diff --git a/OpenRA.Mods.Common/Traits/Encyclopedia.cs b/OpenRA.Mods.Common/Traits/Encyclopedia.cs
index 17a0d6d53b..6ef50adfe7 100644
--- a/OpenRA.Mods.Common/Traits/Encyclopedia.cs
+++ b/OpenRA.Mods.Common/Traits/Encyclopedia.cs
@@ -28,6 +28,9 @@ namespace OpenRA.Mods.Common.Traits
 		[Desc("Scale the actor preview.")]
 		public readonly float Scale = 1f;
 
+		[Desc("Sets the player color of the actor preview to a player defined in the shellmap.")]
+		public readonly string PreviewOwner = null;
+
 		[Desc("Ignore the Buildable trait when listing information.")]
 		public readonly bool HideBuildable = false;
 
diff --git a/OpenRA.Mods.Common/Widgets/Logic/EncyclopediaLogic.cs b/OpenRA.Mods.Common/Widgets/Logic/EncyclopediaLogic.cs
index 6b52cc2500..eb4e9547ad 100644
--- a/OpenRA.Mods.Common/Widgets/Logic/EncyclopediaLogic.cs
+++ b/OpenRA.Mods.Common/Widgets/Logic/EncyclopediaLogic.cs
@@ -162,9 +162,13 @@ namespace OpenRA.Mods.Common.Widgets.Logic
 			var selectedInfo = info[actor];
 			selectedActor = actor;
 
+			Player previewOwner = null;
+			if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(selectedInfo.PreviewOwner))
+				previewOwner = world.Players.FirstOrDefault(p => p.InternalName == selectedInfo.PreviewOwner);
+
 			var typeDictionary = new TypeDictionary()
 			{
-				new OwnerInit(world.WorldActor.Owner),
+				new OwnerInit(previewOwner ?? world.WorldActor.Owner),
 				new FactionInit(world.WorldActor.Owner.PlayerReference.Faction)
 			};