Here is an example code: ------------ (let ((txt-disp (concat " " (propertize "_" 'display "foobar") " ")) (ov (make-overlay (point-min) (point-max)))) (overlay-put ov 'before-string (propertize txt-disp 'face `(:weight bold :foreground "red" :background "yellow")))) ;; To remove the overlay call `delete-all-overlays`. ------------ After executing the above " foobar " should appear at the beginning of buffer with red foreground and yellow background. But the "foobar" part doesn't use any color (i.e uses the face of the real text at the beginning of buffer). This doesn't happen when the text is inserted. Is it a bug? -- Akib Azmain Turja This message is signed by me with my GnuPG key. It's fingerprint is: 7001 8CE5 819F 17A3 BBA6 66AF E74F 0EFA 922A E7F5