Intro: What is an Overlay?
"Overlays" are custom images that cover up the usual appearance of a khimera. An overlay is a static image that will always remain the same, regardless of what the khimera beneath looks like. We often call the base below an overlay the "underlay."
For example, an overlay can have a completely different appearance from the khimera underneath. Have you ever seen a fish that has feline offspring? Chances are it's a Fiss Gold Khimbit with an Asadia "underlay"!
It is important to understand that a khimera with an overlay image applied to it still retains a normal khimera's genetic info underneath - markings, colors and even variations like wings and mane, that don't show up in the image. This is important for breeding your overlayed khimeras.
How to Create an Overlay Khimera
Some Overlays can be obtained by applying an item to your khimera, or visiting a feature (such as the Wishing Well). Other Overlays, such as Gold and Platinum Overlays can only be created on new custom khimeras.
There are many different ways to get overlays for Khimeras; special events and prizes, elixirs, the wishing well, and periodic "gold custom" events where you can order your own themed custom, created by Hibbary. You can also colour your own overlays by purchasing a Platinum Token, or design your own creature entirely as a Ultimate Platinum commission!
Giving your Khimera an overlay is permanent and cannot be undone. That being said, think VERY CAREFULLY about changing your khimera into an overlay, because you can never get the original image back without using an overlay removal potion (which is quite costly).
Breeding Overlay Khimeras
Overlay khimeras have a 20% chance of passing on their image, except in the case of gold customs. The owner of an original gold custom overlay can alter the chances of the image passing down, so that there may be less than a 20% chance of the image passing down, and/or choose to only have female offspring (gen 3+) be able to inherit the overlay image.
In order to show the overlay image, the breed of the underlying khimera must match the breed that "belongs" to that overlay category - for example, a Khirin overlay image can only show over an Ayalon, and never over a Likos.
Overlay Khimeras and Equippable Items/Accessories
Wearables that equip directly onto the normal khimera image (hats, necklaces, bracelets, etc) may not display correctly on alternates or overlays. They will still display in the same position as they do on the "normal" version of the breed, for example, if you equip a snowflake necklace to a panthira it will appear on the panthira in the same position that it appears on a regular asadia, not on the neck of the panthira.
However, all of the background/environment items, khimbits, and the moveable/resizeable items will work just fine with all alternates.
