UC Customization Guide: Grey Edition

      If you have never owned an unconverted Neopet before, you should be aware of the fact that since they have, as their name suggests, not been converted to the new art style introduced in The Month of Eating, Y9 (April 2007) they are not able to wear clothing. This means that wearables such as dresses, jackets, wigs, shoes and jewelry, plus handheld items like staffs can NOT be worn by them. This also includes wearables such as wings or markings.

      Your UC Neopet CAN wear backgrounds and foregrounds, as well as garlands, frames and thought bubbles. In other words, you build a customization around them rather than putting items of clothing on them.

      When it comes to the style of customizing UC Greys, my impression is that their looks follow one of two styles. It`s either colourful, vibrant and cute with rainbows and flowers contrasting the miserable sadness of the Neopet – or it`s muted and toned down, bleak and sad and preferably it`s raining.

      In this article, I have created customizations with UC Greys in mind, and I have made sure to cover both styles of dress, so you`ll be sure to find looks that suit your Neopet regardless of which style you prefer. I have chosen to do mostly seasonal looks, with a couple of generic examples and a fun little surprise at the end.

      Happy Springtime

      Items used:

      Field of Grass Background

      Peaceful Watermill

      Plushie Picnic Spread

      Dew Drop Garland

      DTI was unfortunately very glitchy when I tried putting this customization together, I attempted it with two other backgrounds as well, but none of them was displaying correctly.

      Also try the backgrounds listed below for a similar look!

      Rainbow Field Background:

      Foregrounds can not be used with this background, but it`s still a favourite to use for UC pets as it mostly looks like they are sitting or standing amongst the flowers rather than standing directly on top of them (such is the case with Field of Flowers, for example). The Watermill helps create a more interesting picture, and with the rainbow and sunshine you have a very typical, classical look for your sad UC Grey. It`s commonly used, but for good reason.

      You can do a similar look with the watermill with Blue Field Background or Pink Peony Field Background, though the picnic spread can not be worn with those backgrounds. If you want to do a picnic customization with your UC Grey Neopet, I recommend Summer Picnic Set as it fits well with many outdoor backgrounds and your UC is positioned nicely on the blanket.

      Sad Springtime

      Items used:

      Gothic Spring Picnic Background

      Luxurious Candle-lit Picnic

      Also try: Festive Summer Picnic Table, Stone Stairway Waterfall.

      Depending on how you wish to style the background and if you`re not so much a fan of the picnic setting, here are some suggestions: Spooky Cast Iron Gate Foreground, Dusty Grey Bouquet Box, Fallen Heroes Tombstones Foreground.

      Sunny Summer

      Items used:

      Day at the Beach Background

      Beach Umbrella Trinket

      UC Greys can not wear umbrellas or parasols due to them being handheld items, but the Beach Umbrella Trinket is not zoned as a handheld and is placed behind the Neopet so your UC darling can enjoy some protection from the warm sunlight.

      Also try: Sand Sandals Foreground, Lush Green Island Tree.

      Rainy Summer

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      Items used:

      Camping on the Beach Background

      Sitting on a Beach Towel

      Soaked by Gormball

      Melted Strawberry Ice Cream Cone

      Cloud Umbrella

      Rainbow After the Storm

      Dark clouds has rolled in, the rain is pouring and this Neopet dropped their ice cream! A perfect day on the beach ruined, no wonder they look so miserable!

      The Cloud Umbrella is not exactly essential to this look, as it only adds an extra cloud and a long drop of water, but being able to cram an extra item into a UC customization is always fun.

      Also try: Beach Picnic Background, MiniMME9-B: Splashing Puddles, Happy Valley Collectors Ice Cream Cart.

      Bright Fall

      Items used:

      Free Falling Background

      Autumn Shrubbery

      Doraks Boat

      Fall Colors Background works very well together with the boat as well. With either background, I recommend using the shrubbery to cover up the landmines. (The boat is based on the game Dubloon Disaster). Doraks Boat is zoned as Lower Foreground, so your UC Neopets can use it. It doesn`t look perfect with all UC Greys, some are positioned on the dock in the background, so it looks like they`re hovering just above the boat... With that said, the wooden planks can appear to be part of the boat, so it doesn`t look too bad, give it a try on DTI with your chosen UC Grey and check for yourself before deciding if this customization idea suits your Neopet.

      Broken Rowboat Foreground is a good alternative as well.

      For a bright and cheerful autumn look, try these backgrounds: Autumn Country Road Background, Breezy Autumn Path Background, Fall Mountaintop Background, Autumn Sunset Lake View Background.

      Also try: Gentle Autumn Tree, Within the Autumn Leaves, Autumn Leaf and Nut Garland, Autumn Leaves and Berries Foreground.

      Dark Fall

      Items used:

      Eerie Autumn Background

      Frosted Autumn Tree

      Autumn Shrubbery

      I wanted to use Autumn Leaves Background due to it being drawn in a bit more simple style which fits the older artwork – but I decided to go with Eerie Autumn Background instead as it better fits the theme of a colourless customization. The frosted tree gives a touch of winter, and makes sense with the fog in the background, it was a cold autumn night.

      Using the brown shrubbery again isn`t exactly creative, but it is a useful item for covering up things in the foreground, such as in this example when there are stones and a black branch on the ground. It also adds more detail, making for a more interesting and well-rounded customization.

      For a dreary autumn ambiance, try these backgrounds: Stormy Autumn Evening Background, Premium Collectible: Autumn Cottage Background, Fall Colors Background.

      Also try: Beautiful Autumn Leaves Foreground.

      Warm Winter

      Items used:

      A Warm Winters Night Background

      Hanging Winter Candle Garland

      Pastel Winter Trees Foreground

      Winter is obviously the coldest season, but just because your UC Grey can`t wear clothes, doesn`t mean they have to feel freezing. In this example, I`ve put together a winter look that is warm and inviting, with soft colours and that can be used as a holiday look is you so prefer. My intention was to create it as a general winter customization.

      The warm glow of the candles and the golden baubles reflect the pastel yellow of the tree in the foreground, and the red bows pick up the red from the winter sky.

      Also try: Dyeworks Silver: Hanging Winter Candles Garland, Gold Leaf Garland.

      For your Ucs colourful winter look, I also recommend Winter Wonderland Sunset Background and Winter Wonderland Entryway, they look beautiful when used together. Also New Years at the Winter Starlight Background, it`s generic enough to be used as a winter customization, not just for the holiday celebration.

      Cold Winter

      Items used:

      Dyeworks Silver: Cold Winter Night Background

      Frozen Gothic Columns Foreground

      Frozen Fountain

      I used the columns and fountain here to create the image of the Neopet being in the entryway of a public park. The theme of snow and ice is present in all the items, and the black columns underline the dark ambiance. The base of the fountain adds a tone of colour which I personally think looks nice against the bleak background.

      Frozen White Tree looks quite beautiful used with this background, and can also be used together with the fountain.

      Dyeworks White: Winter Rose Foreground is commonly used together with this background. You can also use Winter Snow Drift and Winter Snow Branch Garland together for a simple, snowy winter look.

      Also try: Snowy Winter Frame, Icicle Ornament Branches, Dyeworks WHITE/BLACK: Snow Covered Flowers Foreground.

      For a bleak winter customization, I recommend these backgrounds: Gloomy Winter Day Background, Eerie Winter Snow Background, Terror Mountain Winter Background, Winter Moon Background, Winter Cemetery Ruins Background, Grey Winter Evening Background, Dyeworks Silver: Starry Night Background.

      Festive Faerie Festival

      Items used:

      MME26-B: Faerie Festival Background

      Dyeworks Pink: Ornamental Lake with Goldies

      This background is lovely, with so much detail and it also positions your UC nicely. In my opinion you don`t need a garland for this, but a foreground can help elevate the already beautiful background that can honestly be used on its own.

      The Purple and Orange Dyeworks versions of the Ornamental Lake with Goldies also look good here, though Pink is my personal favourite as it matches the tones of the flowers and columns in the background.

      Also try: Tranquil Stream Foreground, Floating Heart Stream, Flower Petal Foreground, Flowering Gate Foreground.

      Ruined Faerie Festival

      Items used:

      Destroyed Faerie Festival Background

      MME16-S2a: Menacing Tree Vine Garland

      Hidden Vine Path Foreground

      For the ruined version of the Faerie Festival, we`re conveying a dark ambience with purple tones that remind us of Dark Faeries and magic curses. The Vine Path especially frames the look, and looks great on its own without the garland.

      Graveyard Fog also adds a spooky atmosphere when used together with the Menacing Garland. (It will restrict the Vine Path).

      Also try: Dark Rolling Clouds, Dark Faerie Magic Cloud Garland, Deep Dark Shrubbery.

      Green

      Items used:

      Waterfall of Luck Background

      Stately Tree Foreground

      A nice general customization that is perfect for either spring or summer, or for that matter, Illusen Day! This is a classical example of light and rainbows contrasting the sad, Grey Neopet.

      Grey

      Items used:

      15th Birthday Grey Day Background

      Premium Collectible: Vine Veiled Well

      Rainbow After the Storm

      Another example of a general customization suitable for any UC Grey Neopet. It`s muted and simple and hopefully your Neopet can get their wish granted at the wishing well.

      Funny

      Items used:

      Floating at the Beach Background

      Broken Rowboat Foreground

      Rainbow After the Storm

      Who says customization can`t be done with a sense of humour?

      I hope you have enjoyed looking through these customizations, and that they have provided you with some fresh ideas and inspiration, whether you own (or are planning on getting) any UC Grey Neopets, or for that matter any kind of Neopet!

      Feel free to Neomail me with any comments, I would love to hear what you thought of these customizations and how you might improve on them. Check out my other articles for more customization themed guides and most important of all, have a fantastic day in Neopia!