB values must be between 0 and 255");
+    }
+    TbPixel tint = LbPaletteFindColour(engine_palette, R, G, B);
+
+    thing->tint_override = true;
+    tint_thing(thing, tint, 1);
+    return 0;
+}
+
+static int lua_unset_tint(lua_State *L) {
+    struct Thing* thing = luaL_checkThing(L, 1);
+
+    thing->tint_override = false;
+    untint_thing(thing);
+    return 0;
+}
+
 static int thing_eq(lua_State *L) {
 
     if (!lua_istable(L, 1) || !lua_istable(L, 2)) {
@@ -659,6 +684,8 @@ static const struct luaL_Reg thing_methods[] = {
     {"get_annoyance"                ,lua_get_creature_annoyance         },
     {"set_annoyance"                ,lua_set_creature_annoyance         },
     {"in_enemy_custody"             ,lua_is_in_enemy_custody            }, 
+    {"set_tint"                     ,lua_set_tint                       }, 
+    {"unset_tint"                   ,lua_unset_tint                     },
     {NULL, NULL}
 };
 
diff --git a/src/thing_data.h b/src/thing_data.h
index 0cef64a96a..0fe6a9a5b2 100644
--- a/src/thing_data.h
+++ b/src/thing_data.h
@@ -286,6 +286,7 @@ struct Thing {
     unsigned char draw_class; /**< See enum ObjectsDrawClasses for valid values. */
     unsigned char size_change; /**< See enum ThingSizeChange for valid values. */
     unsigned char tint_colour;
+    TbBool tint_override;
     short move_angle_xy;
     short move_angle_z;
     unsigned short clipbox_size_xy;